Transcripts For GBN Breakfast 20240703

From the conflict. Sees tensions reverberate across the world. King charles issues a plea for Mutual Understanding in times of turmoil. Temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminating Society Party must be resisted. Society party must be resisted. After a string of false starts, the bibby stockholm barge is back and the home office is now expected to finally return Asylum Seekers to the accommodation vessel might not be a great day weather wise for some of us. Edens got all the details. Edens got all the details. Edens got all the details. A red warning has been issued for parts of eastern scotland because of exceptional amounts of rainfall expected over the next few days. Ill have full details on storm babbitt in the forecast coming up. And as always , paul coyte and as always, paul coyte will be here with all the latest from the world of sport. Absolutely. Only two days away now that world cup away now from that world cup semi final for england against south africa and marcus smith. And lip are likely and hes very fat lip are likely to miss it. Unfortunately and everton in the dock with everton also in the dock with ffp charges. More about that coming as well. Coming up as well. Paul, thank you. Lots in the program this morning. And if you want talk us, wed love to want to talk to us, wed love to hear from you. Just drop us an email, views. Gbnews. Com. Email, gb views. Gbnews. Com. A very good morning to you. Our top story this morning and the Prime Minister is to arrive in israel for a two day visit before heading to regional capitals. Rishi sunak touches down in israel as the us president returns home from his own visit. And joe biden urged israel not to be consumed by rage. Israel has been badly victimised by, you know, the truth is that if they have an opportunity city to relieve of suffering of people who are have nowhere to go , theyre going to nowhere to go, theyre going to be. Thats what they should do. And if they dont, theyll be held accountable. And my point held accountable. And my point to everyone is, look , if you to everyone is, look, if you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain , you should do it, the pain, you should do it, period. And if you dont, youre going to lose credibility worldwide. And well, as the worldwide. And well, as the Prime Minister begins his attempt to influence the conflict, protests continue to take place around the world as protesters from the stop the War Coalition gathered in whitehall yesterday evening. Well, our reporter Charlie Peters is in tel aviv for us and we can cross live to him this morning for the latest. Lots of pressure on the Prime Minister to try and make progress where perhaps President Biden or indeed olaf scholz werent able to and top of his agenda, presumably british hostages in all of this as well. All of this as well. That will surely lead the front of the british diplomatic effort in israel today, some nine britons missing in israel since this war started on october the seventh. And we have had reports of james cleverly, the foreign secretary interacting with qatar as an intermediary between hamas in the gaza strip and the israeli side. And, of course , americans side. And, of course, americans involved in that, too. Qatar has been a mediator between several hostage situations recently , hostage situations recently, securing the exchange of some prisoners between the russians and the ukrainians. But it will be what rishi sunak can achieve today on the ground in israel that will take most of the attention. There have been some attempts, i think, from number 10 to downplay the effect that sunak have in the country sunak can have in the country today. This is more of a visit of solidarity. You feel then of serious impact after joe biden was in israel yesterday, there was in israel yesterday, there was the security of humanitarian corridors from egypt into the gaza strip through the rafah crossing. At least 20 trucks crossing. At least 20 trucks crossing. At least 20 trucks crossing over last night about midnight. The last reports we had on that situation. And also had on that situation. And also they are able to replenish the iron dome Missile Defence system , something that britain just cannot do so far. Britains impact on the ground has been mostly solidarity, as i said, but also some Maritime Patrol aircraft have we assume, been busy above the coastline where we are observing the gaza strip and possibly also the situation in the north of israel. But in the north of israel. But rishi sunak, while he is here, he will be discussing very cleanly that situation with the 199 at least hostages from around the world that are missing. But in particular, focus those nine britons whose fate is yet to be determined. Fate is yet to be determined. Okay, charlie, thanks very much indeed. Well, were going much indeed. Well, were going to take a look at your report into some of the issues surrounding this. Now. Surrounding all of this. Now. There is no doubt whose side President Biden is on when it comes to the conflict between israel and hamas. Israel and hamas. Mr president , joe, i want to thank you for coming here today. But he has softened his support for the destruction of hamas with concern for civilian casualties and calls for humanitarian aid in gaza. Humanitarian aid in gaza. You are a jewish state. You are a jewish state, but youre also a democracy unlike the United States. You dont live by the rules of terrorist. You live the rules of terrorist. You live by the rule of law. And when by the rule of law. And when conflicts flare , you live by the conflicts flare, you live by the law of wars. What sets us apart law of wars. What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life. Israeli, palestinian , an arab israeli, palestinian, an arab jew , muslim, christian, everyone jew, muslim, christian, everyone. It cant give up. What makes you who you are. You who you are. And while he publicly warned of the need to operate by the rules of war, the message he delivered behind closed doors was probably more stern. Mr was probably more stern. Mr bidens high stakes visit was overshadowed by the blast at a gaza City Hospital , while israel gaza City Hospital, while israel was immediately blamed by hamas. Was immediately blamed by hamas. But the idf say the blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Mr biden backed the israeli version of events. Israeli version of events. I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday. And hospital in gaza yesterday. And based on what ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team. Not not you. The other team. Not not you. Theres another biden, but a visit that was supposed to calm tensions in creased them as arab leaders had cancelled meetings with biden as protests rocked the region after the hamas claims about the gazan hospital explosion. Explosion. Im very honoured to meet you, sir. As mr biden visited victims of the hamas attack on israeli communities on october the 7th, he was mindful of the need to support innocent palestinian teens in gaza. For nearly two teens in gaza. For nearly two weeks of bombing and a blockade of food, water and power. There is panic, grief and desperate action among more than 2 million palestinians within minutes of bidens appeal to the israeli war cabinet to allow aid into gaza , the Prime Ministers gaza, the Prime Ministers Office Released a statement confirming the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance, but only via the egyptian border. Mr biden also announced military aid for israel, but he had one last message before heading home. He wants the ultimate end game to be peace, shock , pain right rage, an all shock, pain right rage, an all consuming rage. Consuming rage. I understand that Many Americans understand and you cant look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers , your grandparents, some fathers, your grandparents, some daughters, children, even babies , and not scream out for justice. S justice must be done. Justice. S justice must be done. But i caution this while you feel that rage , dont be feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. Consumed by it. But as he left tel aviv , but as he left tel aviv, hamas rockets lit up the night sky. Charlie peters gb news, israel. Israel. Well, when President Biden returned to the us overnight, he said to reporters on the tarmac that hamas needs to learn to shoot straight. Referring to that incident in the hospital. Two two nights ago when there was an explosion at the hospital. The questions now will be, will rishi sunak also use his intelligence support to reaffirm the line that the israelis gave about that explosion, that explosion that has caused so much tension and so many protests in the region in the last 48 hours. Okay, charlie in israel, thank you very much indeed. Well, speaking last night at a dinner in the city of London King Charles stressed the importance of Mutual Understanding between religions dunng understanding between religions during Turbulent Times. One of my first acts as sovereign little over a year ago was to open the doors of Buckingham Palace to the leaders of the major faiths represented across these islands to welcome them with respect and indeed love and to rededicate my life to protecting the space for faith itself within our shores. Faith itself within our shores. As such, understanding both at home and overseas is never more vital than at times of International Turmoil and heartbreak. Aching loss of life. Heartbreak. Aching loss of life. Well, Mutual Understanding in short supply in the middle east. Pro palestinian protests continue across the region from turkey and lebanon to jordan and the occupied west bank. Last night, the former Palestinian Authority spokesman , nour odeh, authority spokesman, nour odeh, joined nigel farage and told gb news that its not possible to bomb our way out of conflict , bomb our way out of conflict, dumping more guns and more munitions and clapping and cheering on as more bombs are dropped to on point 3 Million People who are caged in an open air prison is not the answer. And weve seen this time and again, we know it doesnt work. You cannot bomb your way into changing peoples minds. The americans couldnt do it. Others couldnt do it. It just wouldnt work. The core issue here is that an entire nation , the that an entire nation, the palestinians in the west bank and in gaza, continue to be denied their right to be free, their right to have a country , a their right to have a country, a state of their own and everybody wants to do anything but face that fact. Well lets talk to that fact. Well lets talk to the chairman of republicans overseas, greg swenson. Good to see you this morning, greg. Whats your assessment of what President Biden has been able to achieve . Able to achieve . Well, im not sure how much hes achieved, but i have to say his statement was very positive. I thought he did a great job. He did what he said, what he had to say. I thought it was well scripted. And his handlers, i thought, gave him a lot of a great script to read from. The great script to read from. The question is what . What will he do . And unfortunate he it seems like the American Public has lost confidence in President Biden. You know, even after the this incident started, 11 days ago, hes he said all the right things and again, i, i fully endorse what hes done so far. But the problem is hes only polling at 41 on this issue, which which just tells me that that the American Public, the voters have lost confidence in him. And i think the next issue is, you know, what is he actually do here . So he said the right thing so far. So, you know , good for him. So far, so good. The memory lapse during the press conference didnt help yesterday. But other than that, i think so far so good. And it was it was a very positive trip in spite of the cancelled sessions, which dont surely dont blame on President Biden. Yeah its interesting. I wonder how much we can blame perhaps our obsession , the blame perhaps our obsession, the american obsession with you know, the home audience, the domestic audience to actually how this whole escalation happened, you know, the sort of looking inwards, the constant ratings and discussion about polling at home when perhaps weve taken our eye off the ball and what was happening in the middle east. I mean, surely yesterday President Biden wasnt thinking about his domestic audience once and was audience for once and was actually trying to Say Something profound to people in the profound to the people in the region. I mean, saying things region. I mean, saying things like, be outraged, like, yes, be outraged, youre entitled outraged, but entitled to be outraged, but dont let it consume you like it did us after 9 11. I thought it was a very interesting not only admission that they got things wrong, of, you know, admission that they got things wrorof of, you know, admission that they got things wrorof grandfatherly,u know, admission that they got things wrorof grandfatherly, profound sort of grandfatherly, profound insight. Yeah and again, i dont think that was necessary negative because hes still , you know, really hes still, you know, really fully supporting israel and fully supporting israel and fully supporting israel and fully supporting the west. And i think this is a civilised, rational fight that were in right now between ukraine and iran. And this conflict with hamas. And it really goes back hamas. And it really goes back to iran. But i think you can look at the first two years of his administration in the absolute debacle on afghanistan appeased the russians on nord stream 2. Remember President Trump had blocked nord stream 2. Biden on day one, lifted , lifted biden on day one, lifted, lifted the switch or flipped the switch on nord stream 2. And that really sent a message to putin that he could get away with anything. And then, of course, hes been trying to buy the iranians, buy the mullahs with concessions, lifting concessions, with lifting sanctions. And its, you know, to tune of well over 70 to the tune of well over 70 billion in revenue for the mullahs to execute this these proxy wars with hamas and hezbollah and 18 other terrorist groups. So that really set him up quite poorly. Its only been up quite poorly. Its only been in the last year where hes demonstrated some resolve in support for ukraine and support for israel. So, again , im all for israel. So, again, im all for israel. So, again, im all for it. Im all for what hes done so far. But the question now is, what does he do . Does he actually put the sanctions back on iran or does he keep funding . On iran or does he keep funding . Not only is he funding hamas indirectly by funding iran, but hes funding now both sides of the Russia Ukraine conflict because money from iran is going to russia. You know , theyre to russia. You know, theyre sending drones to russia. So you know, this is something that hes got to change policy on, not just rhetoric. Okay hes got to change policy on, notjust rhetoric. Okay greg, not just rhetoric. Okay greg, well leave it there for now. But good to see you this morning. Thank you. Thanks now, after a string of false starts, including a previous evacuation due to an outbreak of legionella disease, 29 Asylum Seekers are now expected to return to the bibby stockholm barge today. Barge today. Well, the news comes as a suite shop owner responsible for smuggling 10,000 Asylum Seekers across the British Channel has been jailed for 11 years. As the crackdown on people smuggling continues as well. Joining us now is the human rights lawyer, david. Hey, good morning to you, david. Look, this is a big moment for the home office. They hope they didnt have this huge embarrassment over legionella and they are ultimately fulfilling a legal obligation to provide guide safe housing for Asylum Seekers, arent they . Asylum seekers, arent they . Hi. Good morning to you both. Well, the thats quite right. The obligation is safe housing. So that doesnt necessarily mean that a barge or a marquee or an army centre cant be safe. But what it does appear to mean is that our government certainly when you look at the issues with here with the bibby stockholm and then with with other other areas, i think it was with marsden, they havent been able to provide safe accommodation. To provide safe accommodation. So thats, you know, aside from all the other issues that youre seeing, if our government cant provide the most basic safe accommodation, thats thats thats a real worry. Thats a real worry. I mean, there is a significant issue here, isnt there, that this was meant to be not quite the golden goose, but it was meant to be a significant move fonnard and away from hotels. I mean, even with these people returning today , its people returning today, its still under 50. I mean, its absolutely a drop in the ocean. Absolutely a drop in the ocean. Well, absolutely. I mean, when you look at the i mean, if you i dread to think of what the actual financial sums look like on this. Now, when you look at the cost renting it, fitting the cost of renting it, fitting it out, it was fitted out a few miles up the road from me down in i am. It was in cornwall, where i am. It was fitted out up there. Then obviously it moved to obviously it was moved to portland. Then people would put obviously it was moved to porthen. Then people would put obviously it was moved to porthen they1 people would put obviously it was moved to porthen they wereple would put obviously it was moved to porthen they were takennuld put obviously it was moved to porthen they were taken off put obviously it was moved to porthen they were taken off and on, then they were taken off and now being put back on. Now theyre being put back on. You know long until you know how long until something and as you know how long until somsaid,g and as you know how long until somsaid, theres and as you know how long until somsaid, theres only and as you know how long until somsaid, theres only a and as you know how long until somsaid, theres only a fewnd as you said, theres only a few people on there you know, people on there now, you know, with numbers coming with current numbers coming across alone this across the channel alone this yean across the channel alone this year, something year, wed need Something Like another barges. We another 70 or 80 barges. We cant even manage one now. I really do think its time for a pubuc really do think its time for a Public Inquiry into this, if nothing else, as to what has gone wrong on this part of the policy. How much does it cost . Its got the stage where it its got to the stage where it might even be. And im not trying to make belittle this. It might even be cheaper to send people cruises around people on cruises around the mediterranean, which are a hundred pounds a week, hundred couple of pounds a week, then on barge that then put people on a barge that then put people on a barge that the cant manage. The government cant manage. Yeah although the government i think would its of a think would say its one of a number of including number of measures, including doing their ongoing to number of measures, including doi and1eir ongoing to number of measures, including doi and get ongoing to number of measures, including doi and get theselg to number of measures, including doi and get these deportationo try and get these deportation flights out the country to flights out of the country to rwanda and well get that judgement next month from the court of appeal or the supreme court, i should say. But this particular issue of the bibby stockholm, theres also a judicial review going on as well. So we might get the Asylum Seekers back onto the barge, there yet still barge, but there could yet still be down the be further problems down the road. Road. Well, quite right. The local mayor, she she made an application to in her own personal capacity, not as the mayor. She made an application for review that over for judicial review that over certain Planning Issues that were not looked at that was actually rejected couple of actually rejected a couple of days ago. So shes now made another against the district another one against the District Council, the council, basically saying the district enforce District Council should enforce these planning matters. So that hasnt yet been heard and that will probably be coming in the few thats probably got few days thats probably got more than previous one. More legs than the previous one. And course, as you and then, of course, as you mentioned, youve got the mentioned, youve got all the other wider policy other issues on the wider policy that going through. And then that are going through. And then obviously with obviously were now seeing with issues with whats the terrible things happening things that are happening in gaza, of displaced gaza, the millions of displaced people go somewhere. Okay. Well, on that note, okay. Well, on that note, well say thank you very much, david. Hey, interesting to get your on today, the day that your take on today, the day that the bibby stockholm stage may finally habitating. Whats finally be habitating. Whats the word . Habituated occupied , the word . Habituated occupied, occupied would do . Occupied would do by a small number of Asylum Seekers. Now , we are running a little now, we are running a little bit behind time. Its 619, but lets just update you on the main stories so far this morning and the Prime Minister begins a two day trip israel the middle trip to israel in the middle east to meet counterparts from across the region later today. Rishi sunak will meet the israeli Prime Minister and the israeli Prime Minister and the israeli president before travelling to arab capitals. Travelling to arab capitals. And as we were just discussing, after a string of false starts, the bibby stockholm barge is back. The home office is now to home office is now expected to return Asylum Seekers to the accommodation vessel and as british citizens find themselves in dire situations on both sides of the conflict and tensions spread to the streets of the capital as weve seen. Were going to be talking to security minister Tom Tugendhat about how the government will keep safe. Thats coming keep the uk safe. Thats coming up in 30 minutes. Now now, a rare red warning has been issued by the met office. Lets get all the details now from. Aidan apologies. Well catch up apologies. Well catch up with aiden a little bit later on. Well sort that out. He must have gone for a coffee or something. But still to come, were going to talk about whos going to replace marcus smith in the rugby world semi against the Rugby World Cup semi against south thats paul south africa. Thats with paul coyte its 624. Good morning to you. Its 624. Good morning to you. This is breakfast on gb news lets take a look at some of the other stories coming into the other stories coming into the gb newsroom this morning. And a rare red weather warning of a risk to life has been issued as the uk braces for floods and strong winds. Its the first warning for rain the first red warning for rain in three years. Gb news scotland reporter tony mcguire has more on that storm. Bibi is about to make life extremely difficult for some as the met office has issued a rare red warning for rain , an red warning for rain, an exceptional and persistent rain at that. So when the east coast from forfar all the way up to stonehaven , residents and stonehaven, residents and businesses are bracing for as much as 250mm of rain, which will bring flooding, power cuts, travel disruption and of course a risk to life. A risk to life. Voters in the constituencies of mid bedfordshire and tamworth heading to the polls today for two by elections. Two by elections. Conservative mp theo clarke is hosting a debate on birth trauma today, as she calls for the government to include support in a meaningful way in the Womens Health strategy. And shes been speaking with our Political Editor, Christopher Hope, about personal hope, about her own personal experience and why she wants to see change. It was the worst experience of my life. Thought i was of my life. I thought i was going to die you said, i was going to die as you said, i was in labour a long time. In labour for a very long time. The government published last year the Womens Health strategy, really strategy, which i really welcomed, and trauma, was welcomed, and birth trauma, was identified introduction identified in the introduction by the public saying by members of the public saying they to discussed. They want it to be discussed. But i read the rest of the but when i read the rest of the document, i couldnt find an answer the question of how answer to the question of how the going to help. The strategy was going to help. So debate im calling on so todays debate im calling on the government to include birth trauma. Trauma in a meaningful way. Airline executives have and Airline Executives have called for new rules to allow carriers to share responsibility with Traffic Control and with air Traffic Control and airports for disruption to flights with the aim to share the burden of paying compensation. It comes after an air Traffic Control glitch in august caused thousands of cancellations , lines and delays cancellations, lines and delays in and out of the uk. Well, its time to go through all the sports now. Heres paul coyte. Not just the difference between the whistles in in football and rugby. Oh, yes, a much higher pitch in rugby, arent they . And i think theres a pe involved and oh it could well be rugby whistle. Oh sorry, a pe , a rugby whistle. Oh sorry, a pe, a pe in a whistle. Oh okay. Oh okay. Thats it. Makes the so othennise always i think its something i may have to look into a little bit later because the difference in whistles still the difference in whistles still the thing actual ps and professional whistles. Professional whistles. Well the little i dont know if the actual ps but i think they still call them ps with the artificial ps, but thats what gives the warble right in the whistle. So we have higher pitch one so we have a higher pitch one in slightly there go. In rugby slightly there you go. It different tone to it it has a different tone to it but i dont know where im but well i dont know where im going with this. Just its a, its a whistle that freddie steward hearing. Well, steward maybe hearing. Well, i think he may well do more than marcus smith will yeah well marcus smith will yeah well marcus i mean i mean have a look at marcus there. We are. This is marcus. After the game and marcus. After the fiji game and Kevin Sinfield , the backs coach. Kevin sinfield, the backs coach. I mean, look at the state of him there. The blood soaked white shirt. The blood