spending watchdog alec baldwin says he does not feel guilt over the fatal shooting of cinematographer halyna hutchins on the set of his film, rust. ifeel that, that, someone is responsible for what happened and i can't say who that is but i know it's not me. if you want to get in touch this morning, you are very welcome. @vicderbyshire victoria@bbc.co.uk thousands of people are still without power in parts of scotland and northern england, a week after storm arwen battered the uk. 15,000 properties are waiting to be reconnected in the north east and north west of england — as well as the north east and south of scotland. the situation has been declared a �*major incident�* by durham county council which has called for more resources to support residents. and in scotland, the army has been drafted in to help the recovery effort in aberdeenshire. tim muffet has this report. aberdeenshire council put out an urgent request for military help. that help has now arrived. around 4000 homes will be visited to support those struggling in the aftermath of storm arwen. the infrastructure is pretty fragile. the weather hasn't helped. the high winds that came yesterday have further weakened some places. but we're hoping it gives them that reassurance somebody is looking out for them. joanne is a nurse and lives near harbottle in northumberland. she still has no power, no water and no internet. i'm sleeping in here, which isn't ideal. eating what i can in here. boiling pans of water on the log burner. you know, you can only take so much. do you know what? i burst into tears, i'm not ashamed to say. joanne is now relying on a nearby community centre, along with her neighbour anne. i feel that we've just been left out and forgotten about. i'm more worried about the emergency services, because where we were there's no signals, no internet. if somebody needs an ambulance, how are they going to get hold of it? in county durham, a major incident has been declared, which means more support should be on its way. it seems that we will have assistance from the government. we've asked for assistance. we hope the army will be brought in. northern power can't actually tell us when all these properties are going to be up, and that's why i've had to do this. we've been out of power since last friday. we are still out of power for another four days that we know of, so it'll be well over a week. but we were also out of water for four days. 0liver has complex disabilities. two of his siblings are also disabled. his family are currently having to stay in a hotel in northumberland. it's just been a living nightmare. itjust feels like something out of a disaster movie. you know, having all that massive storm, like literally up to 100 mph winds, and then, the aftermath, no. i just want to go home. power has been restored to laura and david's home, but they must wait until it's warm enough to return to. one week on and thousands are still feeling the impact of storm arwen. tim muffett, bbc news. we can speak now to patrick jamieson who lives in dyce in aberdeen with his wife and their teenage nephew. their house has been without power now for seven jenifer and bruce wardhaugh live in durham. they've been told they will be without power for mine days. patrick, describe what it is been like the last few days. patrick, can you hear me? we will come back to patrick in a moment but let's talk to bruce and jennifer. what has it been like for you, good morning? good morning. it became unbearable on wednesday. through the kind of a stranger, we are living in a different accommodation. really? you have moved out _ different accommodation. really? you have moved out of— different accommodation. really? you have moved out of your _ different accommodation. really? you have moved out of your house - different accommodation. really? you| have moved out of your house because by wednesday it was unbearable? we by wednesday it was unbearable? - had to. it was 5 inside the house. we don't have an auxiliary heater, we don't have a wood stove, we just found it was too much. we don't have a wood stove, we 'ust found it was too muchi we don't have a wood stove, we 'ust found it was too much. bruce, please describe for — found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us _ found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us what _ found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us what it _ found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us what it was _ found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us what it was like - found it was too much. bruce, please describe for us what it was like for . describe for us what it was like for you? it describe for us what it was like for ou? . , ~ describe for us what it was like for ou? ., , ~ ., you? it was like living in a fridge. we had no _ you? it was like living in a fridge. we had no power. _ you? it was like living in a fridge. we had no power. no _ you? it was like living in a fridge. we had no power. no power- you? it was like living in a fridge. we had no power. no power to i you? it was like living in a fridge. i we had no power. no power to heat the place. _ we had no power. no power to heat the place, no hot water. very little electricity— the place, no hot water. very little electricity to recharge, no electricity to recharge, no electricity to recharge, no electricity to charge mobile phones! we had _ electricity to charge mobile phones! we had a _ electricity to charge mobile phones! we had a neighbour do it for us. and ou can we had a neighbour do it for us. and you can only — we had a neighbour do it for us. and you can only wrap up so long before the chill_ you can only wrap up so long before the chill sets in. and your inner core _ the chill sets in. and your inner core just— the chill sets in. and your inner core just gets that, i would not say terminal. _ core just gets that, i would not say terminal, but chronic cold. it was only— terminal, but chronic cold. it was only through the kindness of a friend — only through the kindness of a friend of— only through the kindness of a friend of a colleague at work who is a complete — friend of a colleague at work who is a complete stranger to us until wednesday, that we are somewhere warm _ wednesday, that we are somewhere warm and _ wednesday, that we are somewhere warm and able to sleep. you wednesday, that we are somewhere warm and able to sleep.— warm and able to sleep. you have been told i _ warm and able to sleep. you have been told i understand _ warm and able to sleep. you have been told i understand that - warm and able to sleep. you have been told i understand that the i been told i understand that the power is not going to be on at your own home for another couple of days, at least? ., ,., at least? northern power grid, i finally got _ at least? northern power grid, i finally got hold _ at least? northern power grid, i finally got hold of— at least? northern power grid, i finally got hold of their - at least? northern power grid, i i finally got hold of their emergency number last night, 43 minutes on hold and they said the estimate of may be, it could be, is now a sunday, decemberto may be, it could be, is now a sunday, december to fifth at 10pm but that's the fourth time they have rolled back that date. what but that's the fourth time they have rolled back that date.— rolled back that date. what do you think about _ rolled back that date. what do you think about the _ rolled back that date. what do you think about the help _ rolled back that date. what do you think about the help you _ rolled back that date. what do you think about the help you have - rolled back that date. what do you | think about the help you have been given, whether it's from your energy company or local politicians or national politicians? i company or local politicians or national politicians?— company or local politicians or national politicians? i have written to local politicians, _ national politicians? i have written to local politicians, written - national politicians? i have written to local politicians, written to - national politicians? i have written to local politicians, written to a . to local politicians, written to a national politicians, i have received no response. the power company, we have northern power grid, it's called, nothing. absolutely, they come up we feel like we are not being heard, our cottage is less than half a kilometre away from the m1. and nothing. we don't understand, being canadian, we are used to the cold but not this lack of infrastructure when something happens. does but not this lack of infrastructure when something happens. does it feel like ou when something happens. does it feel like you have — when something happens. does it feel like you have been _ when something happens. does it feel like you have been forgotten? - like you have been forgotten? absolutely, absolutely we have been forgotten and we want to thank you so much for giving us a voice and listening to us, giving us a voice, maybe through this, maybe, perhaps, something can be done for us and the rest of us here in the north? yes. that is what we are here for. i think we can speak to patrick now, hopefully we have sorted out the technical side. hopefully we have sorted out the technicalside. patrick, hello. despite your code in your heart, you still look really cold! the temperature _ still look really cold! the temperature is _ still look really cold! the temperature is very - still look really cold! the temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite _ temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your— temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your coat _ temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your coat and _ temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your coat and your- temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your coat and your hat. . temperature is very cold, yes. —— despite your coat and your hat. itj despite your coat and your hat. it is very— despite your coat and your hat. it is very cold _ despite your coat and your hat. it is very cold-— despite your coat and your hat. it is very cold. please describe what it has been _ is very cold. please describe what it has been like _ is very cold. please describe what it has been like for— is very cold. please describe what it has been like for you _ is very cold. please describe what it has been like for you and - is very cold. please describe what it has been like for you and your. it has been like for you and your family the past seven days? absolute nirhtmare family the past seven days? absolute nightmare from _ family the past seven days? absolute nightmare from start _ family the past seven days? absolute nightmare from start to _ family the past seven days? absolute nightmare from start to finish. - nightmare from start to finish. friday— nightmare from start to finish. friday last _ nightmare from start to finish. friday last week, _ nightmare from start to finish. friday last week, teatime - nightmare from start to finish. . friday last week, teatime around 5pm. _ friday last week, teatime around 5pm. we — friday last week, teatime around 5pm. we had _ friday last week, teatime around 5pm. we had to— friday last week, teatime around 5pm, we had to scramble - friday last week, teatime around 5pm, we had to scramble to - friday last week, teatime around 5pm, we had to scramble to try i friday last week, teatime around . 