the committee will agree that i've accepted that it was a mistake, i and it was my mistake. everybody else has apologised for him but he won't apologise for himself. a coward, not a leader. we talk to the former yorkshire cricketer azeem rafiq about racist abuse and what he hopes to achieve by going public. and a year in the life of northern ireland — we ask people to share their experiences of a year full of uncertainty. and coming up on the bbc news channel, as wales and scotland secure play—off spots and england qualify for qatar, we look at who's in and who is set to miss out on next year's world cup. welcome to bbc news at six which comes today from belfast, at a critical time in the history of northern ireland. there's growing uncertainty about the future of trading arrangements with the rest of the united kingdom, not to mention the links with its close neighbour, the republic of ireland, and the european union. today, we'll be looking at all the day's news at home and abroad, as usual, but we'll also be looking more closely at some of the bigger questions facing the people of northern ireland. today's very sharp rise in the cost of living is a problem affecting people here and right across the uk. inflation is at its highest level in a decade. it rose to 4.2% last month, mainly due to higher fuel and energy prices, as well as the cost of second—hand cars and eating out. it means the current rate is more than double the bank of england's official target of 2%. our economics editor faisal islam is here in belfast and this is his report. it's cold outside and energy prices are already biting. with fears now that mortgage costs will also go up as a result, self—employed mum of three susie grazier from hartlepool says it is hard to make ends meet. our energy bills have shot up, they are probably more they have probably more than doubled in the last year. you know, the cost of fuel for the car, i noticed only last week, normally where i would fill the car, i would put £40 in and it didn't even half fill it. and the shopping, the cost of the weekly shop has probably gone up by 20—30% compared to this time last year. massive rises in fuel costs mean many households are unable to switch suppliers right now, but even with protection from the energy price cap, last month's increase in it, with gas up 28% last year, was responsible for half of today's general inflation rise. and industry doesn't even have a cap. here at harlequin, a fuel and waste tank manufacturer in moira, northern ireland, energy prices have nearly doubled, but inflation is everywhere. plastic raw materials — prices up 50%. freight prices up 12% that morning. worker wages will have to go up by over 4%. if we just stand still, it would cost us an extra £2 million next year to manufacture the same product. exactly the same thing? exactly the same product, same levels, £2 million. and that's the cost of energy... energy, labour, transport, raw materials. energy, labour, transport, raw materials. it isjust, you know, that's unsustainable. i've been in this business 29 years and i've never experienced this. not the sustained price increases. i don't see an end to it at the minute. so inflation is higher than expected but the period of rising prices is also lasting longer than expected. the essential question is just how much longer? and the risk is this could become a kind of self—fulfilling prophecy, where businesses expecting prices to rise put them up in advance. and the critical question here is what happens to workers wages? is what happens to workers' wages? wages are going up significantly at big supermarkets to account for competition for workers. lidl is hiking starter pay by over 6%. it is a challenge, absolutely. we are competing for talent with all the other retailers and, indeed, other industries and part of the reason for today's announcement is to secure our staff who are with us, to retain them as far as possible, but also to attract anyone else who would like to come and join this fantastic team. wages going up in sectors with worker shortages, such as retail or haulage, is to be expected but if this happens across the entire economy, the bank of england's festive gift to the nation might have to be a pre—christmas interest rate rise, to try to keep price rises under control. faisal is with me now. we were told, weren't we, by many people that this rise in inflation, which has been in this system, was just basically a blip, it wasn't going anywhere.— just basically a blip, it wasn't going anywhere. does it look like that today? _ going anywhere. does it look like that today? that _ going anywhere. does it look like that today? that is _ going anywhere. does it look like that today? that is the _ going anywhere. does it look like that today? that is the key - going anywhere. does it look like i that today? that is the key question notjust that today? that is the key question not just for household that today? that is the key question notjust for household budgets but for the decision—making of the bank of england over interest rates and the unpalatable truth as it is going to get worse before it gets better, thatis to get worse before it gets better, that is because of the high energy prices that are already baked into the system in international markets and will work their way into the domestic energy cap that applies in great britain, and that will increase interest rates we think up to about 5% next year but this inflation has a very strange quality to it, it is about this mismatch after the pandemic lockdown is around the world, with demand bouncing back far more quickly than the capacity and the supply of the economy to catch up, that's what you have this inflation so you should in theory see that start to peter out over the next year. we are starting to see some tangible signs. the used car market up 30%, extraordinary dad. the causalfactor car market up 30%, extraordinary dad. the causal factor in world markets is that microchips were unable to be produced, so new cars couldn't be produced. we are starting to see microchip production getting back to normal which eventually over a period of time will filter back into the car market and a used car market, but the coming few months won't affect that, that will be a tight squeeze and much more will depend on settlements across the economy.