soaked white shirt. Absolutely blood soaked white shirt. Weve got the head, weve got the bandage, teeth, got the bandage, their teeth, the lip. I mean, if the nose and the lip. I mean, if you look closely at the lip, i mean, its just ginormous. So anyway Kevin Sinfield anyway, Kevin Sinfield was saying brave and what saying how brave and what a lovely lad but more lovely lad he is. But more important recently, is he going to fit for the game against to be fit for the game against south africa on saturday and is well , you south africa on saturday and is well, you wouldnt so. Or well, you wouldnt think so. Or is going to be picked up . So is he going to be picked up . So im to to the bottom im trying to get to the bottom of the fact of whether they actually freddie to actually want freddie steward to play actually want freddie steward to play have marcus play. Play or or have marcus play. Now, freddie is. Six foot five. Now, freddie is. Six foot five. Marcus is five foot nine. And also a very you know, theres going to be a lot of aerial balls coming over as far as south africa are concerned. So its going to be interesting. I was looking at also the test when it comes to concussion, because this is what happened dunng because this is what happened during the game as well. As far as as as far as they were concerned , 12 minute test, they concerned, 12 minute test, they have during the game. So they have during the game. So they have 12 minutes. So if theres a sign of concussion, they have to go off and then they get tested. Then three hours the game, then three hours after the game, they tested and then after they get tested and then after two nights they then get two nights rest, they then get tested. Marcus smith , we tested. So marcus smith, we dont really know whether this is affected him or not, but or whether theres an injury or whether theres an injury or whether youve got steve borthwick, hes actually playing games everybody thinking games with everybody thinking you dont know who were going to for this. Well there is to pick for this. Well there is a soaked you know, fat a blood soaked you know, fat lip. Its standard fare, its pretty standard fare, isnt it . In international rugby, is. It will all boil rugby, it is. It will all boil down. Way, my career down. Put it this way, my career would just the fat lip. I mean, that would just be that would just be too much for me. But but were really excited about it, obviously, and i think people strangely, strangely are actually to actually now beginning to believe theres chance believe that theres a chance that going to beat that england are going to beat south know south africa. I dont know whether is hype and the whether this is the hype and the hope. Mean, it takes me back hope. I mean, it takes me back to when frank bruno fought mike tyson the first time. Were thinking theres no chance. But then all the hype around it and youre thinking hes going to win. Is that going on win. Is that whats going on with south african best with maybe south african best friend this weekend . Could be a little bit awkward. Oh, really . Be. And are they could be. And how are they about situation . Very about the situation . Very confident, very bolshy. Almost about yes. Yeah absolutely. About it, yes. Yeah absolutely. Oh, dear. So anyway, that happens on saturday. Yeah. Looking fonnard to it. Looking fonnard to it. Just very briefly, tell us about sandro tonali. Sandro tonali plays for newcastle. We expected to play for newcastle on saturday, but betting charges we had it with ivan toney earlier on this year, who is still a band. Basically hes facing a lengthy ban then for betting infringements. Two yeari for betting infringements. Two year i said two years, not that long meeting, two hour meeting he had in turin with prosecutors yesterday. Okay. So then saying yesterday. Okay. So then saying that it yesterday. Okay. So then saying thatitis yesterday. Okay. So then saying that it is an addiction , which that it is an addiction, which is often, you know , if youve is often, you know, if youve been done for betting scandals. No, im not im going to say that he hasnt got a betting addiction. But then there may be addiction. But then there may be a little more sympathy towards him. Face a year ban him. So could face a year ban from football because of it. But, you know, you cant be betting on football. You know the. Cant bet. The rules. You cant bet. The are the rules. So the rules are the rules. Rules these rules. Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. We shall see you so, katie, we shall see you later on. You. Later on. Thank you. I have lot more for you. I have a lot more for you. I have a lot more for you. Get out. Get out. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Stay us. Still to come, stay with us. Still to come, would you ever get married without seeing partner without seeing your partner first . Im pretty sure i wouldnt. Would no. No, of wouldnt. Would you . No. No, of course so. Well, well be course not. So. Well, well be heanng course not. So. Well, well be hearing about one man who did not answering not really sure answering question. Disappointed , question. Hes disappointed, apparently. Can you apparently. Thats all. Can you imagine . So bad. Imagine . Thats just so bad. Well be discussing that. And the the days big the rest of the days big headune the rest of the days big headline. N ext next it is 633. Had to check. Then youre tuned into breakfast on gb news with Stephen Dixon and Isabel Webster. And if you have just joined us, heres a reminder of our top stories this morning. The Prime Minister begins a two day trip to israel and the middle east to meet counterparts from across region. Later on from across the region. Later on today, hell meet the israeli prime israeli Prime Minister and the israeli president before travelling to arab capitals after a string of false starts , the bibby false starts, the bibby stockholm barge is back. Stockholm barge is back. The home office is now expected to return Asylum Seekers the accommodation seekers to the accommodation vessel and as british citizens find themselves in dire situations on both sides of that conflict in the middle east and tensions are spreading to the streets of the capital, well talk to the security minister, Tom Tugendhat, about what the governments doing. Thats coming up in about 15 minutes. Minutes. Were going to start by taking a look at the newspaper front pages this morning, starting with the daily mail. Theyre leading israeli theyre leading with the israeli president for president condemned the bbc for not branding hamas a terrorist group. The times leads with President Biden backing a Ground Invasion of gaza. Invasion of gaza. Here is the guardian. Its focusing on President Bidens appeal to israel to not be consumed by rage in response to the attack by hamas. The mirror leads with President Bidens warning to israel to avoid the mistakes that the us made after 9 11 and the i newspaper leading with mortgage hope as experts predict an Interest Rate hike is unlikely. Ill keep your fingers crossed. Lets go through some of those headlines then with Deputy Editor of the spectator, freddie grey, and broadcast to Claire Muldoon. Morning. You too. Good muldoon. Morning. You too. Good morning. To see you. Lets morning. Nice to see you. Lets start. And the start. Claire with you and the times. We . Looking at times. Should we . Looking at iran and what they could do to affect us here in the uk . Well the facts are that iran are bolstering the hamas led strikes on israel and indeed , on the on israel and indeed, on the wake of two weeks ago. Their strikes initially on the gaza strip. And whats happening is that people are very cautious about the language used for fear of perceived taking sides. And its incredibly difficult to report anything at all on the situation on and being partisan in it, because clearly theres faults on both sides regardless of the way you look at it in terms of response and in terms of what happened and the back stories. And historically why things may have happened in the first place. However and a chap called robin simcox will use his first speech in the uk s counter extremist commissioner is to say today time to confront reality. Today time to confront reality. And his reality is seeing that our reality should be that iran can inflict and can incite death , danger, violence and rhetoric in this country because hamas seems to be almost okay to support. Its almost warm. Its support. Its almost warm. Its kind of like less insightful than isis. Everyone is knowing that isis is terrible. Isis is bad, but hamas is almost because dont forget, there is this because people conflate hamas with palestinians and also , with palestinians and also, stephen, the fact that they were a well, they tried to legitimise themselves by being a democratic voted in Party Political party when clearly i would say they are terrorists and what theyve done is, is awful, absolutely awful without a shadow of a doubt. However for what we dont want is the fact that under a religion, under a guise of palestine, hamas , muslims, islam palestine, hamas, muslims, islam , isis, we do not want this rhetoric. We do not want the right wing or the extreme left wings to be inflated , conflated wings to be inflated, conflated by this, and therefore , we do by this, and therefore, we do not want attacks on our own country and on our own ground. And domestically, the visit from President Biden and todays visit from Prime Minister sunak theissues visit from Prime Minister sunak the issues of iran and the implications of a Ground Invasion will be foremost in those conversations behind closed doors. Because they understand the escalation not only there but domestically as well, potentially. Well, i think the Biden Administration seems to have got it quite wrong, wrong in its approach to the middle east. Theyve kind of kept the trump policy going of alienating iran while at the same time trying to sort of warm up relations with iran. And thats backfired because now the gulf states, which had been sort of warming to israel, there have been a sort of detente between israel and the gulf states, which trump enabled and which trump enabled. But the table. But thats now off the table. And iran is alienated as and iran is as alienated as even and iran is as alienated as ever. And is apparently seemingly hostile than ever seemingly more hostile than ever on the domestic side. And this sort of talk of, you know, were having a return to the sort of war on terror rhetoric. And i think we do need to be a little bit careful because iran is a is a vile state in many ways. Its sponsors terrorism in the region. Everybody knows that it sponsors hezbollah. It sponsors hamas. But it has not attempt mass terrorist atrocities in britain. It hasnt in america. Those have all come from sunni islam , from wahhabist sponsored islam, from wahhabist sponsored islam, from wahhabist sponsored islam or from other islamist branches. So i think this sort of attempt to sort of, you know, reminds me of m15 that is saying it. You know, the head of the mi5. M15. Mi5. Well, i agree. But counterintelligence has got things very wrong. Before, there was a we spent several years pretending that iran were behind al qaeda, complete al qaeda, which was complete nonsense just need to nonsense. And so we just need to be shrewd when we be a bit more shrewd when we because im just worried that were going to this kind of were going back to this kind of bush era attitude towards islam , bush era attitude towards islam, where we got things very, very wrong disastrous and wrong and it was disastrous and it iraq war, which it caused the iraq war, which was and it caused was a disaster. And it caused the destabilisation of the middle always middle east, which has always been , ill give you been unstable, ill give you that. Certainly didnt that. But it certainly didnt help. Were seeing it again help. And were seeing it again now. I think its history repeating itself. And i think i mean, know, 50 years on mean, as you know, 50 years on from yom kippur war and from the yom kippur war and hamas struck israel. Well, and hamas struck israel. Well, and also, think the fact that iran also, i think the fact that iran are funding this , i think is are funding this, i think is terribly, terribly difficult to actually and get a grip of actually try and get a grip of it. Think we do need to it. And i think we do need to talk about it. The worst thing we do is not talk about it. We can do is not talk about it. And think to suffocate it by and i think to suffocate it by yet, think would be plausible yet, i think would be plausible and commendable. And i and highly commendable. And i think really ought to. Oh, think we really ought to. Oh, well, we shall see on that one, freddie , lets have a look at freddie, lets have a look at the i should we and some well, sort of positive news that were unlikely to see an increase in the base rate. You know things are bad when you cheer yourself up by talking about inflation. Well, yeah. Well, yeah. Mortgages mortgages. Well mortgages and mortgages. Well so the bad news is that inflation is stubbornly stuck at 6. 7. It is not coming down as quickly as people hoped. And weve been saying this for about a year. Ive been coming on on thursday morning saying inflation is not coming down at the speed that we hoped and it still isnt. However, it does seem that experts and the bank of england think that we are at the top of the of table mountain, as one expert puts it, in the eye today, and therefore our rises will not. Another rise is unlikely. We think so. So is unlikely. We think so. So they will be stuck at 5. 25. They are unlikely to go down any time soon because britains inflation seems to be systemic, whereas in other countries it isnt. And so theyre more likely to bring their inflation under control, bnng their inflation under control, bring their Interest Rates under control quicker than we are. So not great news, but not disastrous. But maybe finally a realisation from the bank of england that actually if they increasing base rate is not impacting inflation. Well, absolutely. And i dont think the bank of england have had much hold over the economy. Actually, many years. Actually, for many years. Theyve many things wrong theyve got many things wrong and theyve kept Interest Rates historically low for long. Historically low for so long. And all the quantitative and then all of the quantitative easing was done to governor easing that was done to governor payment for furlough and post covid, i think that okay, globally, i think economies arent doing too well, but i think , you know, credit where think, you know, credit where credit is due, britain are getting back on with gdp. They getting back on with gdp. They are getting the figures in. And, you know, lets hope it continues. Continues. Its funny one, though, isnt it . Print money and inflation goes. Yeah, whod have thought it . Yeah, whod have thought it . Whod have thunk it . Whod have thunk it . Claire, lets talk about j. K. Rowling. Absolutely rowling. She is absolutely adamant will not back adamant that she will not back down on stance. Her feminist down on her stance. Her feminist positions, and she said shed rather go to prison than actually stop defending. Actually stop defending. Im with her and ill see you there. J. K. Ill see you there. I think shes standing by her, right . Shes standing by her her views. Sorry, not her rights. Well, its a human right if she wants to say that. And now shes saying happily to saying shell happily go to pnson saying shell happily go to prison she misgenders someone prison if she misgenders someone because the that because of the crime that it will become commit will will will become to commit will will commit. If you misgender someone, if you deliberately misgender someone. Think if misgender someone. I think if you deliberately misgender someone, early, someone, then click early, youve hurt someones feelings or you. I wouldnt. I do not think its a legislative crime that should be a punitive prison term given for someone saying either by mistake or in or in force misgendering. Force misgendering. I completely agree with you there, claire. I think this is another classic thing. If we replace manners with law. Yeah, replace manners with law. Yeah, man, if you if you misgender someone, if you offend someone, then thats on you. And its an issue of manners. Not issue of manners. Its not something. Its not an issue that needs be legislated. That needs to be legislated. The problem is but, but the problem is because tensions are very high at the moment, some people will see open door to see this as an open door to deliberately misgender people. Deliberately misgender people. Well, if they do, then even still theyre just really dark evil people and i feel sorry for them. I certainly wouldnt. I them. I certainly wouldnt. I mean, dont forget, stephen, our pnsons mean, dont forget, stephen, our prisons are you know, we had the crisis. Theres not enough crisis. Theres not enough pnson crisis. Theres not enough prison beds. Well, weve just been told, actually, havent if actually, havent we, that if any thats sort of any any sentence thats sort of less than a year, youre not going to go to prison anyway. And theyre talking about doing prisons, pop up doing pop up prisons, pop up cells night and cells i covered monday night and pnson cells i covered monday night and prison we dont have prison thing. We dont have enough places within the prisons to that we to put the prisoners that we already that are violent, already have that are violent, that have committed sexual crimes and then the low level crimes. Now are you wont be even be imprisoned. So why even bnngin even be imprisoned. So why even bring in legislation if youre offended or if you do cause offence for misgendering , there offence for misgendering, there far more bigger apples to pull from the tree, im afraid, than this. Yes. Well, thats a fair point , yes. Well, thats a fair point, freddie. Should we look at nuisance slow walkers . This is in the daily star , the death march of daily star, the death march of the dawdlers , as they put it. The dawdlers, as they put it. So a couple of things. I want to say this. Firstly, im to say about this. Firstly, im terrified this story because terrified by this story because im serious. Dawdler im surprised. That not surprised me. That not surprised me. Im more likely to die of cancers attacks and cancers and heart attacks and because this because this is on the daily star, its tempting to say this is just a load of nonsense, but its not. Its quite a serious study which followed 400,000 brits in a in a fairly creditable medical journal, as far as i can tell. Journal, as far as i can tell. And the conclusion is pretty clear that people who walked under four miles per hour, i think it is , are much more think it is, are much more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, 5, 25. So youve got to get your pace up, get your pace up. Youve got your dog now. Get it up. Yeah. Yeah. Do you do your walking every day religious . Do you know have anyidea day religious . Do you know have any idea how many steps youre doing . Yeah, do. Yeah, i do. Yeah, i do. About 10,000. Are you every day. Thats brilliant and fast. Thats brilliant and fast. Yeah. Thats the point about. Yeah. Thats the point about. Be pacey. Dont be pacey. Dont be pacey. Dont be pacey. Do you reckon you get 10,000, 15 minute miles youve got no. I think londoners do a pretty good job because, you know, people walk tubes all the rest walk the tubes and all the rest of but i live outside of it. But i live outside london, actually. The temptations car and temptations get in your car and the go down regularly. The steps go down regularly. 10,000 steps is doing 10,000 steps is obviously the best thing for your health. Than your health. Better than frenetic exercise, frenetic bouts of exercise, which every which is what i do. Every now and then and i do a sort and then i panic and i do a sort of month of exercising and what does consist of . Well, ive does that consist of . Well, ive run 5 to 10km extremely fast, well over two days, extremely fast the over two days. Fast or over the over two days. Yeah. I wouldnt fancy that. Yeah. I wouldnt fancy that. And look it is 645. Lets just bring you up to date with our main news so far this morning and the Prime Minister begins a two day trip to israel and the middle east to meet counterparts from across the region later today , rishi the region later today, rishi sunak will meet the israeli Prime Minister the israeli Prime Minister and the israeli president before travelling to arab capitals and after a string of false starts, the bibby stockholm barge is back. The home office is now expected to return Asylum Seekers to the accommodation today. Today. This is treasury minister refuses to give a commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation. Well be debating whether or not we should increase benefits. You can catch that in about 30 minutes. That in about 30 minutes. Im sticking with that theme and the theme of Asylum Seekers. Claire this links quite nicely into the front of the metro, which is one particular what they call a king pin who was responsible for a huge number of illegal crossings of the channel. Tell us more. Wow. Illegal immigrants and anyone whos whos watched me on this show before will know that ive been calling for, you know , the been calling for, you know, the stop the absolute deafening cull of the systematic. Business of the systematic. Business basically of the slave trade. Basically of the slave trade. And this is what this guy has done. £50 million over 11 years. Hes getting 11 years for it. For a £50 million uk dinghy kingpin. And what this means is kingpin. And what this means is hes been basically kingpin by by seems like it might get deflated and by kingpin basically charging them £6,000 to cross the channel from war torn countries that they fell unsafe and they wanted to come to britain and its just ridiculous. You need to stop the Business Model of Human Trafficking and therefore it will help the channel crossings. Will help the channel crossings. Its all very well the left is saying all these walks saying, oh, there is so sad. We should take them in in scotland. And of take them in in scotland. And of course, dont forget, its supposed to have their independence referendum today being. Oh yeah, this the big oh yeah, this is the big day isnt it. Were the very to they were the very ones to say, yeah, come, everyone. Say, yeah, well, come, everyone. Welcome. Come here. Welcome. Come here, come here. Well out. Its not well help you out. Its not safe. Dont do it. And please stop the Human Trafficking and the Business Models that are there to sustain it. There to sustain it. To be fair, that is what labours been calling for. Yes, it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Been calling for the labours been calling for the dismantling of the of the. And what have they done about it though. Nothing. Theyre not in government. Theyre not in government. Exactly. Well come on. Mean exactly. Well come on. I mean they still put proposals they can still put put proposals through to help solve this problem hate fact that problem and i hate the fact that people money cross people are paying money to cross a dangerous water into a hostile country that that, you know, dont want them. They cant cope dont want them. They cant cope with them. And its just absolutely vile. These are human beings. And this is a rare example of actually a success. Justice busting. Yeah, busting it up, i would say, just is not quite working because the risk of sounding sort of boringly right wing 11 years doesnt seem like enough. Also, how many of those years will he spend actually . Well, quite. Quite. Look, its a start. Its a start. Start. Its better than nothing. Its better than nothing. Yeah , i know. Yeah, i know. Yeah, i know. It doesnt sound like a lot, but actually, if you actually 11 years, if you actually serve 11 years. Yeah, you know, eight years. Yeah, you know, eight years or whatever it actually serve prison. It is actually serve in prison. It is actually a long our prisons are a long time and our prisons are overpopulated. Well yes, im overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure theyll room him. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou. L room him. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou go room him. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou go. Room him. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou go. Lovely. 1 him. