how mailmogg@gbnews.c0m, but now it's your mailmogg@gbnews.com, but now it's your favourite of the it's your favourite part of the day. the news with polly day. it's the news with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> most kind jacob, thank you and good evening to you. well the top story from the gb news room tonight is that the labour led birmingham city council has approved a wave of financial cuts in what's being described as double whammy of higher as a double whammy of higher taxes and fewer services. the plans include a 21% increase in council tax over two years , and council tax over two years, and £300 million of cuts to public services. speaking during today's meeting, the council leader , john cotton, leader, john cotton, unreservedly apologise to the city's residents for the budget but said it was a result of a raging crisis in local government. but birmingham's conservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleaned . dumped waste is longer cleaned. dumped waste is not enforced and broken street lights are not repaired . well, lights are not repaired. well, the news from birmingham comes just hours before the chancellor unveils his budget tomorrow,

with jeremy hunt expected to ask councils to cut wasteful spending on equality and diversity programmes. it's also being rumoured he could announce a £0.02 cut in the pound to national insurance contributions. he's aiming to put the uk's economy and rishi sunak's popularity on the road to recovery. that's despite the fiscal watchdog suggesting the government has little scope for tax cuts. suella braverman told gb news today she doesn't believe the former tory mp lee anderson is islam phobic. today's exclusive interview with the former home secretary comes after mr anderson claimed islamists had got control of the london mayor. >> he is not racist, he is not islamophobic. he's calling out very poor performance by the mayor of london, who is completely failed to hold the met commissioner to account, and which is why we've seen emboldened islamism in the streets of london. we've seen an mp hounded out of office because of islamism .

of islamism. >> gb news understands that the policing, however, of a pro—palestinian protest in london this weekend will remain unchecked . changed officers will unchecked. changed officers will reportedly use existing public order and anti—terror laws that is after rishi sunak called on police to crack down on extremist behaviour . a 42 year extremist behaviour. a 42 year old man has admitted to starting a fire at the constituency office belonging to conservative mp mike freer, on christmas eve last year. paul harwood denies the attack was politically motivated , but still pleaded motivated, but still pleaded guilty to two charges of arson at the old bailey earlier on. today. a second person, 32 year old defendant zahra kasirye, denied the charges. both defendants were remanded in custody and a further hearing has been set for march the 12th. now the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night, nearly 50 amendments being put forward with peers backing five

changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including assurance that including an assurance that courts can challenge whether rwanda is safe . staff. for the rwanda is safe. staff. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts. scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. camel's back now to . jacob. twas camel's back now to. jacob. twas the night before the budget when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . a mouse. >> possibly the torpor is because jeremy hunt has suggested that although he would like to be like nigel lawson, margaret thatcher's famous chancellor, he needs to be more prudent. like gordon brown . prudent. like gordon brown. however, the opposite is true the chancellor needs to be must be like nigel lawson. the uk tax system is a muddle and it was a muddle that was created, devised and invented in many ways by gordon brown. it disincentivised growth and innovation. it's filled with bizarre anomalies

and it is in fundamental need of simplifying and rationalisation. so first, the chancellor ought to implement the following tax cuts. the corporation tax rise from 19 to 25% should be reversed since filoli the tourism tax that has stopped tourists from claiming back vat on their purchases should be removed . two today stuart makin, removed. two today stuart makin, the chief executive of marks and spencer's, argued for the abolition of this harmful tax and went to on say that existing policy makes being an employer of people and running stores really hard. he also railed against the apprenticeship levy and the business rates model . and the business rates model. the next tax in need of axing is inheritance tax. as i've explained before, not only is inheritance tax rather sinister as the tax man lurks, visiting with the undertaker, but it also discourages investment. the growth commission has calculated that its abolition would boost gdp by 1.3, and bring 300,000 people back into the workforce . people back into the workforce. the fiscal drag is another

problem. it means that cutting headune problem. it means that cutting headline rates won't end up being a real cut , and it would being a real cut, and it would being a real cut, and it would be better to deal with some of the anomalies that have arisen through the banding system that we have of, and there are many anomalies within our system. as i've discussed before, some people in britain pay marginal tax rates of over 60% owing to quirks in childcare and tax free allowances. we should make a rule that no one's marginal rate should ever exceed that of the top income tax rate of 45, but with tax cuts, we need spending cuts . two indeed, one of the cuts. two indeed, one of the main reasons the chancellor didn't have the headroom that was previously expected was because of increased borrowing costs, partly because the inert bank of england has not started cutting rates . we should also cutting rates. we should also remove any bailouts to local councils , which just look what councils, which just look what we're hearing about birmingham . we're hearing about birmingham. they've shown that they cannot be trusted to use public money effectively . a radical effectively. a radical transformation of our benefit system is needed. we have 5.5

million working age people on out of work benefits, which is £180 billion of taxpayer expenditure . but it's also a expenditure. but it's also a waste of human as well as economic potential . shift in economic potential. shift in incentives is needed to cut into this spending. saving money and enabung this spending. saving money and enabling tax cuts to 20 billion is currently being spent on carbon capture and experimental technology that is yet to be shown to be particularly efficient. when you add all of this to the vast sums of whitehall waste and net zero spending and public sector spending, there's plenty of headroom to be made to afford serious tax cuts. so my advice to jeremy hunt is if we want to win the next election, unleash britain's growth and improve everyone's standard of living. be nigel lawson , not gordon be nigel lawson, not gordon brown as ever. let me know your thoughts. mel mogg at gb news comm. and i'm delighted to be joined now by jonathan porteous, professor of economics and pubuc professor of economics and public policy at king's college london. jonathan thank you for coming back on. you're always very what would you be very welcome. what would you be advising the chancellor to do.7

do advising the chancellor to do? do you think he should be like gordon brown? >> um, no. and i agree with you. the tax system needs to be reformed simplified . both reformed and simplified. both gordon and george osborne gordon brown and george osborne have made it considered more complicated and some of the issues around , um, the high issues around, um, the high marginal rates at the top are absolutely right. however, in overall money terms, this isn't a huge amount of money. the what the chancellor should do is plug some of the really gaping holes in our public services. homelessness has shot up over the last 15 years. we are letting criminals out of jail early because there's no room for them. the courts and criminal justice system, as we know , are at the point where know, are at the point where they are clogged up with delays. and while it's true that some not but some local councils not all, but some local councils have not managed their finances well, although i would say they've in general managed them a lot better than the government in you served, which has in which you served, which has wasted more money. um, it is wasted far more money. um, it is nonetheless the case that a lot