5pm, we had to scramble to try and -et 5pm, we had to scramble to try and get things— 5pm, we had to scramble to try and get things organised _ 5pm, we had to scramble to try and get things organised as _ 5pm, we had to scramble to try and get things organised as best - 5pm, we had to scramble to try and get things organised as best we - get things organised as best we could _ get things organised as best we could they— get things organised as best we could. they told _ get things organised as best we could. they told us _ get things organised as best we could. they told us it _ get things organised as best we could. they told us it would - get things organised as best we could. they told us it would bel get things organised as best we - could. they told us it would be back on by _ could. they told us it would be back on by 12. _ could. they told us it would be back on by 12. we — could. they told us it would be back on by 12. we went _ could. they told us it would be back on by 12, we went to— could. they told us it would be back on by 12, we went to bed _ could. they told us it would be back on by 12, we went to bed and - could. they told us it would be back on by 12, we went to bed and read i on by 12, we went to bed and read a book, _ on by 12, we went to bed and read a book. with — on by 12, we went to bed and read a book, with torchlight. _ on by 12, we went to bed and read a book, with torchlight. the _ on by 12, we went to bed and read a book, with torchlight. the next - on by 12, we went to bed and read a book, with torchlight. the next dayl book, with torchlight. the next day we were _ book, with torchlight. the next day we were told — book, with torchlight. the next day we were told it _ book, with torchlight. the next day we were told it was _ book, with torchlight. the next day we were told it was the _ book, with torchlight. the next day we were told it was the following . we were told it was the following day and — we were told it was the following day and it's — we were told it was the following day and it's been _ we were told it was the following day and it's been like _ we were told it was the following day and it's been like that - day and it's been like that constantly— day and it's been like that constantly since _ day and it's been like that constantly since friday. i day and it's been like that. constantly since friday. we day and it's been like that - constantly since friday. we keep getting _ constantly since friday. we keep getting daily— constantly since friday. we keep getting daily updates _ constantly since friday. we keep getting daily updates saying - constantly since friday. we keep getting daily updates saying the i getting daily updates saying the power _ getting daily updates saying the power will — getting daily updates saying the power will be _ getting daily updates saying the power will be back— getting daily updates saying the power will be back on _ getting daily updates saying the power will be back on at - getting daily updates saying the power will be back on at 6pm, i getting daily updates saying the i power will be back on at 6pm, they have given — power will be back on at 6pm, they have given us — power will be back on at 6pm, they have given us another— power will be back on at 6pm, they have given us another text - power will be back on at 6pm, they have given us another text saying i have given us another text saying parrott _ have given us another text saying parrott will — have given us another text saying parrott will be _ have given us another text saying parrott will be back _ have given us another text saying parrott will be back on _ have given us another text saying parrott will be back on at - have given us another text saying parrott will be back on at 23.59, i am not _ parrott will be back on at 23.59, i am not holding _ parrott will be back on at 23.59, i am not holding my— parrott will be back on at 23.59, i am not holding my breath - parrott will be back on at 23.59, i l am not holding my breath because parrott will be back on at 23.59, i - am not holding my breath because we have been— am not holding my breath because we have been told — am not holding my breath because we have been told this _ am not holding my breath because we have been told this for _ am not holding my breath because we have been told this for the _ am not holding my breath because we have been told this for the past - have been told this for the past seven— have been told this for the past seven days~ _ have been told this for the past seven days-— have been told this for the past seven da s. ., ., , ., seven days. you have been without liuhts, seven days. you have been without lights. heating. _ seven days. you have been without lights, heating, your— seven days. you have been without lights, heating, your fridge, - lights, heating, your fridge, presumably, lights, heating, yourfridge, presumably, the washing machine? yes, everything. do you understand when the power company says, it was a catastrophic storm, the damage was like they had never seen before in some cases. multiple power lines were broken and electricity pylons were broken and electricity pylons were essentially snapped in half, so much work for them to repair all of this? i much work for them to repair all of this? . ., , , , ., , this? i completely understand this, that's not been _ this? i completely understand this, that's not been the _ this? i completely understand this, that's not been the issue. - this? i completely understand this, that's not been the issue. there . that's not been the issue. there must _ that's not been the issue. there must have — that's not been the issue. there must have been— that's not been the issue. there must have been an _ that's not been the issue. there must have been an assessmentl that's not been the issue. there l must have been an assessment of that's not been the issue. there - must have been an assessment of the situation _ must have been an assessment of the situation and — must have been an assessment of the situation. and most _ must have been an assessment of the situation. and most of— must have been an assessment of the situation. and most of the _ must have been an assessment of the situation. and most of the faults. - situation. and most of the faults. so if— situation. and most of the faults. so if they— situation. and most of the faults. so if they have _ situation. and most of the faults. so if they have a _ situation. and most of the faults. so if they have a plan _ situation. and most of the faults. so if they have a plan in - situation. and most of the faults. so if they have a plan in place - situation. and most of the faults. | so if they have a plan in place and they have — so if they have a plan in place and they have a — so if they have a plan in place and they have a fault _ so if they have a plan in place and they have a fault number, - so if they have a plan in place and they have a fault number, and - so if they have a plan in place and they have a fault number, and i. so if they have a plan in place and i they have a fault number, and i know which _ they have a fault number, and i know which one _ they have a fault number, and i know which one it — they have a fault number, and i know which one it is, — they have a fault number, and i know which one it is, they— they have a fault number, and i know which one it is, they must— they have a fault number, and i know which one it is, they must know- they have a fault number, and i know| which one it is, they must know when they are _ which one it is, they must know when they are going — which one it is, they must know when they are going to _ which one it is, they must know when they are going to reconnect _ which one it is, they must know when they are going to reconnect my- they are going to reconnect my house. — they are going to reconnect my house, instead _ they are going to reconnect my house, instead of— they are going to reconnect my house, instead of telling - they are going to reconnect my house, instead of telling me i they are going to reconnect my house, instead of telling me it| house, instead of telling me it will be ours. _ house, instead of telling me it will be ours. i— house, instead of telling me it will be ours, i could _ house, instead of telling me it will be ours, i could have _ house, instead of telling me it will be ours, i could have planned - house, instead of telling me it will be ours, i could have planned for. be ours, i could have planned for the long — be ours, i could have planned for the long haul, _ be ours, i could have planned for the long haul, not— be ours, i could have planned for the long haul, not the _ be ours, i could have planned for the long haul, not the shortfall. i the long haul, not the shortfall. the problem _ the long haul, not the shortfall. the problem from _ the long haul, not the shortfall. the problem from saturday - the long haul, not the shortfall. the problem from saturday is l the long haul, not the shortfall. i the problem from