Transcripts For BBCNEWS Victoria Derbyshire 20171222

Ensuring that when he is in russia he will be speaking in a very hard headed he will be speaking in a very ha rd headed way with he will be speaking in a very hard headed way with the russians about the concerns that we have about the concerns that we have about the concerns that we have about the activity, but also about the engagement that we want with them. So, what can we ecpect to come out of it . We will have analysis and reaction. The british passport is going to change back to its original colour after brexit, a move being championed among some people as a victory. Hello. Welcome to the programme. Were live until am this morning. Do get in touch on all the stories were talking about this morning. We are going to be talking about those passport covers. You bothered what they are like . Also, tell us whats going on with the cheating in your childrens schools, are the vacancies which cant be filled with the teaching in your childrens schools. Use the hashtag victorialive. If you text, you will be charged at the Standard Network rate. Our top story today the Prime Minister has said that the first she knew about the allegations against damian green was when she read about them in the press. The woman who alleged that damian green made inappropriate advances to her has told bbc news that she spoke to a senior downing street aide about his behaviour last year, before mr green was made theresa mays de facto deputy. Kate maltby had complained that mr green fleetingly touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and later sent her a suggestive text. Lets talk to our political correspondent. Take us through this timeline of events . Take us through this timeline of events . It can be quite confusing. There are two separate claims surrounding damian green. There was an investigation into the claims that kate maltby made, she set out those allegations in an article she wrote for the times. She alleged that he had touched her knee, sent her a suggestive text message that prompted a Cabinet Office investigation which was subsequently widened to investigate claims connected to pornography which was found on a parliamentary computer in the office of damian green in 2008. That is ultimately over claims connected to that is what damian green had to resign for. But kate maltby now, the original person who made the claims about Sexual Harassment against damian green has spoken out to say that she had informed number ten about his behaviour a year ago. Before he was promoted to effectively the deputy Prime Minister. She said that she told a senior aide at downing street about this. Now, downing street last night was emphatic that the Prime Minister did not know. And this morning weve heard from theresa may in cyprus, saying that the first she heard about it was when she read kate maltbys on article in the times newspaper. So, you know, it is a rather complex issue connected to damian green. But i think if you seem out of it and look at the broader picture, it reopens those questions about how serious the claims of Sexual Harassment, misconduct, inappropriate behaviour, we re misconduct, inappropriate behaviour, were taken in the past here in westminster, before we had this recent flurry of allegations and alleged victims coming forward. Lots of attention looking at who might be damian greens successor, effectively theresa mays number two. Jeremy hunt being accused of lining himself up from that one. He is one of the big names in the picture. Remember that theresa may doesnt actually officially have to replace that role. She could leave it open. She certainly was denying today that she was going to do anything about it over the christmas period, so dont expect to hear Much Movement on that until the new year. You know, there will be a gap felt, if not in the actual role, certainly by the absence of damian green himself. Remember he was a very close personal ally of theresa may. They go back a long way, to university days, and certainly she can rely on him for support. She will miss his personal presence and the role that he played as a key ally of hers in the cabinet. But whether she chooses to replace him in the role of first secretary of state, well have to wait i think untiljanuary state, well have to wait i think until january to find state, well have to wait i think untiljanuary to find out. Leila nathoo, thank you. On the show this morning passports blue, burgundy or black . Or do you even care . Theyre bringing back the old style blue passports following a redesign post brexit. But anyone under 45 has never had one. Let us know your thoughts on this. Are you bothered . Is it hugely important is to you . Do get in touch with us throughout the morning. Use the hashtag victorialive. If you text, you will be charged at the Standard Network rate. Annita is in the bbc newsroom with a summary of the rest of the days news. Good morning. Good morning, chloe, thank you. The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, is in russia meeting his counterpart, sergey lavrov. He is giving a News Conference in about an hour, in which he is expected to say that russia must rein in its digital attacks or face retaliation from the uk. Use also saying that he wants to cooperate with president putin on international challenges. Theresa may, who is in cyprus this morning, explained borisjohnsons may, who is in cyprus this morning, explained Boris Johnsons approach the foreign secretary is going to be ensuring that when he is in russia he will be speaking to a very hard headed he will be speaking to a very ha rd headed way with he will be speaking to a very hard headed way with the russians about the concerns that we have about the concerns that we have about the concerns that we have about the activity, and also about the engagement that we want with them. Catalan separatist parties have won a majority in spain, plunging it into crisis. The result isa plunging it into crisis. The result is a major setback for the spanish by minister, mariano rajoy. He called the election after reasserting direct control to catalonia following the declaration of independence. The dark blue british passport is to make a return after brexit. The government said what it described as the classic colour would be reintroduced from october 2019. Heres our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds. What does brexit mean . It turns out brexit means no more european burgundy. Brexit means british blue. And on the new passport, the e word is nowhere to be seen. Some, like this bbc newsnight reporter back in the early days, will rejoice. It is the reality of what we are, where we feel we belong. And for some people, pocket sized burgundy simply is not british. The passport is something so many people still have fond memories of. The british blue passport was with you for many years. I am pleased to let people know we are going back to the classic blue and gold design. Not quite. The classic 19805 era passport was bigger and hard backed. The eu one, definitely easier to slip into a shirt pocket. The new british passport will be broadly the same design. The government says the new colour will not cost any more. Passports are redesigned regularly to make them harder to forge. The blue one will start appearing in 2019 as passports are renewed. Tom symonds, bbc news. A man is being questioned on suspicion of murdering a woman who was stabbed in a supermarket in North Yorkshire yesterday. The 30 year old woman was attacked in an aldi store in skipton. Police said the suspect, whos 44, was detained by shoppers and supermarket staff. The christmas getaway is beginning. For millions of motorists, heading for the festivities, hundreds of roadworks are temporarily lifted, but there are still warnings of delays because it is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year one of the busiest days of the year on the roads and on the trains today. Mps are calling for an introduction of a deposit scheme for plastic bottles. The Environmental Audit committee is considering making firms that use Plastic Packaging responsible for the waste that they create. Roger harrabin reports. The uk uses around 13 billion plastic bottles every year. Nearly half are put into landfill, incinerated, or left as litter. Many ultimately find their way into the sea. The mps are urging the government to introduce a deposit and return scheme for bottles as soon as possible. They want a new rule obliging all cafes, pubs, and restaurants to provide free tap water so people can top up their own refillable bottles. And they want many more public water fountains. The mps also propose a sliding scale of charges on Plastic Packaging. So firms using easy to recycle materials pay least, and those using difficult to recyle plastic pay most. Ministers say they are consulting with firms to find the best solutions to what they say are Serious Problems with plastic waste. Roger harrabin, bbc news. A policeman in the us state of florida has been dragged for more than half a mile clinging to a car door after he tried to search a driver who was suspected of taking drugs. Despite falling off at high speed, the officer was unharmed, and the whole incident was filmed on his body camera. A Police Officer in florida putting on protective gloves. This car pulled over with two suspects inside. The officer has spotted what he believes could be heroin and needles, and is about to search the vehicle. But the driver has other ideas. Its going to be in front of cambridge. Whoa, whoa clinging to the open door and with one foot in the car, he is hurtled along at high speed. Despite his shouts, the driver shows no sign of slowing down. For the officer, this unexpected ride is only ending one way. Amazingly, the officer gets back on his feet, the suspects now long gone, but the video camera is still recording. Youre a hero awesome. The Pembroke Pines police force later posted this footage on facebook. And with the evidence they need to pursue these dangerous drivers. We got the camera. Good job. All captured on camera. What do you think a japanese christmas tradition would look like . Well, Something Like this. Singing a choir of around 10,000 people get together each year to perform beethovens ninth symphony. Its thought the tradition began during the first world war, when a group of german prisoners of war being held in the country sang out to joy at christmas time. Ode tojoy. Thats a summary of the latest bbc news. Lets get some sport. Hugh ferris is with us this morning. That smack talk about the boxing day tashais that smack talk about the boxing day tasha is test. There could be a new face for the england team lets talk about the boxing day ashes test. The australians have already w011 test. The australians have already won the ashes and they want a white watch. It might make mason crane leave a roast potato or two on the plate they want a whitewash. He is just plate they want a whitewash. He isjust 20, plate they want a whitewash. He is just 20, and plate they want a whitewash. He isjust 20, and he may become plate they want a whitewash. He is just 20, and he may become the youngest specialist spinner to debut for england in 19 years. At least the hampshire player has some experience in australia. But when he was playing that this time last year, did he think he would be coming back with england . M year, did he think he would be coming back with england . It never really crossed my mind. I like to kind of live in the present. At that moment in time, i wasjust worried about the next game and where i was going from there. It never crossed my mind last year. As weve got closer, i guess its become a bit more real. Like i said, ive got to prepare as if im going to play the same in every game. Im going to have to get my head around it and train hard. He is a legspinner, and the mcg, actually home to the greatest of all time, shane warne. No pressure, then although mason crane has at least had the chance to talk to shane warne already on this tour. Weve had a couple of chats in the mornings, and we will hopefully chat a bit more as the tour goes on, he is the best ever stop and what sort of thing is he saying to you . Nothing about bowling just yet. Hopefully ill get him in the next couple of games. England have to decide between mason crane or tom curran, the surrey fast bowler, because craig over to looks like hes going to miss that game on boxing day. We know it is the fee for world cup this year but there is another tournament that they are hosting, and its not football. Millions around the world will be watching what is happening in russia next summer. Fifa hope that millions will tune into the game version of the world cup, called the ee world cup, one of the tournaments which the governing body have put the media rights up for sale. It is expected to attract a massive local audience, particularly of young fans. Here on the bbc we have been showing is balls for a while now. The first game is injanuary. Qualifying for the ee world cup on the fee for game has already begun. Just like the verbal tournament, there will be 32 players competing. If you were not sure how seriously the game is taking gamers, some premier