of councils from all parties, conservative, labour and no control , um, are at conservative, labour and no control, um, are at on the conservative, labour and no control , um, are at on the verge control, um, are at on the verge of going bust simply because they cannot afford to fund services. um, for vulnerable children and social care , which children and social care, which are by far the vast bulk of what council spend . council spend. >> that's very generous of you, though , isn't it? because a lot though, isn't it? because a lot of them have made really silly property investments because they could borrow money cheaply . they could borrow money cheaply. um, just today the government agent, simon hall, the minister at dluhc , has written to the at dluhc, has written to the west of england combined authority to say that it isn't performing satisfactorily in terms financial controls. terms of its financial controls. there are councils up and down the country that are spending money really poorly and not on sensible priorities. well that's true. >> um, the thurrock council, for example, went under conservative control, did waste a huge amount of money and go bankrupt on bizarre, absolutely bizarre schemes. um so there is a bit of that. schemes. um so there is a bit of that . um, but schemes. um so there is a bit of that. um, but there's schemes. um so there is a bit of that . um, but there's actually that. um, but there's actually rather more of that in central

government . um, to be honest. government. um, to be honest. and the point, the main point, however, is that even councils, which are extremely well run and efficient , are facing the pinch efficient, are facing the pinch because of the pressure on cost from children's services from homelessness, which of course, as i said, the government has allowed to get out of control. it was brought under control underin it was brought under control under in the 2000 and the government is unfortunately allowed it to get completely out of control again. um, and on social care, i'm very interested in this point on on homelessness or or ruthlessness because it was brought under control during the pandemic as, as well. >> and i don't really understand. i actually had a meeting earlier on today with an organisation from from bath that tries to help people who are ruthless . what has gone wrong ? ruthless. what has gone wrong? why has it gone back to the levels of ruthlessness that we saw many years ago? >> um, it is a it is a because government has essentially taken its eye off the ball. it doesn't

require a huge amount of money. you require some money. but it's not mostly about money. it's about political will targeting some money, working with local councils , and precisely the sort councils, and precisely the sort of voluntary group that you're talking we will talking about and saying we will ensure that there is a bed for everybody, but it is fund. >> sorry to interrupt, but it is fundamentally a authority fundamentally a local authority issue. and i know that westminster city council, uh, labour run now is extremely good at dealing with homelessness. if they can persuade people to take up the services there, there is a room for everybody in westminster for yes, councils that have a sufficient resources is sufficient. >> um , the, the sufficient >> um, the, the sufficient capacity and the voluntary sector locally, as you said. um, and have the political will from whatever party can do it. but it does also require pressure from government to say, look, we are a relative rich country. we know we can control this problem if we can control this problem if we take it seriously. and that's what we're going to do. >> okay, jonathan, thank you

very much indeed. with me now is one of my great economic heroes who i have admired for as long as i've known his name. it's patrick minford, professor of applied economics at the cardiff business school . now, patrick, business school. now, patrick, um, just to make you big headed, you've got practically every forecast right in the last 3 or 4 decades. you've got more experience on than almost experience on this than almost anybody else . what would be anybody else. what would you be doing were the doing if you were the chancellor? would you chancellor? where would you start try and get better start from to try and get better economic performance? >> well, jacob. well, >> well, thank you jacob. well, the that the fiscal the thing is that the fiscal rules nonsense because rules are nonsense because they're opposite they're doing the exact opposite of to do, of what they're supposed to do, which fiscal solvency. which is create fiscal solvency. and terme , uh, debt and long terme, uh, debt security . see if to get long security. see if to get long terme debt security, get debt ratios coming down. you need growth . and so what the fiscal growth. and so what the fiscal rules are doing are stopping growth with all this headroom discussion . because of course, discussion. because of course, the economy is in a recession. so there's no money. instead of thinking long terme about how do we get growth and therefore improve the prospects long terme

of getting the economy going and also solving any problems of debt? um, there they, they've, they're using these very short run fiscal rules which are destroying jeremy hunt's , um, destroying jeremy hunt's, um, budget essentially . budget essentially. >> and they're relying on the abr , the office for budget abr, the office for budget responsibility, which has an absolutely terrible record of making forecasts. so you're setting fiscal rules, which you then judge on the basis of people who couldn't make a forecast to save their life ? forecast to save their life? >> well, their record of forecasts is poor, but it's worse than that because they don't model the effects on growth of things like the marginal tax rates you were talking about earlier. those destroy growth and they don't cost very much. but you know, nor do nor did corporation tax costs very much . but it's very costs very much. but it's very important for growth . and so important for growth. and so instead of modelling the, the, the what we know from research, which is that these lower tax rates bring in growth, which

then solves the fiscal problem , then solves the fiscal problem, they don't model it at all. they regard growth as completely like manna from heaven. that they can't model well. >> modelling is byzantine >> their modelling is byzantine because they apparently model a national insurance cut for growth, they don't model an growth, but they don't model an income cut for growth , which income tax cut for growth, which doesn't to make any sense doesn't seem to make any sense as they are effectively the same i >> -- >> yes. -_ >> yes. and the corporation tax also very important for growth because it it it it it affects business incentives to invest and to innovate. so that's absolutely at the core of growth as are all these marginal tax rates. you talked about which hit which hit, you know, entrepreneurs that would innovate and invest particularly hard. it destroys their incentive . incentive. >> yes. and the capital taxation that you've got that i'm very worried. i very much dislike this phrase of jeremy hunt that he has to be gordon brown because gordon brown did such damage to the tax system with a complex system of rates , endless complex system of rates, endless twiddling, stealth taxes to try

and hide what he was really doing that has made our tax system so complex that most people don't know how to use it, and takes a lot of energy and money to implement it. >> well, exactly. i mean , all >> well, exactly. i mean, all our troubles really start from the gordon brown period of free spending and raising of raising of the top marginal rates of tax , essentially as a trap for the conservative party, because they find it very difficult to bring it down, whereas , of course, if it down, whereas, of course, if they hadn't been so mealy mouthed about it, they could have this is a key have said, look, this is a key element in growth equation. element in the growth equation. we've bring down as we've got to bring that down as a priority. it brings no a high priority. it brings in no revenue. marginal tax revenue. i mean, marginal tax rates are those ridiculous levels you were talking about bnngin levels you were talking about bring in no revenue at all. so ironically it's costless to get rid them. and then if you got rid of them. and then if you got rid of them. and then if you got rid those and brought growth rid of those and brought growth in then with growth your revenues start to, to, to rise rapidly . and then you can then rapidly. and then you can then bnng rapidly. and then you can then bring down these other tax rates and reinforce the pro—growth environment and if you think