saturday is the camping — the problem from saturday is the camping equipment, _ the problem from saturday is the camping equipment, gas, - the problem from saturday is the i camping equipment, gas, everything has been _ camping equipment, gas, everything has been in — camping equipment, gas, everything has been in short— camping equipment, gas, everything has been in short demand, _ camping equipment, gas, everything has been in short demand, i- camping equipment, gas, everything has been in short demand, i spent. has been in short demand, i spent all of— has been in short demand, i spent all of sunday — has been in short demand, i spent all of sunday trying _ has been in short demand, i spent all of sunday trying to _ has been in short demand, i spent all of sunday trying to find - has been in short demand, i spent all of sunday trying to find piecesl all of sunday trying to find pieces for a _ all of sunday trying to find pieces for a small— all of sunday trying to find pieces for a small stove _ all of sunday trying to find pieces for a small stove that _ all of sunday trying to find pieces for a small stove that we - all of sunday trying to find pieces for a small stove that we have i all of sunday trying to find piecesl for a small stove that we have but everything — for a small stove that we have but everything is _ for a small stove that we have but everything is sold _ for a small stove that we have but everything is sold out. _ for a small stove that we have but everything is sold out. do - for a small stove that we have but everything is sold out.— for a small stove that we have but everything is sold out. do you have some faith — everything is sold out. do you have some faith that _ everything is sold out. do you have some faith that at _ everything is sold out. do you have some faith that at some _ everything is sold out. do you have some faith that at some point - some faith that at some point someone is going to, i don't know, check on you or help you? taste someone is going to, i don't know, check on you or help you?- someone is going to, i don't know, check on you or help you? we had two or three check on you or help you? we had two orthree people. _ check on you or help you? we had two orthree people. i— check on you or help you? we had two or three people, i think _ check on you or help you? we had two or three people, i think from - check on you or help you? we had two or three people, i think from sse - or three people, i think from sse came _ or three people, i think from sse came to — or three people, i think from sse came to my— or three people, i think from sse came to my door— or three people, i think from sse came to my door at _ or three people, i think from sse came to my door at 12 _ or three people, i think from sse came to my door at 12 o'clock - or three people, i think from sse| came to my door at 12 o'clock and said there — came to my door at 12 o'clock and said there was _ came to my door at 12 o'clock and said there was anything _ came to my door at 12 o'clock and said there was anything we - came to my door at 12 o'clock and said there was anything we couldl said there was anything we could help you — said there was anything we could help you with. _ said there was anything we could help you with, let _ said there was anything we could help you with, let us _ said there was anything we could help you with, let us know, - said there was anything we could help you with, let us know, but i said there was anything we could| help you with, let us know, but it is a lead. — help you with, let us know, but it is a lead. the _ help you with, let us know, but it is a lead, the horses— help you with, let us know, but it is a lead, the horses bolted. - help you with, let us know, but it is a lead, the horses bolted. it i help you with, let us know, but it. is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted _ is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for— is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for the _ is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for the last _ is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for the last six _ is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for the last six days. - is a lead, the horses bolted. it has bolted for the last six days. we - bolted for the last six days. we have _ bolted for the last six days. we have plenty— bolted for the last six days. we have plenty of— bolted for the last six days. we have plenty of coal _ bolted for the last six days. we have plenty of coal in _ bolted for the last six days. we have plenty of coal in stock. . bolted for the last six days. we| have plenty of coal in stock. we have _ have plenty of coal in stock. we have a — have plenty of coal in stock. we have a new _ have plenty of coal in stock. we have a new generator— have plenty of coal in stock. we have a new generator coming. have plenty of coal in stock. we have a new generator coming in today — have a new generator coming in today and _ have a new generator coming in today. and hopefully— have a new generator coming in today. and hopefully the - have a new generator coming in today. and hopefully the only. have a new generator coming in. today. and hopefully the only thing we will _ today. and hopefully the only thing we will need — today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to _ today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to do _ today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to do is— today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to do is top _ today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to do is top of- today. and hopefully the only thing we will need to do is top of the - we will need to do is top of the generator— we will need to do is top of the generator with _ we will need to do is top of the generator with petrol- we will need to do is top of the generator with petrol on - we will need to do is top of the generator with petrol on a - we will need to do is top of the i generator with petrol on a regular basis _ generator with petrol on a regular basis but— generator with petrol on a regular basis but i— generator with petrol on a regular basis. but i cannot _ generator with petrol on a regular basis. but i cannot see _ generator with petrol on a regular basis. but i cannot see it - generator with petrol on a regular basis. but i cannot see it being i generator with petrol on a regularj basis. but i cannot see it being on in the _ basis. but i cannot see it being on in the short— basis. but i cannot see it being on in the short term. _ basis. but i cannot see it being on in the short term. i— basis. but i cannot see it being on in the short term.— in the short term. i hope for your sake it is soon. _ in the short term. i hope for your sake it is soon. thank you - in the short term. i hope for your sake it is soon. thank you so - in the short term. i hope for your i sake it is soon. thank you so much for talking to us, patrick. bruce and jennifer, thank you so much for talking to us. good luck. thank you. 0ur correspondent alison freeman is in a village in teesdale for us this morning. alison, good morning. this is one of the places that has been acting as a haven for all of the people still without power. northern power grid told us last night there were just under 10,000 homes across northumberland and county durham who do not have power, heat, light, they cannot make hot food, some people have been without water as well so it's been quite desperate for some people. in county durham, a major incident has been declared and that means the council will work more closely with the military as well as the emergency services to ensure everybody is looked after. we know around here, there is still about 200 houses in the small area without power and its getting desperate for some people so that's why people like tommy, we see you working away, have decided to make sure that the community centre is open to give everybody what they need. you saw the supply is behind me. tommy, tell me, why have you pulled together to do this? , ., . ., do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have _ do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a _ do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a lot _ do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a lot of _ do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a lot of people - do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a lot of people in - do this? there is a clear need. the fact we have a lot of people in the | fact we have a lot of people in the local— fact we have a lot of people in the local area — fact we have a lot of people in the local area who have been struggling. they have _ local area who have been struggling. they have no power, no hot water, no means _ they have no power, no hot water, no means to _ they have no power, no hot water, no means to cook — they have no power, no hot water, no means to cook food or anything else. apart _ means to cook food or anything else. apart from _ means to cook food or anything else. apart from gas camping stoves and things— apart from gas camping stoves and things like — apart from gas camping stoves and things like that. we wanted to try and help— things like that. we wanted to try and help out. tell things like that. we wanted to try and help out-— things like that. we wanted to try and help out. things like that. we wanted to try and hel out. ., ., and help out. tell me about some of the desperate _ and help out. tell me about some of the desperate situations, _ and help out. tell me about some of the desperate situations, elderly - the desperate situations, elderly people, remind me of those. brute the desperate situations, elderly people, remind me of those. we have a hiuh people, remind me of those. we have a high number— people, remind me of those. we have a high number of— people, remind me of those. we have a high number of elderly _ a high number of elderly around here _ a high number of elderly around here the — a high number of elderly around here. the elderly are struggling. people _ here. the elderly are struggling. people with young families. this has affected _ people with young families. this has affected