a kicking over it and the prime minister has rightly said that we made mistakes and he regrets that those mistakes happened. wales announces tighter coronavirus restrictions — with the return of social distancing and nightclubs shut from december the 27th. and coming up — we'll check in with our correspondents across europe — as other countries bring in new restrictions to combat the threat of omicron. a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect after two sets of twin boys, aged three and four, died in a house fire in south london last night. at least 27 people are feared dead in an office building fire in the japanese city of osaka. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. here in the uk, the liberal democrats have pulled off a political shock in the north shropshire by—election, taking one of the country's safest conservative seats. it follows the resignation of tory mp owen paterson, who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying. he won the last election — in 2019 — with a majority of nearly 23,000. but the lib dems�* helen morgan took the seat by almost 6,000 votes — making it the seventh biggest by—election swing in modern political history. our regional political editor for the midlands elizabeth glinka looks back at the night. cheering and applause tonight, the people of north shropshire have spoken on behalf of the british people. they have said loudly and clearly, borisjohnson, the party is over. your government run on lies and bluster will be held accountable. it will be scrutinised, it will be challenged, and it can and will be defeated. a historic victory for the liberal democrats, overturning a tory majority of nearly 23,000, a swing even bigger than the one that won chesham and amersham. this is a huge result that is going to send shock waves through westminster. helen morgan is the first liberal democrat and the first woman to win in north shropshire and she has given the prime minister a bloody nose. it has been an intense campaign fuelled by accusations of sleaze, christmas parties and covid rebellions. sensing the opportunity, the lib dems flooded the area with activists and have been rewarded. turnout 46%, 12% higher than the recent by—election in old bexley and sidcup, and a majority of almost 6000. north shropshire is a large rural constituency, and while the pm was clearly an issue on the doorstep, the lib dems have also tapped into the feeling that this true blue seat has been forgotten by the conservatives. their candidate, neil shastri—hurst, fighting a losing battle. we do need to reflect upon the result and i am sure, as a party, we will do that, but, i repeat it again, i'm sure you'll understand if we all go and get a bit of shuteye and i go and give my eight—week—old a bit of a cuddle. the winner was jubilant as she celebrated with the lib dem leader on the telephone, ed davey isolating at home with covid. and then the departure. lots of questions now for the prime minister. well the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, is isolating at home with coronavirus — but was stilljubilant when he spoke to the bbc earlier. it was a spectacular result. i think this is a watershed moment in british politics. i am so delighted for helen morgan, our new liberal democrat mp for north shropshire. i am so proud of our party and ourcampaigners, and i think we brought new hope to the whole nation who have been so worried and fed up with borisjohnson. we have now beaten the conservatives in two of their safest seats this year. i think the liberal democrats have now proven the conservatives can be beaten and beaten anywhere. the conservative chairman oliver dowden inisted the government would listen to the concern of voters. i completely accept how voters feel fed up given the unique circumstances of this election in particular. so i understand how this began with the resignation of the incumbent mp and the sleaze allegations around that, i also understand how going through it, there were many reports about the conduct of these alleged parties that you are very familiar with. i have heard people's concerns about that and i think it is really important, as a government, we demonstrate that we are focused on getting on with what the people's priorities are, getting on with the job, and that means focusing on things like the booster campaign. faced with this surging omicron virus, it is absolutely essential the government's focus is laser—like on getting britain boosted. conservative backbenchers have been giving their reaction. on the today programme roger gale said, "i think the prime minister is in last orders time. two strikes already — one earlier in the vote in the commons — now this. a one more strike and he's out." the veteran conservative mp john redwood says the government needs to reflect on its future direction. the electors in the by—election have sent a very clear message that they want the government to improve, raise its game, make various changes, i am not surprised by that, clearly, the government has had difficulties against the background of the pandemic and the arguments over how far you should go in imposing restraints on people. the liberal democrats very wisely decided to oppose the vaccine passports just before the by—election, which obviously helped them a bit. but i think the overall problem is an economic one. inflation is too high, energy prices are going up too much and the chancellor is imposing tax rises from april, which i think are very unwelcome. so you don't think your main problem is the prime minister himself? no, he has always been a man who can attract votes and appeal very widely. i think the issue is the performance of the government and it has struggled against the background of the pandemic... but who do you blame for that if you do not blame borisjohnson? because we have seen a torrent of concerns, especially in recent weeks. well, i mainly blame the pandemic which has obviously made it very difficult to pursue the optimistic recovery based levelling up agenda which we were elected on and which the prime minister is very dedicated to achieving. but if i had to single out a particular department that i think has made life difficult for people, it would be the treasury. i think the tax rises were a very bad idea. the economy has now slowed almost to a halt in the last set of figures after a quite vigorous recovery at the beginning, and the treasury started well by giving a lot of support at the time of the original lockdowns, understandably, we drew a lot of that support but went on to impose these tax rises and i think that was a mistake. what do you think precisely the government should do in response to this huge defeat? i mean, this is one of the safest tory seats. what do you specifically want the government to do now in response? what i want it to do is to get behind the levelling up and the economic recovery agenda, limit the damage around the pandemic measures on the economy, and where the measures are damaging, provide some offsetting support. above all, i would cancel the national insurance tax rise, take vat off domestic fuel, because fuel prices are fartoo high, and i would ask the energy department to make sure we produce more of our own gas and electricity, we are too import dependent and their policy until recently has been to make us ever more import dependent. high prices and scarcity, tackle the things that are hitting everybody�*s budget around the country. the main theme is energy prices and taxes. what would you say to fellow conservatives who are critical of the prime minister's performance and do you have 100% faith in him to lead the tories into the next election? he was a very important part of the attraction of the conservative party in his message in the general election not that long ago. what we need to do is help him and support him, see through the right agenda for britain now which must be optimism, levelling up, economic growth, promotion of more and better paid jobs at home. grow more of our own food instead of our policy that takes us out of farming. there are changes he needs to lead and make and i would urge him to do so. thank you very much. newsnight�*s policy editor lewis goodall is here.... this was a by—election for the history books. let us be clear— north shropshire is, was as true blue as it gets. conservative for as long as britain has truly been a democratic country, indeed before. massively leave voting. older than average population. it is now represented by a liberal democrat. it takes their total in parliament to 13. that liberal democrat, helen morgan, overcame a conservative majority of 23,000 — mammoth. this is how she did it— lib dems, leapfrogging from 3rd— they only got 10% of the vote in 2019 — to first in 2021 with nearly 50%. and they did it by direct transference to the lib dems from the conservatives — whose vote was down some 25 points or so from 2019 and from the labour party. labour were in second in 2019 — had 22% of the vote but there's big transference in 2021, labour voters deciding the lib dems had the best chance of winning and they were right. we saw a similar thing in chesham and amersham — another tory safe seat, different part of the country, in buckinghamshire but massive tactical voting against the conservatives. long talked about — it's now actually happening. and that translated to a swing of 34%. it's basically coming off the swingometer — lib dems needed 26% it's way past that. it's the 7th biggest by election swing in our modern history, reminiscent of some of those huge anti—tory swings we saw in the 1990s. and that's what will worry a slew of conservative mps in the south of england in particular seats like wimbledon and lewis and a smaller majority in shropshire, a measure of majority of 27113, the seat of the deputy prime minister. tories haven't had to seriously worry about the lib dems since they ingested them and spat out again after the coalition— a revival changes the complexion of our electoral politics. so, let's neither overstate nor understate. this is a sensational result, but it's also a by election, they can light up the electoral sky then fizzle