league clubs have already hired players to represent them in east boards. They are wearing kits and everything. One thing to say about them, compared to real players, they are probably a little cheaper to buy a lot cheaper, im sure thank you. Budget cuts, excessive workloads and pay caps are some of the reasons that teachers are quitting the profession. Almost a third of new teachers quit the profession after five years, leaving rising numbers of teacher vacancies. The government though insists there are record numbers of teachers in our schools. Now a brand new initiative has been created which, it is hoped, will help. Now teach takes top professionals, already with successful careers, and transfers their skills to the classroom. The pilot started in september, and this programme has gained exclusive access to two teachers working on the scheme. Our reporter claire jones has been finding out how the first term has gone. And you can begin now. Two minutes left. Dos. You can read it in spanish. I had come to the end of my career, i had had an interesting career, i had had an interesting career and a fascinating career and i thought if i retired and did nothing, not all that would go to waste, and i did not like the idea of that. I wanted to do something. Waste, and i did not like the idea of that. I wanted to do somethinglj spent 20 years trying to do my best for my country and i want to help stu d e nts for my country and i want to help students and children in my own community. Mature people who have been through a career, who have experienced life who want to change and give Something Back into different way, it is very exciting. There is a problem in our education system. Almost a third of new teachers have quit the profession after five years. Schools face rising numbers of teacher vacancies. Head says schools are reaching crisis point. Now a brand new initiative has been launched which, it is hoped, will help. Now teach ta kes to p it is hoped, will help. Now teach takes top professionals with successful career is already under their belts into teaching. After a two week crash course on what to expect, they start a year of on the job training and we have been to meet two of them. At this school in london simon harking is starting a school day. He is now an english teacher, having turned his back on a high flying career in the Civil Service which saw him for working for the Foreign Office. Service which saw him for working for the Foreign Officelj service which saw him for working for the Foreign Office. I worked in the Royal Household at balmoral which was a great privilege, it was fantastic fun, i had never done anything like that before. I work in the Household Office which is the bit that runs the thing. What did your role include . Security. Generally speaking you do not go into details about what you did and who you knew and anyone who was there. From the Royal Household simon went on to spend decades in the royal diplomatic service. |j simon went on to spend decades in the royal diplomatic service. I was there for over 25 years, but i finished up as head of the department in london, head of the south American Department for three yea rs. After south American Department for three years. After that i did three to us as head of mission in west africa. He even received a medalfor as head of mission in west africa. He even received a medal for his work helping tackle the Ebola Outbreak three years ago and his work concerned some of the most dangerous places in the world. When you are living with armed people with you 2a hours a day, you cannot go anywhere without it and that ta kes a go anywhere without it and that takes a little bit of getting used to. At the waist says shirley park school in croydon for Belinda Burns the day is also beginning. She is 110w the day is also beginning. She is now a trainee spanish teacher, but thatis now a trainee spanish teacher, but that is a far cry from her glittering past career. She spent decades working at the heart of government from everything working on the security at the olympics from being the uks ambassador to cyprus. I spent 20 years in the Foreign Office which in london meant i was working in the ministry in whitehall advising the government ministers, number ten, about Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. I was out in the field working in embassies. Herjob would often involve dealing with life and death decisions. The plane was taken hostage and diverted to cyprus and it contained several nationalities including british. At one point we were worried and afraid for the lives of everybody on board. As the deputy you are managing the tea m as the deputy you are managing the team is on the crisis who are co nsta ntly team is on the crisis who are constantly decision making. Team is on the crisis who are constantly decisionmaking. This is simon and lindas first of teaching. Simons first lesson of the date is teaching a midsummer nights dream to years seven, 11 and 12 year olds. A group of people begging someone rich for money. It does look like that, doesnt it . I had come to the end of my career, i had had an interesting and fascinating career, but i just thought interesting and fascinating career, but ijust thought if ijust retire and do nothing, all that has gone to waste and i did not like the idea of that. I wanted to do something with it. It is a social responsibility i suppose. If i can help in addressing a gap, then why not do it . The now teach trainees receive some money during their training year. The amount depends on the subject they teach. For english it is £15,000. While on subjects where there is a teaching shortage like spanish that could be up to £28,000. If they successfully complete a yea rs training they reach qualified teacher status. I have been lucky enough to get a scholarship from the British Council for teaching languages. But you are right, the second year will definitely be a pay cut. At this stage in life you have hopefully built up some savings and built up some resilience and for me it is never about the money, as long asi it is never about the money, as long as i have enough money, i want to do the best job as i have enough money, i want to do the bestjob i can and something that interests me. Ask me again next year. It sounds extremely arrogant to say it, but i am not doing this for the money. The salary when i eventually get one will be very attractive thank you very much but lam not attractive thank you very much but i am not depending on this for my livelihood and i am not looking at it as livelihood and i am not looking at itasa livelihood and i am not looking at it as a career. There certainly is a need for more teachers. Government figures from 2010 2015 show almost a third of new teachers working in state schools left within five years of starting. Although the department for education insists it is investing £1. 3 billion until 2020 to attract more teachers and there are 110w attract more teachers and there are now record numbers in our schools. We are in a crisis in this country in which we have a Teacher Shortage and it is serious. Mature people who have experienced life who now want to change and give Something Back in a different way because of the crisis we have at the moment is very exciting. But is this the answer . It is an untested pilot scheme and if it goes wrong, it is the kids who will pay the price. I remember saying, you are taking an enormous punt because we, the now teach team, i completely unknown to you, an unknown quantity. No one has had any dealings with us before. But she would not see it like that before. She thought i was taking an enormous puntin she thought i was taking an enormous punt in doing it. We have different views on it. One thing we are good at as views on it. One thing we are good atasa views on it. One thing we are good at as a school is we are good at training people. We have training every week, every morning, in the evenings where we consistently go through what it looks like. From day one you have got 60 eyes upon you, waiting for you to take charge of the class and produce a great lesson. So although you are learning thejob, you lesson. So although you are learning the job, you have lesson. So although you are learning thejob, you have to lesson. So although you are learning the job, you have to actually be doing thejob at the job, you have to actually be doing the job at the same time and be credible in front of the children. I think that has been a major challenge. The biggest stumbling block has been actual technology, using it. My it skills are embarrassingly poor, so i have to work out how to do things. These people do it so easily, the kids are better at it now. But if you are coming in at approaching 60, that will be the case. You might think the hours or the Energy Required might be an issue, but that has not been an issue. Simon is in very early and stays very late. Lindas first lesson is also with year seven students. So, we played this game to practice our spanish and if we want tojoin in, what practice our spanish and if we want to join in, what language practice our spanish and if we want tojoin in, what language do we need tojoin in, what language do we need to ask in . Off you go. How quickly really good. In diplomacy you are dealing with very different people around the world, different cultures and languages, and you have to find and languages, and you have to find a way to express yourself and to make your point is understood. So with school i am trying to do that with school i am trying to do that with a different audience. What do the students think . She is really nice and helpful in spanish and it makes it even more fun for us to do spanish by playing games, like slap the board, or we have a ball and we have to catch and say stuff in spanish. I was not really good at spanish. I was not really good at spanish last year, i struggled a lot and miss has helped me a lot. Now i am at and miss has helped me a lot. Now i amata and miss has helped me a lot. Now i am at a higher level right now. Thank you so much for having me. The now teach training includes regular feedback sessions for senior and younger members of staff who act as mentors throughout the year. You are going to copy this spanish and translate it into english. At lunchtime linda joins the rest of the team in the staff room and then it is time for marking. Were you surprised by the amount of marketing and planning that teaching involves . No, planning is something that is really important and it takes time, but you can whittle it down. Once you know your classes well you can get faster and better and marking is a lovely opportunity to see the kids work. Some of them might be quiet but their book is full of beautiful work that you can give feedback on. This afternoon linda is heading into Central London for a Group Training session with other members of the scheme. Simons lesson is over. I am amazed at the things they do and dont know and the things they do and do not say. They can be absolutely fantastic one moment and you can give the class that works and everything is fun. Then you can do exactly the same with the same kids later on in the same day and it is a disaster. You are thinking is it the kids . Was there something wrong with lunch . You are looking for explanations all the time. But in reality the explanation is you. What do the stu d e nts explanation is you. What do the students think . He is a good teacher. He teaches good. If we need some help, he also helps us to understand. I like this lesson because we were talking about the ancient times before we were born andl ancient times before we were born and i also liked the pictures on the board. But it is still a work in progress. I am doing well less, but it is taking all my time and my only hope for a happy future is that i get much quicker at planning and organising and writing lessons and so on. You are right to identify a king, well done. Ithink so on. You are right to identify a king, well done. I think i would like them to see me as a reliable source, someone they can trust with the information that they are given. Thats what i am doing for them in the classroom is what they need. We will be talking in the next hour toa we will be talking in the next hour to a couple of teachers who have swapped their high flying careers for teaching in the classroom. Any questions you have, put them to us. A lot getting in touch on social media. Anthony says, surely the first thing to address is the reason for the shortage. The low pay, the long hours, the lack of respect from pa rents long hours, the lack of respect from parents and children . Bringing in people with Life Experience will not address these very real issues. Once theseissues address these very real issues. Once these issues are addressed, then teachers with real Life Experiences will be invaluable. Sarah says success in the Business World is different to success in teaching as evidenced by this piece. People are using children as guinea pigs and they are not fully trained as the children are in it skills. I will put that point to our teachers in an hours time. Keep those comments coming in. Still to come the foreign secretary