everyone across the community. i don't know anyone that has not _ community. i don't know anyone that has not struggled with this at some point _ has not struggled with this at some point like — has not struggled with this at some point. like i said, the ideas we have _ point. like i said, the ideas we have the — point. like i said, the ideas we have the community hall, get people in, have the community hall, get people in. give _ have the community hall, get people in, give them hot food. give the kids a _ in, give them hot food. give the kids a chance to run about and stuff like that _ kids a chance to run about and stuff like that do — kids a chance to run about and stuff like that. , ., ~' kids a chance to run about and stuff like that. , ., ~ ., ., , like that. do you think enough has been done to _ like that. do you think enough has been done to help _ like that. do you think enough has been done to help people - like that. do you think enough has been done to help people in - like that. do you think enough has been done to help people in the i been done to help people in the area? i been done to help people in the area? ., �* ~' , ., area? i don't, i think there should have been — area? i don't, i think there should have been a _ area? i don't, i think there should have been a bigger _ area? i don't, i think there should have been a bigger effort, - area? i don't, i think there should have been a bigger effort, truth i area? i don't, i think there should l have been a bigger effort, truth be told but _ have been a bigger effort, truth be told but i _ have been a bigger effort, truth be told but i think the problem is they probably— told but i think the problem is they probably should have come out and said it _ probably should have come out and said it needed a better and longer period _ said it needed a better and longer eriod. . ., ~ , said it needed a better and longer eriod. . ., ,, , , period. thanks and keep up with the aood work. period. thanks and keep up with the good work- we _ period. thanks and keep up with the good work. we know _ period. thanks and keep up with the good work. we know some - period. thanks and keep up with the good work. we know some people l good work. we know some people around here have been told it might not be back on until december the 8th, still quite some days for people to go without heat and power and they rely on places like this to get what they need.— get what they need. alison, thank ou. new research suggests that the covid vaccine boosterjabs currently being given to people in the uk can protect people against getting sick from the 0micron variant. the study, led by scientists at the university of southampton, looked at seven different vaccines being used as boosters. it found that all of them provided extra protection but that the most effective as boosters were pfizer and moderna. the release of the study�*s findings comes after it was revealed that 42 cases of the 0micron variant have now been identified in the uk. simonjones reports. this, the government says, is the best response to the new variant. the vaccination programme, with a new drive to deliver more booster jabs. a team at the university of southampton says there are promising signs that boosters could handle 0micron, and would still offer good protection against illness. experts though believe it's too early to say whether 0micron will be more dangerous than other variants. we have some reason to believe it could be serious, but what that means in terms of the consequences for the pandemic, and the potential need for additional control measures, is not yet known. i think we've done the most important thing, which is accelerate boosters. in south africa, the scientists who first identified 0micron are racing to unlock its secrets. over the last week, the daily number of new covid infections has increased fourfold. it seems those who have already had other variants of coronavirus may not be protected against 0micron. hospital admissions are up slightly, mainly among the unvaccinated. the new variant has now been detected in at least 24 countries, according to the world health organization, including in several states of the us. we have the best tools, the best vaccines in the world, the best medicine and the best scientists in the world. we are going to fight this variant with science and speed, not chaos and confusion. germany, in the grip of the delta variant, has announced major new restrictions on people who aren't vaccinated. they will be banned from bars, restaurants and non—essential shops. vaccinations could be made mandatory by february. the fight against the pandemic goes on. simon jones, bbc news. let's talk to professor saul faust, leader of the cov—bo0st trial which carried out the research. good morning, professor. this is good news, the boosters do work? the good news, the boosters do work? tue: boosters good news, the boosters do work? tta: boosters do good news, the boosters do work? t"t2 boosters do seem good news, the boosters do work? tt2 boosters do seem to good news, the boosters do work? t“t2 boosters do seem to work and we tested seven different vaccines, actually six of them provided a good boost after you received either two doses of astrazeneca or pfizer and as you may remember, we started the trial injune which was only two or three months after the second dose for most people so the trial enrolled people at 10— 12 weeks. the decision this week by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation to reduce the interval between the second and third doses is a direct relation to the trial and we know it's a safe thing to do and we know it's a safe thing to do and as you say, really good news for all the vaccines. if you remember how well people were being protected against hospitalisation and death in june, from two doses of either astrazeneca or pfizer, the fact all the six vaccines will provide a significant boost to the antibody immunity is really good news. 0bviously, immunity is really good news. obviously, there is a big difference between some of the vaccines for antibodies but the other really interesting thing from the trial is the studies we did on the t—cells. we think the t—cells, the cells in the body �*s blood that's responsible for immunological memory and the body responding as a result of the vaccine if you meet coronavirus again in the future, and although we clearly were not able to test for omicron yet in the study, double come later, but we looked at the original beta string, the current delta strain and the original wuhan strain and all of the vaccines gave a very broad protection, broad responses in the t—cells to the different variants of the spike protein so our memory response seems to be more robust and not impacted so much by individual changes to the spike protein. so we would be hopeful that all the current vaccines will actually protect against hospitalisation and death. right. from which variant? from any ofthe right. from which variant? from any of the variance? _ right. from which variant? from any of the variance? including _ right. from which variant? from any of the variance? including omicron? | of the variance? including omicron? we have not proved that for omicron yet but we would hope because of the effect we saw in a different beta variant, the original beta variant in south africa, we certainly so good responses even to the beta in the laboratory. we do not have a direct link, sort of level, we can measure for t—cells between the protection and the number in the lab but we saw 2— three times boost across all the variants for all the vaccines so it's really good news. we have to wait and see. but you know the boosters are giving really high antibody levels as well. and i think the message is this morning, if you have not had the first couple of doses, please go and have them because they are the most critical, not just because they are the most critical, notjust in this country but globally. if you are offered the booster, please have it because both the antibodies and the t—cells will provide you with protection against the current and potentially the future strains. and of course other measures are important as well. qt measures are important as well. of course. i don't know if you have heard this news but it's about south africa. those who have recently recovered from other variants of covid—19 did not appear to be protected against omicron and are becoming quickly reinfected, that's according to the south african national institute or diseases. previous infection is to protect you against reinfection with delta but with omicron, they say that does not seem to be the case. t with omicron, they say that does not seem to be the case.— seem to be the case. i think i heard that this morning, _ seem to be the case. i think i heard that this morning, i _ seem to be the case. i think i heard that this morning, i was _ seem to be the case. i think i heard that this morning, i was on - seem to be the case. i think i heard that this morning, i was on a - that this morning, i was on a different part of the bbc with somebody from who. i do not think this is a great murray to infection epidemiologists. clearly, if there is an impact on hospitalisation and death, that is a problem. we note the current vaccines are likely to work against the current strengths but we will wait to see whether they protect us against omicron but you've got to have some protection up you've got to have some protection up their first, with the first couple of doses. but normally, viruses when they are introduced into the population will mutate and settle and become infectious but often less lethal, less dangerous to people. so, many of the current coronaviruses are common colds and i think as long as we protect people with vaccines against serious disease, hospitalisation and death, i think having infection around in the community is not on its own necessarily a particularly worrying thing or something we were not expecting. i think the issue we have at the moment is that there are still lots of people who are vulnerable, who do not have any immunities or whether they are particularly immune suppressed they have chosen not to have the vaccine or they are elderly, until everybody has built up immunity, we still have to worry about wearing masks inside and on public transport and worry about transmission, even if over time, the virus becomes more infectious, it's very likely to become less of a problem clinically. so i don't think most people, there will be a lot of speculation, a lot of noise, there are a lot of unknowns at the moment because we just don't know how good the current vaccines will be against omicron, evenif vaccines will be against omicron, even if we can be quietly confident we will definitely have some protection. what we need to do is protection. what we need to do is protect everybody now for this winter. and watch and wait and we will be doing that in the study. all the participants, 2,800 people who have taken part across the country at our 18 sites, have been fantastic volunteering for this four test and we will find out how long the protection as lasting as we go through the year.