— across the economy. faisal islam, our economics _ across the economy. faisal islam, our economics editor, _ across the economy. faisal islam, our economics editor, who - across the economy. faisal islam, our economics editor, who has - across the economy. faisal islam, l our economics editor, who has been talking to people in belfast today. at westminster, borisjohnson has admitted he made a mistake in the way he handled the controversy over owen paterson, the former conservative mp who broke the rules on lobbying. labour's sir keir starmer said the prime minister was a coward for not giving a proper apology. the government wants measures to prevent mps from having second jobs as paid consultants in relation to parliament. and it also wants to introduce limits to how many hours mps can spend on second jobs. but labour wants to ban all second jobs, except for those in public services. our political editor laura kuenssberg has the latest. has he boxed himself in? another u-turn, has he boxed himself in? another u-turn. prime _ has he boxed himself in? another u-turn, prime minister? - has he boxed himself in? another u-turn, prime minister? after- has he boxed himself in? another u-turn, prime minister? after a l u—turn, prime minister? aftera fortnight of bad behaviour being chucked around this place, boris johnson finally conceded yesterday the rules for mps had to change. but he hasn't untangled a political mess. on display today at several times, in several ways. we mess. on display today at several times, in severalways._ mess. on display today at several times, in severalways. times, in several ways. we come to prime minister's — times, in several ways. we come to prime minister's questions. - times, in several ways. we come to prime minister's questions. keir- prime minister's questions. keir starmer. prime minister's questions. starmer. everybody else has apologised for him but he won't apologised for him but he won't apologise for himself. a coward, not apologise for himself. a coward, not a leader. yesterday, is screeching, last—minute u—turn to avoid defeat on labour's plan to ban mps from dodgy second contracts, but waving one white flag won't be enough to restore trust.— restore trust. hours of protest be . an restore trust. hours of protest began when — restore trust. hours of protest began when number - restore trust. hours of protest began when number ten - restore trust. hours of protest began when number ten tried | restore trust. hours of protest i began when number ten tried to change the rules to protect a former cabinet minister who had broken them. the rules that borisjohnson only now says have to change. what them. the rules that boris johnson only now says have to change. what i think we need — only now says have to change. what i think we need to _ only now says have to change. what i think we need to do _ only now says have to change. what i think we need to do is _ only now says have to change. what i think we need to do is work _ only now says have to change. what i think we need to do is work together| think we need to do is work together on the _ think we need to do is work together on the basis — think we need to do is work together on the basis of— think we need to do is work together on the basis of the _ think we need to do is work together on the basis of the independent - on the basis of the independent report— on the basis of the independent report by— on the basis of the independent report by the _ on the basis of the independent report by the committee - on the basis of the independent report by the committee on- on the basis of the independent - report by the committee on standards in public— report by the committee on standards in public life — report by the committee on standards in public life. the — report by the committee on standards in public life-— in public life. the prime minister, thou~h, in public life. the prime minister, though. also _ in public life. the prime minister, though, also seems _ in public life. the prime minister, though, also seems to _ in public life. the prime minister, though, also seems to have - in public life. the prime minister, - though, also seems to have concluded that there is form of defence is attack. ., ., ., , attack. the right honourable gentleman — attack. the right honourable gentleman is _ attack. the right honourable gentleman is now _ attack. the right honourable gentleman is now trying - attack. the right honourable gentleman is now trying to i attack. the right honourable - gentleman is now trying to prosecute others _ gentleman is now trying to prosecute others for _ gentleman is now trying to prosecute others for exactly _ gentleman is now trying to prosecute others for exactly the _ gentleman is now trying to prosecute others for exactly the course - gentleman is now trying to prosecute others for exactly the course of - others for exactly the course of action— others for exactly the course of action that _ others for exactly the course of action that he _ others for exactly the course of action that he took _ others for exactly the course of action that he took himself. - action that he took himself. questioning _ action that he took himself. questioning keir— action that he took himself. questioning keir starmer'sl action that he took himself. - questioning keir starmer's earnings as a lawyer when an mp but before he was laid up. this kind of telling off does not happen every day. order! order! prime minister, said dan _ order! order! prime minister, said dan int— order! order! prime minister, said dan i'm not — order! order! prime minister, said dan. i'm not going to be challenged. you may— dan. i'm not going to be challenged. you may he — dan. i'm not going to be challenged. you may be the prime minister of this country but, in this house, i'm in charge — this country but, in this house, i'm in charae. ,, ., , this country but, in this house, i'm in charge-— in charge. downing street wants to sto this in charge. downing street wants to step this saga _ in charge. downing street wants to stop this saga sliding _ in charge. downing street wants to stop this saga sliding into - in charge. downing street wants to stop this saga sliding into a - stop this saga sliding into a full—blown emergency, but mps on all sides are angry about how the case of owen paterson unfolded, and they want to take the time to show it. prime minister, i request you give it your— prime minister, i request you give it your customary extra time. even if he looked _ it your customary extra time. even if he looked like _ it your customary extra time. even if he looked like he _ it your customary extra time. even if he looked like he would - it your customary extra time. even if he looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. i will! if he looked like he would rather be anywhere but here.— if he looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. i will do my best as ever to oblige _ anywhere but here. i will do my best as ever to oblige you, _ anywhere but here. i will do my best as ever to oblige you, sir— anywhere but here. i will do my best as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got— as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite — as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite a _ as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite a lot _ as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite a lot on. _ as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite a lot on. the- as ever to oblige you, sir bernard, i've got quite a lot on.— i've got quite a lot on. the danger is ou i've got quite a lot on. the danger is you have _ i've got quite a lot on. the danger is you have just — i've got quite a lot on. the danger is you have just tarred _ i've got quite a lot on. the danger is you have just tarred the - i've got quite a lot on. the danger is you have just tarred the whole i i've got quite a lot on. the dangerl is you have just tarred the whole of the house with the same brush, and yourself, haven't you? the the house with the same brush, and yourself, haven't you?— yourself, haven't you? the intention uenuinel yourself, haven't you? the intention genuinely was _ yourself, haven't you? the intention genuinely was not _ yourself, haven't you? the intention genuinely was not to _ yourself, haven't you? the intention genuinely was not to exonerate - genuinely was not to exonerate anybody — genuinely was not to exonerate anybody. the _ genuinely was not to exonerate anybody. the intention - genuinely was not to exonerate anybody. the intention was to i anybody. the intention was to see whether— anybody. the intention was to see whether there _ anybody. the intention was to see whether there was _ anybody. the intention was to see whether there was some - anybody. the intention was to see whether there was some way- anybody. the intention was to see whether there was some way in i anybody. the intention was to see . whether there was some way in which a basis, _ whether there was some way in which a basis, we _ whether there was some way in which a basis, we could _ whether there was some way in which a basis, we could improve _ whether there was some way in which a basis, we could improve the - whether there was some way in whichj a basis, we could improve the system ? a basis, we could improve the system 7 track— a basis, we could improve the system ? hack on— a basis, we could improve the system 7 back on a— a basis, we could improve the system ? back on a cross—party— a basis, we could improve the system ? back on a cross—party basis. - a basis, we could improve the system ? back on a cross—party basis. you i ? back on a cross-party basis. you have the ability _ ? back on a cross-party basis. you have the ability to _ ? back on a cross—party basis. have the ability to improve the system and go further than anybody expects and actually establish much higher standards. expects and actually establish much higherstandards. i expects and actually establish much higher standards.— higher standards. i do, yes. ithink it was a total— higher standards. i do, yes. ithink it was a total mistake _ higher standards. i do, yes. ithink it was a total mistake not - higher standards. i do, yes. ithink it was a total mistake not to - higher standards. i do, yes. ithink it was a total mistake not to see i it was a total mistake not to see that owen— it was a total mistake not to see that owen paterson's _ it was a total mistake not to see that owen paterson's breach i it was a total mistake not to see that owen paterson's breach ofl it was a total mistake not to see i that owen paterson's breach of the rules, _ that owen paterson's breach of the rules, the — that owen paterson's breach of the rules, the former— that owen paterson's breach of the rules, the former member- that owen paterson's breach of the rules, the former member of- that owen paterson's breach of the j rules, the former member of north shropshire's — rules, the former member of north shropshire's breach— rules, the former member of north shropshire's breach of— rules, the former member of north shropshire's breach of the - rules, the former member of north shropshire's breach of the rules, i shropshire's breach of the rules, made _ shropshire's breach of the rules, made any— shropshire's breach of the rules, made any discussion _ shropshire's breach of the rules, made any discussion about i shropshire's breach of the rules, i made any discussion about anything else impossible. _ made any discussion about anything else impossible.