borisjohnson is in moscow meeting his counterpart sergey lavrov. The uk and russia have not always had the best of relationships, so we will see if thatis relationships, so we will see if that is going to thaw. A chat with a couple of russian experts. We fig is the headlines this morning on bbc news. The Prime Minister has said the first she knew about allegations of Inappropriate Conduct by former cabinet minister damian green was when she read about them in the media. The comment comes after the woman who made the allegations, kate maltby, told bbc news that she spoke toa maltby, told bbc news that she spoke to a senior downing street aide about his behaviour last year before mrgreen about his behaviour last year before mr green was promoted. She complained that mr green fleetingly touched her knee in a pub in 2015 and later sent her a suggestive text. The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, is in russia meeting his counterpart, sergey lavrov. Its the First Official visit to moscow by a British Foreign secretary for more than five years. Boris johnson British Foreign secretary for more than five years. Borisjohnson has warned russia that britain is ready to retaliate to cyber attacks, but also said he wants to cooperate with president putin on international challenges. Where we can find possibilities of cooperation on issues where i think we have substantial issues where i think we have su bsta ntial interests issues where i think we have substantial interests in common, such as iran and the need to continue with the iran nuclear deal. Cata la n continue with the iran nuclear deal. Catalan separatist parties have won a majority in the regional elections, although the Biggest Single Party is one that opposes separatism, the result is a major setback for the spanish Prime Minister, mariano rajoy. Hed called the election after surging direct control over catalonia following its declaration of independence reasserting direct control. A man is being questioned on suspicion of murdering a woman who was stabbed in a supermarket in North Yorkshire yesterday. The 30 year old woman was attacked in an aldi store in skipton. Police said the suspect, whos 44, was detained by shoppers and supermarket staff. The christmas getaway begins. The millions of motorists, hundreds of roadworks are temporarily lifted. It is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year on the roads, and that goes for the trains too. Ian palmer is at euston station in london. Whats it like the . Is it extra busy . Well, its not too bad at the moment, but, frankly, if you are watching this now and you havent left home, youre probably going to be in for a very difficult time. Starting with the trains, network rail is saying that its going to be carrying out its busiest and biggest christmas Investment Programme between christmas and new year. And they are urging travellers to co m plete year. And they are urging travellers to complete the journey is at the latest if they can buy early tomorrow morning. Services are going tomorrow morning. Services are going to be severely disrupted, particularly in the south east and going through London Bridge stations between the 23rd of december right up between the 23rd of december right up until the 1st of january. Millions of journeys up until the 1st of january. Millions ofjourneys will be taking place between now and obviously Christmas Day. If we move onto the roads, the m25 of course is the major bottleneck in the south east. That will be incredibly busy today. The rac is saying that that will be particularly busy and congested from about lunchtime onwards. So, if you are quick and you can get onto it very shortly, you might be able to escape the worst of it. This time last year, the rac was saying that the biggest bottleneck without there being an accident was on the a303, a seven mile tailback at around 6pm on Christmas Eve. Onto the planes, there are going to be around 11. 5 million journeys there are going to be around 11. 5 millionjourneys taking there are going to be around 11. 5 million journeys taking place over the next few days. Heathrow airport is expecting around 130,000 passengers today alone. And it will be incredibly busy there. The buses are putting on extra services to make sure that passengers can get to where they need to go quickly. But frankly, it is going to be tough. And on a day like this, of course, many people will take to their cars rather than using public funds bought. It is going to be a very difficult they. Ian palmer, thank you. The dark blue british passport is to make a return after brexit. The government said what it described as the classic colour would be reintroduced from october 2019. Mps are calling for the introduction ofa mps are calling for the introduction of a deposit scheme for plastic bottles to help protect this is from pollution. The commons Environmental Audit Committee Said it should be between 10p and 20p, which consumers would get back when they return the bottle. It wants all cafes, pubs and restau ra nts bottle. It wants all cafes, pubs and restaurants to provide free tap water for people to top up refilla ble water for people to top up refillable bottles. We are going to show you the dramatic moment that a policeman in the us state of florida was dragged for more than half a mile clean to the car door. The officer was trying to surgery driver who was suspected of taking drugs, when the driver set off in an attempted escape, with the policemen clinging to the door. The incident was captured on the offers as body count. Despite falling at high speed, the officer was unharmed. Nb offers as body count. Thats a summary of the latest bbc news. Heres some sport now with hugh. Mason crane says he is ready for an england test debut if it comes in the box and eight ashes test at the mcg, the leg spinner could well come infor mcg, the leg spinner could well come in for Craig Overton and become the youngest specialist spinner to make his england test debut in some 90 yea rs. His england test debut in some 90 years. The festive football begins later as arsenal liverpool meet on the first time on a friday night since the gunners won back in 1989. West brom captain jonny since the gunners won back in 1989. West brom captainjonny evans could be leaving the club next month after they failed to persuade him to sign a new contract. The defender was linked with both leicester and Manchester City back in the summer. Much more coming up later on. Thank you, is you. Hue. The foreign secretary, borisjohnson, is in moscow for talks with his russian counterpart, sergei lavrov. He has already described relations with britain this morning as being ata with britain this morning as being at a low point. Mr lavrov has rebuked the foreign secretary for comments that he made in which he urged the russians to cease activities which id is the blazing europe. Mrjohnson said that whilst frankness is mrs ari, so is the british russian relationship. Frankness is mrs ari, so is the british russian relationship. Frankness is necessary. When i look at the difficulties in our relationship, whether it is over ukraine or the western balkans or whats going on in cyberspace, i agree with you that its important to talk about these things and to be frank about them and to accept that they are obstructions in our relationship at the moment. As you say, we are both p5 members, we both have a duty to our countries and to the world to Work Together for peace and security, and where we can, i think we can find possibilities of cooperation on issues where i think we have substantial interests in common, such as iran and the need to continue with the iran nuclear deal. So, what is the uk hoping to achieve with this visit . And is there any chance of a thaw in relations . Heresjohn owen on the background to the talks. Its been five years since a British Foreign secretary visited russia. But today, after cancelling two earlier trips due to diplomatic tensions, borisjohnson is at last in moscow, hoping to make some progress towards increased cooperation between russia and the uk. On the agenda will be some of the big Foreign Policy challenges of the day. Ukraine, north korea, iran, and regional stability in the middle east. But in recent years, uk russian relations have been strained to say the least. And whilst the objective of this visit might be increased cooperation, theres no shortage of reasons for tensions between the two countries. So, how did we get here . Remember this man . After the death of former russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in london in 2006 and following an inquiry that ended last year, the uk government accused the kremlin of his murder. In 2014, russia annexed crimea from the ukraine, making use of disguised special forces in unmarked uniforms, nicknamed little green men. In response, the uk has supported the us and eu sanctions against russia. Things took yet another turn for the worst in 2015, after russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War on the side of president assad, who the uk government argued was waging a Brutal Campaign of repression against his own population. And, most recently, theresa may has accused russia of meddling in democratic elections in the west and spreading fake news. So i have a very simple message for russia we know what you are doing, and you will not succeed. All of this, combined with some occasional nuclear sabre rattling and military brinkmanship, has meant that the last few years has seen some of the worst relations between britain and russia since the cold war. In this context, mrjohnsons effort to encourage any further cooperation with a country that he himself described recently as cold, nasty, militaristic and undemocratic might prove it for order. Might prove a tall order. Of course, britain has not been alone amongst western countries in criticising russias recent behaviour on the international scene. But, with mr putins grip on power seemingly unassailable, pragmatists will say that the only way forward towards more normal relations with russia and to a reduction in military tensions is is to increase diplomatic engagement. We can chat about this further now with sir tony brenton, the former British Ambassador to russia. And james nixey, the head of the russia and Eurasia Programme at the International Affairs think tank chatham house. Good morning, gentlemen. First of all, james, bearing in mind everything we have just seen in that the background, how much is there in this trip . Relatively good will, it must be said. The fact of the matter is, although there should be areas where we can cooperate with russia, russia its self simply isnt interested at the moment. It want something substantially different to that which the uk wants. The uk, is still a part of europe and certainly a part of the broader west, it does stick to what we called the westphalia and system, a post cold war order of where all states that are recognised as independent are just such. But russia believes in sovereignty but not in the area of the former so but union, where russia desires, insists, that it must maintain control the former soviet union. As a result of that, the two countries are not going to get on and all there is a change of position between the one side and the other. Tony, do you agree with that . I couldnt disagree more is it so might and interesting charges against russia, the russians have a list of charges against us, they see us as list of charges against us, they see us as having supported by demonstrations against the tin and encouraged the georgians to attack them in 2008 and participating in them in 2008 and participating in the overthrow of friendly regimes in iraq and libya. To offer some obvious examples. The point im making, each side has its list of charges against the other. The level of tension is high end actually dangerous. There are planes flying appallingly close to each other over syria as we speak. Its important to get that level of tension down. Ross thomson going to moscow is a helpful further step thomson going to moscow is a helpful furtherstep in thomson going to moscow is a helpful further step in doing that Boris Johnson going to moscow. Is he the man to do that . When we look at the line but that has been used and his track record, shall we say, for putting his foot in things, is he the right person to be headed to moscow when, as you point out, relations are so bad was plot i think the approach he has taken is encouraging. He has the cover his back here in uk politics by saying aggressive things about russian cyber attacks, of which there is little evidence. But he has gone in the same, we need to find areas where we can Work Together. He has identified some obvious ones, iran being an obvious one, north korea, and others. Islamic terrorism, for example, we both have a dreadful problem that we need to Work Together to tackle. Most interestingly, all of this stuff about cyber warfare, each side suspecting the other of doing or threatening appalling things, we need to begin to find a way of controlling that area, as we did with Nuclear Weapons back in the 60s, and establish some rules of the road there as well. James, do you think that