and mean little. but what it does mean, is taken together with chesham and amersham the lib dems threaten to be back as a force and that borisjohnson, who has for so long looked invulnerable, to whom nothing would stick, is no longer so and that will change what he can do and his power over his party. let's take a look now at the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant across europe. on thursday eu leaders said that vaccinations and booster shots would be vital to counter the spread of omicron as countries step up restrictions to slow its startling spread. for more on this, i'm joined by our correspondents hugh schofield in paris, jenny hill in berlin and rob cameron in prague here in paris this afternoon there is a meeting of what they call the health security cabinet to discuss the spread of omicron and it is expected there will be new measures announced. nothing too drastic, but certainly a feeling that omicron is coming and something needs to be done. in these things in france are not good, we are heading towards a new spike, 65,000 cases of covid—19 every day been reported which has not been seen for a long time, most of those are not omicron, the vast majority are the delta variant, but it is widely believed that the number of omicron are being underreported because they are not properly diagnosed and it is presumed by the government that in the weeks ahead the proportion of omicron is going to rise very sharply upwards. it is in response to that expectation that we had yesterday the announcement that france is to introduce much stricter rules on travel from the uk, the uk where borisjohnson is talking about a tidal wave of omicron. the french want to delay this by november of that into the uk which is why they have essentially banned nonessential travel from the uk over the christmas period, that means a lot of people have had their holidays distracted, ski holidays have been stopped from the uk, a romantic weekend in paris, you can't do that, you can travel if you are a french national or if you have residency in france. if you do, you have to self—isolate for 48 hours and take a test, only then you are free to move. we have not seen these rules throughout the whole of covid—19, certainly among the most stringent regarding travel of the uk since the beginning of covid—19, a reflection of the seriousness which the french take the threat of omicron moving across the channel and into france and mainland europe. now over to berlin. the the and mainland europe. now over to berlin- th— berlin. the the omicron figures officially are — berlin. the the omicron figures officially are relatively - berlin. the the omicron figures officially are relatively low - berlin. the the omicron figures officially are relatively low but l officially are relatively low but they are — officially are relatively low but they are causing enormous concern amongst _ they are causing enormous concern amongst experts. we know from a couple _ amongst experts. we know from a couple of — amongst experts. we know from a couple of german states that either confirmed _ couple of german states that either confirmed or suspected cases are in triple _ confirmed or suspected cases are in triple figures and byjanuary, omicron _ triple figures and byjanuary, omicron will be widespread here too. it is omicron will be widespread here too. it is a _ omicron will be widespread here too. it is a massive concern because it has come — it is a massive concern because it has come at _ it is a massive concern because it has come at a bad time for germany which _ has come at a bad time for germany which has _ has come at a bad time for germany which has been experiencing an aggressive fourth wave of the pandemic driven by the delta variant — pandemic driven by the delta variant. cases have started to come down, _ variant. cases have started to come down, but _ variant. cases have started to come down, but experts, even this morning. _ down, but experts, even this morning, said they are not coming down _ morning, said they are not coming down quickly enough. more than 30,000 — down quickly enough. more than 30,000 new cases in the last 24—hour is. 30,000 new cases in the last 24—hour is this _ 30,000 new cases in the last 24—hour is. this morning, more than 400 deaths _ is. this morning, more than 400 deaths registered in the last 24 are as. enormous concern, hospitals are saying _ as. enormous concern, hospitals are saying their — as. enormous concern, hospitals are saying their intensive care units are reaching capacity in badly hit parts _ are reaching capacity in badly hit parts of— are reaching capacity in badly hit parts of the country, some clinics are transferring patients to other hospitals — are transferring patients to other hospitals and other parts of germany. the warnings about another wave of— germany. the warnings about another wave of omicron variant is of real concern — wave of omicron variant is of real concern. politically, it is interesting because germany has a new chancellor and the new government. the social democrat chancellor, a couple of weeks ago, promised _ chancellor, a couple of weeks ago, promised to deliver or have administered by the end of the year 30 million _ administered by the end of the year 30 million doses of vaccine, first, second _ 30 million doses of vaccine, first, second and — 30 million doses of vaccine, first, second and booster. that campaign is going _ second and booster. that campaign is going pretty well so far. 1 million people _ going pretty well so far. 1 million people approximately vaccinated every _ people approximately vaccinated every day at the moment, a record 1.5 every day at the moment, a record 15 million— every day at the moment, a record 1.5 million vaccinated just a day or so ago it— 1.5 million vaccinated just a day or so ago. it seems to be going quite well, _ so ago. it seems to be going quite well, but — so ago. it seems to be going quite well, but there is a great deal of concern — well, but there is a great deal of concern. the government strategy for tackling _ concern. the government strategy for tackling omicron seems to be keep trying _ tackling omicron seems to be keep trying to— tackling omicron seems to be keep trying to get vaccines as quickly as possible — trying to get vaccines as quickly as possible in— trying to get vaccines as quickly as possible. in terms of other restrictions, nothing on the table as yet _ restrictions, nothing on the table as yet at— restrictions, nothing on the table as yet. at the moment, restrictions target _ as yet. at the moment, restrictions target people who have not been vaccinated at all. they cannot go into restaurants or shops, unless you are _ into restaurants or shops, unless you are in — into restaurants or shops, unless you are in a — into restaurants or shops, unless you are in a part of the country which — you are in a part of the country which is — you are in a part of the country which is particularly badly affected in which _ which is particularly badly affected in which there are tighter restrictions in place. we have experts — restrictions in place. we have experts here saying be careful, try to limit _ experts here saying be careful, try to limit your contacts, particularly over christmas. one of germany's top scientist _ over christmas. one of germany's top scientist who — over christmas. one of germany's top scientist who has been advising the government throughout the pandemic response _ government throughout the pandemic response has said do not let christmas be the event that kick—starts the omicron wave. you can see _ kick—starts the omicron wave. you can see how — kick—starts the omicron wave. you can see how much concern there is here _ can see how much concern there is here. germans like to wish one another— here. germans like to wish one another a — here. germans like to wish one another a good slide into the new year _ another a good slide into the new year i_ another a good slide into the new year. i think many people fear that germany— year. i think many people fear that germany could stumble into a tough 2022~ _ germany could stumble into a tough 2022~ let's— germany could stumble into a tough 2022. let's find out what is happening in the czech republic. the czech republic is one of the countries _ czech republic is one of the countries with— czech republic is one of the countries with some - czech republic is one of the countries with some of - czech republic is one of the countries with some of the i czech republic is one of the - countries with some of the worst covid-19 — countries with some of the worst covid—19 figures _ countries with some of the worst covid—19 figures in _ countries with some of the worst covid—19 figures in europe, - countries with some of the worst covid—19 figures in europe, if- countries with some of the worstj covid—19 figures in europe, if not the world — covid—19 figures in europe, if not the world. the _ covid—19 figures in europe, if not the world. the death— covid—19 figures in europe, if not the world. the death toll - covid—19 figures in europe, if not the world. the death toll from i covid—19 figures in europe, if not. the world. the death toll from this pandemic— the world. the death toll from this pandemic has _ the world. the death toll from this pandemic has exceeded _ the world. the death toll from this pandemic has exceeded 35,000. i the world. the death toll from this - pandemic has exceeded 35,000. while the numbers— pandemic has exceeded 35,000. while the numbers are — pandemic has exceeded 35,000. while the numbers are beginning _ pandemic has exceeded 35,000. while the numbers are beginning to - pandemic has exceeded 35,000. while the numbers are beginning to fall- the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps— the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps the _ the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps the peak— the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps the peak of- the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps the peak of this - the numbers are beginning to fall and perhaps the peak of this fifthj and perhaps the peak of this fifth wave _ and perhaps the peak of this fifth wave in— and perhaps the peak of this fifth wave in this — and perhaps the peak of this fifth wave in this country _ and perhaps the peak of this fifth wave in this country has been - wave in this country has been reached, _ wave in this country has been reached, we _ wave in this country has been reached, we have _ wave in this country has been reached, we have just - wave in this country has been reached, we have just seen . wave in this country has been i reached, we have just seen the number— reached, we have just seen the number of— reached, we have just seen the number of new— reached, we have just seen the number of new infections - reached, we have just seen the number of new infections go i reached, we have just seen the - number of new infections go below 10,000 _ number of new infections go below 10,000 yesterday— number of new infections go below 10,000 yesterday for— number of new infections go below 10,000 yesterday for the - number of new infections go below 10,000 yesterday for the first - number of new infections go below. 