— else impossible. sometimes, westminster _ else impossible. sometimes, westminster loves _ else impossible. sometimes, westminster loves nothing i else impossible. sometimes, i westminster loves nothing more else impossible. sometimes, - westminster loves nothing more than a row about itself, but this shambles matters because it has shaken the tory confidence in number ten, given the opposition plenty of ammunition and fairly or unfairly, it does take the image —— taint the image of this place. tonight, mps will take the vote on banning some add sidejobs in future, but the parties don't agree on exactly how. the chances of settling this amicably? you will be in for a wait. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. in the latest talks held between lord frost, the government's brexit negotiator, ——here in belfast, there's intense interest in the latest talks held between lord frost, the government's brexit negotiator, and political and business leaders in northern ireland. lord frost says a deal can be done with the european union over the future of trading links in the wake of the brexit agreement. the northern ireland protocol, signed by the uk and the eu, is designed to avoid the re—emergence of a hard border between northern ireland and the republic. but the uk wants the protocol rewritten, and is threatening to trigger what's called article 16 unless things change. we want to reach an agreement if we can. it has got to be an agreement that does the job and changes the situation, not an agreement for its own sake. if we can't get to that, then obviously, article 16 is a possibility. and a very real possibility. but it will be determined on the basis of whether we have reached an agreement or not and that is what we are really trying very hard to do. that was lord frost speaking earlier today. let's try and make sense of that. our northern ireland economics editorjohn campbell is with me now. where are we with these talks? they are complex, it is difficult for people to really keep tabs with it day by day. people to really keep tabs with it day by day-— day by day. well, the eu does acknowledge _ day by day. well, the eu does acknowledge that _ day by day. well, the eu does acknowledge that the - day by day. well, the eu doesj acknowledge that the protocol day by day. well, the eu does i acknowledge that the protocol is back at elite causing unacceptable difficulties for businesses trying to bring in goods to northern ireland from the rest of the uk, so they have come up with a package of measures they think it should make things easier. the uk government is sceptical over whether those proposals will work, they want more radical change but the two sides are still talking. lord frost and the prime minister are clear, if the talks don't get the result they want, they will use this thing called article 16, effectively a safeguard mechanism. it allows either side to say, listen, the deal is causing serious difficulties, we think they are liable to persist, therefore we will temporarily suspend the parts of the problem and the government are quite clear, it is a legitimate thing to do, allowed under the deal but the eu is very sceptical of that, they think the government would use it as a pretext to rip up much of what was agreed on northern ireland two years ago. we will get a better sense of where these talks lie on friday when lord frost meets his eu counterparts in brussels. a , frost meets his eu counterparts in brussels. , ., brussels. many thanks, john campbell. — brussels. many thanks, john campbell, our— brussels. many thanks, john campbell, our northern - brussels. many thanks, john i campbell, our northern ireland economic senator. —— economics editor. police have revealed that the man who detonated a bomb in a liverpool taxi had been buying components for his device for several months. detectives say emad al swealmeen, who was originally from iraq, had suffered periods of mental illness. he died when the improvised device he built exploded on remembrance sunday. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. the explosion outside liverpool's women's hospital ripped apart the taxi, killing the bomber, emad al swealmeen. counterterrorism detectives said today that he started buying materialfor the bomb backin started buying materialfor the bomb back in april, seven months ago, suggesting a long planned attack. this evening, al swealmeen's family told the bbc he had lived in iraq, jordan and the emirates before entering the uk using a syrian id. translation: he has not had any contact with his family since he left britain. they don't even have a telephone numberfor him as i understand. telephone number for him as i understand-— telephone number for him as i understand. ., ~ ,, ., ., understand. emad al swealmeen had converted to — understand. emad al swealmeen had converted to christianity _ understand. emad al swealmeen had converted to christianity but - understand. emad al swealmeen had converted to christianity but home i converted to christianity but home office sources had suggested his conversion might have been fake, an attempt to game the asylum system. court documents show there has been concern for years about improbably large conversions of the number of asylum seekers at liverpool cathedral. the bbc has been told of concerns by police elsewhere in the uk of mass baptisms organised by immigration advisers. but one person who works with asylum, but says there is very little gaming of the system. in there is very little gaming of the s stem. , , . ., system. in my experience, i have found them _ system. in my experience, i have found them to _ system. in my experience, i have found them to be _ system. in my experience, i have found them to be genuine - system. in my experience, i have i found them to be genuine christians who get involved with the life of the church as part of their discipleship. fin the church as part of their discipleship.