Boris Johnson, road there as well. James, do you think that borisjohnson, the foreign secretary, should be going over the ad being hard, playing ha rd ball over the ad being hard, playing hardball on the allegations of cyber attacks, or do you think there needs to bea attacks, or do you think there needs to be a more consolatory town . No, playing hardball to be a more consolatory town . No, playing hard ball is to be a more consolatory town . No, playing hardball is reasonable, as long as one can do it firmly and politely, but i think a bit more honesty in a relationship whereby we understand the two countries are simply actually not going to get on well the current regime in moscow stays in power is actually quite refreshing. Its not that ross thomson shouldnt go to moscow, he can take the opportunity to deliver certain messages. Those messages with by that if there is continued cyber intervention in the uk, manipulation, i disagree with tony, i believe there is substantial evidence for that, then there will be repercussions. And i think that rather than sort of freezing out and isolationism, this is an opportunity and for russians to borisjohnson, he should simply give as good as he gets. Tony, whats russias general view of britain . Does it see it as a world power, something thats important in the whole framing of relations around the world . They see us as an relations around the world . They see us as an Important International player, which will undoubtedly, a permanent memberof player, which will undoubtedly, a permanent member of the security leading memberof permanent member of the security leading member of the security corporation. They see us as among the most rural and European Countries in our aversion to russia and russias behaviour at the moment the relevant. They see us as close to the united states. They believe that by establishing Common Ground with us that helps them to establishing Common Ground with the united states. James, do you agree . Absolutely, i think that is true. We have the americans era on Security Issues and we are part of the European Union and we are leading an sangchan is in that respect, although there is a brexit element here, we are leading on sanctions. When the uk has left the eu, maybe we will be looking for other markets in the future, and that may include russia, which doesnt currently exist as a market because of the sanctions. You have mentioned the idea of working together, britain and russia, or north korea and syria. What about the world cup next year in russia . We know there is a potential for flash points between russian and england fans, we saw that last year in france. Can the two countries Work Together, do you think, sir tony . I have read that the two Intelligence Services dont even communicate at all. You are right. I was ambassador in russia when we had a couple of big foot ball russia when we had a couple of big football matches. Setting up the process so football matches. Setting up the process so that the Russian Police behave is a crucial part of the process. And at the time of the olympics a couple of years ago, at the moment we have no contact at all between our security services, but we waved that for the period of the olympics because cooperation on intelligence threats was very important. The world cup offers another opportunity to do a similar thing and open up the possibility of increased cooperation in general, notably on islamist extremism. That you both forjoining us and talking to us this morning. Coming up the shortage of teachers in our schools is often topped about. One Innovative Solution is a pilot scheme recruiting top professionals to train as teachers. We will be speaking to the co founder shortly. Obviously at christmas, thoughts often turn to people who arent as fortunate. Weve been hearing from survivors of the grenfell fire for the last six months. For them, this Festive Season is going to be anything but normal. But one of the local volunteer groups is putting on a christmas meal to remember for 95 families who survived the fire, many of whom also lost loved ones. Lets talk to our reporter ashley john ba ptiste. It looks festive down there. Tell us more. Yes, it does. I am at a church, the main church hall. It is called the Tabernacle Christian Centre and it is literally down the road from Grenfell Tower. This church has been a key player in the local community in the last few yea rs local community in the last few years and it is led by derek wilson who has been leading this church for 24 who has been leading this church for 2a years. Since the Grenfell Tower fire it has been a key part of the support for the survivors. On that tragic morning in june support for the survivors. On that tragic morning injune when the fire occurred the church became a makeshift Donation Centre handing out food, clothing and other essentials to survivors. It has been over six months since the fire and it continues to provide 95 families with food, clothing and other essentials and also emotional support. Tonight is a significant night because it will be hosting a christmas dinner for the Grenfell Tower survivors. It is important to say this is a dinner for all survivors regardless of religious background. Volunteers are currently preparing halal food background. Volunteers are currently preparing halalfood for background. Volunteers are currently preparing halal food for the muslim guests. There is a lot of activity going on. We have volunteers here who are very excited, preparing the dining tables. I assure you this is a church hall. It looks like a dining hall at the moment. That is apart from the religious logos at the back. How are you feeling . Quite excited. We can speak to the pastor of this church, derek. Tallis about the christmas dinner and what else that you have planned for the survivors. We are very excited for the survivors, putting on this banquet. We got together as a team about a month ago thinking about what we could do for the survivors because they will still be in hotels at christmas. We thought lets put on about as close to christmas as possible. We got on the phone and started asking companies to help us. His Royal Highness provided the decorations. Casablanca provided the chairs and the table. Look at this wonderful 5 star spread. The ritz hotel, waitrose, tesco and quite a few others have come on board. Can we look at this cake . It is extraordinary looking. Is it a donation . This is the business, a nativity scene. It is a work of art. What food do we have on the menu . For our special guests and for muslims we have got halal food being prepared for them. We have got turkey, potatoes, rice, we have got gateau and this will all be provided by people like waitrose and tesco. More broadly how have you been supporting survivors in the past six months . In the past six months this has been a one stop place were survivors can come for donations that have come in from all over the country like clothes and toiletries and food as well. But also comfort. Spiritual comfort. They find this a safe haven to come to. They feel safe haven to come to. They feel safe coming in. As long as they need as we will continue to be here. Fantastic. We can now speak to abigail bolton, she is a volunteer and has come all the way from gloucestershire. She moved to london to this church after the fire with herfour to this church after the fire with her four children to this church after the fire with herfour children to help to this church after the fire with her four children to help the relief effort. She is currently living in the prayer room. Hello, how are you, abigail . Very well. How are you helping to prepare for tonight . We have got the gifts to get sorted and we have got the marquee to get sorted which will be the grotto. Everything has to be prepped in here and all the decorations are ready outside for the reindeers. Tell us more. Real reindeers coming all the way from oxford and they are travelling up for the children to see. We have got two of your children. Hello, ellie. Your mum has decided to move to london to help the Grenfell Tower survivors. What do you think about that . |j the Grenfell Tower survivors. What do you think about that . I like it because we go to the Tabernacle School and we have a lot more. That is the local school. And do you like london . Yes. Zak, how are you . Good, thank you. How is it for you moving to london and helping the survivors . It is good moving and it feels good to help the survivors if they are in need. Yes, it is good. Cool. Abigail, we have heard a lot about the trauma and the Mental Health issues survivors face. What about the volunteers . Are you burnt out . We are tired, it is very stressful for the volunteers as well. Anyone who was here around about the time of the fire it was an horrific experience to be fair. Yes, you naturally ta ke experience to be fair. Yes, you naturally take it on board. It is being like a sponge and somebody explain to me it will eventually leak. Finally we can speak to a survivor who was on the 12th for on the night of the fire and this church has been a massive support to her. I should say this is her first time speaking to the media. Lets go back and talk about how you escape on the night of the fire. On the night of the fire i was in the flat with my close friend and sister. She came to do a bible study with us. When the other members left we slept and we were woken up by a phone call. We could not leave the flat and we started praying and reading the bible. We prayed all the way through and the firefighters came and they rescued as at 3 30am. The fire started at one oclock. And so they guided you down the stairs from they guided you down the stairs from the 12th floor. How was that . The smoke was very thick and that is why we could not leave the flat. I do not know how they did it thinking back. It was very difficult, but they did take us out. I was shouting andl they did take us out. I was shouting and i was calling, jesus, jesus. It was a difficult moment. Very quickly how are you now and how has this church supported you since the fire . Yes, this church has supported me to giving me these nice clothes, this code and scarf i received from this church. It was donated to them, and some other things as well from this church. And tonight was my christmas dinner, what will it mean to you and other survivors . This is special and the place looks great and amazing. For me this is a very special time of the year. In idea 9. 6 it says for us of the year. In idea 9. 6 it says for usa of the year. In idea 9. 6 it says for us a child is given and a child is born and the government shall be out on his shoulders. That is a religious scripture. What will it mean for the community more broadly . For the community is great because a lot of people are in a hotel and they are not with their families and it is good to have Something Like this, a special celebration. Finally, where will you be spending Christmas Day . I will be spending Christmas Day . I will be spending Christmas Day at my friends Christmas Day . I will be spending Christmas Day at my friends has, she was with me on that night. As you can see there is some excitement and expectation for tonights dinner. Over to you. Over to you. The dark blue british passport is to make a return after brexit. The government said what it described as the classic colour would be reintroduced from october 2019. A lot of you getting in touch about that and we will get more reaction after ten. Lets get some weather. My after ten. Lets get some weather. My kids keep telling me there are three sleeps to go. Any chance of any white stuff anywhere . Yes, there is, but not with you. You will find it if you Christmas Mountains on day. But this morning we have some lovely pictures. This one has come in from essex. And this morning we had a lovely sunrise, but it was quite misty. If you like it cloudy, mild and damp, you are in for a treat because that is the forecast today we have got a weather front sinking southwards. High pressure is building in and in the north of the country it is also rather breezy. We have got four in Northern Ireland, scotland and north west england, wales and the south west. That will slowly lift into low cloud. Some brighter breaks in north west england this afternoon and also in parts of eastern scotland. North west england still remains fairly murky. These temperatures are good for the 22nd of september. Temperatures lower in scotland, but the west sees outbreaks of rain and some murky conditions. 11 degrees, it is not a bad temperature in Northern Ireland at this time of the year. In wales the fog lifts into low cloud. The same can be said of the south west england. Highs of 12 celsius in plymouth. In southern counties it is still cloudy with the remnants of the drizzle continuing to push into the drizzle continuing to push into the channel isles. This evening and overnight it will be cloudy once again and we will see a return to patchy mist and fog. A weather front coming in from the north west will produce some rain. Some of that will be heavy at times and it will also be heavy at times and it will also be windy. 