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is— 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is by— 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is by no— 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is by no means _ 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is by no means should - 10,000 yesterday for the first time, that is by no means should be - that is by no means should be regarded _ that is by no means should be regarded as _ that is by no means should be regarded as an _ that is by no means should be regarded as an early- that is by no means should bei regarded as an early christmas present— regarded as an early christmas present for— regarded as an early christmas present for the _ regarded as an early christmas present for the new _ regarded as an early christmas i present for the new centre—right government— present for the new centre—right government which— present for the new centre—right government which is _ present for the new centre—right government which is being - present for the new centre—rightl government which is being sworn present for the new centre—right i government which is being sworn in as i government which is being sworn in as i speak— government which is being sworn in as i speak because _ government which is being sworn in as i speak because the _ government which is being sworn in as i speak because the problem - government which is being sworn in as i speak because the problem asl government which is being sworn in . as i speak because the problem as we have mentioned — as i speak because the problem as we have mentioned is _ as i speak because the problem as we have mentioned is omicron. - as i speak because the problem as we have mentioned is omicron. the - as i speak because the problem as wel have mentioned is omicron. the czech republic does — have mentioned is omicron. the czech republic does not _ have mentioned is omicron. the czech republic does not do _ have mentioned is omicron. the czech republic does not do the _ have mentioned is omicron. the czech republic does not do the same - republic does not do the same intensive — republic does not do the same intensive kind _ republic does not do the same intensive kind and _ republic does not do the same intensive kind and amount - republic does not do the same intensive kind and amount of. intensive kind and amount of synchronising _ intensive kind and amount of synchronising of— intensive kind and amount of synchronising of pcr - intensive kind and amount of synchronising of pcr tests. l intensive kind and amount of. synchronising of pcr tests. we intensive kind and amount of- synchronising of pcr tests. we do not know — synchronising of pcr tests. we do not know how _ synchronising of pcr tests. we do not know how far— synchronising of pcr tests. we do not know how far omicron - synchronising of pcr tests. we do not know how far omicron has - synchronising of pcr tests. we do . not know how far omicron has spread so far— not know how far omicron has spread so far in— not know how far omicron has spread so far in this — not know how far omicron has spread so far in this country. _ not know how far omicron has spread so far in this country. the _ not know how far omicron has spread so far in this country. the experts - so far in this country. the experts say it— so far in this country. the experts say it has— so far in this country. the experts say it has presumably— so far in this country. the experts say it has presumably far, - so far in this country. the experts say it has presumably far, far- say it has presumably far, far greater— say it has presumably far, far greater than— say it has presumably far, far greater than the _ say it has presumably far, far greater than the few - say it has presumably far, far greater than the few dozen . say it has presumably far, far| greater than the few dozen of say it has presumably far, far- greater than the few dozen of facial cases— greater than the few dozen of facial cases that — greater than the few dozen of facial cases that have _ greater than the few dozen of facial cases that have been _ greater than the few dozen of facial cases that have been recorded. - cases that have been recorded. without— cases that have been recorded. without that _ cases that have been recorded. without that detailed _ cases that have been recorded. without that detailed picture, i cases that have been recorded. . without that detailed picture, they are quite _ without that detailed picture, they are quite worried _ without that detailed picture, they are quite worried about _ without that detailed picture, they are quite worried about what - without that detailed picture, they i are quite worried about what omicron could mean— are quite worried about what omicron could mean as — are quite worried about what omicron could mean as the _ are quite worried about what omicron could mean as the czech _ are quite worried about what omicron could mean as the czech republic - could mean as the czech republic goes _ could mean as the czech republic goes into— could mean as the czech republic goes into christmas _ could mean as the czech republic goes into christmas and - could mean as the czech republic goes into christmas and goes - could mean as the czech republicj goes into christmas and goes into the new— goes into christmas and goes into the new year~ _ goes into christmas and goes into the new year. in _ goes into christmas and goes into the new year. in terms _ goes into christmas and goes into the new year. in terms of - the new year. in terms of restrictions, _ the new year. in terms of restrictions, this - the new year. in terms of restrictions, this square l the new year. in terms of restrictions, this square i| the new year. in terms of. restrictions, this square i am standing _ restrictions, this square i am standing in _ restrictions, this square i am standing in is _ restrictions, this square i am standing in is usually- restrictions, this square i am standing in is usually home l restrictions, this square i am | standing in is usually home to restrictions, this square i am i standing in is usually home to a busy— standing in is usually home to a busy christmas _ standing in is usually home to a busy christmas market, - standing in is usually home to a busy christmas market, you - standing in is usually home to a j busy christmas market, you can standing in is usually home to a - busy christmas market, you can see behind _ busy christmas market, you can see behind me. — busy christmas market, you can see behind me, there _ busy christmas market, you can see behind me, there is— busy christmas market, you can see behind me, there is not— busy christmas market, you can see behind me, there is not much going| behind me, there is not much going on at _ behind me, there is not much going on at all _ behind me, there is not much going on at all you — behind me, there is not much going on at all. you can _ behind me, there is not much going on at all. you can pick _ behind me, there is not much going on at all. you can pick up _ behind me, there is not much going on at all. you can pick up your- on at all. you can pick up your christmas _ on at all. you can pick up your christmas tree, _ on at all. you can pick up your christmas tree, and _ on at all. you can pick up your christmas tree, and if - on at all. you can pick up your christmas tree, and if you - on at all. you can pick up your. christmas tree, and if you days, on at all. you can pick up your- christmas tree, and if you days, the cheque _ christmas tree, and if you days, the cheque christmas— christmas tree, and if you days, the cheque christmas speciality- christmas tree, and if you days, the cheque christmas speciality here, . cheque christmas speciality here, but that— cheque christmas speciality here, but that is— cheque christmas speciality here, but that is about _ cheque christmas speciality here, but that is about it. _ cheque christmas speciality here, but that is about it. everything. but that is about it. everything else _ but that is about it. everything else is— but that is about it. everything else is closed. _ but that is about it. everything else is closed. the _ but that is about it. everything else is closed. the new- but that is about it. everything - else is closed. the new government is going _ else is closed. the new government is going to _ else is closed. the new government is going to take _ else is closed. the new government is going to take even— else is closed. the new government is going to take even more - else is closed. the new government is going to take even more laissezl is going to take even more laissez faire attitude _ is going to take even more laissez faire attitude to _ is going to take even more laissez faire attitude to this _ is going to take even more laissez faire attitude to this pandemic. i faire attitude to this pandemic. they— faire attitude to this pandemic. they said — faire attitude to this pandemic. they said they— faire attitude to this pandemic. they said they no _ faire attitude