that spending more money is the way to improve public services, i don't, as it happens, i think the lack of productivity in the pubuc the lack of productivity in the public sector means you need to focus on improvements first. >> you get growth, then >> but if you get growth, then you can afford to put more money into public services, which is what nigel achieved what nigel lawson achieved exactly, exactly. >> there are certain >> i mean, there are certain pubuc >> i mean, there are certain public that are very public services that are very important growth. obviously public services that are very import and growth. obviously public services that are very import and skilling h. obviously public services that are very import and skilling ,. obviously public services that are very import and skilling , education, health and skilling, education, these are all important elements and infrastructure for all these things are important elements in the growth equation , which with the growth equation, which with with a sensible policy on taxes, turning the whole philosophy of how this budget is constructed around thinking what you need to do first is to get those tax rates down and then get the growth equation in. then you don't need to worry about the debt side of things. you can you can afford it because the economy grows and generates revenue very rapidly . revenue very rapidly. >> and there are these little things that could be done that essentially pay themselves, essentially pay for themselves, like issue that's like the vat issue that's hitting shoppers, the shoppers

tax for foreign and foreign shoppers, that would actually make money because you would get more people coming here and spending in other areas . those spending in other areas. those are easy to but there are really easy to do. but there seems to be a stubborn refusal to understand and that they would . would help exactly. >> and you look at the way >> and then you look at the way the monetary policy is being carried out. and 35 billion is being spent in interest on bank reserves, which is something we never used to do in proper monetary policy terms. and it's enormously expensive because the treasury pays for it all. >> so that 35 billion would be available for tax cuts if we stopped interest on bank stopped paying interest on bank reserves. exactly and so that would be straightforward through to, um, doing all the things that chancellor was talking about a few weeks ago, it would be a major change in the in the environment, even under these fiscal rules. >> and you see all the, all the bank of england needs to do is to make the reserve ratio compulsory up to, 90% of compulsory up to, say, 90% of the total. and then keep the last and pay interest on last 10% and pay interest on that motivate the banks to,

that to motivate the banks to, to, to stick to the interest rates. it's creating in the market. >> well, there you go. there are answers. thank you very much patrick. coming up next. today marks channel crossings marks 40,000 channel crossings since prime minister since the prime minister took over months but will he over 18 months ago. but will he be to override the lords in be able to override the lords in their attacks on the rwanda bill? plus i'll be revealing whether i pass my north face white privilege test. i don't know about my south face. that may different

well, thank you for staying with us. we've been talking about the budget and whether jeremy hunt should be gordon brown or nigel lawson, and mike says if mr hunt cuts national insurance by 2, i shall no longer vote conservative, have any spare money should be spent on health services and defence. patricia, brace yourself . if labour run brace yourself. if labour run birmingham council is a dress rehearsal for things to come , rehearsal for things to come, they spend and waste. we pay.

patricia i think you have hit the nail on the head. yesterday's defeat on a number of amendments of the safety of rwanda bill in the house of lords, perhaps couldn't have come at a more awkward time for the prime minister, as today marks 40,000 channel crossings since he became prime minister in october 2022, the question remains whether their lordships will back down in the expected ping will back down in the expected ping pong between the upper and lower chamber. this benchmark really as a reminder that really serves as a reminder that the rwanda bill simply has to work, as it is the only viable deterrent that has been proposed . earlier today, christopher hope spoke to the former home secretary, suella braverman, on this. among other matters . this. among other matters. >> the solution is actually ultimately to pass a law that is excludes people from making individual claims, excludes the totality of international law. the european convention of human rights, the refugee convention which stymie our ability to control our borders, pass it via emergency measures , i.e. more emergency measures, i.e. more quickly than is currently being done. so we get it on the

statute books and we can actually operate analyse flights to rwanda on a, on a, on a large scale with large numbers of passengers and on a regular basis, because that's the only way we get we send the message that coming to the uk on a small boat not to a life in boat will not lead to a life in this country . this country. >> well, i'm joined by my panel, criminal barrister and former tory mp jerry hayes, and the author and journalist michael crick. we need , in suella terms, crick. we need, in suella terms, to operational, is it not a word i particularly like , but we know i particularly like, but we know what it's meant as soon as possible. get this deterrent up and running and then we can get control of our borders. well uh, from the point of view of a government that's got that policy. >> that's absolutely right. because it's been dragging on >> that's absolutely right. bec prime:'s been dragging on >> that's absolutely right. bec prime ministeriragging on >> that's absolutely right. bec prime minister hasging on >> that's absolutely right. bec prime minister has made1 the prime minister has made £1,000 with a presenter on a £1,000 bet with a presenter on a different channel yours different channel from yours that i'm a presenter on that channel, right. uh, on, on that there will be a rwanda flight before the general election . um, before the general election. um, i've got no , uh, problem with,

i've got no, uh, problem with, uh, taking migrants who cross the channel in boats to somewhere else , uh, to be looked somewhere else, uh, to be looked after. just i think rwanda is the wrong place for all the reasons that are coming out in the lords debate and rwanda's human rights record. i'm not convinced that people who are sent there will be looked after properly, or all of them will be looked after properly. um, and i think that the supreme court was right to have its reservations. so i hope that this legislation does fall. but i think, you know, labour under under david blunkett actually started thinking about this sort of idea of can you find somewhere else as the australians have done, to process migrants and, and they can live in in the meantime until it's decided in the long tum, will happen them? tum, what will happen to them? but not the right answer. >> you don't think rwanda is the right answer, and lots of people think that. but who should decide? decisions that decide? should decisions that are matters of judges can't be made by people who are democrats 7 made by people who are democrats ? hinckley elected , or should ? hinckley elected, or should they be viewed as if they are

matters of fact and determine ? matters of fact and determine? and by the courts? you see, i think under our system , the think under our system, the ministers are entitled to take the decision on whether rwanda is safe or not. you're entitled to disagree, as is gerry, as are the voters. come an election later this year. but that the courts exceeded their power in deciding that they simply took a different view of the question of safety. >> well, it's not just the courts that think that they exceeded their power. so do a majority of members of the house of lords, including the former lord chancellor and justice secretary, a member of your party, kenneth clarke. >> again, but again , this is >> again, but again, this is just a matter you have this argument last night. yeah. argument last night. yeah, yeah. i'm watching because i'm glad you're watching because i'm glad you're watching because i it accidentally. i did watch it accidentally. >> was to get to >> i was trying to get to another channel, but but no , you another channel, but but no, you were sort of saying, well, of course it's democratically course it's the democratically elected they've got elected people. they've got a far judgement. no they far better judgement. no they have no, no, no, hang on. i didn't say they had a far better judgement. >> i said they had the right to the judgement. >> of course had a right to