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou go. Lovely. Thanksn. Overpopulated. Well yes, but im sure tiyou go. Lovely. Thanks to there you go. Lovely. Thanks to you, too. Well see you a little bit later on. Were going to return to our top story now. The Prime Minister is due to arrive in israel a day visit israel for a two day visit before heading on to regional capitals and rishi sunak is expected by the expected to be joined by the foreign james foreign secretary, james cleverly, pair meet cleverly, as the pair meet regional and address the regional leaders and address the growing middle east. Lets talk to security minister Tom Tugendhat, who joins now. Good to see you joins us now. Good to see you this morning. Do we think that this morning. Do we think that diplomatically the Prime Minister can, i dont know, achieve more than President Biden has . Well look, i think biden has . Well look, i think this is part of a team effort, frankly, and the uks voice has always been an important one in the middle east. President biden, of course, has a very powerful message to send. The Prime Minister and send. But the Prime Minister and the secretary are out in the foreign secretary are out in the foreign secretary are out in the at moment and the region at the moment and they are carrying britains message, which working for message, which is working for a peaceful solution , working a peaceful solution, working for a peaceful solution, working for a peaceful resolution, and trying to those in the to support all those in the region who need support. To support all those in the region who need support. And region who need our support. And thats why hes made that commitment to aid into the palestinian areas. And you palestinian areas. And as you know, there are now reports that the rafah crossing will be open very shortly. We hope so, though we have been reporting that has to for days. To be said for days. And im sure there will be continued stress on that to happen. Think biden happen. But i think biden claiming a success of claiming that as a success of his perhaps might a his visit, perhaps might be a bit premature. So i just want to bit premature. So i just want to ask you, you know, we heard very much biden was happy to much that biden was happy to accept version of accept israels version of events of what happened with the al hospital in gaza city. Al ali hospital in gaza city. The day before yesterday. Whats the british position on this . Because were awaiting British Intelligence to confirm erm our own assessment of what happened and the facts in all and of course the facts in all of this absolutely crucial. Well look, you know that the first thing to say about this is its an extraordinary human tragedy. A number of people lost their lives and a service that was there to support palestinians. In a moment of extreme need has been removed from them. So thats the first thing to mention is, to be extremely mention is, is to be extremely clear this is human clear that this is human tragedy. Second look , tragedy. The second is, look, ive to our ive been speaking to our Intelligence Services over the last 24 to 48 hours. And as you can imagine, im trying to get to a very picture on this. To a very clear picture on this. And weve got that and until weve got that clarity, im not going to be saying anything because, as youve it quite rightly, youve put it quite rightly, wild speculate over the last few days and the careless rush to headunes days and the careless rush to headlines has led some very , headlines has led some very, very unwise comments being made by organisations and individuals who frankly should have known better. And weve seen an awful better. And weve seen an awful lot of this as a sort of a reputational cost. Its much more than that. Its not just a reputational cost. The reality is President Biden was expected to meet arab leaders who felt unable to continue with the meeting because of what was reported. Weve seen Community Tensions here in the uk grow because of what was reported and weve seen a single a synagogue burnt in tunisia because of what was reported. And it now turns out and in fact , Better Research out and in fact, Better Research at the time could have suggested that the reports were at best speculative and at worst malicious. Malicious. Forgive me, but are you saying that that the increase in tensions that weve seen in this country , tree and others, is country, tree and others, is a result of what the bbc did . Result of what the bbc did . Im saying that speculation at various different points can lead to an increase in tension and certainly everybody is very emotional about this. There are many different people are very emotional and quite rightly are feeling very alert because of the events in the middle east and fanning those flames helps nobody. Nobody. So important as well in a diplomatic crisis. And i was just looking through what the Prime Minister was saying as he was setting off to israel last night, saying every civilian death is a tragedy and too many lives have been lost following hamas. A horrific act of terror. Hamas. A horrific act of terror. Is that an implicit criticism of israel in there, saying too many lives have been lost, following on from hamass atrocities. On from hamass atrocities. I think weve got to recognise that the first victims of hamas are the Palestinian People. Seen in people. Weve seen people in gaza the last 30, 40 years gaza over the last 30, 40 years not just murdered. When hamas not just murdered. When hamas took power in 2008 nine, but actually since then being exploited in the most horrific ways. Weve seen children being forced to dig these tunnels that sadly have been dug across the entire region. Weve seen individuals who have stood against hamas in various different ways being murdered. And weve seen hamas literally using the Palestinian People in gaza as their own , you know, as gaza as their own, you know, as their own workforce for their for their for their evil jihad. Now, this is simply unacceptable. And if you want to stand with the Palestinian People, im afraid that means youre very clearly standing against a terrorist organisation like hamas. What do we do in terms of what is happening here in the uk . As you say, tension is are rising. There have been protests. There have been largely peaceful , it has to be said. But peaceful, it has to be said. But weve got to be on some higher alert , havent we . Especially alert, havent we . Especially when the boss of m15 is raising the idea that there could be iranian backed attacks or iranian backed attacks or iranian inspired fired attacks in the uk. So iranian inspired fired attacks in the uk. So ken iranian inspired fired attacks in the uk. So ken mccallum has in the uk. So ken mccallum has been very clear for a long time now that iranian activity in the United Kingdom has been at best deeply unhelpful and at worst actively threatening. Actively threatening. And it has been a problem. Now for a number of years. And now for a number of years. And what he has done and what Police Officers have done is close down iranian actions here in the uk and im very proud of their work, he also warned quite rightly about chinese espionage inside the United Kingdom. And again, weve been working to close down those routes and those avenues extremely quickly. What hes also pointing to is the fact that tensions around the fact that tensions around the world can increase tensions at home and can lead to radicalisation. And thats radicalisation. And thats really a matter for jtac radicalisation. And thats really a matter forjtac , radicalisation. And thats really a matter for jtac , the really a matter for jtac, the joint terrorism analysis cell , joint terrorism analysis cell, because what theyll do is theyll look at the various different feeds, the intelligence feeds , the Police Intelligence feeds, the police feeds the community feeds that they sure that we they have to make sure that we are postured correctly to respond and where im not respond and thats where im not going involved that going to get involved in that because quite a because its quite clearly a very but very technical decision. But what doing is keeping a what i am doing is keeping a very close eye on it and making sure the right questions are being briefest of being asked, the briefest of answers, will, about 30s answers, if you will, about 30s answers, if you will, about 30s a tough ask what going to a tough ask what im going to ask, we do have nine british ask, but we do have nine british people missing , thought people missing, thought to be hostages a number of hostages in gaza and a number of british citizens as well, including yousaf relatives. I see the foreign secretary i see the foreign secretary is in qatar, among other places. Is in qatar, among other places. Are we negotiating with terrorists as look, the British Government is engaged in talks around the region to support british citizens, including those who are sadly taken hostage and some who are in gaza at the moment, either as like hamza yousefs parents, parents in law who are trying to leave. And were trying to do our best for british citizens in various different ways. Thats where were thats what the foreign secretary is doing. Okay. Okay. Tom tugendhat security minister, we have to leave it there. You much there. Thank you very much indeed. And have more for indeed. And well have more for you the. Weather you after the. Weather hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office. With the gb news forecast storm babette moves. North through today, bringing wet and windy weather to many places. But truly exceptional rainfall to eastern scotland the risk eastern scotland with the risk of and significant of widespread and significant flooding. Is a flooding. Thats why there is a red warning for later today and into eastern into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in scotland. The rain setting in dunng scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across scotland, across much of scotland, particularly through particularly in the east through the next of days. Further the next couple of days. Further south, dries up for northern south, it dries up for Northern Ireland eventually and ireland eventually england and wales predominantly seeing a mixture spells and mixture of sunny spells and scattered these scattered showers. Some of these showers although showers will be heavy, although it mild day, 17 or 18 it will be a mild day, 17 or 18 celsius in the south, 12 to 13. Further north. Wind further north. But the wind picks up strength through the day, or 80 mile per hour wind day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts exposed parts gusts for exposed parts of central and northern scotland. That coming in from the that wind coming in from the south east. Its an unusual direction so the direction for scotland. So the wettest will be in wettest conditions will be in the rather the west. The east rather than the west. And by friday, well see accumulations up to 150. And in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus 200 or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding, transport disruption and a danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south. Another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through the day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places so very unsettled next few days a president leaves and a Prime Minister arrives as tensions in the middle east continue to flare up. Flare up. A very good morning to you. Its about to turn 7 00 on thursday, the 19th of october. This is breakfast with Isabel Webster and Stephen Dixon. Webster and Stephen Dixon. Heres whats leading the news for you this morning as joe bidens visit to israel fails to calm fears of a wider war. Rishi sunak there this morning sunak is there this morning starting a two day visit to the region. Well have coverage of region. Well have coverage of the live from israel with the visit live from israel with charlie. Direct support or just charlie. Direct support or just solidarity with hostages in the gaza strip and tensions bubbling in the region. In the region. What can rishi sunak achieve in israel. In israel. And as the fallout from the conflict sees tensions reverse operate across the world, king charles has issued a plea for mutual under standing in times of turmoil , the temptation to of turmoil, the temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminating society must be resisted. Resisted. After a string of false starts, the bibby stockholm is back. The home office is now expected to return Asylum Seekers to the accommodation vessel today. Vessel today. The treasury minister refuses to give a commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation. So well be debating whether or not we should increase benefits in just a bit. In just a bit. Theres a rare red weather warning of risk to life issued as the uk braces for floods and strong winds. Our reporter will be live for us in scotland later this hour. So Stormy Weather for some. Will it affect you . Heres aidan with the flavour of your details to come. A red warning has been issued for parts of eastern scotland because of exceptional amounts of rainfall expected over the next few days. Ill have the next few days. Ill have the full details on storm babett in the forecast coming up. And with a flavour of the sport, heres paul coyte. Always with a flavour, but a nasty taste in my mouth when it comes to marcus smith. Is he going to play . Dont know. He going to play . We dont know. He doesnt look like it. To play against in the against south africa in the world on saturday world cup semi final on saturday and everton could face a points deduction with ffp deduction with the ffp investigation continuing. Investigation continuing. And as always, keep your thoughts coming in. Do send us an email gbviews gbnews. Com or you tweet us at. You can tweet us at. Gb news. So the Prime Minister is to arrive in israel for a two day visit before heading to regional capitals. Rishi sunak touching down in israel as the us president returns from his own visit. Joe biden has urged israel not to be consumed by rage. Rage. Israel has been badly victimised by, you know, the truth is that if they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who are have nowhere to go , theyre going to be. To go, theyre going to be. Thats what they should do. And thats what they should do. And if they dont, theyll be held accountable. And my point to everyone is, look , if you have everyone is, look, if you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain, you should do it, period. And if you dont, youre going to lose credibility worldwide side and. Well, as the Prime Minister begins his own attempt to influence the conflict, protests have continued to take place around the world. Protesters from stop the War Coalition gathered in whitehall yesterday evening to hold a vigil for those who perished in the gaza hospital blast. Just a few hospital blast. Just a few minutes ago, we asked the security minister who he thought was responsible , and he told us was responsible, and he told us it yet clear. The first it was not yet clear. The first thing to say about this is its an extraordinary human tragedy. An extraordinary human tragedy. Number of people lost their a number of people lost their lives and a service that was there to support palestinians lives and a service that was timomentlpport palestinians lives and a service that was timomentlpp extremeitinians lives and a service that was timomentlpp extreme needis lives and a service that was timomentlpp extreme need has a moment of extreme need has been removed from them. So thats the first thing to mention is, is to be extremely clear this human clear that this is human tragedy. The second is, look, ive been speaking to our intelligence over the Intelligence Services over the last 24, 48 hours. And as you can im trying to get can imagine, im trying to get to a very clear picture on this. And until weve got that clarity, im going to be clarity, im not going to be saying because, as saying anything because, as youve quite rightly, youve put it, quite rightly, wild over the last wild speculation over the last few days and the careless rush to headlines has led some very, very unwise comments being made by organisations and individuals who frankly should have known better. Well that was the better. Well that was the security minister speaking to us a little bit earlier. And in the last few moments, Prime Minister sunak arriving in israel, saying a few words. Lets have a listen in to the United Kingdom. And i stand with you. And i stand with you. I am looking fonnard to my meetings later today with the Prime Minister and president and i very much hope that they will be productive meetings. Thank you again. Okay not a great deal of detail there. Just confirming that hes going to be having those meetings. Well, we knew that anyway , talk our anyway, lets talk to our reporter, Charlie Peters , whos reporter, Charlie Peters, whos in aviv. I mean , really, do in tel aviv. I mean, really, do you think there any hopes you think there are any hopes for diplomacy, charlie. For british diplomacy, charlie. Well, it must have an impact in certainly with the humanity banan in certainly with the humanity barian situation here. Weve known since the start of this conflict that many arab powers have been speaking directly to london about the situation in the gaza strip. And i think its no surprise yesterday that the israelis finally relented in allowing humanitarian aid into the gaza strip after that american intervention. But american intervention. But british diplomacy will have been involved in that process , involved in that process, especially after the jordanian King Abdullah flew to london very soon after this war erupted and described the blockade as a war crime. The day after that happened, mr sunak phoned the Palestinian Authority president , Mahmoud Abbas , and spoke to him Mahmoud Abbas, and spoke to him about the situation on the ground. So i think were almost certain that british efforts have contributed to those concerns in the gaza strip. But i think what mr sunak will be focusing on today, first and foremost, is the british lives at risk. There are at least nine britons missing in this conflict, many of them hostages being held the gaza strip. Being held in the gaza strip. And their fate is unknown. There have been attempts, we know, to try and engage with hamas on the gaza strip to try and sort out a solution to this. Some 199 people being held there in captive city, at least 40 nationalities represent there, we believe, and qatar is currently understood to be acting as a mediator between western powers and hamas. It has done this before , operating as done this before, operating as a mediator, most recently between ukraine and russia. And we do know that britain obviously has strong links with qatar. So what rishi sunak can achieve on the ground in terms of direct support that is limited, quite frankly , what israel needs. Frankly, what israel needs. Britain cannot offer. We have those marital time patrol aircraft that was deployed a week ago, we believe, operating here on this coastal strip of israel, keeping an eye on the gaza strip. But also in the north. But in terms of the actual munitions and on the Ground Support that israel needs , britain doesnt have that capability to project. At the same time, however, we do have cyprus nearby, which is essentially a floating Aircraft Carrier for british interest. So carrier for british interest. So the ability to project british power and indeed the ability to retrieve people who are stuck here is an option available to rishi sunak and is something that he can offer other powers in the region. So not a vital player in this conflict, but still one worth engaging with for the israeli side. And now of for the israeli side. And now of course yesterday we had President Biden visiting. And so we have the understanding that his interest , we have the understanding that his interest, his presence we have the understanding that his interest , his presence was his interest, his presence was more significant. And we have a more significant. And we have a report on the engagement of american diplomacy. Heres what biden said last night. There is no doubt whose side President Biden is on when it comes to the conflict between israel and hamas. Mr president , joe, i want to thank you for coming here today. But he has softened his support for the destruction of hamas with concern for civilian casualties and calls for humanitarian aid in gaza. You are a jewish state. You are a jewish state. You are a jewish state, but youre also a democracy unlike the United States. You dont live by the rules of terrorist. You live by the rule of law. For you live by the rule of law. For when conflicts flare, you live by the law of wars. Whats sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life. Israeli palestinian, arab , jew, israeli palestinian, arab, jew, muslim, christian, everyone in it cant give up what makes you who you are. Who you are. And while he publicly warned of the need to operate by the rules of war, the message he delivered behind closed doors was probably more stern. Mr was probably more stern. Mr bidens high stakes visit was overshadowed by the blast at a gaza City Hospital while israel was immediately blamed by hamas. Was immediately blamed by hamas. But the idf say the blast was caused by a misfired palestine rocket. Mr biden backed the israeli version of events. Israeli version of events. I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday and based on what ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team. Not not you. The other team. Not not you. Everybody, but a visit that was supposed to calm tensions, increase peace to them as arab leaders had cancelled meetings with biden as protests rocked the region after the hamas claims about the gazan hospital explosion. Explosion. Im very honoured to meet you , sir. As mr biden visited victims of the hamas attack on israeli communities on october the seventh, he was mindful of the need to support innocent palestinians in gaza. The nearly palestinians in gaza. The nearly two weeks of bombing and a blockade of food, water and power. Here there is panic, power. Here there is panic, grief and desperation among more than 2 million palestinians within minutes of bidens appeal to the israeli war cabinet to allow aid into gaza, the Prime Ministers Office Released a statement confirming the delivery of life saving humana assistance, but only via the egyptian border. Mr biden also egyptian border. Mr biden also announced military aid for israel, but he had one last message before heading home. He wants the ultimate end game to be peace , shock, pain and rage , be peace, shock, pain and rage, an all consuming rage. An all consuming rage. And i understand that Many Americans understand you cant look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers , to your mothers, your fathers, your grandparents, sons or daughters, children, even babies , and not scream out for justice. Justice must be done. Justice. Justice must be done. But i caution this while you feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. Feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. But as he feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. But as he left consumed by it. But as he left tel aviv, hamas rockets lit up the night sky. Charlie peters gb news israel i when President Biden arrived here yesterday, he said that the other team did it. Then the american intelligence organisations came out and supported the israeli version of events about the situation in north gaza with that explosion at the hospital. And then this morning when he landed back in the usa, he said that hamas needs to learn how to shoot straight. Weve heard the straight. Weve heard from the security minister britain security minister in britain this working this morning, still working to establish what happened on on on wednesday night here. But the conversation will continue. Will britain come out to support the israeli version of events or will British Intelligence offer a different picture than the americans . Americans . Okay, charlie, for now, thank you. You. Well, speaking last night at a dinner in the city of london, king charles stressed the importance of what he called Mutual Understanding between religions during Turbulent Times i as one of my first acts as sovereign little over a year ago was to open the doors of Buckingham Palace to the leaders of the major faiths represented across these islands, to welcome them with respect and indeed love, and to rededicate my life to protecting the space for faith itself within our shores. Faith itself within our shores. Such understanding, both at home and overseas , is never more and overseas, is never more vital than at times of International Turmoil , oil and International Turmoil, oil and heartbreaking loss of life. Heartbreaking loss of life. Well, Mutual Understanding is, in short supply in the middle east. Pro palestinian protests continue across the region , from turkey and lebanon region, from turkey and lebanon to jordan and the occupied west bank. Last night, former Palestinian Authority spokesperson odeh joined nigel farage and told gb news us its not possible to bomb our way out of a conflict , not possible to bomb our way out of a conflict, dumping more guns and more munitions and clapping and more munitions and clapping and cheering on as more bombs are dropped on 2. 