to this pandemic. they said they no more - faire attitude to this pandemic. - they said they no more restrictions, we probably— they said they no more restrictions, we probably will— they said they no more restrictions, we probably will not _ they said they no more restrictions, we probably will not see _ they said they no more restrictions, we probably will not see a _ we probably will not see a continuation _ we probably will not see a continuation of— we probably will not see a continuation of the - we probably will not see a . continuation of the lockdown we probably will not see a - continuation of the lockdown and we probably will not see a _ continuation of the lockdown and the state of _ continuation of the lockdown and the state of emergency _ continuation of the lockdown and the state of emergency that _ continuation of the lockdown and the state of emergency that expires - continuation of the lockdown and the state of emergency that expires on l state of emergency that expires on december— state of emergency that expires on december the _ state of emergency that expires on decemberthe 26, _ state of emergency that expires on december the 26, on— state of emergency that expires on december the 26, on boxing - state of emergency that expires on december the 26, on boxing day, i december the 26, on boxing day, instead, _ december the 26, on boxing day, instead, this _ december the 26, on boxing day, instead, this new— december the 26, on boxing day, instead, this new government - december the 26, on boxing day, . instead, this new government wants to appeal— instead, this new government wants to appeal to— instead, this new government wants to appeal to people's _ instead, this new government wants to appeal to people's sense - instead, this new government wants to appeal to people's sense of- instead, this new government wants to appeal to people's sense of civic. to appeal to people's sense of civic and civil— to appeal to people's sense of civic and civil responsibility _ to appeal to people's sense of civic and civil responsibility while - and civil responsibility while maintaining _ and civil responsibility while maintaining basic— and civil responsibility while maintaining basic liberties l and civil responsibility while . maintaining basic liberties and freedoms _ maintaining basic liberties and freedoms. that _ maintaining basic liberties and freedoms. that is _ maintaining basic liberties and freedoms. that is the - maintaining basic liberties and freedoms. that is the carrot. maintaining basic liberties and - freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the _ freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the stick— freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the stick approach _ freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the stick approach but - freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the stick approach but will - freedoms. that is the carrot rather than the stick approach but will it i than the stick approach but will it work? _ than the stick approach but will it work? . ~ than the stick approach but will it work? ., ~' , ., than the stick approach but will it work? ., ,, , ., ., , than the stick approach but will it work? ., ,, i. ., , . work? thank you all very much indeed. looking _ work? thank you all very much indeed. looking at _ work? thank you all very much indeed. looking at how - work? thank you all very much l indeed. looking at how omicron work? thank you all very much - indeed. looking at how omicron is fairing and the government responses across europe. president biden has warned that omicron is starting to spread much more rapidly in the united states too. he urged americans to get vaccinated. due to the steps we've taken, omicron has not yet spread as fast as it would have otherwise done, and as is happening in europe. but it's here now and it's spreading and it's going to increase. for unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death, for unvaccinated. for themselves, their families and the hospitals they will soon overwhelm. but there is good news. if you're vaccinated and you have your booster shot, you are protected from severe illness and death, period. number two, booster shots work. three, boosters are free, safe and convenient. about 60 million people have one, have been boosted. so go get your shot today. you'll get boosted if you've had your first two shots. if you haven't, you will get your first shot. let's return now to the north shropshire by—election where the liberal democrats have pulled off a political shock by taking one of the country's safest conservative seats. we can speak to our political correspondent pete saull. we can see the liberal democrats with their posters behind you. what are they planning to mark the victory? are they planning to mark the victo ? , ., ., ., ., ., victory? they are going to have a rally shortly. _ victory? they are going to have a rally shortly, this _ victory? they are going to have a rally shortly, this is _ victory? they are going to have a rally shortly, this is a _ victory? they are going to have a rally shortly, this is a local- rally shortly, this is a local activist, we are in the largest town in north rock structure constituency, they will not be joined by their leader because he tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the week. a couple of high—profile liberal democrat mps along with the brand—new and elected mp for north shropshire helen morgan giving some speeches here shortly. you do not have to work hard to find people who have switched from the conservatives to the liberal democrats for the very first time in this by—election. it has been a conservative seat for 200 years. what i am hearing from those people as they wanted to send a message to the government, they feel like they have been forgotten here in this rural constituency and they do not like what borisjohnson has been doing recently, the christmas parties, the renovation of his downing street flat, the sleaze allegation which made this by—election happen after the former mp was found guilty of breaking the rules on paid lobbying. all of this has seeped into public consciousness and resulted in this quite astounding result here in north shropshire. astounding result here in north shrapshire-_ astounding result here in north shroshire. ~ , , ., ., shropshire. whether this is going to be a loner shropshire. whether this is going to be a longer term _ shropshire. whether this is going to be a longer term shed _ shropshire. whether this is going to be a longer term shed for— shropshire. whether this is going to be a longer term shed for those - be a longer term shed for those voters, in a sense of that with local elections coming up next year? lots of talk about challenges to boris johnson's lots of talk about challenges to borisjohnson's leadership are notorious if loses his ability to win. . , notorious if loses his ability to win. ., , ., win. that is the line from the government. _ win. that is the line from the government, a _ win. that is the line from the government, a mid-term - win. that is the line from the - government, a mid-term protest vote, government, a mid—term protest vote, the hope is that voters will revert to type, there was the voters i have been speaking to feel that for now, they want to send a message. they will see what the new liberal democrat mp achieves for the area of the next couple of years but there is a sense that they wanted to just put that message across in this by—election to the government. there are some local at play too, this is are some local at play too, this is a rural constituency, farming is big business, concerns about changes to subsidy payments, the health service is a massive issue around here, cuts to ambulance services, that kind of thing, above all, what activist on the doorstep had been hearing is that people are fed up with the way the government has been handling things. to the government has been handling thins. ., , _, , things. to put it in context, it is a really safe _ things. to put it in context, it is a really safe sure _ things. to put it in context, it is a really safe sure bet _ things. to put it in context, it is a really safe sure bet for - things. to put it in context, it is a really safe sure bet for the - a really safe sure bet for the tories normally, they've held it for 200 years, did you manage to ask people how big a range it was do not vote tory, to switch their faults like that, it is a big personal decision? it like that, it is a big personal decision?— like that, it is a big personal decision? ., ., decision? if you can draw a safe conservative — decision? if you can draw a safe conservative street, _ decision? if you can draw a safe conservative street, you - decision? if you can draw a safe conservative street, you draw l conservative street, you draw something like north shropshire. this town is one of five market towns. it is a large area that it covers, rolling hills, pretty villages, that kind of thing. pockets of affluence but pockets of deprivation too. farming is a big business which makes it a safe tory seat. people have thought long and hard about it but they clearly feel that helen martin is the person they want to represent them in parliament. —— helen morgan. a few people have said they did not like the fact that the conservative candidate was not from the area. the lib dems put forward a candidate from the area and that has played in peoples minds. you go into the town centre, and they are pretty happy that this area has voted for change. they are pretty pleased with their decision generally anyway. extraordinary giving that it is a leave voting area. we will come back to you as the celebrations get under way. thank you very much indeed. the welsh government is to bring back tighter covid restrictions just after christmas , including the closure of all nightclubs, in an effort to slow the spread of the omicron variant. meanwhile, the chancellor, rishi sunak, has cut short a trip to the united states to hold crisis talks with business leaders whose industries have been hit by cancellations because of the virus. leboo