5 degrees in aberdeen and in the countryside it will be lower than that. For much of the uk it is eight or nine. Tomorrow the fog will be slow to left. In the north of scotla nd be slow to left. In the north of scotland there will be some heavy rain and it will be windy. There could be gusts up to gale force. In the south we will see some brighter breaks, but look at the temperature in aberdeen. Today it is a five or six and tomorrow it is 12. On Christmas Eve the weather front is still an northern scotland and getting into Northern Ireland and it isa getting into Northern Ireland and it is a south westerly wind which is a mild direction, but it also brings in quitea mild direction, but it also brings in quite a lot of cloud and dampness in the coasts and the hills. Temperatures 8 11. Finally for Christmas Day we have got a band of rain sinking southwards and eastwards. A level uncertainty as to the timing of that. Head of it we are looking at cloudy, breezy and still mild. Hello, its 10am. Teacher vacancies are rising, and with almost a third of new teachers quitting the job afterjust five years, what is being done to fill the posts . This programme has exclusive access to a pilot scheme recruiting top professionals to retrain as teachers. Ijust thought, i just thought, if ijust thought, if ijust retire and do nothing, although that has gone to waste. And i didnt like the idea of that. I wanted to do something. Ive spent 20 years trying to do my best for my country, and i want to help students and children in my own community. Will be chatting for two people whose what high flying careers for the classroom in the next few minutes. Borisjohnson is Boris Johnson is in borisjohnson is in russia, and has warned the russians to stop cyber aggression or risk retaliation, but also said that he wants to cooperate with president putin on international challenges. Where we can, ithink international challenges. Where we can, i think we can find possibilities of corporation on issues where i think we have substantial issues where i think we have su bsta ntial interests issues where i think we have substantial interests in common. And this has to be one of the most memorable christmas number one is. A bit of george the winner of the biggest chart battle of the year will be revealed later today when we find out who will be this years christmas number one. Ed sheeran, eminem and George Michael are hot favourites to take the coveted top spot. Good morning. It is 10 02am. Heres annita in the bbc newsroom with a summary of todays news. Good morning. The Prime Minister has said the first she knew about allegations of Inappropriate Conduct by former cabinet minister damian green was when she read about them in the press. The comment comes after the woman who made the allegations, kate maltby, told bbc news that she spoke to a senior downing street aide about his behaviour last year before mr green was promoted. Ms maltby complained that mr green fleetingly touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and later sent her a suggestive text. The foreign secretary, borisjohnson, is in russia meeting his counterpart, sergey lavrov. Its the First Official visit to moscow by a British Foreign secretary for more than five years. Borisjohnson has warned russia that britain is ready mr lavrov has this morning described relations with britain as being at the low point after warnings that britain is ready to retaliate to cyber attacks. But mrjohnson said that he wants to cooperate with president putin an international challengers. International challengers. Where we can, i think, we can find possibilities of cooperation on issues where i think we have substantial interests in common, such as iran, and need to continue with the iran nuclear deal. Catalan separatist parties have won a majority in the regional elections. Although the Biggest Single Party is one that opposes separatism, the result is a major setback for the spanish Prime Minister, mariano rajoy. Hed called the election after asserting direct control over catalonia following its declaration of independence. A man is being questioned on suspicion of murdering a woman who was stabbed in a supermarket in North Yorkshire yesterday. The 30 year old woman was attacked in an aldi store in skipton. Police said the suspect, whos 44, was detained by shoppers and supermarket staff. The christmas getaway begins, and for millions of motorists heading off for the festivities hundreds of roadworks are temporarily lifted, but its still expected to be one of the busiest days of the year on the roads. That goes for the trains, too. Railway stations are busy up and down the country. The dark blue british passport is to make a return after brexit. The government said what it described as the classic colour would be reintroduced from october 2019. Mps are calling for the introduction of a deposit scheme for plastic bottles to help protect the seas from pollution. The commons Environmental Audit Committee Says it should be between 10p and 20p, which consumers would get back when they returned the bottle. It also wants all cafes, pubs and restaurants to provide free tap water for people to top up refillable bottles. This is the dramatic moment that a policeman in the us state of florida was dragged for more than half a mile clinging to a car door. The officer was trying to search a driver who was suspected of taking drugs when the driver set off in an attempted escape, with the policeman clinging to the door. The incident was captured on the officers bodycam. Despite falling off at high speed, the officer was unharmed. Thats a summary of the latest bbc news. Ill be back with more at 10 30am. Thank you, annita. Heres some sport now with hugh with the ashes already gone, england are likely to decide between two potential debutants for the fourth test. Mason crane, he isjust 20, if he is preferred to tom curran, he will come in for the injured Craig Overton. He does have some experience in australia, but did he think he would be coming back with england . It never really crossed my mind. Ilike england . It never really crossed my mind. I like to kind of live in the present, and at that moment in time i was just worried about the next game and where i was going from there. It never crossed my mind last year. As it got closer, i guess its become a bit more real. Like i said, i play as if im going to play the same every game. I i play as if im going to play the same every game. I have to get my head around it and train hard. Last time that arsenal and liverpool met ona time that arsenal and liverpool met on a friday night was back in 1989. In the final game of the season, it was the gunners who won at anfield to claim the league title in Dramatic League circumstances. This ta kes Dramatic League circumstances. This takes not quite as high this time, but even with both languishing well behind premier League Leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopps team dont want to be headed home for christmas with a defeat. We have to be ready for a different challenge on friday. Its arsenal, and we have quite a talented group there. They can create chances as well. We need to be spot on. All the players need to be spot on. All the players need to be spot on. All the players need to be spot on in this specific part of the game. It looks like jonny evans could be one of the big names to move in the january transfer window after west brom failed to convince him to sign a new contract. It is understood he has no intention of extending his stay at the hawthorns. Many teens expressed an interest in the Northern Ireland International Back in the summer. Stoke manager mark hughes says he doesnt recognise stories that he only has one game to save his job. Reports have surfaced that defeats in their next match against west brom could spell the end of his 11. 5 year reign. Hughes says the longer it goes on the more difficult it gets, but he doesnt sent any apprehension about where they are. Fifa have put the media rights for the e world cup, which is expected to have massive audiences of young fans. Just like the real thing, there will be 32 players competing in the main event. But in the gaming tournament they will be playing for cash and not the famous trophy. Thats it for now. The headlines just after 10 30am. Thank you, is you. Hue. Budget cuts, excessive workloads and pay caps are some of the reasons that teachers are quitting the profession. Almost a third of new teachers quit the profession after five years, leaving rising numbers of teacher vacancies. The government, though, insists there are record numbers of teachers in our schools. Now a brand new initiative has been created which, it is hoped, will help. Now teach takes top professionals, already with successful careers, and transfers their skills to the classroom. The pilot started in september, and this programme has gained exclusive access to two teachers working on the scheme. Our reporter claire jones has been finding out how the first term has gone. Me gusta la musica clasica. There is a problem in our education system. Almost a third of new teachers have quit the profession after five years. Headteachers say schools are reaching a crisis point. Now, a brand new initiative has been launched which, it is hoped, will help. Now teach takes top professionals with successful careers already under their belts into teaching. After a two week crash course on what to expect, they start at arc all Saints School in london, simon harkin is starting the school day. Hes now an english teacher, having turned his back on a high flying career. I work in the Royal Household at balmoral, which was a great privilege. It was fantastic fun, i had never done anything like that before. From the Royal Household, simon went on to spend decades in the diplomatic service. I was there for over 25 years, but i finished up as the head of the south america department, and then after that i did three tours as head of mission in west africa. At oasis shirley park school in croydon, for linda burns, the day is also beginning. She is now a trainee spanish teacher, but that is also a far cry from her glittering past career. She spend decades working at the heart of government, on everything from the security at the 2012 london olympics to most recently being the uks deputy ambassador to cyprus. I spent about 20 years in the Foreign Office, which in london meant that i was working in the ministry in whitehall advising the government, ministers, number ten about Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy. Then i was out in the field working in embassies. The now teach trainees receive some money during their training year. The amount depends on the subject they teach. It sounds extremely arrogant to say it, but i am not doing this for the money, i am not depending on this for my livelihood, and i am not looking at it as a career. The department for education insists it is investing £1. 3 billion until 2020 to attract more teachers, although there are concerns about the future. We are in a crisis at the moment in this country in which we have a Teacher Shortage, and it is really serious. Typical clothes that they wore in ancient athens. But is this the answer . Now teach is an untested pilot scheme, and if it goes wrong, its the kids that will pay the price. My it skills are embarrassingly poor, and so i have to work out how to do things from scratch. These people do it so easily, the kids are better at it than i am. This afternoon, linda is heading into Central London for a Group Training session with other members of the scheme. Simons lesson is over, but it is still a work in progress. My only hope for a happy future is that i get much quicker to planning and organising myself and writing lessons. Lucy kellaway is the co founder of now teach. After a distinguished career as a journalist at the financial times, she is now a trainee maths teacher. Simon harkin worked as a diplomat in the Foreign Office around the world and served in the Royal Household. He is now a trainee english teacher. Louise regan is the president of the National Education union, the uks largest education union, and a teacher. Thank you all for coming in. Im interested to know why you two suddenly felt the need to step away from what was clearly financially rewarding careers to go into teaching . Well, i hadjust been doing what i was doing for too long. I was on the ft for 32 years. It was amazing, it was a lovelyjob. But our careers are going to last forever. Im 58 now and i think ive got 15 years of work left in me. I didnt want to go on doing the same thing. Actually, motivations change. Ive got some savings, making money wasnt particularly important to me. And i wanted to do something useful. What can be more useful than teaching . Absolutely. I had come to the end of my career. Im retired now. And ijust thought that everything that i had achieved and my education was all going to go to waste if i do something with it. So, when the opportunity came along with now teach, i read an article that lucy had written in the evening standard, i thought, lucy had written in the evening standard, ithought, lets lucy had written in the evening standard, i thought, lets have a look and see how that goes. All the way through the