3 Million People who are caged in an open air prison is not the answer. Air prison is not the answer. And weve seen this time and again, we know it doesnt work. Again, we know it doesnt work. You cannot bomb your way into changing peoples minds as the americans couldnt do it. Others couldnt do it. It just wouldnt work. The core issue here is that an entire nation, the palestinian in the west bank and in gaza, continue to be denied their right to be free. Their right to have a country, a state of their own. And everybody wants to do anything but face that fact. That fact. Well, after a string of false starts, including a previous evacuation due to an outbreak of legionella disease, 39 Asylum Seekers are expected to return to the bibby stockholm barge today. Well, the news comes as a sweet shop owner receives runcible for smuggling 10,000 Asylum Seekers across the channel has been jailed for 11 years as the crackdown on people smuggling continues as well. Lets go to martin summers from the stop the barge campaign, whos in portland for us this morning. Good morning to you. Presumably, this is a day you. Presumably, this is a day you. Presumably, this is a day you werent looking fonnard to. You werent looking fonnard to. Good morning to you both. Touch of deja vu going on here. Really isnt there . Here. Really isnt there . But theres a i mean , there but theres a i mean, there might be deja vu, but this had to be expected. To be expected. Well, not really , because we well, not really, because we were hoping that the government would see sense and realise that actually what theyve done is a big, massive mistake so far its been estimated that since the 39 left, the bibby stockholm, some £3 million of taxpayer money has been spent to date. The whole situation is just an absolute waste of money and there have been sort of estimate dates done that this business of this barge being cheaper than hotel is, is absolute rubbish. Some some 2500 pounds per person per month for a hotel and some £3,000 per person per month for the barge beanng person per month for the barge bearing in mind that, as i say, £3 million so far has been set out as being spent on on an empty barge. And i would just like to say that that £3 million could have been spent on the people of portland who are really lacking in many, Many Services and this is our argument. This is our argument is that portland is actually we theres a lot of social injustice going on here. The whole city location was brought about by a private deal that was done with the home office and the private port owned by Langham Industries , who Langham Industries, who obviously just thought of the money. They didnt think of portland at all. The government hasnt thought of portland at all. Amount of freedom of all. The amount of freedom of information requests that have gone through dorset gone through to with Dorset Council , gone through to with Dorset Council, which just gone through to with Dorset Council , which just refers us council, which just refers us back to the home office, the secrecy involved in this and the lack of information is outstanding. Outstanding. But. Martin, you know, you talk about being concerned about the amount of taxpayers money, presumably the outlay for Something Like the bibby stockholm is high initially with the refit , but with the stockholm is high initially with the refit, but with the problems that weve seen with legionella, but will become more Cost Effective than hotels time. Effective than hotels over time. And if you dont have barges like the bibby stockholm and the government has a legal obugafion government has a legal obligation provide safe obligation to provide safe housing people, you housing for these people, you then are forced to put them into expensive hotels, which could also be in dorset, on also be in dorset, indeed on your doorstep. Have to go your doorstep. They have to go somewhere. Somewhere. Course they have to go of course they have to go somewhere initially if you somewhere. But initially if you look at the cost that this is, we are being used as a test case, this is quite obvious. And i think whats actually happening is the government is just not accepting the fact that this this is not a Cost Effective way of housing migrants as i say, a costing has been done 2500 pounds per person per month, per hotel for a hotel and £3,000 per person per month for the barge. Let me also add that these people will receive specific buses to take them into weymouth , dorchester, etcetera. Weymouth, dorchester, etcetera. Why cant they have bus passes is so thats a Cost Effective way of saving money. I dont understand why why they cant just use the buses that were using. Theres obviously a reason behind that and i dont understand what that is. It just strikes me that there is theres something going on here that that i dont understand. Why is so much money being spent separately on them and yet the taxpayer payers and us lacking in so Many Services are being ignored. And thats thats thats my beef is why we still have only four doctors. With have only four doctors. With with 13,500 residents. We still have just one road in and one road out and we have no fire station here that is manned continually. If anything should happen on that barge, it comes across the causeway, the causeway. If there is an accident, can be closed up to five hours. We worry about these kind of things. We have one pcso kind of things. We have one pcso on the island thats been allocated to us and apparently theyre off sick with stress. The situation is not good for 500 people to come to portland. We cannot cope. You can put 500 people in a big city of thousands and that will that will work. But to put 500 people will work. But to put 500 people on a barge yesterday , the on a barge yesterday, the weather was absolutely appalling. What are these 500 people going to do on a Holiday Island that in the winter the sea is just bashing against the rocks . Just bashing against the rocks . There is nothing for them to do. There is nothing for them to do. What are they going to do in the size of a room of a car park, space . It worries us. Okay, martin, weve got to leave it there. Good to get your thoughts. Thank you. Thank you. I should add, just had an email in from emily. She says, my husband and i are both in the army and over the course of our careers have lived in accommodation much worse than the stockholm. And had the bibby stockholm. And we had to the pleasure of it. To pay for the pleasure of it. Why migrants being why are Illegal Migrants being treated than our own treated better than our own serving and lots of serving soldiers . And lots of people those serving soldiers . And lots of peoplwof those serving soldiers . And lots of peoplw of views those serving soldiers . And lots of peoplw of views of those serving soldiers . And lots of peoplwof views of martin jse serving soldiers . And lots of peoplwof views of martin summers there. Okay, lets have a look at some of the other stories coming into newsroom at 719 are into the newsroom at 719 are a rare red weather warning of risks to life has been issued as the uk braces for floods and strong winds. Its the first red warning in three years. Scotland reporter tony mcguire has more. Reporter tony mcguire has more. Storm bebe is about to make life extremely difficult for some as the met office has issued a rare red warning for rain, an exceptional and persistent rain at that. So when the east coast from forfar all the east coast from forfar all the way up to stonehaven residents and businesses are bracing for as much as 250mm of rain, which will bring flooding power cuts , travel disruption power cuts, travel disruption and of course a risk to life. And of course a risk to life. The polls have opened for voters in the constituencies of mid bedfordshire and tamworth as the by elections get undennay today. Today. Conservative mp theo clarke will host a debate on birth trauma today. Shes calling for the government to include support in a meaningful way in the Womens Health strategy. She talked to our Political Editor Christopher Hope yesterday. Christopher hope yesterday. It was the worst experience of my life. I thought i was going to die. As you said, i was in labour for a very long time. The government published last year the Womens Health strategy, which i really welcomed, birth trauma, welcomed, and birth trauma, was identified introduction identified in the introduction by the public saying by members of the public saying they it to discussed. They want it to be discussed. But when read the rest of the but when i read the rest of the document, couldnt find an document, i couldnt find an answer question of how answer to the question of how the going to help. The strategy was going to help. So debate im calling on so todays debate im calling on the government include birth the government to include birth trauma meaningful way. And trauma in a meaningful way. And Airline Executives have called for new rules to allow carriers to share responsibility with air Traffic Control and airports for any disruption to flights, with the aim to share the burden of paying the aim to share the burden of paying out compensation to customers. It comes after an air Traffic Control glitch in august caused thousands of Flight Cancellations and delays in and out of the country. Out of the country. Okay, lets see exactly what that weather is going to do for you right across the uk today. Heres aiden. Hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. That storm babette moves north through today, bringing wet and windy weather to many places. But truly exceptional rainfall to eastern scotland with the risk of widespread and significant flooding. Why there is a flooding. Thats why there is a red warning for later today and into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in dunng scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across much of scotland, particularly in the east through the next of days. Further the next couple of days. Further south, dries for northern south, it dries up for Northern Ireland. Eventually england and wales seeing a wales predominantly seeing a mixture spells mixture of sunny spells and scattered some these scattered showers. Some of these showers heavy, although showers will be heavy, although it will be a mild day, 17 or 18 celsius in the south, 12 to 13 further but the wind further north. But the wind picks strength through picks up strength through the day, per hour wind day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts parts of gusts for exposed parts of central northern scotland. Central and northern scotland. That in from the that wind coming in from the south east. Its an unusual direction for scotland. So the wettest will in wettest conditions will be in the east rather than the west. And friday, well see and by friday, well see accumulations of up to 150. And in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus 200 or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding. Transport disruption and danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south, another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through the day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places. So very unsettled next few days. Very unsettled next few days. Right. Were going to be discussing benefits next. Should they increased in line with they be increased in line with inflation . Let us know what you think. Well debate after now the treasury minister, Andrew Griffith , has refused to Andrew Griffith, has refused to give a commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation next year, meaning benefits . Well, it gets confusing. Sort of could be cut in real terms by the government. Right . The government. Right . Well, this comes off the back of yesterdays inflation figures, which showed inflation in 12 months to september in the 12 months to september was at 6. 7. So today was remaining at 6. 7. So today were debating should benefits be increased before joined by former Labour Party Adviser Mike Buckley and former barrister and politician Neil Hamilton. Good morning to you both. Mike, whats wrong with this . Good morning. Good morning. I its just a terrible policy. I mean, we know were living through a cost of living crisis. We all know intuitively that thats going to impact the poorest most. And yet the government is now saying the poorest are going to lose out even poorest do not even more. The poorest do not deserve out. They deserve to lose out. They deserve to lose out. They deserve greatest stuff. But deserve the greatest stuff. But i think the vast majority of people this country would people in this country would agree that. Weve all seen agree with that. Weve all seen the headlines recent weeks the headlines in recent weeks about numbers now, the headlines in recent weeks abojust numbers now, the headlines in recent weeks abojust in numbers now, the headlines in recent weeks abojust in poverty,meers now, the headlines in recent weeks abojust in poverty, buters now, the headlines in recent weeks abojust in poverty, but in; now, not just in poverty, but in extreme there extreme poverty. There was a headune extreme poverty. There was a headline a few ago saying headline a few weeks ago saying 100,000 sleeping on 100,000 children now sleeping on the on mattresses or the floor or on mattresses or sharing because their sharing beds because their parents afford to parents simply cant afford to buy them. And the buy beds for them. And the government saying even government is now saying even poorer, they may think thats a vote winner. I would imagine its the exact opposite because i think most people the point with this, mike, is and where it gets slightly guess gets slightly confusing, i guess , is that generally see the , is that they generally see the september figure is used to show whats going to happen next april. April. Well, perhaps inflation is going to drop significantly by next april. Thats the plan. So theyd end up getting , in effect theyd end up getting, in effect a higher than inflation increase , which they no doubt need and would do very well with the key word in your sentence. There was the word perhaps, perhaps inflation will fall. Perhaps it wasnt. Weve had a government prophesying all year that inflation going to fall that inflation is going to fall and is going to fall and inflation is going to fall and inflation is going to fall and inflation. Its fallen and inflation is going to fall a|bit,1flation. Its fallen and inflation is going to fall a|bit,1flatit1. Its fallen and inflation is going to fall a|bit,1flatit hasnt its fallen and inflation is going to fall a|bit,1flatit hasnt beenfallen a bit, but it hasnt been anywhere as much as they anywhere near as much as they said and of course, we said it would. And of course, we know well was their bad know as well it was their bad policy, particularly truss, policy, particularly liz truss, but rishi sunak that pushed but also rishi sunak that pushed inflation up in the first place. Whos their policies whos to say that their policies will anything bring will do anything to bring it down . Indeed always down . And indeed its always worth the worth pointing out the government has done to government has done nothing to bnng government has done nothing to bring they have bring down inflation. They have left bank of left it all to the bank of england. The government has just sat hands waited sat on their hands and waited for it, waited it out. Okay. Well, lets bring in neil at this i Neil Hamilton at this point. I mean, its difficult sort of optically, like, optically, if you like, to be talking about this. When talking about all of this. When we talk about, you know, the numbers children are numbers of children who are actually living in below the poverty line, more than there are pensioners. And are actually pensioners. And yet the discussion triple the discussion around the triple lock the same. Im lock isnt quite the same. Im thats you well, thats true but, you know, we cant go on spending money we havent got. You money that we havent got. You know, is still know, the government is still overspending tune of overspending to the tune of about £100 billion a year. And you know, this cant go on forever. The National Debt has forever. The National Debt has doubled in the course of the last five years, largely because of the overspending which results from covid and the massive quantitative easing, which is the cause of the inflation that weve been suffering. So, you know, the suffering. So, you know, the benefits, bill is now about 130 billion a year, which is nearly half the entire revenue from income tax. So we have to call a income tax. So we have to call a halt somewhere. Now, if the economy were growing, of course, people on benefits should benefit from that growth. But at the minute , of course, its not the minute, of course, its not growing or not growing very much anyway. So we have to cut our coat according to our cloth. Yeah, but theres an argument there, neil, isnt there, to say there, neil, isnt there, to say the convention has always been and year when and even last year when inflation was above 10, set inflation was above 10, you set it in september, it falls through in april. Why break the convention now . Well its always convention now . Well its always it hasnt always been the case that, you know, we fix the benefit rates for the following yearin benefit rates for the following year in september. But you have to choose a month in which to make these decisions. And those decisions decisions. And those decisions fall to be made in the circumstances of that time. And sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But im afraid theres no way of making this a system which is infinitely flexible to take account of minute monthly changes in the inflation rate. Changes in the inflation rate. Mike, would you accept the cynical view . Perhaps that, you know, cuts need to be made and the conservatives would perhaps be happier to make those cuts amongst those who wont probably be voting for them . Be voting for them . Well, poor children will not be voting for them because they havent reached the age of 18. Poor pensioners or wealthy pensioners will be voting for them. You know, i celebrate wholeheartedly the fact that pension poverty is now a rare thing in this country that is an incredible achievement. And lets be its an lets be fair. Its an achievement of the last Labour Government achievement of the last labour governmeniso that is triple lock. So that is something to celebrate and im very glad that that hasnt gone away. Turn into away. We should not turn into this a who should be poor this into a who should be poor pensioners or children conversation. This is a conversation. This is a conversation basically conversation neil was basically just a utany conversation neil was basically just a litany of just listing a litany of government failures. Economy government failures. The economy barely the last 13 barely grown over the last 13 years. Wages havent gone up over years. The over the last 13 years. The economy isnt growing now. The National Debt is gargantuan. All of are government failures of these are government failures. The poorest. Why should the poorest children country suffer children in the country suffer because a massively wealthy because of a massively wealthy cabinet repeatedly making failures, you know, making choices that have to led policy failures the have made us failures in the end have made us all poorer. But of course, that impacts on worst. Boss, impacts on the worst. Boss, lets be honest. This lets be lets be honest. This is also a government is is also a government that is also saying want rid also saying we want to get rid of inheritance and make the of inheritance tax and make the very richest people in this country richer and country even richer still and their generations their children for generations to come. Its absolutely staggering that government staggering that the government thinks vote winner thinks this is a vote winner because vast majority of because the vast majority of people country go people in this country dont go anywhere inheritance anywhere near paying inheritance tax. All at risk of tax. But we are all at risk of losing our job, of falling into ill health, falling ill health, of falling into poverty. Needed. Benefit poverty. If needed. The benefit system, set up to be a system, it was set up to be a safety net for all of us instead, which is turned into political punching by this political punching bag by this government, showing its government, which is showing its lack in by its lack of compassion in by its statement that its Statement Today that its wanting children wanting to make poor children even okay. Even poorer. Okay. Mike buckley , Neil Hamilton, mike buckley, Neil Hamilton, we have to leave there. Thank we have to leave it there. Thank you very much indeed. You both very much indeed. Let know what you think let us know what you think about that one. Vaiews gbnews. Com. Lets look about that one. Thhevs gbnews. Com. Lets look about that one. Thhe sportnnews. Com. Lets look about that one. Thhe sportnnew morning. s look at the sport this morning. Katie is back and we look at everton. Is back and we look at everton. Paul yes. What is ffp financial fair play right. Its a very tricky one to try and navigate and work around this, but theres a disciplinary heanng this, but theres a disciplinary hearing at the moment. Everton are involved in. Its basically me saying whether youve got to be sustainable as a Football Club, youre about youve got to bnngin club, youre about youve got to bring in enough to be able to keep yourself going. Weve seen so many clubs that have gone out of the main of business thats the main point this, is that clubs point of this, is that clubs then cant bring in too much. Theyve got to bring in enough money theyre going money that theyre going to spend. Theres mean, im spend. So theres i mean, im looking numbers here. I feel looking at numbers here. I feel like Liam Halligan do. I think, yeah, theres a look at these are the losses for example, that everton have incurred over the past few years , £44. 7 million past few years, £44] million loss in 2022, 121. 3 million. In. Loss in 2022,121. 3 million. In. 2021, 139,000,000 in 2020. Whod own a Football Club . A 111,000,000 in 2019 one. So the rule is that any losses over £105 million over a three year penod £105 million over a three year period are not allowed. And by the look of that, you can see theyve gone way over. Now theyre building a new stadium, a dock, which is a Bramley Moore dock, which is magnificent new that magnificent new stadium that doesnt ffp. So doesnt come under ffp. So thats then theres covid thats okay. Then theres covid losses. Thats okay. They can lose those as well. And anything related to the womens team. So it will involve lawyers. It will involve accountants. Its very, very complicated. But cut very complicated. But to cut a very complicated. But to cut a very long story short, although ive made it probably longer , ive made it probably longer, im good. The thing they dont want to do is lose points. They could be fine, they could lose points. And when youre fighting towards the bottom of the premier a points loss, premier league, a points loss, youre not going to be good for everton. Thats things everton. So thats how things look and also look at the moment. And also transfer embargo could be possible as well. Okay. Rugby world oh gosh. Okay. Rugby world cup, looking fonnard cup, everybody looking fonnard to called, what to whats what we called, what was double springbok off to whats what we called, what wa saturday. |ble springbok off on saturday. It a double springbok off it is a double springbok off isnt it as well. It is of course it is. It is of course it is. But will we have our best team facing south africa . All depends whether it all depends whether you think marcus smith would be think that marcus smith would be best or freddie best for the team or freddie steward. Well, marcus has been steward. Well, marcus has been injured, very tough game injured, had a very tough game against like hes against fiji. It looks like hes going left out, whether going to be left out, whether it be injury or whether it be through injury or whether it be through injury or whether it be decision, because freddie be the decision, because freddie is taller than marcus. Is a lot taller than marcus. I mean, look at marcus there. Mean, look at marcus there. I mean, hes it looks like hes had a very bad it really did look like he was in a bad hes even trying to smile. Hes lippis out. Hes knows hes got a bandage around his head, not to mention the blood soaked mention the blood soaked to mention the blood stained everybody stained shirt. And everybody was saying was. And saying how wonderful he was. And what lad and how much he what a great lad and how much he put game. So well see. Put into the game. So well see. Its whether hes actually going to available to play against to be available to play against south whether its south africa and whether its the decision he plays the right decision that he plays against but weve against south africa. But weve got whos going got george schuster, whos going to be with hour, who to be with us in an hour, who played the World Cup Final in played in the World Cup Final in two thousand seven against two thousand and seven against south and actually and south africa. And actually and people comparing people are comparing what england year to england are doing this year to what they did back in two thousand and seven because they kind under radar. So kind of flew under the radar. So george will probably give us exactly right opinion on exactly the right opinion on whats on. Whats going on. That stuff. Okay, katie, well see you a little bit later on. Thank you. Still to come for you, king charles calls for civility and tolerance rising tensions tolerance amid rising tensions over war in israel. Well over the war in israel. Well talk about and more in talk about that and more in headune talk about that and more in headline thats. N ext next welcome back. Were going through the papers and some of the headline makers of the day with freddie grey, Deputy Editor of the spectator, and Claire Muldoon, broadcaster. Muldoon, the broadcaster. Welcome back both of you. And welcome back to both of you. And claire, lets start, shall we, with king charles on his feet last night, making a, i think, a very i mean , he didnt very i mean, he didnt explicitly mention israel or gaza or palestine , but it was gaza or palestine, but it was clear that he was talking about the tensions in the middle east and struck the right chord. And he struck the right chord. Think i agree with you. I i think i agree with you. I think was very measured. And think he was very measured. And the tone right. And the tone was right. And apparently took him quite apparently it took him quite a few days finesse the nuance few days to finesse the nuance of speech. So used to of the speech. Were so used to Queen Elizabeth ii , obviously Queen Elizabeth ii, obviously steadying the ship and, you know, being there as a grandmother of the nation and a wonderful stateswoman that she was. Think, you know, hats was. And i think, you know, hats off charles. Im not his off to charles. Im not his biggest and know, biggest fan and im, you know, not a massive monarch list, however. And i think princess kate and Prince William will however. And i think princess kifar and Prince William will however. And i think princess kifar better� ince william will however. And i think princess kifar better� incethaniam will however. And i think princess kifar better� incethaniam vthan however. And i think princess kifar charles1cethaniam vthan than charles and camilla. But i do right do think he did strike the right note. Know, note. He called for you know, almost compassion and almost like compassion and tonality, especially with the social media, you know, to try and not beat one another against each other. And he called for calm. And i think thats calm. And i think thats exactly, to extend the metaphor there. I think thats exactly what we need to steady the ship and fonnard. And going fonnard. Well, i would agree. But its common isnt it . Common sense, isnt it . Common sense. I mean, it is common sense. I mean, he that phrase britain he used that phrase that britain is of communities, is a community of communities, which not a great fan of the which im not a great fan of the word so i dont like word community, so i dont like that like the that phrase, but i like the sentiment it. Sentiment behind it. Why you like that why dont you like that phrase, freddie . I dont like the word community. Why why . I prefer individuals. Oh, really . Just generally more generally isnt there more strength you could strength in community . You could argue very pleased. He argue that im very pleased. He went social media and went off to social media and that and that tendency and it is what you want from a monarch is a sort of appeals for coming together political without together political and without as isabel quite as you said, isabel quite rightly actually condemn rightly without actually condemn either side or mentioning either side because everyone knows whats happening. And king whats happening. And king charles has always seen himself and hes got a lot of flack in the past when was prince for the past when he was prince for charles seeing himself as sort of defender faiths. Yes. Of defender of all faiths. Yes. Which he used the faith which he used the word faith as which i thought was as well, which i thought was quite. Quite refreshing. And it wouldnt be king charles without any mention of the environment of course, he put that in. But in a in a more hopeful manner for the future. And i think, you know, well done. But the phrase Mutual Understanding, i mean, thats spot on, isnt it . And until thatis spot on, isnt it . And until that is found, there can be no resolution this crisis. And resolution to this crisis. And how you do that, i suppose its born out of tolerance, this born out of this tolerance, this civility urging. And, civility that hes urging. And, you know, i think he was spot on. I think it was very well written speech. Stephen. Yes, while stephen. Yes, i do agree common sense, but agree it is common sense, but sometimes need the common sometimes you need the common sense aspect spelled out to people well or to individuals stroke communities. Stroke communities. Freddie and well and particularly, think particularly, i think king charles has one of his ace charles has has one of his ace cards as a king is that he has a Good Relationship tip with the islamic world. When he was when he became king, you know, a lot of a lot of islamic preachers talked the time talked about the first time weve an islamic monarch weve had an islamic monarch because he likes the muslim world. If he is able to speak world. So if he is able to speak to muslims in britain who feel disaffected and hate increasingly hate country increasingly hate our country and hate the west, it could only be a good thing that be be a good thing that must be a good thing. Builds on the images so it builds on the images that we saw outside lambeth palace the archbishop palace with the archbishop of canterbury opposite palace with the archbishop of canterbuifrom opposite palace with the archbishop of canterbuifrom the opposite palace with the archbishop of canterbuifrom the jewish ite palace with the archbishop of canterbuifrom the jewish and numbers from the jewish and islamic faith beside him as well. I thought that was very, very powerful. Yeah okay, lets have a look at the telegraph. Should we, freddie . Comment from freddie . Yeah. More comment from ken mccallum, the dg of m15. Very keen on that this morning and hes talking about deep fake. Yeah. And how it may undermine the next general election. Deep the next general election. Deep fake is really concerning. It is concerning. Do you it is concerning. Do you remember the keir starmer video that got 1. 