diseko reports. a smaller christmas is a safer christmas — the message today from the welsh first minister, mark drakeford. he's set to introduce a return to tougher covid restrictions after christmas in preparation for a large wave of omicron infections. there'll be a new two—phase plan combining a mixture of advice for over the christmas period and new regulations to follow. in wales, nightclubs will have to close on december 27th, in offices, the two—metre rule on social distancing returns, and businesses will have to introduce measures such as one—way systems and physical barriers to protect customers and staff. the welsh government says £60 million is being made available for firms affected by the new restrictions. if we get the high levels — very high levels of community transmission that we're anticipating, then it's inevitable that people are going to end up going into hospitals, requiring oxygen, going into icu facilities and potentially dying. elsewhere, these few determined revellers on the streets of london. this area would usually be full of people. but now the atmosphere is subdued. with a new variant spreading, many christmas parties have been cancelled. the prime minister says he's not telling people to cancel events, but instead urging them to exercise caution. thursday saw a record high in cases for a second day in a row — nearly 90,000 were reported. that's almost 10,000 more than the previous day. and the fear is that things could get worse, impacting on businesses. chancellor rishi sunak has cut short a trip to the us for crisis talks with business leaders on how to help the hospitality sector. until spring of next year, most businesses and hospitality industry are only paying a quarter of their normal business rates bill. they are benefiting from a reduced rate of vat all the way through to next spring. and thirdly, there is about quarter of a billion pounds of cash sitting with local authorities that's been provided by government to support those businesses. in scotland, new rules for shops and hospitality venues have come into force to deal with the rise in cases caused by the omicron variant. people will be asked to limit socialising to three households at a time in the run—up to christmas. there'll be a return to measures to cut down on crowding in shops, and businesses will be legally required to take steps to reduce the spread of covid. as coronavirus cases rise and records continue to be broken, the booster programme also reaches new highs, setting more records for daily top—up doses. but with streets and bars as empty as this, one thing seems clear — for businesses that depend on us going out, the coming weeks are unlikely to feel very festive. let's cross over to oswestry in shropshire and hear from the liberal democrats, who are holding their victory rally introducing helen martin the new lab democrat mp. three, two, one! cheering because it _ three, two, one! cheering because it isn't _ three, two, one! cheering because it isn't here, - three, two, one! cheering because it isn't here, we'vej three, two, one! cheering - because it isn't here, we've got tim farron, former leader of the liberal democrats. tim is one of our fantastic mps, former leader and a hard—working rural mp at that. thank hard-working rural mp at that. thank ou for hard-working rural mp at that. thank you for being — hard-working rural mp at that. thank you for being here _ hard-working rural mp at that. thank you for being here today. _ hard-working rural mp at that. thank you for being here today. i _ hard-working rural mp at that. thank you for being here today. i am - hard—working rural mp at that. thank you for being here today. i am here because _ you for being here today. i am here because i_ you for being here today. i am here because i am the only other english liberat— because i am the only other english liberal democrat mp with sheep and cattle _ liberal democrat mp with sheep and cattle in— liberal democrat mp with sheep and cattle in his constituency. and i also _ cattle in his constituency. and i also was — cattle in his constituency. and i also was the future once. i am here above _ also was the future once. i am here above all— also was the future once. i am here above all because yesterday was an extremely— above all because yesterday was an extremely long day, quite a long day? _ extremely long day, quite a long day? quite a long day. although yesterday was a long day, it's worth bearing _ yesterday was a long day, it's worth bearing in— yesterday was a long day, it's worth bearing in mind that we are just a few days — bearing in mind that we are just a few days of— bearing in mind that we are just a few days of the shortest day, the longest _ few days of the shortest day, the longest night. that can fill us with gloom _ longest night. that can fill us with gloom and — longest night. that can fill us with gloom and dread. when we think, do you know— gloom and dread. when we think, do you know what? after the shortest day, the _ you know what? after the shortest day, the light starts fighting back against _ day, the light starts fighting back against the dark as the days begin to get— against the dark as the days begin to get brighter again. you will see where _ to get brighter again. you will see where im — to get brighter again. you will see where i'm going because i don't know if you _ where i'm going because i don't know if you realise, helen, how many millions— if you realise, helen, how many millions of— if you realise, helen, how many millions of people have woken up this morning feeling that a bit of li-ht this morning feeling that a bit of light has— this morning feeling that a bit of light has broken into the darkness. but it— light has broken into the darkness. but it turns — light has broken into the darkness. but it turns out that if you are incompetent, if you tell lies, if you take — incompetent, if you tell lies, if you take the people for granted, there _ you take the people for granted, there is— you take the people for granted, there is a — you take the people for granted, there is a price to pay. democracy and justice — there is a price to pay. democracy and justice is alive and well in britain — and justice is alive and well in britain and the people of north shropshire had spoken for the whole of britain _ shropshire had spoken for the whole of britain last night. i am absolutely proud as i possibly can be of _ absolutely proud as i possibly can be of helen, of her performance as a candidate _ be of helen, of her performance as a candidate. she will be an outstanding mp for this beautiful range _ outstanding mp for this beautiful range of— outstanding mp for this beautiful range of communities here in north shropshire — range of communities here in north shropshire. communities that have been _ shropshire. communities that have been taken — shropshire. communities that have been taken for granted by the conservatives for so long. it's not 'ust conservatives for so long. it's not just the _ conservatives for so long. it's not just the communities in feats like north— just the communities in feats like north shropshire, cornwall, northumberland, cumbria, elsewhere around _ northumberland, cumbria, elsewhere around the _ northumberland, cumbria, elsewhere around the country that had been taken _ around the country that had been taken for— around the country that had been taken for granted, it's the people who live — taken for granted, it's the people who live here who have been taken for granted. you're a farmer, you've seen _ for granted. you're a farmer, you've seen your— for granted. you're a farmer, you've seen your payments cut and the tories _ seen your payments cut and the tories think you're going to vote for them — tories think you're going to vote for them anyway. 0r you're concerned about _ for them anyway. 0r you're concerned about your _ for them anyway. 0r you're concerned about your health service being taken _ about your health service being taken away, closed down, moved further— taken away, closed down, moved further away than it already was. if you're _ further away than it already was. if you're worried about the fact your expenses— you're worried about the fact your expenses are going up, your costs are going _ expenses are going up, your costs are going up and your income isn't rising _ are going up and your income isn't rising with — are going up and your income isn't rising with it, you have been taken for granted — rising with it, you have been taken for granted. the assumption being from the _ for granted. the assumption being from the conservatives that you can 'ust from the conservatives that you can just behave — from the conservatives that you can just behave as they have done, especially the last few weeks, and no one _ especially the last few weeks, and no one will— especially the last few weeks, and no one will punish them. the resulting _ no one will punish them. the resulting north shropshire is the people _ resulting north shropshire is the people of north shropshire speaking for the _ people of north shropshire speaking for the people of britain, saying enough — for the people of britain, saying enough is — for the people of britain, saying enough is enough, we will not be taken _ enough is enough, we will not be taken for— enough is enough, we will not be taken for granted and things can be better— taken for granted and things can be better than this. last night we showed — better than this. last night we showed that the lib dems are the party— showed that the lib dems are the party who— showed that the lib dems are the party who have got it in them to beat _ party who have got it in them to beat the — party who have got it in them to beat the conservatives in seats like this and _ beat the conservatives in seats like this and other seats around the country — this and other seats around the country a _ this and other seats around the country. a few months ago when i wonderful— country. a few months ago when i wonderful colleague sarah greene won in chesham _ wonderful colleague sarah greene won in chesham and amersham, ed davey made _ in chesham and amersham, ed davey made