>> of course they had a right to judgement. but you're talking about judges who spent all their lives assessing the lives impartially assessing the evidence. politicians assess the evidence. politicians assess the evidence and then they make a political decision that is the difference. >> this is an argument for the judges making all the decisions and ministers making no decisions at all. >> no, not at all. so what the judges do is they assess the evidence and maker. that's their job. it's no different as to whether you should have a 20 mile an hour or 30 mile an hour speed limit. >> it's a matter of judgement as to which you think is overall safer meets other considerations. >> the political >> who's got the political judgement? jacob who's got the political judgement the political judgement and the judges or politicians? the judges or the politicians? the politicians? do people politicians? who do the people trust? the judges or the politicians? do you remember? >> who can they remove ? the >> who can they remove? the judges or the politicians? >> don't want to remove >> we don't want to remove judges that is for we judges because that is for we don't want be politicised. >> look at old baroness hale, very politicised judge voting against government again and very politicised judge voting againsand government again and very politicised judge voting againsand again rnment again and very politicised judge voting againsand again because|gain and very politicised judge voting againsand again because yow and very politicised judge voting againsand again because you guys again and again because you guys were wrong. made were totally wrong. she's made

it quite clear you guys were totally anti and hostile. >> leader the >> government were leader of the house. and think at the time house. and you think at the time i'm more relevantly, was lord i'm more relevantly, i was lord president the council. i'm more relevantly, i was lord pre wellt the council. i'm more relevantly, i was lord pre well but; council. i'm more relevantly, i was lord pre well but the ji'icll. i'm more relevantly, i was lord pre well but the issue yesterday >> well but the issue yesterday you saw in the voting list all the people who vote against the government are the europhiles who want this country governed by judges . oh really? by foreign judges. oh really? they are find a eurosceptic. i thought fantasy, i thought i'd found one and it was lord fox, and i thought it was baroness fox. and it wasn't so only fox. and it wasn't so the only one thought a eurosceptic. one i thought was a eurosceptic. who do you trust me? >> judges or politicians? who do you up? you vote ends up? >> who do you vote for? judges or politicians? >> who do you vote for? judges or poldoesn't’ >> who do you vote for? judges or poldoesn't matter. >> it doesn't matter. >> it doesn't matter. >> matters because >> crucially, matters because politicians decisions politicians make decisions for which then be thrown which they can then be thrown out. trouble is with out. the trouble is with politicians is they often don't spend very long thinking about these issues. >> often vote according to >> they often vote according to what the whips, how the whips tell to vote. so it's tell them to vote. so it's actually a very actually only a very small number of politicians. actually only a very small nurthat's: politicians. actually only a very small nurthat's true ticians. actually only a very small nurthat's true inians. actually only a very small nurthat's true inians house of >> that's true in the house of lords well. lords as well. >> well, it may be true in the house of lords, but i think probably, uh, how many members of the supreme it, 9 or 11?

of the supreme is it, 9 or 11? however, member number is however, member number it is probably more thought into probably put more thought into this the 650. hold on. this than all the 650. hold on. >> you could apply that >> but then you could apply that to question to any decision. same question comes as to jerry. when comes to you as to jerry. when do you say this is democratically accountable and decided and when democratically accountable and de well, i turn the argument round. are you saying the judges should overturn an, um, should never overturn an, um, a decision in parliament? if decision made in parliament? if it if it seems to contravene, uh, never, overturn an an uh, never, ever overturn an an act of parliament, they can't . act of parliament, they can't. >> well, they could when we're in. they can't they could when we're in the european union, as you know, not in the european union. >> so they can't that's sort of right. it's absolutely right. >> under the european human rights act, as you know , they rights act, as you know, they are allowed to it's nothing to do with the european union. >> you know as well i do >> and you know as well as i do no, no, hold on, take note, no, no, no, hold on, take note, take note. >> no, no. it is also that they are allowed to interpret acts of parliament as far as they possibly can, to mean what is said in the human rights act,

which gives them much greater discretion than they historically had . no it's not historically had. no it's not take notes. it is work within it's within that system. so it's work within that system. so you cost you 100. you just cost you 100. >> anyway, this is a hundred guinness. >> thank you to my panel. coming up, the new definition of extremism has exposed a rift among conservatives as concerns have arisen that it could be used against traditional christians and sceptics trans christians and sceptics of trans ideology . and don't forget, i'll ideology. and don't forget, i'll be revealing whether i passed the white privilege test to try and get 20% discount at and get a 20% discount at scarface .

well, welcome back . we're well, welcome back. we're talking about channel crossings and suella braverman's interview excuse me with christopher hope on gb news. um, diana says an alternative to rwanda could be one of the outer hebrides islands and on the budget. tim says listening to professor minford makes it seem like common sense adjust the

common sense to adjust the economy growth . i wonder why economy for growth. i wonder why politicians our politicians are in charge of our money. conservatives money. labour and conservatives have proved incompetent. have both proved incompetent. well, to hand well, perhaps we'll have to hand it over to the judges. um in the wake prime minister's wake of the prime minister's speech friday in which he speech last friday in which he declared a line in the sand on the islamist and far the question of islamist and far right government right extremism, the government planned definition planned for a new definition of extremism has devised, extremism has been devised, which encompasses any ideology that the rights or that undermines the rights or freedoms others. however, freedoms of others. however, this definition may cause a rift between ministers, with some arguing that the definition could be used against conservative christians or even those who are critical of gender ideology, and these concerns are entirely legitimate . the prevent entirely legitimate. the prevent programme was set up to combat extremism, but it was revealed about a year ago that i, along with others including douglas murray, were included in lists that red flags murray, were included in lists tha extremism red flags murray, were included in lists thaextremism . red flags murray, were included in lists thaextremism . so red flags murray, were included in lists thaextremism . so it'szd flags murray, were included in lists thaextremism . so it's cleargs for extremism. so it's clear that anti—extremism apparatus is prone to being hijacked . but prone to being hijacked. but will this new definition make it worse? is it extreme to criticise the inert bank of england , the eu loving bbc or