recruitment process itook way through the recruitment process i took that same attitude of, oh, ive got through that bit so ill go on and do the next and see what happens. Im happy to say that ive enjoyed my first term. And im hoping to continue to enjoy it. Lewies, people may not be aware of the problem within teaching, particularly retention of teachers. Why is it a problem . Lots of people are getting in touch saying, its lovely that you are getting new people in, but if you are not addressing the problems like workload and pressure, some people even suggesting parents of children not respecting teachers, thats a real problem. Do you see that as the issue . I think it is a huge issue. The workload is the most highly cited reason for people leaving the profession. We know that huge numbers are leaving in the first five years after training, and that isnt approving. We also know we are not recruiting enough teachers to initial teacher training, particularly in some areas. Maths and computing particularly are very low in terms of recruitment in. And i think because of the issues raised about workload, it puts people off playing into those as professionals, you know, because its seen as a really ha rd you know, because its seen as a really hard job in terms of workload. Lucy, in now teach, you are effectively learning on the job. That might concern some parents, that you havent been through a 3 4 yea rs of that you havent been through a 3 4 years of teacher training. Yes, youve got experience in the Business World, but one person got in touch with us to say that business and teaching are very different. They are right, business and teaching and journalism and teaching are very different. But now teach has not invented a new route into the profession. We are using existing teacher training. It is on the job training said the training we are having is exactly the same as the training 22 would have going through a similar scheme. Lots of teachers do on the job training, so we did not do that. Did you do a crash course in the summer . We did a Summer School which was a few weeks long, but after that my school itself did another weeks training for all new members of staff, whether they had been teaching already or not. The most impressive thing is the in School Training that we have throughout the year. Parents watching this may worry, three weeks training and you are worry, three weeks training and you a re let worry, three weeks training and you are let loose on my child . Our schools are similar. In my school i am not being let loose on anyones child. The school quite rightly does not expect me to go in there and be able to do a difficultjob because teaching is very hard and i do not have a clue. There is an experienced teacher in the classroom with me at all times sitting at the back and i am allowed to have a go myself, but oh, my goodness, if i was doing anything bad for the children, they would be on to it immediately. That is how we learn. And at the end of a lesson in which you are very heavily observed you will be told what went well, the www, and the even better ifs. It is not what went horribly wrong. Our worry is a union is that it is variable. You had a good model there, but it is important that there, but it is important that there is school based work. We there, but it is important that there is school based work. We think thatis there is school based work. We think that is really important, trainee teachers should have time in school, but they should also get a good amount of time learning the pedagogy of teaching and it is important we keep those as Component Parts of a teachers training. We think there should be a link with Higher Education and it is important that government has oversight of teacher training because they need to ensure that all teachers get the same level of support, the same level of training and the same understanding, so training and the same understanding, so that we had the highest qualified teachers we can. To in lancashire says this. Year on year successive governments spend billions on recruiting teachers. Surely the root cause of retention needs to be looked at, workload, behaviour, general conditions. The two schools in the vat looked to have good behaviour, but this is not the case around the country. Many managers focus too much on ofsted, particularly if the school is in special measures after putting more pressure on staff. I am wondering what age group you are teaching. If you have three weeks experience and training before you go into a classroom in what is an nice school compared to the school with problems, could they notjust eat you for breakfast . You walk in, you are beautifully well spoken, the porsche, elder people who do not have a clue. Do you understand what lam have a clue. Do you understand what i am saying . In now teach we are putting people into schools were behaviour is good for that reason. We are working with schools in deprived areas which have very good leadership. We think if the school is well managed, there is a higher chance that our training will be good. After our training period we can go and work wherever suits us. I might like to work one day in a school where the behaviour is more challenging, but i think it is important i am not thrown into the lions were a mac then on day one because this way i have a better chance of learning the tricks of the trade and being able to teach really well. I do not mean to be rude. Energy levels as older people. Like pa rents, Energy Levels as older people. Like parents, it is easier when you are younger. I go into school to volunteer and after an hour i want to lie down. Is that an issue . In terms . Older people and others going into teaching . I think we need to recruit a Broad Spectrum of people in our schools. It is good for children to see older people and younger people in the classrooms. If people are well supported, they will get more out of it. But we have also got young people being warned by the workload in our schools. Has that been a challenge for you . No, it has not. In previous careers we have all had high pressurised jobs. We are used to the pressure and long hours and difficult circumstances. Living and difficult circumstances. Living and working in west africa is difficult, physically and emotionally difficult. It is a very demanding environment. The pressures are different in teaching, there is no question about it. It is difficult to put your finger on what the difference is, but it is there. Ido the difference is, but it is there. I do not think so far at any rate that my age has been a factor. Whether i turn out to be any good or not, it is my suitability for teaching which is there, but i do not feel my age is a factor. It does not feel my age is a factor. It does not feel my age is a factor. It does not feel like it to me. I thought it would be a factor and it was not just the Energy Levels. The Energy Levels are a red herring. I think the teachers who really save are not our contemporaries, they are parents with young children. That is when you are really exhausted. It is those who i fear for most. Some of the 20 year old who are doing goodness knows what at the weekend look more haggard on monday morning thanl look more haggard on monday morning than i do. I do not think it is the Energy Levels at all. I worried would i be able to remember the names, but the adrenaline of doing such an exciting, newjob makes me feel more energetic than i have for ages. Absolutely. The things you think you will be most worried about, like behaviour, those things are not the things that you worry about most when you are in the classroom. So what do you worry about . When the children ask you a question or something happens that is unexpected and you do not have the background and experience to know exactly what to do. You have to think, what do i do now . It is not second nature. It makes you slow in your response whereas it should be much more immediate and straightforward. That is where i think, i hope nothing goes wrong today, i hope i will be able to manage it if it does. Lucy, what has been the most surprising moment in the classroom so far as the technology moments were quite bad at the beginning, but i am learning. Technology moments were quite bad at the beginning, but i am learninglj was terrible at the beginning. In three successive lessons i wrote on the electronic board with a felt marker. I bet the school were happy with you delighted, but to do it three lessons running takes some doing. Thenl three lessons running takes some doing. Then i got flustered and got my own summer is wrong on the board. But one time in i am so much better andl but one time in i am so much better and i have not done that stand for ages. Either parent welcoming . That is the big difference between when i was at school in the 60s and 70s and now, the engagement of the school with families. It is so different. The families know everything. For example, when you came to do the filming, all the parents were contacted filming, all the parents were co nta cted of filming, all the parents were contacted of the children in my class so they were happy, it is a child safeguarding thing. That would never have happened in my school. It was limited to a parent evening which the children were not at. I have just done which the children were not at. I havejust done a which the children were not at. I have just done a parent burmah evening and they were there with their children. We have to wrap this up. We have to wrap this up. Thank you so much for coming in. Coming up. Who will be busiers christmas number one . George michael, ed sheeran, eminem . They are all up to ta ke sheeran, eminem . They are all up to take the prize. We will be discussing who will be the likely winner with the lead singer of the darkness. This was released in 2003 and failed to get to number one. Lets ta ke and failed to get to number one. Lets take a look at a japanese christmas tradition. A choir of around 10,000 people get together easier to perform beethovens ninth symphony. Here they are. I really love it, it is so powerful, it is energetic. It encourages me in the bad times and the good times. Time for the latest news. Heres annita. The Prime Minister said the first she knew about allegations of conduct by damian green was when she read it in the media. The comment comes after the woman who made the allegations, kate maltby, told bbc news that she spoke to a senior downing street aide about his behaviour last year before mr green was promoted. Ms maltby complained that mr green fleetingly touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and later sent her a suggestive text. The foreign secretary, borisjohnson, is in russia meeting his counterpart, sergey lavrov. Its the First Official visit to moscow by a British Foreign secretary for more than five years. Borisjohnson has warned russia that britain is ready mr lavrov has this morning described relations with britain as being at the low point after warnings that britain is ready to retaliate to cyber attacks. But mrjohnson said that he wants to cooperate with president putin an international challengers. Where we can i think we can find possibilities of corporation in areas where we have substantial interests in common, such as iran and the need to continue with the iran nuclear deal. A man is being questioned on suspicion of murdering a woman who was stabbed in a supermarket in North Yorkshire yesterday. The 30 year old woman was attacked in an aldi store in skipton. Police said the suspect, whos 44, was detained by shoppers and supermarket staff. Catalan separatist parties have won a majority in the regional elections. Although the Biggest Single Party is one that opposes separatism, the result is a major setback for the spanish Prime Minister, mariano rajoy. Hed called the election after asserting direct control over catalonia following its declaration of independence. Mps are calling for the introduction of a deposit scheme for plastic bottles to help protect the seas from pollution. The commons Environmental Audit Committee Says it should be between 10p and 20p, which consumers would get back when they returned the bottle. It also wants all cafes, pubs and restaurants to provide free tap water for people to top up refillable bottles. The dark blue british passport is to make a return after brexit. The government said what it described as the classic colour would be reintroduced from october 2019. Its almost 30 years since uk passports switched to maroon to match other eu passports. Thats a summary of the latest bbc news. Heres some sport now with hugh. Mason crane says he is ready for an england passed debut if it comes in the boxing day ashes test at the mcg the boxing day ashes test at the mcg the leg spinner could come in for Craig Overton if he does against australia he would be the youngest specialist spinner to make his england debut in some 90 years. The festive football begins later. The two tea ms festive football begins later. The two teams involved, arsenal and liverpool. They meet on a friday night for the First Time Since the gunners famously won at anfield to claim the league title back in 1989. West brom captain jonny claim the league