5 million views . The audio clip, the audio clip of him swearing at staff . I think there is obviously theres a percentage. Weve got theres a percentage. Weve got two elections coming up. Weve got one in america and one in britain. And theres often concern about the Impact Technology and social media has on elections. You could easily on elections. You could easily fake a video at the right moment, particularly with Something Like whats going on in the middle east. Well, you know, concerns about that yesterday, werent they . Yesterday, werent they . Elon musk having to tighten up security and reference sources there because the role of deep fakes in inflaming a highly delicate situation. And its almost impossible to do. Its almost impossible, impossible so impossible to regulate. So youre quite right to point out that chemical is very public. Well, all all spooks now are just all spooked. Leaderships yes. I dont like far too public. You want spies to be in the background . Yes. Not sort of the background . Yes. Not sort of doing just m pr statements. Yeah but i mean, i think this is a this is a genuine concern. And i think particularly with the American Election next year, things are going to get if its if its trump, biden on both sides, youre going to have videos. And then what you get is the Campaign Pick up a video so you know, team biden will pick up a of trump or vice up a video of trump or vice versa. And they will run with it and it will out to be and then it will turn out to be complete nonsense. Just dont know how we but i just dont know how we protect ourselves against it. Get whats the like and get whats the expression and get halfway expression like and get halfway around the world the around the world before the truth can its on . Truth can get its pants on . Remember good old days of remember the good old days of when it just about whether when it was just about whether someone on pig . Someone said lipstick on a pig . But a pig . I mean, but its still a pig . I mean, that what that was the that was what that was the horror and shock of an Election Campaign in days gone that campaign in days gone by that was pre facebook or any of was pre a facebook or any of this how the world has changed. Yes talk about this yes should we talk about this storm . Babbette clare particularly danger in scotland where warning has where this rare red warning has been issued in the guardian today, 19th of october. Today, the 19th of october. Was supposed be the today was supposed to be the pretendy the snp. Pretendy ref for the snp. Theyve not only had storm sturgeon, theyve now got storm yusuf and theyre now going to be hit by storm babette. And its just its really, you know, its just its really, you know, its the peninsula to of iberia and portugal. And ive carried and portugal. And ive carried this storm over to the north of scotland and its going to be the worst hit in the uk. So hamza yusuf has issued a warning to the inhabitants of scotland to the inhabitants of scotland to say, please be aware of the challenging weather. We are due to experience from across scotland the most severe from thursday to friday. And you know what . That could actually could actually intersperse. And please actually intersperse. And please be aware of the challenging snp and what weve done for the country are the lack of things that we actually have done for scotland. There so i mean, i think this is a well versed comment on x as it was previously known as twitter from the first minister of scotland on the back of a disastrous snp conference in aberdeen, the same place that this storm is going to hit. So it seems as if theyre just trailblazers, arent they really, for things that are going to come metaphorically . I really admire charlie. I really admire charlie. I really admire charlie. I really admire the way you pivoted to politics pivoted from weather to politics to segway. It was brilliant to segue. It it was brilliant to segue. We cant talk about scotland not mentioning yeah it was mentioning it. Yes. Yeah it was slightly the videos are Pretty Amazing of this storm. Someone sent me a video of the snp conference. No, no, no, theyre not. Theyre just deep fakes. Well they do, you know. Well they do, you know. I wish they are. Do you know, did everyone see the clapping of Nicola Sturgeon who actually, under investigation, was Nicola Sturgeon who actually, undfound investigation, was Nicola Sturgeon who actually, undfound guilty estigation, was Nicola Sturgeon who actually, undfound guilty ofigation, was Nicola Sturgeon who actually, undfound guilty of anythingas yet . Yes. Yes. Yeah. Innocent until Proven Guilty still. Come on. Yeah. Come on. Yeah. Well, lets turn our attention to more important matters. People on x and matters. People on x and instagram and all the rest of it are outraged , ladies and are outraged, ladies and gentlemen. They are outraged because in married at first sight, which is a show to people whove never met before, are introduced at the altar to and shock horror , one didnt fancy shock horror, one didnt fancy the other. What a disgrace. Have the other. What a disgrace. Have a look at this. I wanted that a look at this. I wanted that initial attraction. Initial attraction. I wanted that spark straight away. It hasnt come. It isnt away. It hasnt come. It isnt there. And hes wearing a black there. And hes wearing a black suit. Black suit there. And hes wearing a black suit. Black suit is there. And hes wearing a black suit. Black suit is not the one suit. Black suit is not the one who has died. Were just who has died. Were just starting something new. And youre wearing. Black youre wearing. Black oh, dear. Well, frankly , hes oh, dear. Well, frankly, hes got a bit of a nerve saying anything about whos the more attractive out of the two. But freddie , are you allowed but freddie, are you allowed not to fancy somebody . Not to fancy somebody . Ive got very strong thoughts about. Ive got very strong thoughts about. Good. About. Good. Oh, good. Spill oh, good. Spill i think the. The black suit. Whats wrong with the. I think wearing a white suit is rather disgusting. Yes yes. Yeah says the man in the brown. Says the man in brown. Says the man in brown. Yeah, well, a geography teacher. Yeah. You look a bit like a geography teacher, but distressed geography teacher. But no, i think so. People are very angry because its superficial. But surely the whole the whole programme is deeply superficial. Yeah, but what else is it meant to be but superficial . If youve never met before, youre not find not going to find them attractive. Met before. Youve never met before. Youve never met before. I suppose its sort of. But i suppose its a sort of. Its an attempt to its a modern version an arranged marriage, version of an arranged marriage, isnt rather than your isnt it . Where rather than your family picking the person for you of experts. You a team of experts. Mean, theres a lot of i mean, theres a lot of decent it, but rather decent science in it, but rather than the chemical than just the chemical attraction for attraction that you have for someone bar, will that someone in a bar, will that sustain a long term marriage not based if fancy someone or based on if you fancy someone or not, for heavens sake. No, no, no. Come on. No, no, no. Come on. Theres got to be an initial attraction, though. You attraction, though. When you meet you go meet someone. Thats why you go on day, it . Well on a second day, isnt it . Well the attraction, but not the initial attraction, but not like married at first sight. You on. Thats you know, you go on. Thats the premise of the show. Oh, yeah. You know whats going to happen . Science. Happen . Its not rocket science. No, agree it no, i dont agree with it personally. And, you know, its just makes an aberration of just it makes an aberration of marriage the whole. Marriage and the whole. Does. Marriage as im oh, it does. Marriage as im concerned, absolute concerned, its an absolute disgrace, have say, disgrace, though, i have to say, i feel sorry for black suit. Yeah, because if white suit came up the aisle, id came wandering up the aisle, id be horrified. Came wandering up the aisle, id be can horrified. Came wandering up the aisle, id be can we horrified. Came wandering up the aisle, id be can we justorrified. Came wandering up the aisle, id be can we just talk ed. Came wandering up the aisle, id be can we just talk about the can we just talk about the distressed geography teacher . With haircut . Whats with the haircut . Whats with the haircut . Minute, it was a bit at the minute, it was a bit of fringe sort thing of a severe fringe sort of thing i used have in the 70s when i used to have in the 70s when my mum bowl out. My mum got the bowl out. Theres a message to here the distressed geography teacher in the to see much the end, so nice to see much more of freddie besides more of freddie grey besides being hes so interested being dishy. Hes so interested to to. I biased to listen to. Am i being biased now . Shes on her own now . Shes not on her own because seconds later, kathy because two seconds later, kathy swinson in touch. Swinson has been in touch. Youve morning. Thank youve made my morning. Thank you, timber of you, love the timber of his voice , love his tongue in cheek voice, love his tongue in cheek delivery wry smile. Delivery with a wry smile. Freddie, please. The inbox is bnght freddie, please. The inbox is bright red blushing. Bright red blushing. Those are not sockpuppet accounts that i created. Accounts that i created. Oh, your wifes emailing in . Yeah. Are they verified . Theyre all verified. Mad. Your checks are in the place. All mad . Yeah, all completely mad. Maybe they just want to take you home and redress you, freddie. I think thats it. Yeah. Ive eliciting pity. Thats. Im quite good at that. Yeah anyway, enough embarrassing , freddie. Yeah. Thanks. Yeah. Thanks. Dont know where to go after that. Should we go to you, claire . Lets talk about this air Traffic Control story. Apparently, theyve been causing these because these glitches because theyre busy its busy watching. Maybe its married first sight. Do you married at first sight. Do you know what . You youve to love you know, youve got to love michael for things, Michael Oleary for some things, right . Ryanair right . Perhaps not ryanair or any experience thereof, but he shoots from hip and he gives shoots from the hip and he gives the soundbites, he . He the soundbites, doesnt he . He has said, you know, theyve been too busy sitting at home remotely watching the tv when they want their engineers , they want their engineers, theyre at remotely waiting theyre at work remotely waiting for them to save time for travel time. Mr oleary said that nats , time. Mr oleary said that nats, which is the National Air Traffic services, should be responsible for covering his 15 million. He described the management as being numpties. He management as being numpties. He said it was their fault. The collapse of the system had failed and he condemned the nats chief martin rolfe , chief executive martin rolfe, who on a £13 million pay who is on a £13 million pay package, saying he should be stripped of bonuses and he is vastly overpaid. Oleary says vastly overpaid. Oleary says these hes looking for a reimbursement for a right to care expenses and you dont need a remit to do the right thing. Oh of course nats in the defence has said that they did go to engineers to supplicate and supplement the service, which did collapse. But they werent watching tv and they were saying they had things in place to prevent it from happening. And it was a glitch. I dont know. Im actually on the side of Michael Oleary. I think the. Yeah, i do have a free ticket for that. Well, i wouldnt i still wouldnt go on ryanair flight. Oh, well, they gave you as long as gets. Long as it gets. But and not being paid to but and im not being paid to say but ryanair are the say this, but ryanair are the best the budget airlines. I, best of the budget airlines. I, i think statistically they are, too. Of cancelled too. In terms of cancelled flights things like that. Flights and things like that. Value to theyre theyre the value to where to go and not a where you want to go and not a pinpoint of a coordinate pinpoint of like a coordinate somewhere the ocean thats pinpoint of like a coordinate sorr actually the ocean thats pinpoint of like a coordinate sorr actually anywherean thats pinpoint of like a coordinate sorr actually anywhere nearats pinpoint of like a coordinate sorr actually anywhere near where not actually anywhere near where youwell, no. Well, no. Well, no. Well, no. Well, thats why you pay £30 for a flight isnt it. Yeah. Yeah. Dont just quickly before we wrap little segment , youre wrap this little segment, youre a cat lover. Are you still technically lover . Now technically a cat lover . Now youve dog. Youre still youve got a dog. Youre still count as the cat count yourself as in the cat camp. Well, lets take a look at this viral video of a 14 year old cat whos broken the Guinness Record the Guinness World record for the loudest purr. Guinness world record for the lou this purr. Guinness world record for the lou this is rr. Guinness world record for the lou this is an official attempt this is an official attempt for loudest purr by a for the loudest purr by a domestic cat. Nicole bella , are domestic cat. Nicole bella, are you ready . Yes, we are. Yes, we are. Yes, we are. The minimum that you have to achieve today was 50db a weighted. I can now confirm that you achieved 54. 6db. A weighted congratulate us. You are officially amazing. Are officially amazing. Oh, well, there you go. The power ometer went off the scale. There apparently its as loud as a boiling kettle, which doesnt sound that loud to me. No but nonetheless, its meant to be a sign of contentment, isnt it . A purr . Yes of course it is. Yeah. Lovely. So its a very content cat. Were very content with you too. So we allow you to leave for an hour or so, and well see you later on. And the weather with aiden. Hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the forecast. Storm the gb news forecast. Storm barbettes through barbettes moves north through today, and windy today, bringing wet and windy weather places. But weather to many places. But truly exceptional rainfall to eastern scotland with the risk of widespread significant of widespread and significant flooding. Thats why is flooding. Thats why there is a red warning for later today and into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in scotland. The rain setting in dunng scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across much of scotland, particularly in the east through the next couple days. Further the next couple of days. Further south, it up for northern south, it dries up for Northern Ireland eventually england and wales a wales predominantly seeing a mixture spells and mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Of these scattered showers. Some of these showers although showers will be heavy, although it mild day, 17 or 18 it will be a mild day, 17 or 18 celsius in the 12 to 13 celsius in the south, 12 to 13 further but the wind further north. But the wind picks up strength through the day, 80 mile per hour wind day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts parts of gusts for exposed parts of central northern scotland. Central and northern scotland. That in the that wind coming in from the south east. Unusual south east. Its an unusual direction scotland. So the direction for scotland. So the wettest conditions will be in the rather than the west. The east rather than the west. And by friday, well see accumulations up to 150. And in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus 200 or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding, transport disruption and danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south. Another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through the day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places so very unsettled next few days a president leaves and a Prime Minister arrives as tensions ease in the middle east, continue to flare up. Continue to flare up. Good morning to you. Its heading towards 8 00 on thursday, the 19th of october. This is breakfast with Isabel Webster and Stephen Dixon. And heres whats leading the news this morning. News this morning. Israels military says it hit hundreds of sites in gaza over the past 24 hours, targeting with british hostages in captivity in gaza and british interests at threats in an escalating region. Escalating region. As joe bidens visit to israel fails to calm fears of a wider war, rishi sunak is in israel this morning, beginning a two day visit in the region. Two day visit in the region. Catherine force will have the latest. On us rishi catherine force will have the latest. On us rishi sunak in the middle east for two days, james cleverly, the foreign secretary for three. What can they do that joe biden didnt . They will be biden didnt . They will be trying to get the hostages released. They will be trying to get aid into gaza. They will try to get british nationals out of gaza. But theres the fallout from the conflict. Sees tensions the conflict. Sees tensions reverberate across the world. King charles issues a plea for Mutual Understanding. Mutual understanding. The temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminating society must be resisted. And after a string of resisted. And after a string of false starts, the bibby stockholm barge is back. The home office is now expected to return Asylum Seekers to the accommodation. Seekers to the accommodation. 150,000 children will be homeless 1. 5 million families waiting for a Council House by the end of this decade , the end of this decade, according to the latest figures. How can we solve our housing emergency . Our economics editor emergency . Our economics editor will have a special report. Stormy weather for some aiden will have your forecast. A red warning has been issued for parts of eastern scotland because of exceptional amounts of rainfall expected over the next few days. Ill have full details on storm babbitt in the forecast coming up. Coming up. And paul is going to have all your sport. I will. Rugby world cup semi final, england play south africa on saturday. You know, im looking at it so many links between two thousand and seven and you know they both and now. You know they were both played very slow start played in france very slow start for moving way for england moving right the way up. Chuter , who played for england moving right the way up. England chuter , who played for england moving right the way up. England in chuter , who played for england moving right the way up. England in theter , who played for england moving right the way up. England in the world ho played for england moving right the way up. England in the world cuplayed for england in the World Cup Final of two thousand and seven, is going to be with us soon to discuss. Fabulous. And as always, you can any our can join in any of our discussions. Email us, gb views. Gbnews. Com. Or you can tweet us at. Gb gbnews. Com. Or you can tweet us at. Gb news. So it remains our top story this morning. This time, the Prime Minister is in israel for a two day visit before heading to regional capitals. Rishi sunak touched down in israel as the us president is returning home from his own visit. Mr biden urging israel not to be consumed by rage. Israel has been badly victimised by, you know, the truth is that if they have an opportunity dodi to relieve the suffering of people who are have nowhere to go , theyre going to be. Thats what they should do. And if they dont, theyll be held accountable. And my point held accountable. And my point to everyone is , look, if you to everyone is, look, if you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain you should do it, penod. The pain you should do it, period. And if you dont, youre period. And if you dont, youre going to lose credibility worldwide. Worldwide. And well, theres a Prime Minister begins his attempt to influence the conflict. Protests continue to take place around the world as protesters from the stop the War Coalition gathered in whitehall yesterday evening. They were Holding Vigil for those who perished in the gaza hospital blast earlier , we asked hospital blast earlier, we asked a security minister who he thought was responsible. Thought was responsible. First thing to say about this is its an extraordinary human tragedy. A number of people lost their lives and a service that was there to support palestinians. In a moment of extreme has been removed extreme need has been removed from so thats the first from them. So thats the first thing is, is to be thing to mention is, is to be extremely clear that this is human tragedy. Second is, human tragedy. The second is, look , ive been speaking to our look, ive been speaking to our intelligence over the Intelligence Services over the last 24 to 48 hours. And as you can imagine, im trying to get to clear picture on this. To a very clear picture on this. And until got that and until all weve got that clarity, im not going to be saying anything because as youve rightly, why youve put it quite rightly, why all speculation over the last few days and the careless rush to headlines has led some very, very unwise comments being made by organisations and individuals who frankly should have known better. Better. Well, our reporter Charlie Peters is in tel aviv for us and has this report on President Bidens visit at there is no doubt whose side President Biden is on when it comes to the conflict between israel and hamas. Hamas. Mr president , joe, i want to thank you for coming here today. But he has softened his support for the destruction of hamas with concern for civilian casualties and calls for humanitarian aid in gaza. Humanitarian aid in gaza. You are a jewish state. You are a jewish state, but youre also a democracy unlike the United States. You dont live by the rules of terrorist. You live the rules of terrorist. You live by the rule of law. And when by the rule of law. And when conflicts flare , you live by the conflicts flare, you live by the law of wars. What sets us apart law of wars. What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life. Israeli, palestinian , an arab israeli, palestinian, an arab jew , muslim, christian, everyone jew, muslim, christian, everyone. It cant give up. What makes you who you are and while he publicly warned of the need to operate by the rules of war, the message he delivered behind closed doors was probably more stern. In mr bidens high stakes stern. In mr bidens high stakes visit was overshadowed by the blast at a gaza City Hospital. Blast at a gaza City Hospital. Israel was immediately blamed by hamas, but the idf say the blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Mr blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Mr Biden Palestinian rocket. Mr biden backed the israeli version of events. Events. I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday and based on what ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team. Not not you. But the other team. Not not you. But a visit that was supposed to calm tensions , increased them as calm tensions, increased them as arab leaders had cancelled meetings with biden as protests rocked the region after the hamas claims about the gazan hospital explosion. Hospital explosion. Im very honoured to meet you, sir. As mr biden visited victims of the hamas attack on israeli communities on october the 7th, he was mindful of the need to support innocent palestine tions in gaza. The nearly two weeks of in gaza. The nearly two weeks of bombing and a blockade of food, water and power. There is panic, water and power. There is panic, grief and desperation among more than 2 million palestinians as within minutes of bidens appeal to the israeli war cabinet to allow aid into gaza , the prime allow aid into gaza, the Prime Ministers Office Released a statement confirming the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance, but only via the egyptian border. Mr only via the egyptian border. Mr biden also announced military aid for israel, but he had one last message before heading home. He wants the ultimate end game to be peace, shock , back pain. Rhy rage, an all consuming rage. I rhy rage, an all consuming rage. I understand rhy rage, an all consuming rage. I understand that many rage. I understand that Many Americans understand and you cant look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers , your grandparents, some fathers, your