england, the eu loving bbc or the increasingly political supreme court because one of the things is criticising our institutions, which i think would be a terrible anti—free speech move to make well with me now is the chief executive of the henry jackson society, alan mendoza, as well as my very distinguished and somewhat theatrical . um, alan, theatrical panel. um, alan, thank you for coming back on on gb news. what have you heard about this definition of extremism ? well, and what does extremism? well, and what does it aim to stop? >> well, i think what it aims to stop. firstly is as the definition is extremism. but what i've heard about it, of course, is that we haven't yet got to the point where a definition has been unveiled. nor, if you like the safe guards of which the mood music is heavy safeguards to make sure that the things that you have suggested will happen not happen . but will happen will not happen. but there a danger, isn't there? there is a danger, isn't there? there that if you there is a danger that if you define extremism a certain define extremism in a certain way, have unintended way, you may have unintended consequences. people caught consequences. and people caught up net who are not up in the net who are not extremists . extremists. >> a problem. it's >> it is a problem. it's actually a problem that occurred whilst cabinet whilst i was in the cabinet office we tried stop

office because we tried to stop an organisation an extremist organisation going in civil servants, in to speak to civil servants, because one had gone in that was sympathetic to islamic terrorism and then after i'd and then sometime after i'd left, got interpreted to stop left, it got interpreted to stop some professor had once said some professor who had once said something about something disagreeable about brexit going in. and times brexit going in. and the times got frightfully upset by this. but this was not what had ever been intended. wasn't been intended. it wasn't the purpose rule, but it was purpose of the rule, but it was a self—policing overreach by the civil service. and that's what worries me about any definition of this kind. >> yes. and also i would say that it >> yes. and also i would say thatitis >> yes. and also i would say that it is liable to be interpreted perhaps differently by a government of a different colour. imagine for example, had there a corbyn government there been a corbyn government in this country, mean, who in this country, i mean, who might have defined as might they have defined as extremists sort of extremists in this sort of regard? and that's why there needs a definition needs to be a definition of extremism quite extremism that's quite clear, but better name what you but it's better to name what you want to sort of ban from government. so yes. why don't we mention we can the mention that we can ban the islamists and the far right. islamists and ban the far right. that's to for. go on that's a thing to go for. go on that basis rather than of that basis rather than sort of mealy mouthed around the mealy mouthed getting around the issue. know what issue. and we know what the problem is. >> yes. >> yes.

>> and definitional terms need to precise, don't they? to be very precise, don't they? they need they basically need to be encouraging violence that if you're, um, a far right libertarian, if you're an iron ran style far right that i would have thought would be legal . ran style far right that i would have thought would be legal. but if you're a far right british national party, then that may be something you don't want going in to speak to the government. >> yes, i think that's a the first line to be drawn is obviously on the violent side. i think you can make a case. i agree with you not criticising institutions, that that seems absurd. and don't think that institutions, that that seems abslendlnd don't think that institutions, that that seems abslend up don't think that institutions, that that seems abslend up being t think that institutions, that that seems abslend up being in hink that institutions, that that seems abslend up being in the that will end up being in the definition. but, you know, undermining democracy and undermining our democracy and our virtue of the our by, by virtue of the ideology for example, ideology believing, for example, islamism not islamism and fascism do not believe in our democratic institutions. that's quite easy to clarify, i think. >> well, is it he's right. >> well, is it he's right. >> he's right. he's spot on. don't let the politicians heavens forgive me. like you make these decisions we've got is a matter of law. and we're told by michael gove that this new which we don't know what it is, is not going to be any, um, is, is not going to be any, um, is not going to be subject to

the law, which seems ridiculous . the law, which seems ridiculous. >> it's going to be guidance. internal government as i understand internal government as i unci rstand really leave it >> i mean, really leave it alone. leave it alone. >> but if we're not allowed to have any influence from anything outside our democratic mandates , outside our democratic mandates, am i allowed to say that i am against euthanasia because it is the teaching of the catholic church ? church? >> um, well, that's an interesting one. um. oh, wow , interesting one. um. oh, wow, thatis interesting one. um. oh, wow, that is an interesting one. or abortion or abortion or abortion . that's right. that's why leave it alone . stick to the criminal it alone. stick to the criminal thing is a complete mess. >> i mean, we're all extremists when it comes to. well, i hope we are on this at this panel. extremist when it comes to defence of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. yeah. um, and there are other things we can think of where we are extremists. but i think it is a it does essentially boil down to the point about whether people are advocating violence for their but even then, their means. but even then, you've a problem. i mean, you've got a problem. i mean, you've got a problem. i mean, you know, lot the you know, a lot of what the suffragettes, nearly suffragettes, in fact, nearly all of what the suffragettes did, violent. would

all of what the suffragettes didalong violent. would all of what the suffragettes didalong with violent. would all of what the suffragettes didalong with it,olent. would all of what the suffragettes didalong with it, butt. would all of what the suffragettes didalong with it, but it would all of what the suffragettes didalong with it, but it did)uld go along with it, but it did involve violence. but on the whole, wasn't violence against human against. human beings. it was against. >> a >> but isn't that a misinterpretation of history that almost that the suffragists had almost won and the suffragettes, by their , delayed their violence, delayed votes for a years ? for women by a few years? >> that's that's a different argument, but it's quite important. other point important. but the other point i would undermine would make is undermine democracy. well, if i say , uh, democracy. well, if i say, uh, you that i don't think the you know, that i don't think the president past the post president first past the post system works . i undermining system works. am i undermining democracy because it's very good. >> like michael, yes. >> i like michael, yes. prorogation of parliament. yes, indeed. oh, absolutely . yes, yes. >> oh, gosh. >> oh, gosh. >> who was the leader of the house then? that was you, wasn't it? >> president of the council. was the more relevant. >> that could be very un—british, couldn't it? >> completely reasonable >> it was completely reasonable thing to do. but we can discuss that another occasion. the that on another occasion. the political us, political court overruled us, um, didn't um, quite improperly and didn't understand political. >> the political. » m political. >> be made that >> wasn't the case be made that that undermining that wasn't undermining democracy? was. you could make. >> but i want to come on to the police blowing a raspberry at the because the the prime minister, because the prime that the prime minister has said that the marches should be policed more, um, properly. and the