— protection as lasting as we go through the year. very briefly, if i ma , through the year. very briefly, if i may. when _ through the year. very briefly, if i may. when will— through the year. very briefly, if i may, when will you _ through the year. very briefly, if i may, when will you know- through the year. very briefly, if i may, when will you know if- through the year. very briefly, if i may, when will you know if the i may, when will you know if the booster works against omicron? from the laboratory. _ booster works against omicron? from the laboratory, we've _ booster works against omicron? fa'rrrn the laboratory, we've made samples available to uk health security agency protesting against the omicron variant so you'll have to ask them how long it will take but i think the uk will be very early, we will have some of the earliest results in the world when they come. thank you so much. good to hear a little bit of good news. thank you. the conservatives have won the parliamentary by—election in old bexley and sidcup — retaining the safe seat that had been held by the former government ministerjames brokenshire, who died earlier this year. the conservative candidate louie french took more than half the total number of votes cast. but there was a ten percent swing to labour from the outcome of the 2019 general election, and his majority was significantly lower than that won by his predecessor — down from 19,000 to about 4,500. 0ur political correspondent ione wells is in bexley for us. tell us what the conservatives are saying about this win. t tell us what the conservatives are saying about this win.— saying about this win. i think overall the _ saying about this win. i think overall the conservatives - saying about this win. i think overall the conservatives are saying about this win. i think - overall the conservatives are pretty happy with this, this is a mid—term by—election, historically governing parties do not always tend to do particularly well in midterm by—elections, that something a number of senior mps and ministers who had been out campaigning here in the last couple of weeks have been stressing. they managed to hold pretty comfortably unto the safe conservative seat, still holding on to more than 50% of the vote, there had been some nervousness in the last few weeks after some quite tricky headlines for the conservatives about things like so—called sleaze but also around national issues like immigration which some had worried were coming up which some had worried were coming up on the doorstep a little bit. 0pposition parties, while they had not been expecting to take the seat were hoping to chip away at that majority. they held on to a pretty comfortably but there was a 10% swing to the labour party, turnout was a bit of a factor, turn out a by—elections always tends to be lower than a general elections but it was especially low this time. that was one of the reasons the conservative majority fell from 19,000 to just about four and a half thousand. i think that 10% swing to the labour party playing a slide rule here as well and labour has said they are pretty encouraged by this, the reaction from them was where that swing to have happened in other seats around the uk which are more marginal, they could potentially be looking at gains in future elections but i think overall, conservatives pretty happy with the result here. reform uk, the new brexit party, under their new brand, came third, the lib dems in fifth and the green party in fourth. i think now all efforts from the conservatives will be focused on the next by—election they have coming up in a couple of weeks in north shropshire. i think there will be more to play for there, the lib dems certainly throwing their resources at that election. after the seat was left vacant by the conservative mp 0wen paterson who resigned recently after being found to have broken lobbying rules.— joining me now is bronwen maddox, director of the institute for government. what desist result tell you about the political temperature of the country? tt the political temperature of the count ? , the political temperature of the count? , ._ country? it raises really interesting _ country? it raises really interesting question - country? it raises really interesting question is, | country? it raises really i interesting question is, it country? it raises really - interesting question is, it does country? it raises really _ interesting question is, it does not immediately give us answers on those, as we just heard, are we will get a much better sense at that december 16 by—election of 0wen paterson �*s seat and all those questions will be centre stage and tested there. one of the big questions is has this falling support for the conservatives turned into something permanent for the labour party that could give them hopes of a majority at the next general election? would you have the conservatives with calls to say we did well for a government during a by—election, mid—term. 0ne did well for a government during a by—election, mid—term. one of the interests of for me is the reform uk party getting more than 5%, born out of the brexit party and the significance of that is not the numbers which are small but whether it will challenge the conservatives enough from the right that it gives them real problems on positioning. make them take a harder line on some of these issues like immigration than they might otherwise do so some fascinating questions. tit a than they might otherwise do so some fascinating questions.— fascinating questions. in a way, a bit of something _ fascinating questions. in a way, a bit of something most _ fascinating questions. in a way, a bit of something most of - fascinating questions. in a way, a bit of something most of the - fascinating questions. in a way, a i bit of something most of the parties who took part, isn't there? abs, bit who took part, isn't there? a bit something _ who took part, isn't there? a bit something for _ who took part, isn't there? a bit something for three _ who took part, isn't there? 3 it something for three parties, and the conservative party and reform uk are trumpeting that theirs is the one who should be given most plaudits for the result. people who did not do so well are the lib dems. as you said, they are throwing an awful lot at the own paterson by—election in just two weeks' time. they did take a seat from the conservatives in a by—election, in cheshire and amersham, out of anger over housing, planning and hs2. they pay for seats, they pick their targets, i think they did not think this was one that they were particularly going to do well and they did not. thank fraudsters have stolen billions of pounds by abusing the government's bounce—back loan scheme — that's the initiative that was designed to help small businesses survive during the covid pandemic. according to a new report from the national audit office, more than one in ten of the loans may have been fraudulent, costing the taxpayer almost £5—billion. the report says that measures put in place to stop fraud were implemented too slowly. 0ur correspondent, angus crawford, reports. a hard stop. police arrest a drug dealer, a member of a manchester gang that used a front business to hide their crimes. and this is it. from a couple of portakabins, they planned to take over the local cocaine market. but what's really extraordinary is they managed to get a £25,000 bounce back loan to help their business through the pandemic. and they weren't the only ones. it's a bounce back loan application that's been approved for £50,000. last year, this undercover investigator showed us how criminals were setting up fake companies to exploit the system. it seems to be free money for the scammers. it's going to cost us billions. 4.9 billion, according to today's report. anti—fraud measures, it says, were implemented too slowly to be effective and are inadequate. well, today we announced a brand—new loan scheme for the smaller businesses. designed as a life—saver forsmall firms, more than £47 billion was handed out. but how much of that will legitimate firms ever pay back? it's going to be horrendous. it's a nightmare. i'm worried. i've asked the government to set up a helpline. mike runs an online support group for business owners who took out a loan, and now fear they may go bust. they've now got the repayments starting. and a lot of people simply have not bounced back, which was the whole idea of the scheme. as soon as they're due, it is going to be a tidal wave. it will be. there is no ifs, bunts or shunts about that. the nao says £17 billion may never be repaid. and 100,000 loans are already in arrears. i've had to contact my doctor about having some anti—depressants. i haven't been able to properly sleep for the last 20 months. £50,000 seemed like a life—saver for anne—marie and her printing firm. it now feels like a millstone. the bounce back loan is hanging there over our heads at the moment. you know, at the time, i guess, i had two choices. we either take on a loan and carry on and try to just ride through the storm, or we close the doors. but the storm isn't over? well, this is the thing. it'sjust about starting, i think. loans that kept hundreds of thousands of firms alive became a dead weight for others and a cash cow for criminals. angus crawford, bbc news. we can speak now to gareth davies, the head of the national audit office. 