— discipleship. on a trip to washington, _ discipleship. on a trip to washington, the - discipleship. on a trip to washington, the home i discipleship. on a trip to - washington, the home secretary discipleship. on a trip to _ washington, the home secretary priti patel has accused a whole legal industry of exploiting the asylum system, provoking fury from lawyers who ask why the home office didn't remove emad al swealmeen from the country when his first asylum application failed four years ago. the home office ultimately is responsible for removing illegal immigrants. it's nothing to do with lawyers, _ immigrants. it's nothing to do with lawyers, it's— immigrants. it's nothing to do with lawyers, it's not to do with, you know, _ lawyers, it's not to do with, you know, campaigners, it's to do with the home — know, campaigners, it's to do with the home office, so this, to me, looks— the home office, so this, to me, looks a _ the home office, so this, to me, looks a lot — the home office, so this, to me, looks a lot like deflection. in looks a lot like deflection. recent looks a lot like deflection. in recent years, the number of illegal immigrants being removed from the uk dropped significantly, even before the pandemic started. the head of counterterrorism policing is concerned that, after the liverpool bomb and the killing of sid david ms, there could be more attacks. when we see two attacks in close succession, — when we see two attacks in close succession, we _ when we see two attacks in close succession, we know— when we see two attacks in close succession, we know that - when we see two attacks in close succession, we know that may. succession, we know that may embolden _ succession, we know that may emholden or— succession, we know that may embolden or encourage - succession, we know that may. embolden or encourage others, succession, we know that may- embolden or encourage others, so that is— embolden or encourage others, so that is why— embolden or encourage others, so that is why we _ embolden or encourage others, so that is why we have _ embolden or encourage others, so that is why we have got _ embolden or encourage others, so that is why we have got this - embolden or encourage others, so that is why we have got this very. that is why we have got this very focused — that is why we have got this very focused message _ that is why we have got this very focused message for— that is why we have got this very. focused message for communities that is why we have got this very- focused message for communities that it is so— focused message for communities that it is so vital— focused message for communities that it is so vital that _ focused message for communities that it is so vital that they— focused message for communities that it is so vital that they play— focused message for communities that it is so vital that they play their - it is so vital that they play their part through _ it is so vital that they play their part through vigilance - it is so vital that they play their part through vigilance in - it is so vital that they play their i part through vigilance in countering the terrorist — part through vigilance in countering the terrorist threat. _ part through vigilance in countering the terrorist threat.— the terrorist threat. among other thin . s, the terrorist threat. among other things. police _ the terrorist threat. among other things, police are _ the terrorist threat. among other things, police are asking - the terrorist threat. among otherj things, police are asking retailers to look out for unusual purchases of chemicals that can be used to make explosives. daniel sandford, bbc news. an investigation has been launched after a british military fighter jet crashed soon after take off into the mediterranean sea. the ministry of defence confirmed the pilot on board the f35jet ejected from the aircraft before it crashed and has been found safe. the f355, estimated to be worth around £100 million each, are on board the hms queen elizabeth aircraft carrier. the former yorkshire cricketer azeem rafiq has said his evidence to mps yesterday about racism in the sport was more powerful than anything he could have done on the pitch. he gave details to a westminster committee about the racial abuse he'd suffered as a player. mr rafiq says he's determined that this will be the moment that sport and much of society as a whole moves in a different direction. he's been talking to our sports editor dan roan. he's gone from county cricketer to game—changing whistle—blower and, a day after taking his allegations of institutional racism to westminster, azeem rafiq told me he'd been overwhelmed by the response he'd received. i'm incredibly relieved. it felt like a massive weight off my shoulders. i spoke to my dad last night. what did he say? he was just really proud of me and he said, look, no runs or wickets could have done what i did yesterday and i should be