um, properly. yes. and the police have said we're not gonna make any difference. is that make any difference. so is that undermining democracy when the police notice the police take no notice of the political leaders or is it defending it because it's defending it because it's defending of defending the independence of the it's a difficult isn't >> it's a difficult one, isn't it? mean, the police would it? i mean, the police would argue, sure you had argue, i'm sure if you had a discussion with them. look we would to, uh, there are would like to, uh, there are some hotheads on these marches. and i think the numbers by the way, are grossly exaggerated by members of your party who keep referring so on. but referring to mobs and so on. but there are people. there are idiots hotheads on some of idiots and hotheads on some of these marches. and we would like to, time time, arrest to, from time to time, arrest and from time time and we do from time to time arrest. the problem is that if there are certain circumstances where you an arrest, you where if you make an arrest, you just rishi sunak storm jocelyn last word on this subject, it was a gb news exclusive story that the police have said they're just going to carry on as before , who you think as before, but who do you think should, decide in these should, um, decide in these cases ? cases? >> should the police take their lead from politicians are lead from what politicians are saying how the law should saying about how the law should be enforced or should they independence great that

independence be so great that even when there's great public concern , they can just say, no, concern, they can just say, no, we're what we want? we're doing what we want? >> that clearly be >> well, that clearly can't be the of course, it's the case because of course, it's policing consent in this policing by consent in this country. we police consent. policing by consent in this courthatwe police consent. policing by consent in this courthatwe poliyou consent. policing by consent in this courthatwe poliyou als0|sent. policing by consent in this courthatwe poliyou also have to but that means you also have to keep the confidence of people. and if people are in this country, think are country, as i think they are saying, that they're worried country, as i think they are sayingwhat's:hey're worried country, as i think they are sayingwhat's happening'ied country, as i think they are sayingwhat's happening on about what's happening on the streets, about streets, they're concerned about all things, actually all sorts of things, actually crime skyrocketing at crime figures skyrocketing at the marches, being, you know, sort out of control, things sort of out of control, things like that. you have to ask whether police independence like that. you have to ask wiactually police independence like that. you have to ask wiactually underminingpendence is actually undermining themselves to other themselves as opposed to other set. there can guidelines set. and there can be guidelines quite clearly the quite clearly from the commissioner home commissioner or the home secretary this. basically secretary to do this. basically i that's absolutely right, i think that's absolutely right, prime you very much. oh, >> thank you very much. oh, thank you to panel. we'll thank you to my panel. we'll hear from the panel later. hear more from the panel later. coming you've all coming up, the moment you've all been i reveal been waiting for, i reveal whether not pass my white whether or not i pass my white privilege test and earn my 20% discount at some obscure retailer, of retailer, plus the church of england's slavery apology fund of £100 million isn't enough. now they want . £1 billion.

now they want. £1 billion. >> gb news is the home of free speech. we were created to champion it and we deliver it. day in, day out. free speech allows us to all explore and debate openly the issues most important to us, our families and of course, the british people having challenging conversations to enlighten each other. which is why we hear all sides of the argument. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we will always stand by the freedom to express yourself on tv , radio and online. tv, radio and online. >> this is gb news, britain's news

>> welcome back. the sun has revealed that a little known clothing brand that makes coats nonh clothing brand that makes coats north face has been offering customers a 20% discount. but any of they agree to complete a racial inclusion course. so, as promised, here is my experience or should i say lived experience of the course. and i did try. i really did have a go at this to

get my 20% discount. not that i'd ever buy anything from them. after signing up, i was told that outdoors for that the outdoors is for everyone, not everyone feels everyone, but not everyone feels that that people of that way and that people of colour are less likely to go climbing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding and trail running. well, to do well, i wouldn't want to do any of myself, but of these things myself, but leaving to one side. so the leaving that to one side. so the solution must take a solution is that we must take a white privilege test, right? so which following which of the following statements it statements are true when it comes diversity and the comes to diversity and the outdoors ? i opted for diversity outdoors? i opted for diversity as taking over the conversation in the outdoors, which seemed a very sensible answer. but i was told that was wrong and i had to choose another answer and it goes on that every time you choose an answer, unless you say what they want. so next answer was diversity creates siloed communities for people of colour. get a message saying colour. you get a message saying no good. you've got to do it again. you've got to give the answer that north face wants you to give, which seems to me , when to give, which seems to me, when it's a matter of opinion to be a pretty totalitarian approach. and why do they think that people of colour can be answered

for by them, rather than doing it for themselves? and let me say, because i live off a footpath in north east somerset , footpath in north east somerset, everybody's welcome on that footpath as long as they stick to the footpath . and the short to the footpath. and the short answer won't surprise you. i failed the diversity test because i have independent opinions, but the good news is that we live in a free market, so instead of buying from scarface, people can go to colombia or patagonia, which are apparently clothing apparently also clothing companies. i confess that companies. but i confess that when the 35 year old coat that i wore here this morning, this evening eventually wears out, i will visit henry poole, who make exceedingly good coats. you could say they are the mr kipling of coats. well, with me now is my panel criminal barrister former tory mp barrister and former tory mp jerry hayes, and the author and journalist michael crick . journalist michael crick. michael isn't it just weird that a capitalist company he actually supports black lives matter, which wants to overthrow capitalism and defund the police and offers a discount on the

bafis and offers a discount on the basis that you agree with its rather spurious political opinions. >> well, it does seem to me a rather dodgy survey, and if you think about it, i mean, can they really afford a 20% discount to all of their customers if all of their customers got this right? i mean, it would be a severe dentin i mean, it would be a severe dent in their profits and i mean, it's just ridiculous. this uh, this survey and nobody should have anything to do with it. >> i think it's also a bit of a con. yeah. because cause i'd be very surprised if many people could be bothered to spend the time it requires. with most surveys, you do them in, you know, five minutes. this know, about five minutes. this goes and on. i stopped goes on and on and on. i stopped after a minutes because it after a few minutes because it was dull. um, jerry would you. >> virtue signalling, isn't it? nothing more than that. i you're pretty virtuous . pretty virtuous. >> so wouldn't you give a like to give a virtuous use at all? >> i'd love to be, but sadly not. no i mean, i had to go through one of these tests as a barrister. we all have to do it. and here was our trainer who said , of course, um, we accept

