Hello, Andrew.
>> Hey, I'm Emily. Never spoke to Dame
before. It's very exciting.
Nice to speak to you.
>> Oh, we don't just come out of panto
time.
>> Right. Okay. Very good.
>> Uh the first part I'm going to just the
background is you probably won't like
it. I'm a lost Labor voter, I'm afraid
to say.
>> Okay.
>> Uh Mr. Blair was the last time I voted
for a Labor government.
>> What have you been doing instead then?
uh voting for conservatives. I'm ashamed
to say now after that last fiasco. But
you know what my problem is is what what
it is I want to say is is about I think
we should give Labour more as much as
I'm I'm unhappy with the present Labor
government um for lots of reasons. They
have to be given more time. They have to
be given a chance, don't they? They have
to be given a chance. You can't you know
this these things don't happen
overnight. and and and unfortunately the
biggest mistake I think they're making
at the moment is bad communication.
Farage,
oh my god, the guy makes my skin crawl,
but he's communicating to the people in
a way that they they're they're hearing
him and then
>> we have to challenge him. I mean, we
have to challenge him. I mean, you know,
his plan, right? I mean, it does not
make sense. He says he's going to deport
everybody. Well, where's he going to
deport everybody to?
>> You know, how's And he's going to pay
countries to take people. I mean, like,
what you going to do? So, he's going to
pay dictators to take to to to take
people. What's he going to do in Sudan?
Is he going to send young girls back to
Sudan in order to be raped?
>> Like paying people to take them? I mean,
it's outrageous. It really is
outrageous. Do
>> you know why he's like that? And this is
the whole problem with there's lots of
problems going on in this country at the
moment. I'm not going to list them. We
all know what they are. The health
service, blah blah blah.
the problem and the reason that there
will always be problems. There'll always
be issues. There'll always be
injustices. There'll always be laws that
need change and amending whatever. It
all comes from your old place of work,
the House of Commons. That's the
problem. And I'll tell you why. The
problem is now we need politicians
who are parliamentarians
who are who are in politics for public
service, for beliefs. They want to be a
socialist, a capitalist, a liberal, a
protester, whatever it is. I'm talking
about proper parliamentarians. You were
one.
>> I still am, mate. I still am. Don't
Where do you think I've gone? It's
because I've become a dame. It doesn't
mean I'm not in Parliament anymore.
>> You're you're a parliamentarian. You You
sit on committees. You You push agendas.
Housing was one of yours, I think, and
and and and rights for women. You're a
bit of an environmentalist, if I
remember.
>> That's right. You know, so you you had
issues that you felt passionately about
and you wanted to support them and you
took them forward. Parliamentarians like
Tony Ben, like like Theresa May, like
Clark, whether you agreed with the
politics or not, they were
parliamentarians
and they they they
made decisions sometimes wrong,
sometimes right, but they made
decisions. They got things moving. And
currently at the moment, we we Far is
not a parliament. He's no more a
parliamentarian than I am. And then you
get
>> We never see him. He's honestly he's
never there. He might turn up
occasionally to prime minister's
questions, but otherwise we never see
him. He doesn't do any parliamentary
work at all.
>> It's a career like the previous three or
four Tory pr I've lost many. I've lost
count of how many Tory prime ministers
we have. The career people, they're in
it. They're in it for the career. They
need to give um PE the Labor government
a chance. And the danger is because of
the way that it's being miscommunicated
or not communicated is yet all these
guys, not all these guys, a lot of these
people that are demonstrating
are just numpties. They they don't they
don't know anything about what they're
shouting about. They're just out because
it's a good idea to give the police a
kick in. I've been there. I was a police
officer. So, I know exactly what their
motivation is cuz you hear them talking
in the ranks. Right, there's only so
many. Let's go. All that kind of stuff.
But
>> I don't think everybody's like that
though. I mean I do think that there
have been other people who've been
who've been swept up in this and he do
think about sorry sorry Andrew the
dangerous bit that's the dangerous bit
>> normal working people somebody regarded
to them the other one of your last
caller said ordinary folk the ordinary
people are being dragged into it.
They're getting carried away with it.
they they're not being they're not being
informed properly uh by the people who
should be informing them and that's the
government and then you've got you've
got these other people who the worst of
the lot generic
>> generic who has created more problems
than he's ever solved in his short life
and now he's piping up and waving flags
it's laughable
>> I think what's the biggest lot I think
what's terrible is that you know this is
Farage's big issue right this is the big
thing for him And yet, and yet when he
finally announces his policy, it's six
pages. Uh two of them are the front page
and the back page. That's four pages.
The money doesn't add up. It's uh
supposed to only cost10 billion pounds
over 5 years. And yet, Rbert Low, his
sidekick, had exactly the same policy
and it was 47.5. And when people ask
what's the difference, he goes and says,
"Oh, it's because Zia Ysef is good at
maths." I mean, I never knew that maths
could actually do that.
