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Watch as Labour Minister Stephanie Peacock joins Gloria De Piero in this edition of Gloria Meets.She says VJ Day is a “chance for us to come together as a nation, to remember and say thank you” before sharing a story of her personal connection to the occasion.Ms Peacock also speaks out on the migrant crisis facing Britain and the eye-watering total of migrants making their way across the Channel.She tells Gloria the number is “unacceptable” and “not good enough” in a damning assessment of her own Government’s efforts to tackle the crisis.
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0:00
Stephanie Peacock, you have taken the lead ministerial role because part of your responsibility is your minister for ceremonials in organising the VE Day celebrations
0:11
Today is Victory Over Japan Day. Why is it important we mark today and what's the government going to be doing? What are you going to be doing
0:20
Well, it's a hugely significant and historic anniversary. It's 80 years since victory over Japan, which marks the end of six years of hostility of that horrific Second World War
0:31
Today, I'll be hugely honoured to attend the National Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire
0:37
And what's going to happen in Staffordshire? Well, that service will be led by the Royal British Legion. We'll be joined by veterans who served in that conflict
0:44
so we can say directly to them thank you. There'll be 400 members of the armed forces, military band
0:50
an historic Battle of Britain flight and, of course, the Red Arrows. It's a chance for us to come together as a nation to remember and to say thank you
0:58
And there have been so many commemorations, so much has been happening across our nation since VE Day on the 8th of May
1:06
Why have they been important? Any moments that have stood out to you
1:10
Well, of course, in 1945 on VE Day, fighting ended in Europe and there were impromptu street parties in 1945
1:17
Of course, that was mirrored up and down the country this year. We had the service at Westminster Abbey We had the military parade There were civic services up and down the country I written to all my schools in my constituency in Barnsley to encourage them to get involved in some of the commemorations and some of the celebrations
1:32
It's a really important anniversary, both VE Day and of course today, VJ Day
1:36
because it is most likely the last significant anniversary where veterans who served
1:40
will be present and an opportunity to say thanks to them as living history fades into the past
1:47
Do you have family members who served in that world war? My granddad Bobby served in the RAF and I've thought about him throughout when helping to organise and lead these commemorations
1:58
I'm hugely proud of his service during the war. And I was really lucky to find some letters that he wrote to my grandma during the war when he was serving in the RAF
2:06
So I've thought about him a lot. What did they say? What stood out for you in those letters? They were absolutely lovely because the early parts of the letters they were courting and they just started dating
2:14
And just after the war they got married. But it's also obviously they didn't have text messages
2:18
So it's like that every day I've driven back. I'm doing this for the RAF. I'm doing that
2:22
So it was his everyday life and it was really touching. I was very close to him growing up and I'm hugely proud of him
2:27
And actually, I think about that when I was growing up. People like my granddad, Bobby, talked about the war and their experience
2:32
And young people don't have that now or very rare do they have that. And so that's why our work with schools has been so important to keep those those stories alive
2:40
The Royal Family have been front and centre of these celebrations You spent loads of times with them along the way Some people on the left think royal family outdated What do you think
3:01
Oh, absolutely not. I'm a very proud royalist, a huge supporter of our royal family
3:05
And I think, you know, they envy the world. They do Britain really proud. We're incredibly lucky to have them. And, you know, actually that's been shown by their leadership events like VE and VJ Day so powerfully
3:14
And when you mention Bobby, your granddad, and think of all the others who served and died for us, is there a particular message that you have for any surviving veterans and their families
3:33
Well, a very simple one, which is thank you. I mean, that great wartime generation gave so much for everything they sacrificed, they lived through
3:41
And so many paid the ultimate price. We owe them everything. And it's thanks to them we have our freedom and the way of life we have today
3:48
Well, let's talk about British values and freedom and the reason our parents and grandparents fought and died to protect those values
3:56
in excess of 50,000 people have travelled here by small boats since Labour came to power
4:04
Now, a YouGov poll published just over a week ago showed that 69% of people don't believe that
4:10
those people who come to our country illegally share British values What do you say to them Well let me be very clear 50 is an unacceptable figure We inherited a broken asylum system It is not good enough
4:22
And that is why we've managed to get a historic agreement with France through months of grown-up diplomacy
4:28
And there's a very clear message. If you come across the channel in a boat, you face the threat of being returned to France
4:33
And, of course, the first illegal immigrants have been detained and will be returned speedily in the coming weeks
4:39
And the public will hold you to account on that. There's huge public anger. I do appreciate that
4:44
Finally, let's talk about some positive figures. GB News in its fourth year, you are also the media minister for this government
4:54
It's been an amazing four years. And last month, figures showed that if you take average audience figures across news channels
5:05
GB News came out on top, Britain's number one news channel. Your reaction to that as media minister
5:11
Well, congratulations. And of course, as Media Minister, a huge supporter of a pluralistic media
5:16
And I think it's a huge testament to all the work you do that as a new channel, as a young channel
5:21
you've been so successful that people welcome you into their home. So congratulations
5:26
Stephanie Peacock, we hope you enjoy today. And thank you on behalf of all of us for all the events and commemorations and ceremonies that you've organised
5:38
Stephanie Peacock, thank you. Thank you. Thank you
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