really proud of myself. rafiq's harrowing testimony to mps laid bare the racism he suffered at his former club. i'm very determined that this is going to be looked back as the moment where not only sport, but society as a whole, went in a different direction to where it's been going. it's really important that we don't let this moment go and try and use this moment as real watershed moment for the future. the ecb has been criticised for their handling of the crisis. chief executive tom harrison admitting to the committee that the sport he runs was facing an emergency over diversity. he's probably got a few months where we need to see some tangible changes and i think if it's not something that changes in the next few months, then i think the patience is going to run out. on a chastening day for cricket, several high—profile names, including two former yorkshire stars, matthew hoggard and tim bresnan, both of whom have apologised to rafiq, were dragged into the scandal. former england captain and now top pundit michael vaughan had already denied rafiq's claimed that he made a racist remark to a group of asian players in 2009, so what does the whistle—blower think should now happen to his old yorkshire team—mates? people who apologise, they deserve a second chance. people in denial, unfortunately, i think there's got to be a level of accountability there and it's up to their employers to send out a message whether they are going to give the green light to racism or they're going to stamp it out. with the crisis engulfing yorkshire, more than 1,000 people have contacted an independent commission for equity in cricket since it was launched last week. you're going to be heard, and whether anyone else stands by you or not, i'll stand by you. many hope this episode proves a wake—up call for the game's authorities, but regaining trust will not be easy. dan roan, bbc news. the time is 6:20 pm. our top story this evening... inflation across the uk has reached its highest level for a decade. coming up — after almost half a century, the dartmoor train service that's running again. and later in the hour on the bbc news channel, all the latest reports, results, interviews and features from the bb bbc sports centre. welcome back to belfast. here in northern ireland, ministers have voted today to introduce mandatory vaccine passports for some hospitality and entertainment venues, and they have warned that covid restrictions could be reintroduced before christmas. this part of the uk has experienced some of the most rigorous covid measures — and nightclubs were only allowed to reopen a fortnight ago. for the communities of northern ireland, this has been a year of significant challenges in terms of the pandemic, the economy and, indeed, the politics of dealing with brexit, as our ireland correspondent emma vardy reports. this place is used to struggles, but the past year has tested northern ireland in ways no one foresaw. we fully appreciate that this will be a difficult and worrying news. we are past the point of warnings, this is real and it's happening now. while life—saving medical teams faced unprecedented strain, calls for help in communities increased as northern ireland edured coronavirus restrictions for longer than anyone any other part of the uk. and volunteers like victor, who himself had previously been homeless, was suddenly on the front line. just that interaction with people on the door. children needing stuff, mummies, daddies, people who have for the first time have ever had to ask for something. we can't pay our mortgage, we need food. this belfast food bank says the pandemic led to greater collaboration between different communities than ever before. for an often divided part of the uk, the pandemic brought a short lived sense of unity. but, as lockdown eased, old divisions to return. the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years. protests in loyalist areas over brexit and other issues turned to violence. rioters on both sides of these peace walls were mainly young people and teenagers, and street disorder has begun to flare up again in recent weeks. i've come to meet a group on the nationalist side of these peace wall that have got together to try to intervene. we are a group of young men. the last thing we want to see is kids getting hurt, kids getting arrested. how is the issue of brexit and the protests around that, isuppose, helped to exacerbate any tensions? these kids don't understand brexit, they don't understand the protocol, they don't understand the intricacies of the political situation here. but they are listening to the people that are old and then, they're listening to the parents and, at the end of the day, this is a post—conflict society. and this has been the focal point of the year of political tension. new checks on goods crossing the irish sea, the northern ireland protocol, which many businesses say they want to make work to their advantage, but it is viewed in loyalist communities as a betrayal of their place in the uk. if we do not kill this protocol, it will kill the union. - but step beyond the politics of this island and it's also been a year when people rediscovered what is on their doorstep. this is a place i came all the time when nothing else was open and a lot of people had the same idea. people need to have a bit of a routine of some sort. this past year saw the hills over belfast become packed with walkers. after vivian lost hisjob during the pandemic, he started up his own group. i really appreciated the things that we have rather than the things that we don't have. has the past year changed us? definitely, you see people out walking that you would never have seen out walking before. but there is still uncertainty about the winter ahead. to say that the worst is behind us — i mean, nobody can answer that question. you can't look away from the fact that the army have been drafted in to help with the covid wards here and we might have another lockdown. but, with all this wonderful nature around us, we will get through it. northern ireland still faces an uncertain future, but has found that a year of being kept apart in fact brought many together. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. and a real sense therefore a member of the kind of uncertainty people have felt, not surprisingly, over the last 18 months or so. added to the last 18 months or so. added to the mix, the political uncertainty about where we go post—brexit. emma joins me now. we talked earlier about this crucial issue of vaccine passports. if this goes through as planned, what is the reaction likely to be on that?— planned, what is the reaction likely to be on that? ministers have voted to be on that? ministers have voted to make this — to be on that? ministers have voted to make this enforceable _ to be on that? ministers have voted to make this enforceable from - to be on that? ministers have voted i to make this enforceable from today, and there has been particular anger from the hospitality industry. it has come about because ministers were presented with a paper today, stark modelling showing cases are on the rise and voluntary uptake of covid passports in hospitality was low, and they were told of something doesn't change in the next few weeks, hospitals are going to become overwhelmed again very soon indeed. it was the dup that were the only party to vote against this today, some very critical voices in the dup speaking out in opposition to covid passports. the resentment from pubs and restaurants is really that they are saying to ministers, thanks a lot, you are lumping all this on us again to police on the. but the bottom line is, ministers say, if we do nothing we will be back in restrictions in a few weeks, and ministers want to try to avoid that again. ministers want to try to avoid that aaain. ., ., , ministers want to try to avoid that aaain. . ., , ., ministers want to try to avoid that aaain. . . , ., , ., again. emma vardy there for us, our ireland correspondent, _ again. emma vardy there for us, our ireland correspondent, with - again. emma vardy there for us, our ireland correspondent, with some i again. emma vardy there for us, our ireland correspondent, with some ofj ireland correspondent, with some of the reaction today. given that we are talking about those vaccine passports, let's give you the latest official data on the pandemic throughout the uk. there were 38,263 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means, on average, there were 38,980 new cases reported per day in the last week. 201 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 146 related deaths were recorded every day. almost 13.5 million people have now had their booster injection. the latest on the queen's health. the queen has held herfirst official engagement at windsor castle since she missed sunday's remembrance service at the cenotaph. she met the outgoing chief of the defence staff general sir nick carter, days after what the palace said was a back injury. her majesty has cancelled several other public engagements over the past few weeks. the prince of wales, during his trip tojordan, was asked about her majesty's condition. she is all right, thank you very much, thank you. once you get to 95, you know, it's not quite as easy as it used to be. bad enough at 73! that was prince charles speaking on that visit to jordan today. before we go this evening, a rail story from devon. this is quite uplifting. for the first time in almost half a century, dartmoor is back on the railway map. a new service links okehampton to exeter. it's part of a government scheme to restore abandoned railway lines, with regular services resuming on saturday. our correspondent andrew plant has the story. brass band plays. it's been a very long time coming. 49 years, in fact. this service last took passengers back in 1972. there i am stood by the engine with my father. richard remembers seeing that final service. my father and i just stood there watching and realised that was the last train. newsreel: more than 2,000 stations will be closed... i thousands of miles of railway was closed in the �*60s and �*705. this, the first section brought back into service. my grandfather was a train service with gwr. and, for many, today was a trip down memory lane. i think this is the biggest thing that happened in 20 years, for me. it's fantastic for everybody in the town. for many, it's another option that means less time stuck in traffic. i have to get two buses to college and i have to be up by 6:1t0 usually. i woke up late today and i'm going to be late for college, so it's a lot easier for me. the full service will start on saturday, something many have been waiting almost 50 years to see. andrew plant, bbc news, okehampton. the temperature has dropped sharply here in belfast this evening. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith—lucas. you have been dodging the showers in belfast, we have had a few showers around today, this was the picture earlier in the day today in bangor. this is the radar picture from the last few hours, and it shows some showers across parts of northern ireland and more persistent showers across northern and western scotland too. they are continuing at the moment, pushing their way gradually eastwards but for much of the uk it has been a dry day and we will continue to see a lot of dry weather through the course of tonight. still quite breezy across the north of scotland,

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