said, of course, um, we accept diversity. equality. yes, yes , diversity. equality. yes, yes, yes. and we all accept as well that boris johnson is a fascist as his government is , on which as his government is, on which we all said, whoa , no, no. we all said, whoa, no, no. >> and that's the hypocrisy of this type of test, because you're not allowed any diversity of opinion. of course you have the opinion of the company or you fail. >> i think it's also there's something mean, attempt something i mean, this attempt to more people of colour to to get more people of colour to go to the national parks and the lake district and so on. >> at the end of the day, it's their choice. people come from different people , have different different people, have different cultural backgrounds, family backgrounds. walking. backgrounds. they like walking. they they may not they might, might, they may not like walking. people try like walking. and people can try this themselves. and they like walking. and people can try this butnselves. and they like walking. and people can try this but tozlves. and they like walking. and people can try this but to try s. and they like walking. and people can try this but to try and1d they like walking. and people can try this but to try and force hey like walking. and people can try this but to try and force itey choose, but to try and force it and to try and make everybody do exactly the same thing in this world, i don't think also obvious demographics that when people come this country, people come to this country, they to start they go to big cities to start with, gradually go with, and then gradually they go out countryside . out into the countryside. >> takes time. it takes >> and that takes time. it takes potentially generations. it's not that there's any hostility, not that there's any hostility, no , no, i think it's all

no, no, i think it's all absolutely bizarre . now, we have absolutely bizarre. now, we have beenin absolutely bizarre. now, we have been in touch with north face for comment, but apparently they were too busy reply . why? so were too busy to reply. why? so were too busy to reply. why? so we can move on to the church of england, which about a year ago announced a £100 fund to announced a £100 million fund to address slavery related past wrongs, promising to provide a better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic slavery. wasn't entirely clear who is still suffering from practice abolished by the united kingdom about 200 years ago. however it seems that £100 million wasn't enough for this mysterious group of people still suffering from the slavery that ended three and a half lifetimes ago.the ended three and a half lifetimes ago. the church could now be ramping up its efforts, as it has told an independent has been told by an independent oversight group that the figure needs billion. do you needs to be £1 billion. do you think they're on commission? perhaps ought to remind perhaps someone ought to remind the anglican church that it's catholics who believe in self—mortification for spiritual gain, not protestants? well, back to my panel. >> mortification isn't that sort of whipping yourself when . of whipping yourself when. >> well, it's not that. it's, um

. oh, abstaining from things in lent. it's not being a guilty of the sin of gluttony and things like that. there are like that. i think there are very few catholics who go in for the extreme forms of self—mortification. >> oh, good. right. go on. >> oh, good. right. go on. >> but anyway , it was popular in >> but anyway, it was popular in the middle ages. i mean, thomas moore wore a hair shirt. um to remind himself of the suffering of christ.to the point. it's >> back to the point. it's insane. i enjoy the fact that the church of england wants to raise £1 billion, but raise it for people who really need it . for people who really need it. who are the people who are suffering from slavery now? >> well, i mean , you know, if >> well, i mean, you know, if you've got if they can find £1 billion, they should devote it to things like food banks, of course. they may find that course. and they may find that actually disproportionately the people have to go to food people who have to go to food banks descendants of banks are the descendants of slaves. and i think but that is a much more worthy cause. and of course, it's all part of christianity the christianity is helping the poon christianity is helping the poor. you know , the church poor. and, you know, the church does some of that. probably not enough. if enough. and so therefore, if they money, they can find this money, although it's going to be difficult of

difficult because a lot of parishes have church with sort parishes have a church with sort of, know, six congregation of, you know, six congregation every week , um, apart from at every week, um, apart from at christmas , uh, they're going to christmas, uh, they're going to have to sell off the church or maybe, maybe some areas have got substantial bits land . substantial bits of land. >> should you give money >> but why should you give money to the church if you're keeping your church going and your village church going and you're one of those six and you make a contribution every make a big contribution every year? tel the church has all year? el tel the church has all this money to give away to unknown people. ridiculous. this money to give away to unkncyou people. ridiculous. this money to give away to unkncyou decide ridiculous. this money to give away to unkncyou decide that:ulous. this money to give away to unkncyou decide that .rlous. this money to give away to unkncyou decide that . well, if don't you decide that. well, if they've billion, they can they've got £1 billion, they can put roof back on this parish put the roof back on this parish church, which is a listed building where they've got an obugafion building where they've got an obligation yeah that obligation to fix it. yeah that will will be a problem will be, that will be a problem as well. >> mean, in the village where >> i mean, in the village where iused >> i mean, in the village where i used to live in, mean, i used to live in, i mean, i used contribute to the upkeep used to contribute to the upkeep of the church, even though i'm an atheist, because i thought that church was a good that the church was a good institution. sorry, that's a bit of and there are my of a dive. and there are my virtue signalling, i suppose. but mean, there are but but yeah, i mean, there are better it's like better things. it's a bit like the budget. there are better things it on, my point? >> absolutely right. i mean, we've got a lovely old anglo—saxon in village

anglo—saxon church in my village made out of some roman bricks. did you help build it? no, i'm not old, jacob. that not that old, jacob. not that old. roman catholic, old. um, i'm a roman catholic, but it's part of my village, and i support it. but if suddenly a lot of money goes to slavery . lot of money goes to slavery. reparations. it's nonsense . s it reparations. it's nonsense. s it means nothing . means nothing. >> well, shouldn't we get some of the money? because we were enslaved by the romans? i mean, how far back do you go? oh, i remember at a meeting with bernie grant. >> you probably don't remember bernie remember, bernie grant. oh, i remember, remember, on a tv remember, and we were on a tv show together and we were talking about and talking exactly about this, and i what about the i said, hey, what about the romans? yes. let's get some money off italians . and money off of the italians. and you people are mad ? you think these people are mad? >> well, that's a great idea. some from the italian some money from the italian italians, had any. the italians, if they had any. the alternative convert to alternative is just convert to rome. finally, an rome. and finally, an acknowledgement . an acknowledgement. an acknowledgement. an acknowledgement of the british youth defiantly fighting back against the tyranny of the nanny state. but whilst here on state of the nation, we recognise that tobacco is for your health. tobacco is bad for your health. it is interesting that cigar and