>> Hi, James. Good to speak to you. Um I
would be quite passionate to not um
fight for my country um in a military
capacity or otherwise. I think you made
quite a an interesting uh difference
when you kind of mentioned it as service
for the nation and I would find it hard
to justify service for a nation that I
feel hasn't given me anything. Um I am
>> Oh, I think we're going to have a
conversation here, Joshua. But go on, I
will let you.
>> Thank you. Absolutely. I am 22. So
obviously um the Conservatives your
party were in were in power for a lot of
my kind of development and and now that
Labor have been in albe it for a short
period it hasn't gotten much better.
>> Um I'm just finished university. I'm
found it really really hard to get a job
after university. I now have a job that
>> you know the pay is nothing compared to
what it would have been 101 15 years
ago. I I can't afford to get on the
housing ladder. I think that the country
is by all stretches of the imagination a
lot worse than it was 1015 years ago.
public services are are crippled that
just generally, you know, the streets
are dirty. There's potholes on every
road. And I just feel like it's not a
country that I'm proud of. And I think
there's an interesting discussion to
have that people think national service
and fighting for their country is
fighting for the government of the day.
And I and I do think there's an
important contradiction to be made. But
I think it's important to note that I
think a lot of people see it that way
and that's why a lot of kind of my
generation would be opposed to this this
service. the country hasn't hasn't given
us an awful lot to be proud of and it
would be hard to fight for a country
that you know and I feel is quite often
on the wrong side of history especially
in in kind of military battles.
>> So right here here we go and I'm I'm
going to try not to have too much of a
humdinger with you
>> but I think you're so off the mark. I I
really really do and maybe this is maybe
this is you check I'm going to check my
privileges here.
>> Okay. I was foreign secretary and it was
my job to go around the world promoting
the UK on the international stage and
I struggled to think of a country if we
if I could wave a magic wand or rather
Joshua if you could wave a magic wand
>> and transpose yourself to somewhere else
in the world all else being equal I
think if you gave it some real thought
you would struggle to think of somewhere
better to go where there is uh more
freedom where there's more opportunity
where there is um better protection for
minorities whether there where there's a
a better health system etc etc I think
you would if you thought it through
genuinely struggle and a lot of the
values that underpin those things
are are at risk in many parts of the
world and I think those things are well
worth defending and the fact that you
don't interest me and I don't want to be
overly critical but I think you've
called it badly wrong.
>> I think that's fine. I think I think I I
take your point and I I actually agree
with your point that if you compare us
on an international basis, you know,
we're we're we're up there. We're one of
the best, but I think actually
one of the best of a bad bunch isn't
isn't a great achievement. I think it's
important that you mentioned that we um
that we have a lot of protection for
minorities. I I'm not necessarily sure
that we we are that great for
minorities. I think if you look at most
of where's name me somewhere I don't but
the thing is I don't I don't not want to
fight for the UK and want to fight for
someone else. I wouldn't I wouldn't I
would have this opinion at any stage.
We're constantly on the wrong side of
history when it comes to these military
battles. If you look at the two biggest
battles I think if you look at the two
biggest issues h internationally that
are facing us just now it's Russia
Ukraine and it's Israel Palestine. We on
on the latter we've refused to take any
critical stance of Israel whatsoever.
We're funding the genocide that is
happening in in that country. And when
you look at Russia, Ukraine Ukraine,
we've got a government and a prime
minister who refuses to stand up to
Donald Trump, who's supposed to be our
closest ally when he coes up with
Vladimir Putin on American soil. I think
that we talk a lot of talk and I think
that that's probably the advantage of
which you've seen when you were foreign
secretary. I think we're very very good
at going out there and blowing our own
trumpet. But I think when it comes to
the actual practicalities of living in
in this country, especially for my
generation, there's not an awful lot
that's worth fighting for.
>> I'm so disappointed because I expected
better from Karma and I'm just I was an
ex Labour voter in the past and I can't
see any reason to vote for him again.
Yeah, very depressing.
>> Well, I think um uh people are
disappointed uh by his approach in a lot
of things, but uh let's uh go to those
people who do actually think he's uh
doing the right job. We've got uh
WhatsApp here uh from Beatrice. Uh uh I
think uh he bit says I think Karma does
praise for his strategy of engagement
with uh Trump uh with getting one of the
least worst tariffs from the USA in the
world and bringing together European
lead to support Ukraine and push Trump
away from Trump's wishes to give Putin
all he wants. However, Starman needs to
apply that diplomacy to other issues
such as Gaza and Trump taking the USA
into an author authoritarian oligarchy
and police state. Thank you Beatrice. I
really uh appreciate that. You know, I
really strongly believe that we could be
making a historic mistake here if we
don't um ch improve the allies to the UK
in Europe in the Commonwealth. We often
often talk about the Commonwealth, but
we should far more because they're
getting a bit hit by Trump. If we don't
do that, we're doing a disservice to our
country. Um we need to make sure that
Britain can stand tall in the world. You
know, uh let's face it, we have a proud
history. We're a great nation. Uh many
people look to us for so many things. We
have one of the finest armies in the
world. Uh I think we should be proud to
be British. But I think successive
governments have undermined that. Uh not
least with not standing tall uh in
Europe, not standing tall with our
Commonwealth allies. And I think if we
were uh I think we wouldn't be taking
the approach that Starmmer is with Trump
in in my view though not necessarily in
everyone's view uh to uh no no great
benefit. Raj what would you like to say?