grandparents, some sons, daughters, children, even babies and not scream out for justice. S justice must be done. Justice. S justice must be done. But i caution this while you feel that rage , dont be feel that rage, dont be consumed by it. Consumed by it. But as he left tel aviv, hamas rockets lit up the night sky. Charlie peters gb news. Israel. Israel. Well, lets talk to charlie now, who joins us from tel aviv. Now, who joins us from tel aviv. Look, charlie, as you said in your report, there may well have been more going on behind the scenes in terms of the biden diplomacy than we know. It scenes in terms of the biden diplomacy than we know. It all begs the question , what can begs the question, what can rishi sunak realistically achieve. Achieve. Yes. Well, since this war started, rishi sunak offer to israel has been more of a gesture of solidarity than anything particularly influential. Washington is the big diplomatic player here. Obviously, israels closest and firmest ally since its inception in 1948. So it has been a consistent backer of israel throughout this war, providing both air defence assets and also so strong diplomacy. And we imagine guidance on the military situation here. The Firm Intelligence relationship between the us and israel. Britain doesnt have that kind of relationship with this country nor indeed that access and the significant move from biden yesterday, i think there were a few, but the major one is that securing of humanitarian aid, they say accessing into the gaza strip from the rafah crossing from egypt , because in crossing from egypt, because in southern gaza, reports there from International Observers and the un that the gazans are running out of everything, water for food and electricity. For food and electricity. However, one thing, they are not running out of in gaza is rockets more rockets being fired every day , hundreds a day as every day, hundreds a day as they prepare for this long term war. And the conversation in israel has been focusing on the american support for the israeli version of events of those rockets launched on tuesday night. That the americans and the israelis say were caused by a misfiring rocket by Palestinian Islamic jihad. Then striking the hospital in north gaza. Now the british side has yet to comment on this situation. James cleverly, yesterday morning, the foreign secretary said we need to wait and be careful. Too many people spoke after hamas claims were made with many outlets in the region and around the world carrying quite uncritically the claims of hamas and the islamic jihad. But now further information is coming out open source information, which is compelling but not conclusive in the analysis made by the israeli side yesterday , rishi sunak said side yesterday, rishi sunak said that western intelligence and British Intelligence would be working as quickly as possible to find out what happened on tuesday night in gaza city. But this morning, the security minister offering no further comment. So we still await that crucial moment in british analysis. We do know that there are Maritime Patrol aircraft on the border here on the coastline here. Now, that is a key observation. Spy planes from the observation. Spy planes from the raf keeping an eye on the situation. So theres no doubt that british Imagery Analysts will be able to see what was going on on tuesday night. For ten years, we didnt have that asset. The Maritime Patrol aircraft from 2010 to 2022. But theyre now back and available and they are being used in this area. That support is area. So that support is available the british side available from the british side to israel if they want to use it. But beyond that, its not particularly clear what mr sunak can achieve in israel. This will be more of a mission of solidarity. We are not a significant diplomatic player in israel , but what we can do, the israel, but what we can do, the downing street will say, is interact with those arab powers who have been reacting very vociferously since the tuesday night explosion , still night explosion, still condemning israel for the attack , despite the further information and evidence produced from the israeli side. And i think british interests here will be seeking to reach out to qatar in particular and try and establish a connection with hostages and also to quell those inflaming tensions that risk targeting and threatening british interests in the region here. Okay charlie, for now, thanks very much indeed. Well, speaking last night at a dinner in the city of London King Charles stressed the importance of Mutual Understanding between religions dunng understanding between religions during Turbulent Times. During Turbulent Times. As one of my first acts as sovereign little over a year ago was was to open the doors of Buckingham Palace to the leaders of the major faiths represented across these islands, to welcome them with respect and indeed love, and to rededicate my life to protect the space for faith itself within our shores. Such itself within our shores. Such understand being both at home and overseas is never more vital than at times of International Turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life. We well, Mutual Understanding is, of course, in short supply in the middle east. Pro palestinian protests continuing across the region from turkey and lebanon to jordan and the west bank. Last night, former Palestinian Authority spokesperson nora day joined nigel farage and told gb news its just not possible to bomb your way out of conflict , bomb your way out of conflict, dumping more guns and more munitions and clapping and cheering on as more bombs are dropped to on point 3 Million People who are caged in an open air prison is not the answer. Air prison is not the answer. And weve seen this time and again, we know it doesnt work. Again, we know it doesnt work. You cannot bomb your way into changing peoples minds as the americans couldnt do it. Others couldnt do it. It just wouldnt work. The core issue here is that an entire nation, the palestine liens in the west bank and in gaza, continue to be denied their right to be free. Their right to have a country, a state of their own. And everybody wants to do anything but face that fact. But face that fact. Well, as weve been saying, tensions from this conflict have spread around the world, and london is no exception. In all of this. Our Political Correspondent Katherine Forster joins us this morning from westminster. Catherine, hearing from the king there and understanding the efforts that the Prime Minister has made to try and bring the community in the uk together, how how is that going here on our streets . Going here on our streets . Well , its extremely well, its extremely difficult, isnt it, because weve seen since hamas attacked israel so atrociously on october the 7th, a massive rise in anti semitic attacks in the United Kingdom. The government United Kingdom. The government has provided £3 million to give Additional Support to jewish communities and schools. As communities and schools. As weve seen, schools having to close. Weve seen schools in north london daubed with red paint. Weve had instances of children being told by their parents or being advised to cover up, to dress differently on the way to school to avoid being a target. Really astonishing scenes in this day and age and indeed the Home Office Independent adviser on extremism , robin simcox, has extremism, robin simcox, has written a piece in the times today in which he says that britain now has what he calls a permissive environment as regards anti semitism and he says this is due to a failed policy mix of mass migration. An and multi culturalism and of course, on the other side, weve seen the pro palestinian protests all over the country andindeed protests all over the country and indeed round the world. I think thats one of the reasons why the government is being so very careful in not attribute blame to the attack on the hospital on tuesday night because of course, the United States have said that they believe it was not israel while the Prime Minister. Oh, apologies. Weve lost that connection with our westminster studio. I dont know why well try and get that sorted out for you, of course, but it is really important, isnt it . How all this is policed now . It has to be said, and that a lot of the pro palestinian rallies have been quite , quite peaceful. Been quite, quite peaceful. Theres been 1 or 2 incidents, 1 or 2 arrests. But on the whole, theyve been pretty good. But a lot of that, i think, is probably to down how its being policed as well. The police are really having to tread very carefully because theres a difference with people wanting to support palestine listens to a difference between those people who are supporting hamas, which is a terrorist organisation, and thats where this sort of very fine balance comes into play. Well, lets let Katherine Forster finish her point there. We lost you mid sentence , we lost you mid sentence, catherine, as you were. Catherine, as you were. I dont know where you lost me, but basically i was at the pro palestinian rally in Central London last saturday. There were well over 10,000 people, i would say, and it was largely peaceful. The police made 59 arrests. The majority of those were for people covering their faces. There were some quite faces. There were some quite unpleasant altercations in trafalgar square. Later in the day. But the things that went viral on social media, i would say, were not the norm. But of course these protests are going to continue. There was a stop the war protest outside downing street last night. I the war protest outside downing street last night. I think theres another pro palestinian protest due in london on saturday. And just walking past downing street, the other day, there was a few people, woman with a loud hailer giving a lecture basically to the police on the gates. There were White Phosphorus pieces of card littered all over the street because some people have alleged that israel may have used White Phosphorus so incredibly difficult, difficult for the police to they were told what constituted grounds for arrest on saturday, deviating from the route, covering their faces. Any route, covering their faces. Any hamas or other terrorist organisation flags. But of organisation flags. But of course, Suella Braverman , the course, Suella Braverman, the home secretary, then coming out and saying looking at stuff that emerged subsequently from that protest on social media such as the girls with the pictures of paratroopers stuck onto their backs that the police would continue to investigate , date continue to investigate, date and bring to justice people who had been at that protest who perhaps had crossed the line into active support of hamas. Into active support of hamas. Okay, catherine, thank you very much. Very much. Okay. It is 8 18 this thursday morning time to get a check on the weather and its pretty serious weather about today. Heres aiden. Oh, hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the news forecast mcgivern here from the met office babette� news forecast mcgivern here from the met office babette moves � ws forecast mcgivern here from the met office babette moves north ecast storm babette moves north through today, bringing wet and windy weather to many places. But truly exceptional rainfall to eastern scotland with the risk of widespread and significant flooding. Thats why there is a red warning for later today and into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across much of scotland, particularly in the east, through the next couple of days. Further south, dries up days. Further south, it dries up for ireland. Eventually for Northern Ireland. Eventually England Wales predominantly england and wales predominantly seeing mixture of sunny spells seeing a mixture of sunny spells and some of and scattered showers. Some of these be heavy, these showers will be heavy, although will day, although it will be a mild day, 17 or celsius in the south, 17 or 18 celsius in the south, 12 to 13 north. But the 12 to 13 further north. But the wind up strength wind picks up strength through the day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts for exposed parts of central northern scotland. Wind gusts for exposed parts of centrwind northern scotland. Wind gusts for exposed parts of centrwind cominglrn scotland. Wind gusts for exposed parts of centrwind coming in scotland. Wind gusts for exposed parts of centrwind coming in from and. That wind coming in from the south east. Unusual south east. Its an unusual direction scotland. So the direction for scotland. So the wettest conditions will be in the rather than the west. The east rather than the west. And by friday, well see accumulations up to 150 and in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus to hundred or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding, transport disruption and a danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south. Another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through the day friday with 50 or even day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places. So very unsettled next few days. Unsettled next few days. Stay with us. Still to come, well have all the its 823. Were looking ahead to homelessness, particularly in relation to children by 2030, its thought 150,000 of them will be living in b bs and other emergency accommodation. Thats emergency accommodation. Thats according to new research from the National Housing federation. The National Housing federation. At one point, 5 million families will also be on the Council House waiting list. Council house waiting list. Thats an increase of more than a third. Well, britains now in the midst of a housing emergency, says the boss of one leading housing association. And thats the theme at the heart of Keir Starmers speech at last weeks labour conference. Economics labour conference. Our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan into halligan has been looking into it on this bedfordshire building site. Site. Dreams are being made of a safe and permanent home. This project is led by grand union , a project is led by grand union, a not for Profit Housing association. In theyre building 40 social Housing Units here for low income and vulnerable families paying below market rents. But with over a million rents. But with over a million households on the Council House waiting list. These much needed homes barely scratch the surface i i i think when we have 150,000 children on sleeping in temporary accommodation and its not really temporary because some of it has lasted over ten years, then that is an emergency. Were damaging peoples futures. This photo for ian and cheryl jarvis. Ian and cheryl jarvis. Social housing became their only option when their daughter kyrees was diagnosed with hydrocele. Cephalus. Kyrees hydrocele. Cephalus. Kyrees unable to walk or talk life in a seventh floor flat became impossible. All for this close impossible. All for this close knit family. Knit family. We were paying over the odds for private renting. So even though we had two wages at the time, once carers came along, the wages started to dwindle because we were needing to be more work. So then to more out of work. So then to look after, to look after the daughter because she was always look after, to look after the da hospitalecause she was always look after, to look after the da hospital visits. She was always look after, to look after the da hospital visits. So e was always look after, to look after the da hospital visits. So so as always look after, to look after the da hospital visits. So so she, lways in hospital visits. So so she, it just became too, too expensive then if wed have carried trying be in the carried on trying to be in the private private side , we would private private side, we would have would just we would private private side, we would have been ould just we would private private side, we would have been probably just we would private private side, we would have been probably worse ve would private private side, we would have been probably worse offvould have been probably worse off than been flat on than we were. Wed been flat on our faces by 2030, the National Housing federation estimates 1. 5 million low income and vulnerable households will be on the waiting list for affordable social housing. Thats a third more than today. And as a result, 150,000 today. And as a result, 150,000 children will be living in temporary accommodation , often temporary accommodation, often such as bed and breakfasts and emergency hostels. Thats six children in every school in the country. Essentially, we cant shower for ian and cheryl, given kyrees special needs grand union has been a life saver. Been a life saver. I dread to think where we would be if wed be together or separated. We wouldnt if enabled to be living with our daughter because she needs a lot of equipment and she needs a 24 hour care. Um, so yeah, i dont know where wed be without grand union and being in this house elsewhere in bedfordshire is grand unions newly built camomile gardens sheltered accommodation for social tenants aged 55 plus. Jacqui recently lost her leg in an accident. She says living here is a godsend. But social here is a godsend. But social housing is a lottery. Housing is a lottery. There seems to be an area where some people are struggling to get anywhere, and others just seem to be lucky. I dont know seem to be lucky. I dont know how other way to explain it. The media focussed on home ownership, alien evans says the need for more social housing is often ignored, but the alternative is the state subsidising vulnerable families to rent on the open market. Successive governments need to invest in social housing, othennise we will consign families to lives where their futures are stolen and well have a burgeoning housing benefit bill that will cost the taxpayer far more than Building Social housing in the first place. While rishi sunak failed to mention housing in his Party Conference speech, keir starmer put more homes at the centre of his offer to voters. This could be the issue that decides the next general election. Liam next general election. Liam halligan gb news in bedfordshire i or we can talk now to the secretary for the social Housing Action campaign suzanne mona for more on this. Good morning to you. You dont actually think the shortage of housing is the main problem in all of this . Do you think its the price point . Yeah, i mean, theres a lot of evidence that, you know, theres a lot of housing that is not being used, that is empty, is suitable , you know, for is suitable, you know, for people to take up. There is people to take up. There is obviously a shortage in supply as well. So we wouldnt be saying that the only issue is, is you know, there is a housing at the right price, but we certainly need to be looking at empty homes, for example, there are the action on empty homes estimates around £250,000, homes that are perfectly habitable are just standing empty. So we need to look at the whole question of housing supply in the round. I think rather than just one area, we would certainly want to see far more housing built for sub market rents, for social rents , market rents, for social rents, which are 50 of market rate , which are 50 of market rate, and even lower than that. And we and even lower than that. And we need to massively increase , need to massively increase, increase the affordable the genuinely affordable rental supply by what a lot of people dont realise is that actually Housing Associations build a significant proportion of their homes for full market rent or full market sale and this is they are gradually losing their social purpose which was to help alleviate poverty by providing housing that people on ordinary wages would be able to afford. Wages would be able to afford. In terms of the Housing Stock thatis in terms of the Housing Stock that is standing empty. And a lot of people would say, yeah, great use it if its sat there, use it. The problem is how how do you even start to go about that . Because youre looking at what compulsory purchase orders or mean that all becomes very expensive. Then doesnt it . Expensive. Then doesnt it . Well, i think the piece that youve just shown shows that actually its very , very actually its very, very expensive to have a lot of people in precarious housing. You can add the cost of temporary accommodation onto that, which we know is costing government a massive amount of money. You can add the cost of people who are living in substandard accommodation and medak dot, which looks at how questions of housing and health estimates that it costs the nhs about £1. 4 billion a year to treat people who have suffered illness or housing. So actually by not providing depher , you by not providing depher, you know, widespread, widely available, decent accommodate opfion available, decent accommodate option that people can afford is actually costing the economy a huge amount of money. You can obviously also look at the impact, for example, on childrens education and other areas of life system and so on. So i think there is a real economic argument for actually building homes that people can, yes, genuinely afford. Yes, genuinely afford. Suzanne muna, were just beginning to lose the line there. Well say goodbye to you from social Housing Action. We appreciate your time this morning. Thanks very much , indeed. In the system today gremlins in the system today on the old internal net. There you go. Never mind. Lets turn you go. Never mind. Lets turn our attention to the world of sport. I have my sister. Sport. I have my sister. Oh, you do . I do, yes. So youll have to bear with me. I may cut out halfway through. It could be. It could be. It could be problematic. Look, theres a very big match for england in the rugby cup coming up the Rugby World Cup coming up this. And a familiar foe this weekend. And a familiar foe , though, faced before i we have indeed, south africa and im looking at the links and i said this, the links between 2000 and 7 and now its a slow burn. We ended up getting to the final and lost to south africa in the final. It was in france as well. So i have someone that played in the game. Thats what we need. Thats what we need. Knows his onions, a friend of ours and england 24 caps for england. George shuter, who joins us. Morning george. Joins us. Morning george. George morning. How are you, m ate . Very mate . Very well. Good to see you. And i believe in germany, which is i guess nobody knows what rugby is in germany. Is that fair . Theres a bit of rugby out here. Im not here for rugby, unfortunately, but yeah, theres a little bit of rugby here in germany. A minority sport germany. Its a minority sport admittedly, they , there is admittedly, but they, there is a there is an element of it. Okay. Well i do want to talk about the links then between two thousand and seven. Is that fair to say . Are you seeing very similar, you know, similarities because we are flying a little under radar. And under the radar. And it certainly the case back when certainly was the case back when you played in two thousand and seven, to final and seven, got to the final and nobody expected it, did. They yeah. I mean, theres some direct parallels in that respect. Zero seven, respect. And back in zero seven, we very good. Think we we werent very good. I think we were probably worse than we werent very good. I think we werecurrentnly worse than we werent very good. I think we werecurrent team, worse than we werent very good. I think we werecurrent team, to orse than we werent very good. I think we werecurrent team, to bese than this current team, to be perfectly honest. We lost in the pool to south africa 36 and pool to south africa 36 nil and sort managed to pull our sort of managed to pull our socks off bit and end up in socks off a bit and end up in the final and very, very against the final and very, very against the of play. And so africa the run of play. And so africa were a Number One Team in the world, had been Number One Team in the world for about three years. Then as well. So yeah, i guess the sort of the comparisons are fairly relevant. The has changed a lot since then, but yeah, i think youre looking of looking at a real sort of minnows against one of the joint favourites in the semi finals. So yeah , some certainly some so yeah, some certainly some direct parallels. Direct parallels. Yeah, well always laughs at me i always use this me because i always use this phrase in sport. Isabel the phrase in sport. Isabel the phrase momentum or momentum. Phrase is momentum or momentum. Its like sesame street. The word of the day is momentum. Word of the day is momentum. Yeah. So is key, isnt it . Yeah. So that is key, isnt it . In any world cup, in any sport it and do we have that momentum . Because, you know, we havent lost a game yet. I mean, im a big believer in momentum. There are people out there that say it doesnt mean anything, doesnt count. But but i think south africa are the team with momentum here. Theyve just beaten one of the hot favourites, the home team in the semi final the one of semi final in one of the one of the games has ever been the best games has ever been england have know theyve england have you know theyve theyre as you said but theyre unbeaten as you said but theyve yet theyve not played anyone yet argentina were abject very poor in the in the pool game fiji were good but pushed us all the way and we werent particularly convincing conceded four tries. So actually although we are we are on a six game winning streak, i think it is um, i dont think thats necessarily a huge amount of momentum in there. We havent played any of there. We havent played any of the sort of top real top teams on top form yet. So this is a big up, big, huge step up in fact, from, from what england have been playing of late. Are we getting carried away think we getting carried away to think that be able to win this that we may be able to win this now . Like you say, its this is like you say, its going to be incredibly tough, isnt africa . Isnt it, against south africa . And the talk about marcus and is all the talk about marcus smith steward and smith and freddie steward and what make on that what do you make on that situation there . Because hes marcus the or is he injured marcus the guy or is he injured or freddie being much taller would against would would suit playing against south i believe that would would suit playing against south picked i believe that would would suit playing against south picked up i believe that would would suit playing against south picked up a i believe that would would suit playing against south picked up a concussioniat would would suit playing against