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxpayer? 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxpayer? that 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxpayer? that is 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxa er? . , 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxa er? . , , ., 17 billion might not be repaired. what does that mean for the taxa er? ., , , ., ., taxpayer? that is the estimate from the government _ taxpayer? that is the estimate from the government of— taxpayer? that is the estimate from the government of the _ taxpayer? that is the estimate from the government of the cost - taxpayer? that is the estimate from the government of the cost that - taxpayer? that is the estimate from | the government of the cost that may fall to the taxpayer. these loans are obviously provided by banks directly to the businesses who claim them. but the banks are doing that because they have been guaranteed 100% by they have been guaranteed 100% by the government that if the borrowers don't pay back the loan, the government will reimburse the bank. that is why there is a liability here for the taxpayer sitting on the government balance sheet. exactly what that will turn out to be, we will only find out over time because repayments have only recently started for these loans. it is too early to get a strong picture of how successful the repayments are going to be. a lot depends on the health of the economy overall. the stronger the economy, the more likely it is that businesses will be able to repay loans. that doesn't deal with theissue repay loans. that doesn't deal with the issue of fraud, which is a significant problem. the speed with which the scheme was implemented meant that normal credit checks were not applied. that meant money could go out quickly, which was important at the time for businesses, but it has come with a very big price tag. the government estimated at the end of much that that would be £4.9 billion. t5 of much that that would be £4.9 billion. , . . . billion. is that a hint that the government _ billion. is that a hint that the government knew _ billion. is that a hint that the government knew they - billion. is that a hint that the government knew they were | billion. is that a hint that the - government knew they were going to have to take in order to allow thousands of small businesses to survive? , ., , thousands of small businesses to survive? , , ., ., survive? yes. it was upfront that the business _ survive? yes. it was upfront that the business department - survive? yes. it was upfront that the business department was - survive? yes. it was upfront that l the business department was clear with ministers that there would be a risk here of moving so quickly and not carrying out a credit checks. so that was explicitly taken by government. ministers went in with their eyes open. but of course, the amount at risk was unknown. so as the repayments work their way to the system, we are getting better estimates. the government estimate at the end of march was 4.9 billion for this. that estimate will improve in quality over time and hopefully go down as it turns out that worst fears are not realised, but it's too early to say which direction it will head in. . ~ early to say which direction it will head in. ., ,, ,., early to say which direction it will head in. ., ,, y., ., early to say which direction it will head in. ., ~' i., ., ., ~' early to say which direction it will head in. ., ,, ., ., ,, ., head in. thank you for talking to us. the head in. thank you for talking to us- the head — head in. thank you for talking to us. the head of _ head in. thank you for talking to us. the head of the _ head in. thank you for talking to us. the head of the national - head in. thank you for talking to l us. the head of the national audit office, gareth davies. now it's time for a look at the weather, matt taylor's here. it isa it is a bit chilly at the moment in eastern areas, but milder areas are pushing in from the west. a bit of a change for today. with it, plenty of cloud across southernmost counties and wales. there could be drizzle for a time on something wetter in the south west later. in scotland, the south west later. in scotland, the showers become more frequent later. in the east of scotland, the best of ve day's sunshine, and there will be breaks in england and northern ireland. through this evening, a spell of heavy rain in the southern counties and wales. and the southern counties and wales. and the cold air will be fighting its way back tomorrow morning. some wintry showers across scotland to begin with, even to lower levels. elsewhere after some early rain in east anglia and the midlands, sunshine here, but there will be showers across the country. most frequent in the west. and it's going to feel colder again in the breeze. let's bring you the sport now. good morning. manchester united's new interim manager rang rangnick has been giving his first press conference this morning and said it was a role he couldn't turn down and that he is well acquainted with the premier league. you can read about what he had to say on our website. meanwhile, the team he has inherited moved up to seventh in the premier league after beating arsenal last night — but as always with the old rivals, there was controversy because arsenal's opening goal was scored when united's keeper david de gea had been trodden on by one of his team mates and was down injured, so emile smith rowe's goal shot straight past him. the referee hadn't blown, it was a perfectly legal goal, so it stood and will be no doubt debated for ever. but it didn't matter in the end because christiano ronaldo but it didn't matter in the end because cristiano ronaldo was once again the hero, scoring two goals, this his first and then a penalty to make it 3—2. ronaldo became the first player in history to score more than 800 top level goals for club and country. then, minutes after the final whistle, there was an emotional farewell for caretaker manager michael carrick, who announced he's leaving the club after 15 years as a player and brief caretaker coach, during which he has won two games and drawn one. as a player, carrick won the premier league five times. i told my family when i finished playing, i'd have some time for them and retire and have a breather. because obviously, playing here is tough enough, and thene coming into coaching, i think i owe them a bit of time. i'm really looking forward to that. yeah, itjust feels the right time. sometimes life takes you in certain ways. that good feeling i had over recent days, it's the perfect night, really, to finish on. i couldn't have hoped for anything more. antonio conte says he's not worried about striker harry kane's lack of goals after seeing his tottenham team beat brentford 2—0 last night. kane hasjust one premier league goal this season. but heung min son scored his fifth of the campaign, finishing off a free—flowing spurs move as theyjump up to sixth in the table and continue conte's unbeaten start in the league. i don'tjudge the performance if our striker scores or doesn't score. ijudge the performance of what i see, what he give in the whole game for the team, and i repeat, in every game that he played, he gave 100%, maybe 120%. the ashes is in five days' time and all—rounder ben stokes has continued his comeback for england, scoring an unbeaten 42 on the final day of their last intra—squad practice match. stokes is playing for the first time sincejuly, and also took two wickets before hitting six fours in 56 balls. he then retired to allow others to bat. not so encouraging for captainjoe root, though — who was out for eight and jonny bairstow fell for a first—ball duck against the england lions. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. the dad and stepmum of six—year—old arthur labinjo—hughes will find out today how long they will spend in jail for killing the child. emma tustin was found guilty of murder, and her partner thomas hughes of manslaughter. the pair were described in court as "utterly ruthless and pitiless". they had beaten arthur, deprived him of food, made him stand for 14 hours facing a door and force—fed him because of the severeity of the abuse, some of this report by graham satchell is upsetting. arthur was my sunny delight. that's what i called him. he was always happy, smiling, loving, caring. he showed affection to everyone. he was a beautiful boy. these are the last pictures of arthur labinjo—hughes, taken on the day he died last year, the cctv footage released by west midlands police. arthur was made to sleep on the floor without a mattress. he had been starved and poisoned with salt. he was so weak, he could barely walk. basically, my six—year—old stepson has fell and he's banged his head. 0k. and while he was on the floor, he banged his head another five times. 0k. the 999 call made by arthur's stepmother, emma tustin. it was a lie. she continued to lie when police arrived at the house. when i tried to get him off the floor, from head—butting the floor, he head—butted me. and he kicked me and he's hit me. in court, thejury heard harrowing evidence. arthur had been abused over a period of several weeks, not just by emma tustin, but also by his father, thomas hughes. in a text message, hughes had told his partner tojust end him. the court heard deeply distressing audio recordings made by emma tustin on her phone. in one, arthur can be heard saying, "no one loves me." hughes has now been found guilty of the manslaughter of his six—year—old son. tustin, who banged arthur's head on the floor, the fatal injury, convicted of murder. if i had to describe her with one word, i would have to say evil. i know that's hard—hitting coming from a police officer, but i can't justify her behaviour and her actions and her treatment towards arthur in any other way. were there missed chances to prevent arthur's death? his grandmother took this picture of a bruise on his shoulder just weeks before he died. social services did investigate, but said it appeared to be a happy household. the tragic loss of a young boy in such terrible circumstances is dreadful. we send our heartfelt condolences to everybody affected. the circumstances around the death were now be the subject of independent review. the local child safeguarding practice review, and clearly, it would be inappropriate for the partnership to comment ahead of the findings of this review. arthur had gone to live with his dad in march last year at the beginning of lockdown. lockdown saw a 23% rise in the number of calls to the nspcc. it was a time when some vulnerable children became invisible. solihull council have described arthur's death as a terrible tragedy, and there will now be an independent serious case review. that will come too late for arthur's family, left devastated, remembering a six—year—old boy who loved superheroes. if arthur could ask for one final thing, it would be that he was remembered for his superpowers. that's what i will always remember him for, his superpower. and arthur's superpower was his smile. joining me now is the former children's minister tim lawton, who commissioned a review of children's services. you will have come across similar cases, but this appears to be incredibly extreme. can i ask you for your reaction firstly to what happened to arthur?