title back in 1989. West brom captainjonny evans could well be the last month after the clu b well be the last month after the club this failed to persuade him to signa club this failed to persuade him to sign a new contract. He was linked with leicester, arsenal and Manchester City in the summer. There should be an overhaul of the foster care system, according to an Influential Group of mps. The education Committee Says the way foster care is organised is inconsistent around the country, leading to bad experiences for both foster parents and the children they look after. Included in the proposals is an increase in funding to improve training available to Foster Carers, and to end the practice of separating siblings that are in care. We can talk about this more now with Robert Halfon mp, whos the conservative chair of pa rliaments education select committee. Gemma ronte, a foster carer. Rachel, who is in foster care and was separated from her siblings. And scott king, who was separated from his brother in foster care and now trains social workers on the importance of keeping siblings in care together. Thank you all forjoining us. Rachel, i want to start by speaking to you if i can about your experience. Thank you so much for speaking to us today. Thanks for having me. I know you went into foster ca re having me. I know you went into foster care when you were seven and you were separated from your sister and your brother. For me, i found that amazing that siblings were separated. Many people watching this will be surprised. What effect did that have new . It was a traumatising experience. Like, really heartbreaking. Because obviously you are separated from your mum and that. And then youre separated from your siblings, which, for me it was easier to get separated from my mum and that, because i had my siblings there. But then getting separated from my siblings was heartbreaking because now im by myself in the world. Did you get to see them regularly . How did work for you . When i us got separated from them, i was allowed to see them every christmas, easter, halloween, then sort of holidays. Once they got moved away from home, i wasnt allowed to see them when they got moved from that foster carer to another one. What effect has that had and your relationship with them now . Well, i felt like weve lost kind of a bond. But were still connected now, because obviously i see them, and we are creating that sibling bond again. But for me i felt the bond could have been stronger if we had stayed together. Whereas now its a bit weaker than it should have been. Rachel, stay with us, i want to bring in scott now. Scott, you were separated from your brother in. You are. It sounded like a hugely harrowing experience from your brother in foster care. You literally came home one day and we re you literally came home one day and were told that your brother doesnt live with you any more stop yes. What does that do to you . Its not good. Things like that happen and it makes you lose trust in the syste m and it makes you lose trust in the system that supposed to be looking after you, because i was quite a naughty child, they didnt tell me what i needed to know because they thought i was going to kick off because i was quite volatile as a child, so they withhold the information from me. It meant that when i came home from school he just wasnt there any more. They thought that was ok to do that. And then obviously as a result i broke down that placement very quickly and then i had that placement very quickly and then ihada that placement very quickly and then i had a succession of placements after that that broke down very quickly because ijust didnt trust the system any more. Although me and my brother were fighting a lot, he was my only Family Member that i had. By taking him away, and the longer felt safe. I felt on my own. And he is literally all that i had, you know, in terms of consistency, he was the only Family Member that had been in my life and always have been. To take him from b was taking the biggest part of my life away. And then they struggle to see why my behaviour got worse as a result of that. Scott and rachel, its heartbreaking to hear what has happened to you. Robert halfon, can you explain why this is even happening today, that siblings are being separated . I should just say, rachel came before our select committee, and when she gave the evidence, our mouths went right, some of the mps on the committee we re some of the mps on the committee were brought to tears by hearing her story our mouths went dry. Duminy siblings are separated. A survey from ofsted suggested Something Like over 70 of siblings were not together too many siblings are separated. This, to us, to the committee, is unacceptable, and we are urging to do the government to doa are urging to do the government to do a lot more to ensure consistency in terms of siblings being kept together, and also in terms of placements. But we also want to make sure that Foster Carers are valued too, because Foster Carers are often undermined and underappreciated, and they are often undervalued. They weed through a treacle of bureaucracy yet they are social justice champions. Gemma, you are foster carer. Do you feel, as robert says, undervalued . Foster carers have been telling us for a long time that they work in the most challenging of circumstances and that they do feel consistently and are supported by Childrens Services and are supported by Childrens Services. Not always treated as part of the professional team around the child, not always shared the information about the children that they are by are being asked to look after. This report is welcome to Foster Carers, it goes into a lot of detail about where the system can be overhauled so that the most needy young people in our society to get the care and stability that they need. How much consultation, shall we say, youd given, how much do you know about a child before they come to you . How much do you know before a child leaves your home . In many cases, very, a child leaves your home . In many cases, very, very a child leaves your home . In many cases, very, very little. My first little boy hugh came into our care, i was literally called at 10am on a friday morning to be told that a child was coming into care and they we re child was coming into care and they were going to court at that point and he would be with me at some point that evening. I knew his name andi point that evening. I knew his name and i knew his ethnic background and i knew a little bit of the circumstances in which he was being taken away from his birth family, but that was it. By that evening, she was placed in my arms. He was a five month old. She was placed in my arms. He was a fivemonthold. Scott, iwant to bring you back in. You trained social workers now to explain the importance of not separating siblings. Just explain to us how that works and whether there is a general recognition that thats the right thing to do . Yes, i mean, ive been training Foster Carers and social workers for about five years off the back of my own experiences because the care system is riddled with problems, that there are solutions to, that have been going on for a very long time. I mean, the problem is, we are living in this risk averse culture when everyone is so scared of being sued and looked down upon that so many policies are put in place which lead to really poor decisions. Everything is over assessed, everything has to have a label on it. You know, there is reams of paperwork on it. A simple thing like sibling rivalry, i suppose one of the things i say to carers, wendy were kids, did you fight with your siblings . They all agree. But when you and care, that gets over assessed and they start torque by transference and attachment issues and they split you up attachment issues and they split you up and they say thats for the best. Ive worked with kids in residential ca re ive worked with kids in Residential Care that have been split from the siblings and a couple of the siblings and a couple of the siblings have gone away from adoption and they no longer see them any more. Children come into care to be protected from harm, and they are shipped around the system like amazon packages and is not ok and its been going on for too many years. Young people have been raising these issues for years and years and years, ive been sat with young people crying about these issues, talking about these issues, theissues issues, talking about these issues, the issues are clear, and nobody is doing anything about it. They feel like they are not listened to. Decisions are made by social workers playing gods of young pupils lives because they have been through a three year degree at university they think they can do things for the best, but they are not taking into consideration is the feelings and attachments. I had 36 different placements in kev. Kids have far too many placements. Im not the only one. Its very common to have that. You are thrown out the system at the end of it. Just to finish up with that, the bottom line is, the reason siblings shouldnt be split up is because inevitably there comes a point where care ends, and you and nobodys troll. And at the end of that, social services and the, all you have left is your friend groups and whatever Family Members youve got left you are nobodys child. My family are no use to me apart from my birth brother. Ive had to come back to him. Weve had different lives so we turned out to be completely different people, and we battled for a long time until it got to the point now where we are very close. But we have both had suicide attempts and stuff and supported each other through that. We keep each other alive now. The importance of keeping siblings together is huge, but they are just split up like its nothing. Scott, rachel is nodding. Rachel, i want you to share your experiences as well. You were nodding away, what you want to add, rachel . What is god is saying is really important because they do separate siblings without a thought about it what scott is saying. They are not considering ourfeelings, theyjust see, ok, this child wants this, we will just separate them. See, ok, this child wants this, we willjust separate them. In my situation, they me because they said i was able detective. We had just got into foster care with strangers that you dont even know they said that i was overprotective. Of course you are going to be overprotective, they are your siblings, they were younger than me. I felt i siblings, they were younger than me. Ifelt i had duty to protect siblings, they were younger than me. I felt i had duty to protect them and look after them. For them to say, we are going to separate you so ican bea say, we are going to separate you so i can be a child, it was like, thats not what i want. Its something that you want but i want to protect my siblings, be there for them. And in my sense, there could have been a different way to manage the situation. Because, yes, iwas have been a different way to manage the situation. Because, yes, i was a carer. But i didnt have to get separated. I could have been, like, encouraged to, like, let the force that carer look after my siblings better. Because obviously i felt that i had to look after them still. But if someone had made me feel more co mforta ble but if someone had made me feel more comfortable and but if someone had made me feel more co mforta ble a nd safe but if someone had made me feel more comfortable and safe in the environment, i wouldnt have had to do that. Which meant that we wouldnt have had to be separated. Gemma is agreeing with you. Wouldnt have had to be separated. Gemma is agreeing with youlj gemma is agreeing with you. absolutely am, rachel is right. It takes time to form a fostering family. It takes time for children to feel comfortable with the new ca re rs to feel comfortable with the new carers and with any siblings that might be in the fostering household. It takes skill on the part of the foster carer, using the support available to them, to welcome those children in and help them to find a new way of being children and leaving behind the really dreadful start that theyve often had through no fault of the rogue. Robert, also tell us what are the changes your inquiry is recommending through no fault of their own. Clearly not separating siblings is what we have been discussing here, but its more than that, isnt it . Ithink been discussing here, but its more than that, isnt it . I think scott and rachel particularly have just expressed all the problems that exist under foster care at the moment better than our report could have ever done. But what we want to do is end the frequency of placements. There should be proper advocacy rights for children. One trial told us that they were just told to move from a foster carer within a few days before christmas, just given a black sack. Others have been moved frequently, as we have just heard. We want to put a stop to that and support Foster Carers by having a national Foster Carers couege having a national Foster Carers college to bring them together to share best practice. We need to ensure that Foster Carers get the minimum allowance. Because 12 of councils dont even