pipe it is interesting that cigar and pipe increased by pipe smoking has increased by 350% since before the pandemic , 350% since before the pandemic, with people being the main with young people being the main driver . now, with young people being the main driver. now, i'm one for driver. now, i'm not one for conspiracy theories, but as christopher snowden has pointed out, productivity has out, the uk's productivity has flatlined since two thousand and seven. what happened in two thousand seven? well there thousand and seven? well there was indoor smoking that was the indoor smoking ban that hailed the smoky hailed an end to the smoky atmosphere pubs and atmosphere of britain's pubs and restaurants. course , restaurants. of course, correlation equal correlation doesn't equal causation , but it's certainly causation, but it's certainly curious. and in my view warrants a royal commission or at least curious. and in my view warrants a roreturnnmission or at least curious. and in my view warrants a roreturn of|ission or at least curious. and in my view warrants a roreturn of those or at least curious. and in my view warrants a ro return of those wonderfult the return of those wonderful hamlet cigar adverts. the mild cigar from benson and hedges, which were such fun. i've which were such fun. but i've never smoked and i wouldn't encourage any of my viewers to ehhen encourage any of my viewers to either. thank you to my panel. that's all from me next, it's patrick christys patrick, what is on bill of the fair? the is on your bill of the fair? the bill of fare this evening. are you going in smoke? you going up in smoke? >> no, we're not going up in smoke. are tackling some very smoke. we are tackling some very serious topics, though. a refugee grooming now refugee grooming gang has now been bbc been caged, and the bbc have some questions answer some serious questions to answer over piece decided over a puff piece they decided to them in 2016, and to do on them back in 2016, and mps has been threatened with mps son has been threatened with

rape we talked to them rape as well. we talked to them and could rishi make you and could rishi sunak make you and could rishi sunak make you an extremist ? an extremist? >> well, hope he couldn't . an extremist? >> well, hope he couldn't. i'm >> well, i hope he couldn't. i'm a moderate type of person a very moderate type of person so i should be very suspicious if anyone me an extremist . if anyone makes me an extremist. um, um, but that's coming up. that's coming up after the weather. i'll be back, extremist or not, tomorrow at 8:00, i'm jacob rees—mogg. this has been state of nation. and you know that in somerset the weather is just going to be practically perfect every it's the perfect in every way. it's the mary poppins of weather you mary poppins of weather that you will somerset , and that's mary poppins of weather that you will been somerset , and that's mary poppins of weather that you will been madeerset , and that's mary poppins of weather that you will been made a.et , and that's mary poppins of weather that you will been made a pg and that's mary poppins of weather that you will been made a pg certificate. mary poppins of weather that you will been made a pg certificate . now been made a pg certificate. so the weather in somerset is going the ratings in every going up in the ratings in every possible . possible way. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good evening. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news showers today, but they are fading away and most will have a dry night. a little bit of fog and frost likely in the southwest. low pressure is out in the atlantic.

it tries to move in but it's getting blocked and stopped by a big area high pressure that big area of high pressure that is dominant feature it is the dominant feature and it is the dominant feature and it is bit more cloud is allowing a bit more cloud to drift into the east. we've seen some heavy showers across the southeast. are drifting southeast. they are drifting away. few scattered away. still a few scattered showers and there through showers here and there through the night. of cloud in the night. a lot of cloud in eastern england and eastern scotland. skies further eastern england and eastern scotléthat skies further eastern england and eastern scotlé that will skies further eastern england and eastern scotlé that will allow further eastern england and eastern scotléthat will allow it rther eastern england and eastern scotlé that will allow it to er eastern england and eastern scotléthat will allow it to turn west. that will allow it to turn quite a touch of frost quite cold. a touch of frost through rural parts of wales and southwest some southwest england, and some freezing fog around freezing fog patches around maybe affecting the m4 the maybe affecting the m4 and the m5 first thing in the morning could take a few hours to clear away. generally quite a grey day again in the east, particularly on the east coast, with a breeze freshening here through the day . freshening here through the day. a showers over a few scattered showers over eastern of england. a bit eastern parts of england. a bit of rain at times in eastern scotland, mostly over the hills and creeping into and some showers creeping into cornwall but much of cornwall later, but much of the west, and bright through west, dry and bright through tomorrow decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine . decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine . 11 decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine . 11 or decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine . 11 or 12 decent spells west, dry and bright through t0|sunshine . 11 or 12 here.t spells of sunshine. 11 or 12 here. colder in the east, where it stays cloudy, and that cloud likely to stick around on thursday . we'll see a few more thursday. we'll see a few more showers, i suspect on thursday

over parts of southern england, then wales then developing through wales and midlands . then developing through wales and midlands. some heavy and the midlands. some heavy downpours are possible . they'll downpours are possible. they'll be miss, but watch be hit and miss, but do watch out for lively shower on out for a lively shower on thursday again . many places thursday again. many places dry. some spells in the south some sunny spells in the south and fairly glum chilly and west. fairly glum and chilly in the east. >> looks like things are heating up . boxt boilers spotty

gb news. it's 11:00. >> you're with gb news. i'm polly middlehurst and the top story tonight , right? well, it's story tonight, right? well, it's the budget tomorrow and the chancellor has promised permanent cuts in taxation for families on the eve of the budget, which is expected to feature a £0.02 in the pound cut to national insurance contributions, he's aiming to put the uk's economy and rishi sunak popularity back on track . sunak popularity back on track. that's despite the fiscal watchdog suggesting the government has little scope for tax cuts to make the figures add up. jeremy hunt's expected to

extend a windfall tax on energy firms profits, and possibly tighten the rules on non—dom tax status . meanwhile, tighten the rules on non—dom tax status. meanwhile, birmingham city council has approved a wave of budget cuts that have been described as a devastating double whammy of tax cuts and fewer public services . the fewer public services. the labour led authority's planning a 21% increase in council tax over two years, and £300 million worth of cuts to public services . council leader john cotton unreservedly apologised to the city's residents for the budget , city's residents for the budget, blaming tory austerity . blaming tory austerity. birmingham's conservative leader said the cuts will mean streets are no longer cleared and broken street lights aren't repaired . street lights aren't repaired. gb news understands that the policing of a pro—palestinian protest in london this weekend will remain unchanged. officers will remain unchanged. officers will reportedly use existing pubuc will reportedly use existing public order and anti—terror laws after rishi sunak called on the police to crack down on

extremist behaviour , and a extremist behaviour, and a government minister has paid damages to an academic after suggesting she supported hamas. but the cost covered by the taxpayer, the science secretary, michelle donelan, has now retracted her comments about professor kate tsang after a government investigation found the allegations were baseless . the allegations were baseless. the thousands of staff at greggs bakeries are to get more than £17 million in bonuses, as it's after the high street chain saw profits rise by 27% in the last yeah profits rise by 27% in the last year. staff can expect to see the extra award in their pay packets at the end of the month, recognise their hard work and if we can say so, it's the icing on the cake for the workers who already get a share profits already get a share of profits each year. so scientists have revealed the case of a hyper vaccinated man who's reportedly received . 217 covid jabs . the 62 received. 217 covid jabs. the 62 year old from germany received the staggering number of vaccinations for private reasons, he said over 29 months,

researchers