— for your reaction firstly to what happened to arthur? well, it is incredibly extreme _ happened to arthur? well, it is incredibly extreme and - happened to arthur? well, it is incredibly extreme and it - happened to arthur? well, it is incredibly extreme and it is - happened to arthur? well, it is incredibly extreme and it is a i incredibly extreme and it is a tragic case, but not an isolated case. i could reel off a whole list, victoria klim ba —— of the victims over many years who have been subjected to torture and abuse by parents and carers, the same has happened again here. there is a real sense of exasperation and deja vu. we need to ask ourselves, obviously the details will have to come out in the details will have to come out in the investigation, but the question is, how can the system have allowed that to happen so that a defenceless six—year—old child was murdered in this horrible way? tt’s six-year-old child was murdered in this horrible way?— this horrible way? it's a very fair ruestion this horrible way? it's a very fair question to _ this horrible way? it's a very fair question to ask. _ this horrible way? it's a very fair question to ask. do _ this horrible way? it's a very fair question to ask. do the - question to ask. do the circumstances make any difference here? i.e., it was locked down, arthur was not going to school, so his teachers couldn't pick up on anything. when his grand raised concerns about the bruising on his back, police and social services went around. his stepmum and his dad were manipulative liars and said he just got the bruises in the garden. the stepmother was particularly manipulative. but that was a feature of the mother of peter connelly, the baby, and others. the whole issue is, when there are serious concerns that a child may be being abused, you don't take what you are told by the parent at face value. but there were specific circumstances here. lockdown would certainly have contributed to it. we had in your report that there has been a big increase in child abuse during lockdown because children go off the radar. children will not be at school or out in the open where others may see signs and sound the alarm bells. but from what i have seen of this case, i think this child was going to be tortured, abused and met a horrible and regardless of lockdown anyway. but there are some familiar signs from this. it's all about missed opportunities, lack of data sharing, and picking up different information from different agencies. the school run alarm bells. social workers visited, but somebody didn'tjoin or that together. somebody didn't take responsibility for not taking a smiling stepmum saying it's fine for an answer and doing more about it. those are the sorts of things that the serious case review needs to take into consideration. i'm not pointing the finger of blame any individual, because it is the system that let down this child. but individual, because it is the system that let down this child.— that let down this child. but we have had so — that let down this child. but we have had so many _ that let down this child. but we - have had so many recommendations about the system, haven't we? you will have read these serious case reviews. i have reported on them. 20 or 30 recommendations to make sure "this doesn't happen again". have those recommendations not been implemented? either implemented and professionals are not following them properly? 2s. professionals are not following them ro erl ? �* ., professionals are not following them --roerl ?�* ., properly? a lot has happened, victoria. properly? a lot has happened, victoria- i— properly? a lot has happened, victoria. i have _ properly? a lot has happened, victoria. i have been _ properly? a lot has happened, victoria. i have been on - properly? a lot has happened, victoria. i have been on your. victoria. i have been on your programme many times before. when i was children's minister, we launched the munro review which was a fundamental overhaul of the approach taken and a number of improvements have been made. but there are other factors. the emergence of child sexual expectation postjimmy savile hit all the headlines —— child sexual expectation. but we have overlooked the fact that what i call conventional child abuse and murder like this is still going on. this is just one case. i'm afraid there are many others that haven't hit the headlines for whatever reason. this is not an isolated case. and also, the focus has been on adult social care in how we need to do more to look after older people. absolutely right, but children's social care is a big issue as well and resources have been stretched further and further as more children are coming onto the radar, there are more children in care now in england than for some time. so although funding has gone up, the demand for that funding has gone up disproportionately and we are seeing some of the consequences of that and that may be an issue in this case. is that partly down to austerity? no, it's partly down to the fact that we are trying to make money go further and further. in the light of baby p, if you remember all those years ago now, 12 years ago with the murder of baby p, a lot of local authorities are said to themselves, we have to make sure we have not got a potential baby p on our hands, as a potential baby p on our hands, as a result of which i think there were a result of which i think there were a lot more interventions and a number of children came into care. i don't know if we need to have more or fewer children don't know if we need to have more orfewer children in care, but we need to have the right children in care. 0n the face of it, this was a child for whom there were signs that the local authorities should have stepped in and put that child in a place of safety. why hasn't that happened? were social workers to stretched? social workers are very stretched? social workers are very stretched these days. we stretched? social workers are very stretched these days.— stretched? social workers are very stretched these days. we know there aren't enough — stretched these days. we know there aren't enough of— stretched these days. we know there aren't enough of them. _ stretched these days. we know there aren't enough of them. and - stretched these days. we know there aren't enough of them. and that - stretched these days. we know there aren't enough of them. and that is i aren't enough of them. and that is due to local government funding, which has been cut by your government in the last ten years. tt government in the last ten years. tt is due to a number of circumstances. including austerity.— including austerity. funding is absolutely _ including austerity. funding is absolutely one _ including austerity. funding is absolutely one of— including austerity. funding is absolutely one of them. - including austerity. funding is absolutely one of them. a - including austerity. funding is i absolutely one of them. a report to the all—party group made it clear that we have neglected children's social care because of the emphasis on adult social care. we still have a shortage of social workers. we have too many social workers who are being changed. you don't have that continuity. and there are big pressures on social workers. we need to do more early on. we need to do more preventative stuff rather than social workers desperately looking on the door when things have already gone wrong and we are dealing with the symptoms. 0ne gone wrong and we are dealing with the symptoms. one thing the government has done is the new initiative on the best start in life, the andrea leadsom review, which is about working with vulnerable families early on before we hit a crisis point. but remember, it is not social workers who killed this child. it was a very evil, sadistic parent and the father of that child working together in unbelievably abusive circumstances. how could they have been stopped earlier is the question we need to ask. . ~' , ., earlier is the question we need to ask. ., ,, y., ., earlier is the question we need to ask. ., ,, ., ., ,, ., , ask. thank you for talking to us. tim lawton. _ ask. thank you for talking to us. tim lawton, conservative i ask. thank you for talking to us. tim lawton, conservative mp. i if you have been affected by any of the issues raised in that report, you can contact the bbc action line. the oil giant, shell, has pulled out of a controversial development to the west of shetland. despite owning 30% of the cambo oil field, the company said the economic case for investing wasn't strong enough. climate activists had criticised the plans, arguing no new oil and gas projects should be developed. the american actor, alec baldwin, has said he doesn't feel guilty about the fatal shooting of cinematographer halyna hutchins on the set of his film rust in october — because he doesn't feel responsible for the incident. in an interview broadcast on us tv last night, he said he cocked the gun that killed ms hutchins, but didn't pull the trigger — and that he