pay foster ca re rs councils dont even pay Foster Carers the minimum allowance. We wa nt to carers the minimum allowance. We want to ensure that Foster Carers get proper Legal Protection as well. These are some of the recommendations in the report advocacy for children, stopping the frequent placements, better matching, proper resources put in, and making sure that Foster Carers are valued. As i say, they are champions of social justice. Are valued. As i say, they are champions of socialjustice. They do a remarkablejob. Champions of socialjustice. They do a remarkable job. They champions of socialjustice. They do a remarkablejob. They should be recognised. We want a National Recruitment campaign and a National Awareness campaign to promote the value of Foster Carers and the work that they do. Obviously thats a job that they do. Obviously thats a job that many people wouldnt be able to do and im sure that many people are very grateful for the work that gemma does. Thank you all for coming on. Rachel and scott for their honesty, i really appreciate that. Take care. In a statement, the minister for children and families, robert goodwill, said we will consider the reports findings and recommendations alongside a separate independent review. The government is already investing £200 million to test ways to support vulnerable children, and are extending the 30 hour childcare offer to foster children to provide extra help for foster ca rers. Still to come. We will show you some of our highlights and bloopers of the past year. Do stay with us. The winner of the biggest chart battle of the year will be revealed later today when we find out who will be this years christmas number one. Ed sheeran, eminem and George Michael are hot favourites to take the coveted top spot. Last year, the accolade went to clean bandit featuring sean paul and anne marie and their song rockabye. Despite it being the Festive Season, only 12 of the previous official christmas number ones have been about anything seasonal. So what does it take to make it to the top of the charts at christmas . Lets talk now to sinead garvan, radio 1 and 1xtras newsbeat entertainment reporter. Martin talbot, who is chief executive of the official charts company. And lead singer of the darkness, justin hawkins, whojust missed out on the christmas number one to Michael Andrews and garyjules mad world in 2003. Not a terribly festive song in 2003. Thank you for coming in. Was your idea where approached to do it . We had had a really good year and we met the Record Company and we said, what shall we do next . And then somebody said lets do a Christmas Song. Did you think there was a stigma . Did you not really care . I think they are like normal songs but that become associated with a certain time of year and they are produced in a certain way. We we re are produced in a certain way. We were not frightened of it. Everyone loves a Christmas Song. And they make a lot of money. Absolutely, it isa make a lot of money. Absolutely, it is a massive money earner. Maria carey, they estimate she makes £360,000 a year on one song alone. heard the other day on the radio i wish it could be Christmas Every day makes about half its money every year. Do you still think it is releva nt . Year. Do you still think it is relevant . I think it is relevant more to the artist and the public. Working for radio one, the pop acts wa nt working for radio one, the pop acts want to be number one. Look at ed sheeran at the moment. He has got three out. He is determined. It is a really lovely thing to have. As you say, it makes a lot of money, it is the prestige, it is a good feeling, you go down in the history books as having a christmas number one. For the young audience they still care about it. The older you get, the less excited you are about anything, particularly christmas number ones. It does not have the same excitement as it used to. We get a huge amount of interest in the christmas number one every year and we get a lot of people coming to the website and there is always a lot of interest from the media and social media. The artists and the tribes that follow those artists get excited. The Campaign Records have ignited interest in groups of people as well who are also trying to make the point. Over the last five or six years we have seen a few of those, the nhs choir, the military wives, the nhs choir, the military wives, the campaign against x factor in 2009, it gets people excited. Whatever we say. One of the strange things about the christmas number one is they are very rarely christmassy songs. Since 1990, there have been very few. Most of the best Christmas Songs end up peaking at number two. Christmas songs end up peaking at numbertwo. Fairy Christmas Songs end up peaking at number two. Fairy tales of new york we nt number two. Fairy tales of new york went to number two. And the darkness peaked at number two. It is a strange phenomenon. Ed sheeran is perfect. It might not be christmas related, but he is skiing, he is in a log cabin. Do you think it matters more to artists than it does to the general public . I dont think it is about number one really, i think it is about having a song that is synonymous with the season. It is less about the chart position or the seasonal mincemeat. Is there something in your view that makes a good Christmas Song . something in your view that makes a good Christmas Song . I do think it is about sleigh bells and lyrically you can have any song you like. One of my favourite Christmas Songs is from the movie pretty woman. Roxette. That was a Christmas Song. We have got a slightly dodgy skype line. To be fair he is in switzerland. It is further to connect with. Yes there is a dodgy cable all the way from switzerland. We cannot see you, but we can hear you. We are looking at your video at the moment. It was a seasonal song with no sleeves which adds to the rebellion. Do you think there are certain ingredients . Look at the way it has been over the last few years, especially x factor. That took over for about six years. That for me personally spoiled the christmas numberone. There personally spoiled the christmas number one. There was no race. So and so has won it, they will be numberone. Then there so and so has won it, they will be number one. Then there were the Campaign Songs coming in, so something completely different. Then random pop songs ending up at number one because they were released at the right time of the year. I do not think reaching number one is the point, but i think it is difficult. It takes years for a song to filter into the psyche and then it will remind you of christmas. All of these songs coming on are taking me back to my childhood and it is the nostalgia because christmas is all about tradition. You have food that you have every year and you see your family and you do things year after year and the songs you want to listen to either the older ones. Nostalgia is critical, particularly in an era where music is dominated by streaming. One of the challengers for a new artist when you are putting a new record out is your track is being made available and is free of charge and having paid your subscription, you can listen to every piece of music ever recorded. If you put something out now, it is sitting alongside the greatest Christmas Songs of all time and people go to things they are familiar with. People go to things they are familiarwith. Christmas people go to things they are familiar with. Christmas is a time when you are with your family, it is all very familiar, you want to wallow in all of that nostalgia. That is why those are the songs that tend to dominate. I know you cannot see who you think number one will be hoodie uk . I cannot say either. Cant you . Do hoodie uk . I cannot say either. Cant you . Do you know . You will not get into trouble. Justin, you can a nswer get into trouble. Justin, you can answer this. Ed sheeran. Get into trouble. Justin, you can answerthis. Ed sheeran. Because get into trouble. Justin, you can answer this. Ed sheeran. Because he has got three attempts at it. Because he is from suffolk. He is from birmingham. Even though i live in switzerland i will support him. Come on, ed thank you all for speaking to us. Later on we will find out who has got the coveted christmas number one. That is it for this year. From victoria, from me, from the team, have a great year. We may have won a bafta this year, but we cant say it always goes according to plan. Heres some bloopers but mainly, our best bits. And the bafta goes to. Thank you very much. Are you happy then, isaac, to get rose out, the tarantula, and then possibly. Ive forgotten the name of the snake toffee. Toffee, of course the singer stopped a world tour last april, telling her fans she was planning a family with her husband. Thats a summary of the latest news, dojoin me on bbc newsroom live at 11am. Thank you very much. Sorry, i wasnt texting i was not texting get out of here let them say im crazy. I dont know the words let the world around us just fall apart. Are you ready . here we go as a person, i suppose im bloody difficult woman a difficult woman with a dirty laugh. This is another reason i love the twitter. Obsessed by how people are really noticing how many mugs there or on the table on the Victoria Derbyshire show at the moment. I take it theres loads, then . Theres so many like i say, three per guest. Im going to introduce you to leah trigger, who also goes by the name mermaid. Mermaid gold, is that how you say it . I used to swim at the local pool. However, my tail has now been banned, so ive nowhere to swim ok, and you accept that . Yes, i completely understand. Ok, so youre not even cross with them . no, no, im not. Laughter. 0k its really nice to chat to a mermaid well still have each other nothing is going to stop us nothing is going to stop us now. I dont know what version that is could you go to bed with a remainer . theres an election on, and people are talking politics. So my confession to you, im taking a night off on the Election Campaign in order to go and see iron maiden at the o2 so what happens when you send two people with opposing views on a lunch date . Are you only attracted to brexiteers . No, no thats a good answer. Good question. There is a story out today which suggests that there are loads and loads and loads of drivers on britains roads who are over the age of 90. Hello, both of you how are you, jack . Oh, these convertibles are a bit tight i love you, i think youre amazing oh, jack, shush hello, colin, how are you . Im very well this morning, yes. I must take driving more seriously. Oh, youve put the radio on oh, my gosh, the radio came on automatically in this amazing convertible car. You look gloriously distinguished. Hit me with it slightly hunky youre quite a pretty lady get that on camera favourite joke . Well, the problem with political jokes is they sometimes get elected. Is that a joke . Was that a joke . sorry, run that by me again the problem with politicaljokes. Oh, isee, sorry, yeah. Ok, fine. Yeah, that is quite funny. Sorry for being slow it is still the mermaid that gets me, it is slightly surreal. A lot of you getting in touch with us about the teacher story. Ian says it is about time they had teachers with knowledge of working outside the education system. Most teachers know nothing else. Rob says the killer is ofsted and the culture of fear, especially if a provider gets anything less than a good grade. Bbc newsroom live is coming up next. Thank you for your company today. Have a fantastic christmas and new year. We will be back here live on january eight, so put it in your diary. The weather is going to be fairly benign, there will be low cloud and missed and it could cause a few problems. That fog is most likely towards western parts of the uk, especially in wales and north west england. The best of any brightness will be towards the east of the pennines and the north east of scotla nd pennines and the north east of scotland where it will be a little chilly here, but elsewhere mild weather continues with temperatures up weather continues with temperatures up to 8 11. This evening and overnight not a lot of change, there may be more cloud around. A breeze picking up in the north of scotland and on saturday it is more of the same with more cloud and missed. On sunday more rain will move its way into the north and west of the uk and that takes us into Christmas Day. For most of us it will stay mild, but there will be more rain moving in. This is a bbc news. The headlines at 11am. The foreign secretary in moscow says that britain cannot ignore russian cyber activities, but he wants relations to improve. Allen mac there are areas where we can operate and make a difference on Foreign Policy, we certainly should. Theresa may denies that she knew about allegations of inappropriate behaviour against damian green before promoting him. They met you first learned about them in a newspaper. Catalan separatist parties win a majority in the regions elections. That plunged spain intoa regions elections. That plunged spain into a new crisis. Active blue. The british passport will revert to its old colour when the uk leads the eu. Also, the nowell getaway begins in earnest, today