the _ in chesham and amersham, ed davey made the brave decision, lots of people _ made the brave decision, lots of people raised an eyebrow when he decided _ people raised an eyebrow when he decided to move our resources there, he was _ decided to move our resources there, he was right— decided to move our resources there, he was right and we won. eyebrows hit the _ he was right and we won. eyebrows hit the ceiling when he chose to put his resources, our resources into north— his resources, our resources into north shropshire. people thought that was— north shropshire. people thought that was a foolish move. it turned out to— that was a foolish move. it turned out to be — that was a foolish move. it turned out to be a — that was a foolish move. it turned out to be a wise move and i'll tell you what. — out to be a wise move and i'll tell you what, britain could do with some wise and _ you what, britain could do with some wise and brave leadership at the moment— wise and brave leadership at the moment because there is none of it available _ moment because there is none of it available in — moment because there is none of it available in downing street. what we have seen _ available in downing street. what we have seen over the last few weeks is a range _ have seen over the last few weeks is a range of— have seen over the last few weeks is a range of communities who have been taken _ a range of communities who have been taken for— a range of communities who have been taken for granted by the conservatives for years and years and years. — conservatives for years and years and years, saying up with this we will not _ and years, saying up with this we will not put — and years, saying up with this we will not put any more. and we have shown _ will not put any more. and we have shown that — will not put any more. and we have shown that whatever else may be the case in _ shown that whatever else may be the case in this— shown that whatever else may be the case in this time of great stress and difficulty, it is possible that things— and difficulty, it is possible that things can be better. we do not have to tolerate _ things can be better. we do not have to tolerate the way things are. people — to tolerate the way things are. people yesterday voted for parties, a party, _ people yesterday voted for parties, a party, they would not normally vote for — a party, they would not normally vote for. conservatives decide, we will not _ vote for. conservatives decide, we will not be — vote for. conservatives decide, we will not be taken for granted, we will not be taken for granted, we will vote — will not be taken for granted, we will vote for a great local candidates and vote for the lib dems — candidates and vote for the lib dems i— candidates and vote for the lib dems. i also want to say a word dems. ! also want to say a word about— dems. i also want to say a word about the — dems. i also want to say a word about the people who support labour and the _ about the people who support labour and the greens who chose to lend us their vote _ and the greens who chose to lend us their vote. we and the greens who chose to lend us theirvote. we are and the greens who chose to lend us their vote. we are grateful from the bottom _ their vote. we are grateful from the bottom of— their vote. we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts for that decision, _ bottom of our hearts for that decision, that brave decision you take _ decision, that brave decision you take yesterday because in doing so, you gave _ take yesterday because in doing so, you gave us — take yesterday because in doing so, you gave us the ability to defeat the conservatives. people have thought— the conservatives. people have thought over these last few months the conservatives can do what they like or— the conservatives can do what they like or not — the conservatives can do what they like or not do what they like, take the country— like or not do what they like, take the country for granted and never be defeated _ the country for granted and never be defeated. we have proven they can be beaten _ defeated. we have proven they can be beaten because we have defeated them and we'll— beaten because we have defeated them and we'll carry on doing so. in this difficult _ and we'll carry on doing so. in this difficult time, this very difficult time, _ difficult time, this very difficult time, we — difficult time, this very difficult time, we dared to dream of a briton but can— time, we dared to dream of a briton but can be _ time, we dared to dream of a briton but can be better. last night's result— but can be better. last night's result shows that belief is something that can be tangible, credible. — something that can be tangible, credible, and can come true. i'm so proud _ credible, and can come true. i'm so proud of— credible, and can come true. i'm so proud of you. — credible, and can come true. i'm so proud of you, helen but i'm especially proud of ed davey and proud _ especially proud of ed davey and proud even further of the people of north— proud even further of the people of north shropshire speaking for the people _ north shropshire speaking for the people of britain, we will not be taken _ people of britain, we will not be taken for— people of britain, we will not be taken for granted. tomorrow can be a brighter— taken for granted. tomorrow can be a brighter day— taken for granted. tomorrow can be a brighter day and i'm proud we had a major_ brighter day and i'm proud we had a major part— brighter day and i'm proud we had a major part in— brighter day and i'm proud we had a major part in making that happen. thank— major part in making that happen. thank you — major part in making that happen. thank you very much.— thank you very much. cheering you're saying — thank you very much. cheering you're saying you _ thank you very much. cheering you're saying you first _ thank you very much. cheering you're saying you first boris - you're saying you first boris johnson's bubble but this isn't a sea change throughout the country. i sea change throughout the country. i think what we've seen with the result— think what we've seen with the result yesterday is the seventh biggest — result yesterday is the seventh biggest swing of any by—election since _ biggest swing of any by—election since the — biggest swing of any by—election since the war, we've seen a prime minister— since the war, we've seen a prime minister who has hit only real strength— minister who has hit only real strength in the party, there are very— strength in the party, there are very few— strength in the party, there are very few people who have loyalty to boris johnson very few people who have loyalty to borisjohnson because he's shown so little loyalty to anybody else. the minute _ little loyalty to anybody else. the minute he stops winning elections, he ceases — minute he stops winning elections, he ceases to have any great value to the conservative party. but this really— the conservative party. but this really matters because this isn't a normal— really matters because this isn't a normal time. this is a time when we need _ normal time. this is a time when we need a _ normal time. this is a time when we need a country that's united and well led — need a country that's united and well led i— need a country that's united and well led. i don't mind the country being _ well led. i don't mind the country being led — well led. i don't mind the country being led by someone i don't agree with but— being led by someone i don't agree with but i_ being led by someone i don't agree with but i do mind it being led by someone — with but i do mind it being led by someone i— with but i do mind it being led by someone i don't trust. the people of north— someone i don't trust. the people of north shropshire have shown they don't _ north shropshire have shown they don't trust — north shropshire have shown they don't trust their leader, particularly at a time when they desperately need that trust. is your messa . e desperately need that trust. is your message to — desperately need that trust. is your message to lib _ desperately need that trust. is your message to lib dems _ desperately need that trust. is your message to lib dems in _ desperately need that trust. is your - message to lib dems in time-honoured message to lib dems in time—honoured tradition. _ message to lib dems in time—honoured tradition. back— message to lib dems in time—honoured tradition, back to _ message to lib dems in time—honoured tradition, back to your _ tradition, back to your constituencies? - tradition, back to your constituencies? go . tradition, back to your constituencies? ,, ., constituencies? go back, knock on doors, constituencies? go back, knock on doors. serve _ constituencies? go back, knock on doors, serve your— constituencies? go back, knock on doors, serve your community, - constituencies? go back, knock on| doors, serve your community, love them _ doors, serve your community, love them to— doors, serve your community, love them to death because they will reward — them to death because they will reward you by being elected. inaudible if you see the colour of a map of— inaudible if you see the colour of a map of the _ inaudible if you see the colour of a map of the uk based on last night, i think 550 _ map of the uk based on last night, i think 550 seats. maybe it's not such a long _ think 550 seats. maybe it's not such a long haul— think 550 seats. maybe it's not such a long haul after all.