Well, I think Trump is doing an
excellent job for his country. Uh is a
very strong president and uh Europe I
mean we here in England would be doing
much much better if our politicians
fought for us as hard as he's fighting
for America.
>> Interesting point Raj you know um uh I I
think there is something what you say. I
think we need our politicians to fight
for our country. Uh and the question
though is the best way of doing that. Uh
Raj, I don't know what you think, but I
I think to fight for your country,
you've got to be clear on your values
and try and make sure that you are
leading in the world, bringing people
with you because if you're going to
stand up to bullies like Vladimir Putin,
you've got to work with others. Um um
what do you think, Raj?
>> Well, he's certainly trying to work with
Vladimir Putin. I mean there's not a
single European president or prime
minister has even managed to talk to
Putin. At least his Trump has got Putin
around the table to start discussing
things.
>> But do you think he's getting anywhere
with Putin? Really? Do you think
>> it is? It's it's a process. You know,
it's not going to happen overnight.
>> But he even agreed there shouldn't be a
ceasefire. We're seeing Ukrainian towns
and and cities bombed on a daily basis.
He's not stopped any of the killing.
He's got Putin talking which is more
than any European politician has been
able to do.
>> Well, yeah, but I mean talking I think
he's putting off. But Raj, I I respect
your view. Um before I go to the news, I
want to remind you of the prime minister
visit to the Oval Office back in
February.
>> Uh this is a letter from his majesty the
king. Um it's an invitation uh for a
second state visit. Uh this is really
special. This has never happened before.
This is unprecedented. Um and um I think
that just symbolizes uh the strength of
the relationship between us. So this is
a very special letter. I think the last
state visit was a tremendous success.
>> His majesty the king wants to make this
even better uh than that. So this is
this is truly historic, an unprecedented
second state visit and he wants to talk
that through with you.
>> And that says it winter. That's very
That's something.
>> Yes. What I haven't got yet is your
answer.
>> I do need to
>> The answer is yes. Bealf of our
wonderful first lady Melania and myself.
The answer is yes. And we look forward
to being there and honoring the king and
uh honoring uh ruling your country. Your
country is a fantastic country and it'll
be our honor to be there. Thank you very
much.
>> Well, thank you very much, Mr.
President. I shall happily take that
back to his majesty.
>> Um, you know what? That was the
beginning of the charm offensive from
Starmmer on Trump. I'm not sure it's
working. Let's see what happens with the
state visit next month, but uh I hope
he's going to be tougher uh than he's
been to today.
>> So, Keith, are you suggesting that if
we're just a a a nastier place to live
that uh that people will be deterred
from coming here? Are you talking about
sort of specific things maybe sort of
access to services or or benefits or
healthare?
>> No, I'm what I'm what I'm saying is
there should there should be a consensus
among the countries affected by this
which is us and Europe etc etc that
there is that if you apply for you apply
for asylum the the terms of asylum will
be the same in each country. That way,
nobody is going to is is going to fight
fight fight their way across Europe. By
all means, get a fund going to um uh you
know, deter it further elsewhere. But
there's there's been videos made by the
by the these gangs showing people what a
wonderful life there is in England. Um,
and and and to me that's, you know, it's
obvious if you if you if you were
offered a a flat in Belgravia or or or
or a flat in the in in in the middle in
the middle of a slum in uh an
underdeveloped town somewhere in the UK.
What would you take? Yeah, I think
there's there's other things though,
isn't there Keith about Britain, why
people want to come here, some of the
opportunities perhaps because uh we got
we got English as our language and uh
people are perhaps more likely to to
know that than uh than say French or or
Italian. Uh there'll be other reasons
why people perhaps want to to come here,
don't you think? Other than necessarily
sort of what they the housing they might
be in or the benefits they might have.
Well, I I think that's a large part of
it, Penny. And going back to what the
gentleman said before me,
what does it take to make you risk the
lives of young children? If you were
getting if you knew you were going to
get no more favorable treatment or the
same treatment in the country you were
leaving to cross that stretch of water
in in the middle of the night with oil
tankers going either way, uh would you
know, would any sane person do it?
>> No, good good point, Keith. Thank you
very much. We've had a very interesting
discussion about this this morning. Uh I
think the general consensus is that uh
people are disappointed with what's been
done to date. Uh they're they're a bit
cynical, but they're keeping their
fingers crossed that uh someone can sort
this out. And no doubt many shows to
come will be still talking about this
issue. But it does play into a wider
issue, which is what I want to talk
about next. Is our inability to get to
grips with the small boats becoming a
toemic issue for the general state of
the country? Have we lost our ability to
get things done, to get things to work?
Is Britain still a capable nation?