didn't know who had put a live bullet in the gun. he admitted that his acting career may now be over as a result of the shooting. sophie long reports from los angeles. i sat on that pew right before they called lunch and i said, "this movie has made me love making movies again." cos i used to love to make movies. idid. you know. now, alec baldwin says he's not sure he'll ever work again after something went horribly, horribly wrong when he was rehearsing a scene, pointing what he believed to be an empty gun at halyna, as she directed him to do. i would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them, never. that was the training that i had. you don't point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger. even after halyna collapsed and directorjoel souza screamed, it didn't occur to the actor that a live round was in the gun he'd been holding. he didn't experience what he described as the insanity—inducing agony of that realisation until much later. just as you disbelieved that there was a live round in the gun, you disbelieved that this was going to be a fatal accident. so you didn't know exactly how serious it was. at the very end of my interview with the sheriff's department, they said to me, "we regret to tell you that she didn't make it. she died." they told me right then and there. and that's when i went in the parking lot. i called my wife, to talk to my wife. the actor said he hadn't checked the weapon himself, but had put his trust in 24—year—old armourer, hannah gutierrez reid. her lawyer said the set was sabotaged. that's a big swing. that's an enormous charge to make — that someone came and did something. for what purpose? to attack who? to discredit who? to harm me? the production? means, motive and opportunity. what was their motive in doing that if somebody did that? it's overwhelmingly likely that it was an accident. one of the things her attorney has said is that she was hired for two positions on the film and therefore was stretched in an inappropriate way. did she raise any of those concerns with you? no, i assume that everyone who's shooting a lower budget film is stretched, myself included. and i got no complaints from her or the prop department. i'm not sitting there when i'm getting dressed, and ready to go do a scene, saying, "oh, my god. the prop woman seemed very harried today." i didn't get a sense of that from any of the people on the film. he spoke emotionally about meeting halyna's husband and son, who's just nine years old. i think to myself, this little boy doesn't have a mother any more. and i know that in my life, i'm with my kids, and i'm doing quite well with my kids, my kids and i are having a great time. right until my wife walks in the room, and then i become invisible. my kids all go and theyjump on top of their mother. and this boy doesn't have a mother any more. and...there's nothing we can do to bring her back. alec baldwin said he would do anything in his power to undo what had happened, but he said he did not feel guilt. someone is responsible for what happened and i can't say who that is, but i know it's not me. i mean, i honest to god, if i felt that i was responsible, i might have killed myself if i thought i was responsible. and i don't say that lightly. he said halyna hutchins was one of the loveliest women he'd ever worked with and she was as admired as she was loved. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. pa nto panto is back. 0h, panto is back. oh, no, it's not. can't believe i said that. december�*s here, and for theatres that means christmas productions and, of course, panto. but with fears over the 0micron variant hitting ticket sales, what kind of festive season is this shaping up to be? colin paterson reports. # don't stop me cos i'm having a good time. # yeah #. rehearsals for cinderella at southampton's mayflower theatre with a familiar face readying himself for his role as the wicked stepmother. craig, tell us where we are. well, we are in where all the dresses are — all these wonderful frocks, look at them. so if you put a bit of covid weight on, darling, you'll need to have them extended, like me. the 2020 panto season was wiped out by covid, so craig revel horwood is thrilled this year everything is still set to go ahead. and he knowsjust how crucial this is for venues all round the country. panto is so important to theatre as a whole because it provides, actually, the money that is necessary to get the theatre through the rest of the year — for the entire year. it will pay for that whole season. i'm talking about all the people backstage, the lighting, the ushers, everything, every part of it, the box office staff. i mean, it's endless. are you ready, boys and girls? yes! then i give you cinderella. debbie mcgee plays the fairy godmother and wishes she could cast a spell to ensure everything goes ahead because she fears if what happened last year is repeated, it could be curtains from many venues, and not in a good way. will theatres survive another winter if they don't? not all of them. not all of them, no. i mean, some have gone already. and i've done a lot of touring in the provinces and a lot of the tiny theatres that i've worked in over the years have gone. i mean, it's quite heartbreaking. it is, because life is changing. and i think it would be really sad if we lost live theatre. so, you know, wejust pray and hope that we all get through this winter. and those behind the scenes are just as worried. everybody's nervous. we don't know what's around the corner. you know, we look at the news, we watch the news, we watch the press conferences. and last year was very, very painful. you know, pantomimes were closed down and lots of people lost jobs. people who had trained to be in the theatre business went and worked in shops or on building sites, came back into the theatre and lost theirjobs at christmas. so we can't have that this year. early reports suggest that panto ticket sales are down, but not by as much as expected. and many theatregoers, but not all, are ready to return. how do you feel about it, autumn? excited. you feel excited? ifeel 0k. the one we're going to is local. so i think it's not going to be very crowded there. froze n frozen the musical! it's the jack and the beanstalk in a village hall. so it's a bit different to this. but we're going to frozen the musical today and i have had my concerns about that. i feel safe around everyone. and if you wear a mask or whatever, i haven't caught the covid thing yet, so... yeah, it's all right. it's all right. ijust think it's too much of a risk, even though i've been triple jabbed and i've had covid. but i still don't want to get in that environment with the heat and all those people. it's tradition, isn't it? it's a lovely tradition. oh, yes, it is. there are changes this year. audiences are being asked to wear masks and most shows have axed the children's ensemble from the cast to reduce risks. but, for many pantos opening in the next week, the cry truly is, "don't stop me now." colin paterson, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. matt taylor has the details. we have something mother across the country today, which is probable good news for some of you, but if you are in one of the areas struggling for power, this weekend colder air does return. and with it, we are going to see showers which could turn wintry in places, particularly hills but even into the lower parts of scotland. the milder air today will get eastern areas. southern counties could stay fairly cloudy and misty over the hills. some patchy drizzle and wet towards devon and cornwall and south—west wales later in ve day. the best of the sunshine is in eastern scotland. in western scotland, showers become more frequent. temperatures are a bit above where we should be for this stage in december. that is how friday is shaping up. the wind is not strong but we do finish ve day with that heavy rain across south—west england and south wales initially. it is going to work across southernmost counties and the channel islands. elsewhere, we will see showers develop more widely into the night. some of those could be on the night. some of those could be on the heavy side and the breeze will be picking up. temperatures tomorrow morning are going to drop again. it's going to be called us that compared with this morning. we have a storm in scotland, nowhere near as potent as storm arwen last week. but we start ve day with outbreaks of rain. that clears and in many southern and eastern areas will have a few showers. showers will be frequent across northern and western areas. they will be wintry of a higher ground. sunshine between the showers, though, and with more of a breeze and added wind chill tomorrow, it will feel more chilly out there, with temperatures back down into mid single figures. saturday into sunday, that area of low pressure starts to pull away more. we still have the remnants of a weatherfront close to eastern counties of england. it is here where we are likely to see the most breezy conditions, with cloud and outbreaks of rain. further west compared with saturday, fewer showers and more sunshine. the wind is falling a bit lighter late in ve day but it's not going to be a chilly dash back it is going to be a chilly dash back it is going to be a chilly day. as for next week, the weather symbols for the capital city �*s summit up. it is going to be quite disturbed, with rain at times and we could see stormy weather arrive of the atlantic next week. this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the euro 2020 final between england italy turned into a day of �*national shame' for england, after trouble at wembley stadium which �*could have led to a loss of life.�* a new report into the disorder ahead of the match says there was a collective failure by organisers, security firms and the police. if you were there at the final, please let us know what you saw and you heard. if you want to get in touch you are welcome. @vicderbyshire victoria@bbc.co.uk victoria@bbc.co.uk or vicderbyshire on tiktok or instagram researchers in the uk say there are promising signs booster vaccines could protect against the 0micron variant — as the world health organisation warns of a global surge in cases.