— a long haul after all. thank you very much _ a long haul after all. thank you very much everybody _ a long haul after all. thank you very much everybody for - a long haul after all. thank you l very much everybody for coming. cheering tim farron, former leader of the lib dems and the deputy leader celebrating that victory with helen morgan in shropshire. the current leader is isolating because of covid and talking about voters feeling taking for granted in north a very safe tory seat, has been tory for the last 200 years almost and now 6000 majority for the liberal democrats. tim farron saying he wanted to thank labour and green voters who also lent them that votes and saying that the lies, the lack of trust was a key problem. we can speak to our political correspondent pete saull. there's quite a lot going on there. there's quite a lot going on there. there's quite a lot going on there. there's quite a lot ofjournalists. sorry to spring that on you! give us a sense of your reaction to what they've said there. they are obviously in a jubilant mood. absolutely. tim farron, former liberal democrat leader. we haven't gone back in time. it's because sir ed davey isn't able to be had because he's tested positive the coronavirus. tim farron speaking on behalf of the party today, saying millions of people up and down the country see light in darkness because of this result. democracy is safe and well in north shropshire. he said they had spoken for the country, directing his ire at the prime minister borisjohnson. he said we cannot dare to dream that britain can be better than what this government is offering us. we are waiting to hear if we can hear from newly elected mp helen morgan. there's quite a scrum in the background to try to get a word with her. the lib dems are very happy indeed, they threw the kitchen sink at this seat. last weekend they sent 500 activists into the constituency, knocked on 23,000 doors. a lot of people didn't give them a chance of winning. it's been conservative for 200 years but they have pulled it off and i thinkjust speaking to voters here, i think it's largely because people wanted to send a clear message to the government and number 10 that they are not happy with the way borisjohnson is handling things right now. we with the way boris johnson is handling things right now. we can see the candidate _ handling things right now. we can see the candidate walking - handling things right now. we can see the candidate walking three i see the candidate walking three flanked by her supporters. we didn't actually hear her speak. i don't know if she's going to say a few words. ~ ., , , ., ~ know if she's going to say a few words. . ., , , ., ~' ., words. we heard her speak at the count last night _ words. we heard her speak at the count last night in _ words. we heard her speak at the count last night in which - words. we heard her speak at the count last night in which she - words. we heard her speak at the count last night in which she said | count last night in which she said the party was over for boris johnson. that's the line that's been everywhere this morning. she might i suppose be a bit taken and surprised herself that she's going to be making the journey to westminster in the new year is the first ever liberal democrat mp for north shropshire. a lot of people saying they liked the fact she comes from they liked the fact she comes from the area, the conservative candidate is from birmingham, i think that was a factor too. i don't think the lib dems expected such a big win. at the start of the count last night, the feeling was it was on a knife edge, that it was too close to call, overturning a 23,000 majority for the conservatives was always going to be a big ask. in the event, they won with 6000 more votes than their nearest rivals. it is a resounding victory and also i suppose questions for the labour party because they only picked up 3500 votes, largely because people who wanted to get rid of the conservatives hear of all different persuasions backed the lib dems. quite a lot of tactical voting and perhaps a blueprint when we come to the next general election for other areas, to see what might happen in places where perhaps the majority of voters might want to oust the sitting conservative mp. presumably labour keenly aware of that not perhaps fighting it as hard as they might have done in order to let the lib dems quite strongly which has proved successful. we'll come back to you if anything further develops. warnings about the new omicron variant have prompted many people to cancel christmas dinners and parties — and that's having a devastating effect on hospitality venues across the uk. the chancellor has cut short a visit to the us for crisis talks with businesses leaders, who've been hit by cancellations. they're demanding more finanical support from government. joining me now is nathan clark, owner of the brudenell social club in leeds. the brudenell describes itself as a lively and fun loving venue that embraces music and art. thank you forjoining us. how difficult has it been in the last few days in terms of bookings and cancellations?— cancellations? we've seen an immediate — cancellations? we've seen an immediate impact _ cancellations? we've seen an immediate impact with - cancellations? we've seen an | immediate impact with artists cancelling, not only today, yesterday and the forthcoming days but that's over a couple of thousand people that had simply cancelled their tickets or shows that have not been able to happen due to touring artists testing positive for covid or public confidence in sales. hagar or public confidence in sales. how damauuin or public confidence in sales. how damaging is _ or public confidence in sales. how damaging is that _ or public confidence in sales. how damaging is that your finances? or public confidence in sales. how. damaging is that your finances? the immediate damaging is that your finances? tie: immediate effect is quite a few thousand pounds. running into the tens towards the hundreds. the cancellations not only now but it's the forecasting of cancellations of events into january and february that people are seeing, due to the risks of not being able to book hotels, touring artists that will come through. it's a wider long—tail industry impact we are seeing. iloathed industry impact we are seeing. what would ou industry impact we are seeing. what would you like _ industry impact we are seeing. what would you like from _ industry impact we are seeing. what would you like from government? do you feel you need more support? iloathed you feelyou need more support? what we've not you feelyou need more support? what we've got to — you feelyou need more support? what we've got to realise _ you feelyou need more support? what we've got to realise is _ you feel you need more support? “wrist we've got to realise is we've been here before. we have a history of this. we know how this works. we've seen it in march 2020. there is a clear mismatch on economic policy and outpouring of what we've seen from government to the economic impact on businesses right now, to the government support telling for businesses. we are seeing the impact of businesses and the downturn immediately. what we need is realistic, immediate support now, not getting through and waiting. we are looking for believers and mechanisms that we know they can achieve. it's not new money, it's things like the extension in vat. it's the same things we've seen repeated from all across hospitality from business rates extensions that allow money to have, businesses to have money in the bank today that will improve their mental health and give them financial security over the coming weeks but they're not going to have those outlays. other aspects such as extension of business loan deferrals, the bounce back loans that businesses are looking at now and the repayments. so, there's a couple of really simple levers and mechanisms that the government could achieve by putting into place that would bring a lot of the burden. if putting into place that would bring a lot of the burden.— a lot of the burden. if they don't do that, a lot of the burden. if they don't do that. if _ a lot of the burden. if they don't do that. if they _ a lot of the burden. if they don't do that, if they say _ a lot of the burden. if they don't do that, if they say we - a lot of the burden. if they don't do that, if they say we can't - a lot of the burden. if they don't l do that, if they say we can't afford it, we don't have to push up taxes even further and strain the finances, what would that mean for you if you don't get further support? you if you don't get further sopport?— you if you don't get further su--ort? ,, _ ., ,, support? simply, it means staff shortages. _ support? simply, it means staff shortages. it — support? simply, it means staff shortages, it means, _ support? simply, it means staff shortages, it means, you - support? simply, it means staffj shortages, it means, you know, support? simply, it means staff - shortages, it means, you know, how can we predict buying stock, staff writers? —— rotas. it's going to lead to redundancies and staff moving away from the industry because we can't guarantee work. it not only impacts upon single events but a much wider impact on the long—tail economy, on suppliers in the supply chain that we have to think about. the freelance economy of artists, musicians, you know, and suppliers from the supply chain. it's a much wider impact. the simple things in their remit to be able to do to keep the levers that they have now, which are vat rates at a lower percentage and return back to 5%, business rates holidays that should extend into 2022, and the deferral of these repayments. because of the public and organisations have taken out bounce back lanes, and are forced to repay them in a period i've got no income, then it's only the public purse that is going to have to stomach that. therefore we have to stomach that. therefore we have an imbalance that we have to use the levers and mechanisms that are logistical and that we can achieve now immediately and that work. we've seen it work before, we've been here before. [30 work. we've seen it work before, we've been here before.- work. we've seen it work before, we've been here before. do you think that our we've been here before. do you think that your business _ we've been here before. do you think that your business is _ we've been here before. do you think that your business is sustainable - we've been here before. do you think that your business is sustainable in i that your business is sustainable in its current model? we don't know what further variants are coming, we hope things get a bit better in the spring and summer but next winter again we could be facing further problems, wejust don't again we could be facing further problems, we just don't know. are you planning to stay in this industry? i you planning to stay in this industry?