south picked up a concussion at smith picked up a concussion at the so this is an injury the weekend so this is an injury enforced change is what ive read into it. Um, i mean , in all fairness, um, i mean, in all fairness, i dont think marcus smith impacted the game at the weekend. I dont think anyone because marcus smith was playing full back, no disrespect to him. It wasnt that sort of it just wasnt that sort of game. Bang in the face game. He got a bang in the face early just seen pictures early on. He just seen pictures there. Got a bang in the face there. He got a bang in the face early on that ruined model. Early on that ruined his model. Good welcome to the good looks are welcome to the club i think freddie club and i think freddie stewarts been one englands stewarts been one of englands best players last two best players over the last two years. Was very surprised that years. I was very surprised that he game anyway. He didnt start the game anyway. So lose absolutely so england lose absolutely nothing. In fact, they potentially a sort of an potentially gain a sort of an element of play by picking stewart. Far better in the stewart. But far better in the air far better defensive fullback than smith is fullback than marcus smith is marcus smith , i dont believe marcus smith, i dont believe has ever played fullback his has ever played fullback for his club, international club, let alone international rugby. Weekend. So rugby. Prior to the weekend. So yeah, england lose nothing there andits yeah, england lose nothing there and its not its not a its not and its not its not a its not an Impossible Task for england. They can of course they can win this game. Thats what this is. What love about sport is the what we love about sport is the unpredictable about all unpredictable about it. If all sport predicted exactly, sport was predicted exactly, then you wouldnt it then you wouldnt watch it because just read it then you wouldnt watch it bethese just read it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper just read it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper ont read it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper on theid it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper on the on it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper on the on the it then you wouldnt watch it bethe paper on the on the next in the paper on the on the next day. So england go this day. So england go into this game nothing to lose. As game with nothing to lose. As you theyre sort of finding you say, theyre sort of finding their feet a little bit. They you say, theyre sort of finding theitheyt a little bit. They you say, theyre sort of finding theithey are. Ittle bit. They you say, theyre sort of finding theithey are playing. They you say, theyre sort of finding theithey are playing better than are they are playing better than they potentially sort they were potentially sort of six, games ago. And six, eight, ten games ago. And theyve south theyve got every chance south africa have to come back africa have got to come back from one of their best from playing one of their best ever and thats ever games. And thats individually and as a nation. I mean, if you look back through the of the long history mean, if you look back through thnsouth of the long history mean, if you look back through thnsouth of th rugby, history mean, if you look back through thnsouth of th rugby, i story mean, if you look back through thnsouth of th rugby, i doubt of south african rugby, i doubt youll find a much better fixture than the french fixture than than the french game so theyve game the other night. So theyve got raise their game again got to raise their game again that theyre picking. Think that theyre picking. I think they picked exact same team. That theyre picking. I think thethese ed exact same team. That theyre picking. I think thethese guys exact same team. That theyre picking. I think thethese guys have t same team. That theyre picking. I think thethese guys have got|me team. That theyre picking. I think thethese guys have got toe team. That theyre picking. I think thethese guys have got to rest m. So these guys have got to rest up. Theyve got to recover from the prepare for the weekend and also prepare for a another one off game a one another one off game against that most of them against a team that most of them will hate to. Theyre very, very core. So this is a its a big game. So mentally and physically, its a massive challenge for south africa as much is for england. Much as it is for england. Makes me okay. Well, that makes me feel little bit better. I do feel a little bit better. I do want to say, though, you said about about marcus, theyre losing saw losing his looks. We saw a picture of you from two thousand and and havent lost and seven and you havent lost yours george, i just yours at all. George, i just want make that clear right now. Yeah. Look, ive got exactly the same. Ive got a hefty, hefty filter on this camera, so. Yeah, look fantastic. Enjoy the game. Thanks a lot for your george. Good for your time, george. Good stuff. You very much. Stuff. Thank you very much. Excellent chuter there. Stuff. Thank you very much. Excethousand chuterthere. Stuff. Thank you very much. Excethousand and huter there. Stuff. Thank you very much. Excethousand and seven. 1ere. Stuff. Thank you very much. Excethousand and seven. You see two thousand and seven. You see a man who knows his stuff. Does what you need. He he does what you need. He didnt sound confident didnt sound overly confident to me, didnt sound overly confident to merou its when you get you know, its when you get well, its a one off game and anything can happen. Thats when you someone thinks theyre you know someone thinks theyre going to lose. In that team but he was in that team defending the title. You know, england had the world cup in england had won the world cup in 2003, had difficult 2003, so they had a difficult job, they . Job, didnt they . A difficult they did have a difficult job. And the team changed. Job. And the team had changed. And was lot of change in and there was a lot of change in that. So they had to rebuild. So if they could do then who if they could do it, then who knows . Anythings knows . Who knows . Anythings possible sport. Possible in sport. Give up do you never give up hope. Do you . Thats keep turning you . Thats why you keep turning up paul. Thats exactly why theres one may get it right. One day i may get it right. You might do. Thank you. You might do. Thank you. And stay with us. Still to come, viewers of big brother say theyve to theyve reported the show to ofcom. After ofcom. Thats after one contestant squeezed mayonnaise into pot is it into his pot noodle. Is it really disgusting . And really that disgusting . And offensive . Well be discussing it makers next. It more in headline makers next. Whats okay. Its 842. Time for the okay. Its 842. Time for the papers this morning or our headune papers this morning or our headline makers as we call it these days. Freddie grey, Deputy Editor of the spectator and broadcaster Claire Muldoon are here. Good morning to you both. Here. Good morning to you both. Good lets get our big, good morning. Lets get our big, thick books out and talk george onnell. Well, thats 1984 animal farm. They are the great allegory of animal farm of course, who could have predicted that it would be against all of communism and onnell, of course, was the saviour of the right wing shall we say, even though he fought against franco, hes a very, very excuse me, difficult man , very intelligent man, very , man, very intelligent man, very, you know, common liquidated, shall we say. And he was always held by the left of being someone terrible that we couldnt actually relate to or wed want to quote. Indeed but hes been in english literature, both north and south of the border , because his books are so border, because his books are so good. And but now weve got Peter Hitchens here in the mail, has choreographed this op ed and said that theres now a new a new biography on onnells long standing suffering , would we standing suffering, would we believe wife and by quite a feminist writer. And the feminist writer. And the precepts of it was that he was always the death of the left. And he, you know, is george onnell now going to be cancer old because of this biography . Old because of this biography . It makes him out to be a homophobic , makes them out to be homophobic, makes them out to be a narcissist. And there is allegations of Domestic Violence within the marriage as well. And Peter Hitchens is saying, well, because of all of this now, because of all of this now, because of all of this now, because of the statute outside broadcasting house here in london for the bbc, is this great writer , will he now be great writer, will he now be cancelled . Because that is the cancelled . Because that is the ire of society for today. And i would say that was be a great shame if that were to be the case, freddie. Well , i case, freddie. Well, i think case, freddie. Well , i think onnell case, freddie. Well, i think onnell is case, freddie. Well , i think onnell is the well, i think onnell is the master of clarity in language and the quotes that Peter Hitchens has from this book show the opposite. The sort of very vague attempts to smear him as a symbol of the patriarch and so on. And i think thats why people will do some people do hate onnell is because he expresses his common sense with great clarity and is one of the most masterful writers of the engush most masterful writers of the english language weve ever had. So Peter Hitchens a huge so Peter Hitchens is a huge onnell fan. Yeah. And i think hes right to sound the alarm. I think if they come for onnell, then all bets are off. I mean, you may not have been a very nice person. No i dont think he was. He wasnt very nice to his wife. He was difficult and not very kind towards women. I dont think. But that doesnt stop him being a great writer. Being a great writer. Yeah. And if you go through any of the great artists or any of the great authors, if you go through who was the personal lives, then perhaps you wouldnt have some of the greatest works that have of the day. That we have of the day. Skeletons shall weve all got skeletons shall we our cupboards. Were we say, in our cupboards. Were all capable of not not having the personalities at time the best personalities at time or, you know, not well, you know, for yourself. No , we are because were no, we are because were human and were flawed and were fundamentally flawed. Fundamentally flawed. And we have free will to be either to well or not to either to behave well or not to behave well or well. Shall we say. Very good. So, you know, weve all got the capacity for it. But i do weve all got the capacity for it. Buti do not weve all got the capacity for it. But i do not think as a literary great i would say onnell should be cancelled. He really ought not to be. And i think its really sad that on his personal basis, we should judge his literary greatness. On his personal basis. And i think its very wrong and its dangerous. Okay, freddie, lets talk about labour. Okay, freddie, lets talk about labour. He came out, we heard at the weekend, marina wheeler, the former Prime Ministers sorry. Yeah, the former Prime Ministers former wife backing him. Weve seen sue gray joining him. And now hes secured a great big whopping great whos this . Great donor. Whos this . Everybodys jumping on the keir starmer bandwagon, larry fink, whos the head of blackrock, is probably blackrock, which is probably one of powerful financial of the most powerful financial corporations in the world, has said that he likes starmer, that he admires what hes done. He admires the fact that hes brought taken the party away from corbynite populism and so on. And labour will be thrilled at this because they are gearing up for power. And of course the up for power. And of course the financial establishment is crucial to power. Yes. Crucial to power. Yes. Which is worrying and yes, actually, i mean whichever side of the of the in a way, this does give a sort of glimmer of opportunity for sunak and the tories, but its going to be very difficult for them to do that, having been quite cosy with blackrock. George of course, George Osborne of course, was involved blackrock involved with blackrock for a long the tories can long time, but if the tories can paint themselves as you know, the, the, the Insurgent Force somehow against keir starmer and the red blue establishment of london, that is clearly warming to starmer because clearly , you to starmer because clearly, you know, people in very powerful positions, powerful know, people in very powerful positions, positions, erful know, people in very powerful positionsjpositions, are l know, people in very powerful positionsjpositions, are betting financial positions, are betting now that its going to be a Labour Government and theyre learning to love that idea. Yeah, that was John Caldwell as well. A former big tory donor hes a former big tory donor saying that off the back of the conservatives of away conservatives sort of move away from commitments, from net zero commitments, he was he might back was thinking that he might back labour as well. Yes. Yes. Well, you well, phones for you billionaire well a lot of well, phones for you bill companies. A lot of well, phones for you bill companies have a lot of well, phones for you bill companies have putt of well, phones for you bill companies have put huge Big Companies have put huge amounts of basing it on amounts of money basing it on net commitments and now net zero commitments and now theyre cross because they theyre very cross because they feel their have been feel all their plans have been inflation linked to all inflation was linked to all the net zero targets we had as well. And that was the bank of england came out a few weeks ago and its actually its and said that its actually its inhibiting Market Trends and its actually inhibiting the country to get the inflation down because companies have to commit to the 2050 net zero thats been legislate slated for in parliament. Well, quite. I mean, the lib concerns that its net zero is creating a kind of zombie economy. I mean, we all know the question posed is, do we want to do we want a better environment . Yes. Is the answer. Do we want cleaner air . Yes is the answer. But the next question is or the next statement is its going to cost x, y and z next statement is its going to cost x, y and 2 billion pounds. Everyones going to go, oh, maybe not that much. We actually can we can we just actually can we move on to something really m atters . Oh, matters . Oh, go on. Stephen. How you eat noodle , right . Eat your pot noodle, right . How do eat yours and whats your do you eat yours and whats your favourite flavour . Favourite flavour . So beef and tomato, right. And i also put in a couple of chilli flakes and a bit of onion gravy in the very northern to thicken it. Very northern. When did you start this penchant for pot noodle . This begin . Noodle . When did this all begin . Probably about years ago. My goodness me. My goodness me. There you go. There you go. Did you ever get your hands burnt with the plastic . No its all right. All right. Ive never done that. But have have a pot that. But you have to have a pot noodle. The were noodle. So the reason were talking about this is because big two nights ago, one big brother, two nights ago, one of contestants named of the contestants named jordan jordan, audacity to have jordan, had the audacity to have a pot noodle. In fact, nay, i think he had to. I think he stole one. Perhaps from the kitchen. But moreover, there there was apparently a complaint to ofcom because what he did because do you know what he did with he added. Mayonnaise. With it . He added. Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise into his pot noodle and he sat there stuffing it in. Well, i cant blame him. Stuffing in. Lets have a look. Tastes like a smelly dormitory day. Oh, thats good. Ive never tried like a smelly dormitory. What . You have me over there. What . You have me over there. What . You have me over there. P o noodles, hang, mayo in your noodles. I love hellmanns mayonnaise. I love hellmanns mayonnaise. Is it curdling . Is it curdling . Is it curdling . Oh, my. Oh, my god. Please oh, my. Oh, my god. Please oh, my. Oh, my god. Please it is curdling disgusting. It is curdling disgusting. It is curdling disgusting. Listen, ill talk. Listen, ill talk. Listen, ill talk. That is an abomination, isnt it, freddie . Oh, thats quite it, freddie . Oh, thats quite disgusting. I dont think you should subject your viewers to that at breakfast. Id like to apologise i when did big brother get so posh, though . Is it curdling . That was actually what i was going to say, but im actually quite impressed that someone would actually know that that could happen. Well. Well, yeah, but they also sound rather well. Also sound rather well. Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is a great to anything i great addition to anything i would. Would say. I have to say the same, yeah, i have to say the same, but noodle. Not draw the but not pot noodle. Not draw the line noodle. Line at a pot noodle. Not a fan of mayo salad im not a fan of mayo salad cream salad cream and mayo salad cream salad cream and mayo salad cream and. And no, not in a pot noodle, but just general. Yes. Like on a cold pizza or something. Mayo, not mayo. Mayo, not mayo. Oh, pot noodles still readily available everywhere. Yes yeah. Ijust available everywhere. Yes yeah. I just feel i havent seen one for years. Oh no youre not looking round down the right aisle, freddie. Wouldnt freddie, freddie. You wouldnt freddie, you go down the right you wouldnt go down the right aisle. I shop at everywhere , i shop at everywhere, anywhere and everywhere. But youve still got to go to the right aisle. Youve got to go to the youve got to go to the snacks and gravy aisle. Is there a snacks and gravy aisle . The sort of, aisle . Yeah the sort of, you know, you of dried noodles, know, you sort of dried noodles, your snacks, your gravy. Know, you sort of dried noodles, youits acks, your gravy. Know, you sort of dried noodles, youits beside our gravy. Know, you sort of dried noodles, youits beside thegravy. Know, you sort of dried noodles, youits beside the polish island its beside the polish island in between the irish lyle and the. Ive seen. Ive seen that. Yeah, yeah. You wouldnt go down there, freddie. Its not, its not. You it would be. I mind the other i dont mind the other noodles. You know the one, the other ones that come in a packet. Posh ones. Packet. The posh ones. No theyre no. The super theyre not. Oh no. The super noodles. The sort of ones noodles. Yeah. The sort of ones with little. With the little. I like that one. I like that one. A little bit of spring onion and some chilli flakes just to jazzit and some chilli flakes just to jazz it up a little yeah. Jazz it up a little bit. Yeah. How do you do yours. Let us know. Have we time . Sorry. Know. Have we got time . Sorry. No, no were going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo no were going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo say no were going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo say goodbye were going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo say goodbye to ere going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo say goodbye to you going know. Have we got time . Sorry. Ncgo say goodbye to you both. To go say goodbye to you both. Were to go to scotland. Were going to go to scotland. Very oh, are you enjoy. Very well. Oh, are you enjoy. Very well. Oh, are you enjoy. Yes. Thank you, claire. Thank you, freddie. Appreciate it. I know if we going i dont know if we are going to enjoy because a rare red weather stating there is weather warning stating there is a risk to has been issued a risk to life has been issued for of scotland. Ali for parts of scotland. Moeen ali east storm babet is east coast has storm babet is expected batter uk today. Expected to batter the uk today. Were ourselves, arent expected to batter the uk today. We for ourselves, arent expected to batter the uk today. We for windzlves, arent expected to batter the uk today. We for wind and , arent expected to batter the uk today. We for wind and rain nt expected to batter the uk today. We for wind and rain from we, for heavy wind and rain from the storm. Its currently hitting ireland then in ireland and then sweeping in from lets go to from the atlantic. Lets go to our reporter tony our scotland reporter tony maguire. It where you maguire. How is it where you are . Tony hey, im pretty miserable if im being completely honest with you. I right here im being completely honest with you. I right here in im being completely honest with you. I right here in brighton at you. I right here in brighton at about 7 00 this morning, and already the rain was was coming down really hard. And in the last hour, the wind has really picked up here, as im no doubt you hear in the studio. Is you can hear in the studio. Is it just alter the position of the microphone there . And the microphone there . And certainly behind me, what you can see is, is the south river esk. Now, thats been highlighted as one of the two Major Concerns of flooding in this period , as well as the this period, as well as the north river. Ask a little bit north river. Ask a little bit further north and certainly the level of the river is already quite high. You have to remember that in the last couple of weeks, scotland has undergone quite a lot of rain. If you remember, all that intense remember, all that quite intense flooding kinross flooding in perth and kinross just a couple of weeks ago. And certainly residents have no sooner able to recover from sooner been able to recover from that theyre now facing that and that theyre now facing this rare red warning for exceptional and persistent rain. Exceptional and persistent rain. Very specific wording there from the met office and indeed , if the met office and indeed, if the met office and indeed, if the red weather warning is to go from 6 00 tonight all the way through to about midday tomorrow, then you can understand that if the rain is this heavy , as youre seeing me this heavy, as youre seeing me on camera now getting blown on camera just now getting blown about a gale, all the way about in a gale, all the way through till, you know, we think even saturday, perhaps. And then you can understand why flooding here and those houses over my right shoulder are scarily close to the bank of this river. And now certainly the theres not really Much Movement in terms of the council. Angus council put the council. Angus council put out a release last night and talking about that, the scottish Environmental Protection agency, they would be out in force today in angus, in the affected area and helping residents with sand sandbags. But certainly the way sandbags. But certainly the way that this rain is coming down just now and we hope that they will be quick about it. Okay , tony, hang about for okay, tony, hang about for us, wont you, throughout the weekend so we can get the latest updates. A bit of a miserable job, im afraid. Warm in between. Thanks very much indeed. I know what its like. I mean, that that horrid, that is that is horrid, actually. Sort of weather is even that sort of weather is even if you didnt get any worse than it now, just proper it is now, its just proper miserable. Yeah. Nothing new to have weather like that in scotland. I mean, depends how scotland. I mean, it depends how badits scotland. I mean, it depends how bad its going to get, though. Well i mean, is it infantilization . Infantilization . Do we need to know all of this stuff . I mean, if theres dangerous to life. Yeah. I mean, theres always danger to life. , yeah. Full of the joys of oh, yeah. Full of the joys of spring, claire. Well i went to university in scotland , and i came. I learned to love the weather there. Did you . Yeah i liked it. So green and lovely. Yeah, so green and lovely. Yeah, well, it is. Thats true. But, you know, thats true. But, you know, keep your windows open, get your central heating off and bear it like a scot. Central heating off and bear it likewell� ot. Central heating off and bear it likewell there you go. Well there you go. Well there you go. Complaining. Stop stop complaining. Stop complaining. This is the point. Lets have a look at the weather where you are. Hi there. Aidan mcgivern from its Aidan Mcgivern here from the with the gb news the met office with the gb news forecast. Storm babet moves north through today, bringing wet to many wet and windy weather to many places. But exceptional places. But truly exceptional rainfall eastern scotland rainfall to eastern scotland with the risk of widespread and significant flooding. Thats why there is warning for later there is a red warning for later today and into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across much of scotland, particularly in the east through the next couple of days. Further it up days. Further south, it dries up for northern eventually for Northern Ireland eventually england predominantly england and wales predominantly seeing of sunny spells seeing a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of these showers will be heavy, although be a mild day, although it will be a mild day, 17 or celsius in the south, 17 or 18 celsius in the south, 12 13 further north. But the 12 to 13 further north. But the wind up strength through wind picks up strength through the or 80 mile per hour the day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts for exposed parts of central northern scotland. Central and northern scotland. That in from that wind coming in from the south east. An unusual south east. Its an unusual direction for scotland. So the wettest will be in wettest conditions will be in the east rather than the west at and friday, well see and by friday, well see accumulations up to 150. And in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus 200 or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding. Transport disruption and danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south, another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through day on friday with through the day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places. So very unsettled next few days the president leaves and a Prime Minister arrives as tensions in the middle east continue to flare. Flare. A very good morning to you. Its coming up to 9 00 on thursday, the 19th of october. Youre tuned in to breakfast with Isabel Webster and Stephen Dixon. These are the stories weve been covering so far this morning. And israels military says hundreds sites says its hit hundreds of sites in over the past 24 hours, in gaza over the past 24 hours, targeting only what it claims is hamas infrastructure as its air campaign shows no sign of ending. It says anti tank missiles ,. It says anti tank missiles, launch sites, tunnels and hamas headquarters were destroyed. Well, gaza remains under siege, with israel blocking cross border supplies of water, electricity and fuel. But weve learned the us and egyptians are saying lorries providing aid should start crossing from egypt into gaza from tomorrow. Well its joe bidens visit to israel fails to calm fears of a wider war. Rishi sunak is in israel this morning. Its a two day visit to the region. And well have the region. And well have coverage live from israel with charlie. Charlie. More support on the ground or just solidarity . Just solidarity . We sunak diplomacy reaches israel as british hostages remain in captivity and british interests are at risk across this escalating conflict. This escalating conflict. While the fallout from the conflict sees tensions reverberate across the world and king charles has issued a plea for Mutual Understanding in times of turmoil , temptation to times of turmoil, temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recrimination society must be resisted. Resisted. Also this morning, resisted. Also this morning , after a also this morning, after a string of false starts, the bibi stockholm is back. The home office is expected to return Asylum Seekers to the vessel today. Today. The treasury minister has refused to give a commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation. We debated whether or not we should increase them. You not we should increase them. You can watch that on our social media and a red weather media feeds and a red weather warning of risks to life has been issued as the uk braces for floods and strong winds. Floods and strong winds. Weve been getting the latest from our scotland reporter throughout the morning. Throughout the morning. 150,000 children will be homeless and 1. 5 million families will be waiting for a Council House by the end of this decade. How can we solve our housing emergency . You can watch Liam Halligan special report at gbnews. Com and in the last half hour, we interviewed former england Rugby World Cup star George Chuter ahead of englands semi final game against south africa. You can find that and all the stories weve covered on breakfast just by searching gb news breakfast on youtube and last but not least, of course, aiden will have your forecast. Aiden will have your forecast. A red warning has been issued for parts of eastern scotland because of exceptional amounts of rainfall expected over the next few days. Ill have full details on storm babett in the forecast coming up. Forecast coming up. And as always, we love to hear from you. Get in touch this morning. You can email us gb views at gbnews. Com. Views at gb news. Com. Views at gbnews. Com. Lets just start with the developing news this morning as the Prime Minister has arrived in israel. But hes its a two day visit. But hes its a two day visit. But what he has done is hes been taken to jerusalem. Lets show you the latest pictures of that. Show you the latest pictures of that. Quite where in jerusalem. That. Quite where in jerusalem. This is not quite clear. But the Prime Minister has said that it is really important that he can have a diplomatic effect at oh, we cant hear what he has to say. Well get that sorted out for you. But hes meeting the israeli Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu. Hes meeting the netanyahu. Hes meeting the israeli president , calling i mean, we know he wants to improve aid, access for gazans. Of course. But whether he can of course. But whether he can have a massive impact, its hard to know at this stage. To know at this stage. And he will hope to make gains where President Biden wasnt necessarily able to. Lets listen in to what the president had to say. Israel has been badly victimised by, you know, the truth is that if they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who are have nowhere to go , theyre going to be to go, theyre going to be thats what they should do. And thats what they should do. And if they dont, theyll be held accountable. And my point to everyone is, look , if you have everyone is, look, if you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain, you should do it, period. And if you dont, youre going to lose credibility worldwide. And so there you go to President Biden, have that much of an impact. Its hard to know exactly what went on behind the scenes. I thats what youve got i think thats what youve got to in some of to bear in mind with some of that. Now its the turn of that. So now its the turn of rishi sunak trying to attempt to influence the conflict. But as he does that , of course, he does that, of course, protests are taking around protests are taking place around the world. Certainly here in the u. K, protesters from stop the War Coalition gathered in whitehall yesterday. They held a vigil for those who perished in the gaza hospital blasts earlier in the program, we asked the security minister who he thought was responsible. Was responsible. First thing to say about this is its an extraordinary human tragedy. A number of people lost their lives and a service that was there to support palestinians in a moment of extreme need has been removed from them. So thats the first thing to mention is, is to be extremely clear that this is human the second is, human tragedy. The second is, look, ive been speaking to our intelligence over Intelligence Services over the last 48 hours. And as you last 24, 48 hours. And as you can imagine , im trying get can imagine, im trying to get to a very clear picture this. To a very clear picture on this. And until weve got that clarity, im not going to be saying anything as saying anything because, as youve quite rightly, youve put it, quite rightly, wild over the last wild speculation over the last few days and the careless rush to headlines has led some very, very unwise comments being made by organisations and individuals who frankly should have known better. Better. Well, our reporter Charlie Peters has been following every twist and turn for gb news from israel throughout the conflict and has this report on President Bidens visit there is no doubt whose side President Biden is on when it comes to the conflict between israel and hamas. Between israel and hamas. Mr president , joe, i want to thank you for coming here today. But he has softened his support for the destruction of hamas with concern for civilian casualties and calls for humanitarian aid in gaza. Humanitarian aid in gaza. You are a jewish state. You are a jewish state, but youre also a democracy unlike the United States. You dont live by the rules of terrorist. You live the rules of terrorist. You live by the rule of law. And when by the rule of law. And when conflicts flare , you live by the conflicts flare, you live by the law of wars. What sets us apart law of wars. What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life. Israeli, palestinian , an arab israeli, palestinian, an arab jew , muslim, christian, everyone jew, muslim, christian, everyone. It cant give up. What makes you who you are and while he publicly warned of the need to operate by the rules of war, the message he delivered behind closed doors was probably more stern than mr bidens high stakes visit was overshadowed by the blast at a gaza City Hospital. Israel was immediately blamed by hamas, but the idf say the blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Mr blast was caused by a misfired palestinian rocket. Mr Biden Palestinian rocket. Mr biden backed the israeli version of events. Events. I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in gaza yesterday and based on what ive seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team. Not not you. But the other team. Not not you. But a visit that was supposed to calm tensions , increased them as calm tensions, increased them as arab leaders had cancelled meetings with biden as protests rocked the region after the hamas claims about the gazan hospital explosion. Hospital explosion. Im very honoured to meet you, sir. As mr biden visited victims of the hamas attack on israeli communities on october the 7th, he was mindful of the need to support innocent palestine persons in gaza. The nearly two persons in gaza. The nearly two weeks of bombing and a blockade of food, water and power. There of food, water and power. There is panic, grief and desperation among more than 2 million palestinians as within minutes of bidens appeal to the israeli war cabinet to allow aid into gaza , the Prime Ministers gaza, the Prime Ministers Office Released a statement confirming the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance, but only via the egyptian border. Mr biden also announced military aid for israel, but he had one last message before heading home. He wants the ultimate end game to be peace , ultimate end game to be peace, shock, pain and rage , an all shock, pain and rage, an all consuming rage. Consuming rage. I understand that Many Americans understand you cant look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers , to your mothers, your fathers, your grandparents, sons , your grandparents, sons, daughters, children, even babies and not scream out for justice as justice must be done. But i as justice must be done. But i caution this while you feel that rage , dont be consumed by it. Rage, dont be consumed by it. But as he left tel aviv, hamas rockets lit up the night sky. Charlie peters gb news, israel. Israel. Well, thats head to tel aviv and talk to charlie now and whilst of course theres so much focus charlie on on what is happening in israel in gaza, i mean there also has to be people really looking out to the regional developments here to the instability which looks like it could be coming. Yes it could be coming. Yes and as rishi sunak arrives today, we have had unconfirmed reports in the last hour that there has been a missile strike on a Us Military Base by Lebanese Hezbollah allies and terrorists in syria. The konoko terrorists in syria. The konoko base in deir al zour, which is an area in Northern Syria bordering with iraq. Yesterday, a us official said that the al harir and al Assad Military bases were targeted by drone strikes with some us troops evacuated for possible traumatic brain injuries. After us air defence shot down a drone in that area. This is a significt development because they have not been drone attacks by iran augned not been drone attacks by iran aligned proxy terror groups in that area for well over a year. Theres been a de facto peace between iranian groups and us and Coalition Forces in the region for the last year. You will recall that after the us, donald trump struck qassem suleimani, the Quds Force Commander in commander in january 2020, theres a Senior Iranian general. There were iranian general. There were strikes on us and conventional forces is in and around iraq after that, including the death of a british army soldier. So we of a british army soldier. So we are seeing, i think, a return to that reaction by iran to american and Coalition Forces in israel at the moment, that situation is escalating and is definitely part of that wider iranian strategy to flex its muscles in the shia crescent from tehran all the way to lebanon. We have also seen a resurgence of the skirmishes in northern israel. This morning northern israel. This morning there were the exchange of fire last night with idf shelling and drone strikes hitting targets. Lebanese hezbollah is releasing the names of hamas and hezbollah terrorists being killed by idf strikes every day. So rishi sunak arriving in israel as the crisis continues on the gaza strip , but also as british strip, but also as british interests and us interests are being targeted further around the region in iraq, in syria, and of course , those further and of course, those further threats in the north. This situation is escalating for sure. Okay, thank you very much, charlie. Well, speaking last charlie. Well, speaking last night at a dinner in the city of london, king charles stressed the importance of what he called Mutual Understanding between religions during difficult, Turbulent Times. Turbulent times. One of my first acts as sovereign little over a year ago was to open the doors of Buckingham Palace to the leaders of the major faiths represented across these islands to welcome them with respect and indeed love, and to rededicate my life to protect the space for faith itself within our shores. Such itself within our shores. Such understands king, both at home and overseas, is never more vital than at times of International Turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life. Heartbreaking loss of life. Well, mutual understands is in short supply in the middle east. Pro palestinian protest is continuing right across the region, from turkey and lebanon to jordan and the west bank. And of course, more concern over whats happened in the last few hours , as we heard from charlie hours, as we heard from Charlie Peters last night, the former Palestinian Authority spokesperson, day joined nigel farage and told gb news, its just not possible to bomb your way out of conflict , dumping way out of conflict, dumping more guns and more munitions and clapping and cheering on as more bombs are dropped on 2. 3 Million People who are caged in an open air prison is not the answer. And weve seen this time and again, we know it doesnt work. You cannot bomb your way into changing peoples minds. The americans couldnt do it. Others couldnt do it. It just wouldnt work. The core issue here is that an entire nation, the palestinians in the west bank and in gaza, continue due to be denied their right to be free, their right to have a country, a state of their own. And state of their own. And everybody wants to do anything but face that fact well away from the middle east and to domestic matters now. And after a string of false starts, including a previous evacuation due to an outbreak of legionella disease , 39 asylum legionella disease, 39 Asylum Seekers are now expected to return to the bibi stockholm stockholm barge today. Well, that news comes as a sweet shop owner responsible for smuggling 10,000 Asylum Seekers across the channel has been jailed for 11 years. As the crackdown on people smuggling continues. Continues. Well, lets go now to our south west of england, reporter jeff moody. Any signs of jeff moody. Any signs of movement yet there, jeff . Hello movement yet there, jeff . Hello hello. Yes, no signs of movement from any Asylum Seekers. Plenty of signs of movement from the press, though, that are here out in force. There are snappers all around waiting for the first glimpse of the Asylum Seekers to arrive. The Asylum Seekers to arrive. Were not sure what time they will arrive, but were told that some will be here by around 10 or 11 00 this morning with its thought that theyre coming up from devon this morning as i say, should be here around ten. Well, this is the culmination of months of legal wranglings months of legal wranglings months of legal wranglings months of protests. And of course , that legionella outbreak course, that legionella outbreak. But today is the day that Suella Braverman can finally declare victory on her battle to fill the bibby stockholm barge. Fill the bibby stockholm barge. And weve been here before , and weve been here before, havent we . Back in august, we were all very excited when several busloads came in. 39 came on board and then they left again just four days later after this outbreak of legionella on board. The home office very quickly said that they had sorted out the problem with the water supply here, but then there were legal issues. As the there were legal issues. As the mayor of portland , carolyn parks mayor of portland, carolyn parks , launched a high court claim, a high court claim to try and prevent the Asylum Seekers coming here in the first place, saying that various planning permissions hadnt been applied for because it was on the water and various loopholes that she identified. Well, the high court identified. Well, the High Court Judge kicked it out of court, dismissed that, said that she was out of time, that none of that was particularly relevant. Claim to victory for Suella Braverman. And heres that braverman. And heres that victory today. Well, the 39 victory today. Well, the 39 Asylum Seekers that came on board last time wrote an open letter to the home office shortly after their four days on board saying what a miserable time they had of it, saying that it was very much like a prison barge. They really didnt come back. But theyve now received those again. And the those letters again. And the letters have said in no uncertain that they have Uncertain Terms that they have no choice. Theyre coming here and coming here today. And theyre coming here today. Okay, jeff , thanks very much okay, jeff, thanks very much indeed. Still to come, well be speaking to the british adventurer mark agnew about what hes been up to. Now, the british adventurer mark agnew and his team have become the first people to kayak the entire Northwest Passage from baffin bay to the beaufort sea following the route sought by captain sir john sea following the route sought by captain sirjohn franklin, by captain sir john franklin, his doomed northwest Northwest Passage voyage in 1845. Well, the 2000 mile expedition comes after mark suffered a Mental Health crisis in 2018, and he credits kayaking with helping him to overcome it. Well. Well, its a hell of a well. Well, its a hell of a thing to do, actually, up there. Thing to do, actually, up there. Mark is here talk. I mean, well done. First and foremost, because this must have been, frankly, terrifying. Frankly, terrifying. Yeah, well, the terrifying this sort of happens in in hindsight when youre when youre in the moment, when theres a few specific moments that i theres a few specific moments thati can theres a few specific moments that i can think of where our lives were really on the line. And we had to fight for ourselves and fight for each other, at that point, youre not scared. Youre reacting. And i guess you could become ovennhelmed. Youre ovennhelmed. But you youre proactive. You get yourself out of and then time passes , of it and then when time passes, you look back and you think, wow, you know, those were right. So you did this in 103 days and twice, you basically came close you think . Talk close to death. You think . Talk us through those those incidents. Well , there was sort of a few well, there was sort of a few hairy moments , but there two hairy moments, but there was two in particular. Were in particular. One, we were trying this big crossing, trying to do this big crossing, a 50 mile crossing across a place called prince regent inlet. And just got to the inlet. And just as we got to the end of it, we were only an hour away from shore. And suddenly all began to appear all this ice began to appear from north filled from the north and just filled up whole literally. Up the whole place, literally. For me. Watch it for me. Watch it for me. Was it wasnt forming. It it was it wasnt forming. It broken off in a different part. And then it seemed to like avalanche. Yeah, like it looked like more than it was like lava more than ice. It was spilling and piling spilling over itself and piling down and filling up every inch of the we in. And of the water. We were in. And those last four hours, four miles, we should have taken an houn miles, we should have taken an hour. Eight hours, and hour. Took us eight hours, and we weaving and dodging and we were weaving and dodging and trying to through ice we were weaving and dodging and try itg to through ice we were weaving and dodging and try itjust through ice we were weaving and dodging and try it just cascadedjh ice we were weaving and dodging and try itjust cascaded down. Ice we were weaving and dodging and try it just cascaded down. And as it just cascaded down. And finally we found this break in the ice, not big enough to get to shore, but big enough for us to shore, but big enough for us to just sit and have a rest while we were contemplating our our. Suddenly, bits of our fate. Suddenly, two bits of ice just changed direction and came towards us like trash came towards us like the trash compressor in star wars about to crush luke skywalker. Me and it just smashed into the side of our kayaks and by an absolute miracle, instead of crushing us to death , the pressure lifted us to death, the pressure lifted us up like squeezing a bar of soap and it popping up. Up like squeezing a bar of soap and it popping up. And, you and it popping up. And, you know, if the kayak had been a kilogram heavier, weighed to the left, way to the right, if id instinctively put my out or instinctively put my arm out or something, have just something, we would have just died. We were died. But instead we were just held up above the water. And that was a moment you that was that was a moment you look and tell us about look back on and tell us about the polar bears, because people might not realise just how dangerous saw dangerous they are. Well, we saw polar the first half polar bears in the first half almost day, sometimes almost every day, sometimes multiple polar bears a day, often but polar bears often with cubs, but polar bears that , you know, they often with cubs, but polar bears that, you know, they dont want to work that hard for their food. Theyre scavengers and theyre pounces rather than hunters. So most of them, wed make a noise. Wed just let them know that in the area know that we were in the area and run away. But one and theyd run away. But one morning woke up and the tent morning we woke up and the tent was shaking and i said, guys, i think thats a polar and think thats a polar bear. And everybody sick of my everybody was sort of sick of my polar bear paranoia and went, oh, just just its oh, its just its just its just wind. Mark its just the wind. Mark its not a polar bear. And then it shook again thought, thats again and i thought, thats definitely a polar bear. And then heard this guttural, then we heard this guttural, primal grunt. Everybody up primal grunt. Everybody sat up open the front of the tent and its head was silhouetted against the like the perfectly the rainfly like the perfectly like the logo from jurassic park. Oh, wow. Which i sprinted outside. I was just in my pyjamas and bare feet immediately began to freeze, started screaming at the polar bear , throwing rocks at it, bear, throwing rocks at it, fired a and itjust just fired a flare, and itjustjust didnt bothered. It just didnt wasnt bothered. It just stared at us. And stared back at us. And eventually we literally ran out of energy. Theres so many of energy. Theres only so many times can throw and times you can throw rocks. And it said, what we it just said, what do we do . Its looking at and its just looking at us and were just looking at it. And eventually it just wandered off. Thank god. Eventually it just wandered off. Thathanki. Eventually it just wandered off. Thathank goodness we got to say thank goodness we got to say goodbye thank you goodbye to you. Thank you so much having and glad you much for having me and glad you made much for having me and glad you ma yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dear. Thats it. Were oh, dear. Thats it. Were back from 6 00 tomorrow morning. Up next, britains. Up next, britains. Its Aidan Mcgivern hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the forecast. Storm the gb news forecast. Storm barbettes through barbettes moves north through today, and windy today, bringing wet and windy weather many places. But weather to many places. But truly exceptional rainfall to eastern scotland with the risk of widespread and significant flooding. Why there is a flooding. Thats why there is a red warning for later today and into tomorrow for eastern scotland. The rain setting in dunng scotland. The rain setting in during the next few hours and it remains heavy and persistent across much of scotland, particularly in the east through the next couple of days. Further south, dries up for northern south, it dries up for Northern Ireland and ireland eventually england and wales a wales predominantly seeing a mixture of sunny and mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Of these scattered showers. Some of these showers will be heavy, although it 17 or 18 it will be a mild day, 17 or 18 celsius in the south, 12 to 13 further north. But the wind picks up strength the picks up strength through the day, 70 or 80 mile per hour wind gusts exposed parts of gusts for exposed parts of central northern scotland. Central and northern scotland. That wind coming in from the south east. Its an unusual direction the direction for scotland. So the wettest conditions will be in the east rather than the west at. And by friday, well see accumulations up to 150. And in some exposed parts of aberdeenshire and angus to hundred or 250mm, thats more than a months worth of rain in just a few days. That would cause widespread flooding, transport disruption and danger to life. Thats why there is a red warning in force. Its going to stay wet and windy in the north and further south. Another bout of wet weather moves in that could affect south east england through day on england through the day on friday with 50 or even 75mm in places. So very unsettled next few days rain. Its 930 on thursday, the 19th of october. This is britains newsroom on gb news with me bev turner and emily carver sunak in in israel. The Prime Minister landed in the middle east this morning for a two day visit to the region. Our reporter Charlie Peters will have the very latest from tel aviv as rishi sunak arrives in israel. The question is, will he provide more support on the ground or is this just a show of solidarity . The situation here solidarity . The situation here escalating in the region and there are hostages with british passports stuck in the gaza strip. What will sunak do . Well have all the latest from tel aviv. Aviv. And theres an aid crisis. The us president , joe biden says egypt will allow 20 aid trucks to cross the rafah crossing, but only if the aid doesnt reach hamas. Closer to home, king hamas. Closer to home, king charles issues a plea for Mutual Understanding in times of turmoil. The temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminating society must be resisted. Resisted. Refuge is welcome. Refuge is welcome. Scotlands first minister says the country is willing to take gaza refugees and theres pressure on the