— you planning to stay in this indust ? ., ., ., ., industry? i mean, the social animal industry? i mean, the social animal in us all and — industry? i mean, the social animal in us all and the _ industry? i mean, the social animal in us all and the social— industry? i mean, the social animal in us all and the social industry - industry? i mean, the social animal in us all and the social industry is l in us all and the social industry is what we live for. that's what we work for. getting out, seeing each other, seeing friends. once we get over this, this is what we would live for. there is an industry there, there is a strive for public and nature to do this and there's an audience and that's what we want to deliver. ., �* deliver. owner of the the brudenell in leeds, thank _ deliver. owner of the the brudenell in leeds, thank you. _ fire crews say four young boys — who died in a fire in south london last night — were alone in the house. the children were two sets of twins aged three and four. a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect. the deputy commissioner of london fire service has been speaking to reporters. the children were taken to a local hospital, and sadly those four children died later that evening. the cause of the fire is currently unknown and we have fire investigation teams on scene at present along with the metropolitan police to determine the cause of the fire. i'd like to take this opportunity to give thanks to my firefighters, officers, control officers and also members from the london ambulance service, who worked incredibly hard to save the lives of these children. they did everything they possibly could, even travelling to the hospital in the ambulances so cpr could continue all the way there. our crews who attended are now being supported by the counselling well—being service to make sure they had the necessary support. and we'll be providing support to the local community, along with the police, over the next coming weeks and months. once again, i'd like to offer my profound sadness and deepest respect to the family and friends and the community who sadly lost four young children yesterday. at least 27 people are feared dead after a fire broke out in a building in the japanese city of osaka. officials were alerted to the blaze on friday morning, with footage showing blackened windows on the fourth floor after it was extinguished. the building is located in a busy commercial and entertainment district in osaka. our tokyo correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes says authorities are currently trying to establish the cause of the fire. it is increasingly looking as if it was started deliberately. we don't know for sure, but the police say they have received eyewitness reports from people who say they saw a man they think was in his 50s or 60s going into the building shortly before the fire broke out with some sort of container in a bag, which they say was leaking some sort of flammable liquid. this is anecdotal but certainly the nature of the fire and the speed with which it took over the fourth floor, and the fact that no one on that floor was able to escape, suggests that something happened near the entrance to the clinic where all these people were waiting to be treated, and that they were unable to escape. it looks from the floor plan of the building as if there was only one way in and out of this clinic, into the hallway to the stairs, and if that one entrance and exit was blocked, then people had no other way out. at least 12 people have died in the philippines after destruction caused by super typhoon rai. the storm made landfall on the popular tourist island of siargao on thursday, bringing winds of 100 and 95 kilometres an hour. howard johnson gave us an update from manila. to understand this storm, you must understand the complicated geography of the philippines — more than 7,000 islands. and this one barrelled through the centre of the country. it made landfall in nine different places, so it's affected nine different communities, effectively. it made landfall yesterday afternoon around 1:30pm on the popular tourist island of siargao. now, today we've heard little bits of information from that island from the provincial governor. we've heard that, in the last half hour, we've heard that the whole island is totally devastatedm this is the provincial governor saying this, to the tune of around $400 million. so, serious damage has gone on there. no communication lines currently up with this island. this is a popular place for backpackers and surfers. lots of concerned people are getting in contact with me because theirfamily members are there. it's popular with australians, british people, filipino domestic tourists go there as well. and what we've heard is absolutely nothing online for the last 24 hours, which is very unusual for a place that's so popular with social influencers and nomadic workers who like to go to places like siargao. it's 10 years since kim jong—un took power in north korea aged just 27 and in that time he has generated many headlines. but his country is in crisis with the economy crippled by sanctions and strict border closures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. laura bicker reports. he was too young, too inexperienced. they predicted his downfall, but kim jong—un has defied the odds and survived as leader of north korea. when he took over from his father ten years ago, there were doubts among the elite. translation: who in the world i would like a hereditary succession? what would a 27—year—old know? it makes no sense for him to run the country. but his people were forced to revere him. she sings. translation: every morning, i these songs praising kim jong-un on loudspeaker broadcast trucks woke people up. bigger, bolder state propaganda build an image of a brighter, more modern north korea. but hopes that the country would open were short—lived. all foreign influences — from music to drama — have been banned. often, the penalty is death. translation: to even control. the melody and singing style just shows they're not confident in their own regime. when it came to foreign policy, he's played a poor hand well. his pursuit of nuclear weapons put his tiny, impoverished country at the centre of the world stage. translation: we were ordered to make the world immune - to north korea's nuclear programme. if the international community continues to hear and discuss north korea having nuclear weapons, they'll think, oh, well, north korea has nuclear weapons. it's not that big of a deal. north korea has been hit by crippling sanctions to curb its weapons programme, but it's made little difference. translation: the north can never give up its nuclear weapons - because it considers it to be vital to the survival of the regime. the country is now in crisis. the border has been sealed shut to prevent the spread of covid—19. vital supplies have not been able to get through for nearly two years. in the end, if there is no sanctions relief, the regime could be under threat. kim jong—un knows this well. so to relieve sanctions, i am sure that he will come to talks. this key anniversary has kim jong—un at a crossroads. what he does next will decide his future and that of his people. for the past three months, the cumbre vieja volcano in spain's canary islands has been spewing lava, but late on monday, it fell silent. scientists have now said the longest eruption in la palma's recorded history could be declared over by christmas. tanya dendrinos reports. a sleeping giant in all its majesty. for months, the cumbre vieja volcano has wreaked havoc on the island of la palma. now it has fallen silent. translation: it's - a great feeling for me. it is a joy and a message to the island to keep going. this isjust the beginning and together we can get up again quickly. the islands banana plantations have been decimated by the eruption which started in september. around 3,000 buildings have been destroyed. thousands of people evacuated in what has been the longest ever eruption in la palma's recorded history. this incredible footage shows just how far the river of lava flowed. the platform it's left behind has expanded the size of the island by more than 48 hectares. then there is the mountain of volcanic ash. the work ahead is undeniable. translation: don't forget about us, although the volcano has stopped, . there is still a lot of work to be done here and it will take a long time. perhaps years, decades even. authorities say if the lull in seismic activity remains unchanged the eruption will be declared over on the 24th of december. locals now holding their breath for a christmas miracle. tanya dendrinos, bbc news. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with owain. hello, hello, everyone. i hope you are doing all right. we have high pressure in charge of things at the moment. and what that means is we are looking at a lot of dry weather both today and over the weekend as well. let's have a look at the headline, then. there we go. it will be pretty cloudy, but, thanks to the high pressure, we are focusing on a lot of dry weather, maybejust a bit of drizzle here and there where the cloud is thick enough. let's have a look at it, then. there it is. plonked across the uk and underneath this area of high pressure we are expecting light winds, just a bit breezy across southern and south—western parts. on the finer detail, you can see there is a lot of grey. we have had some dense mist and fog patches this morning, especially across northern parts of england, the vale of york, east yorkshire, lincolnshire down towards some south—eastern parts. some of these slow, reluctant to clear. elsewhere, a fair bit of cloud around. some bright spells across south—western parts and parts of west wales as well. you will notice this gap in the cloud across parts of scotland as well. it was a chilly start to the day where we saw clear skies overnight getting to about six celsis across northern parts, but nine or 10 celsius across southern and south—western parts. let's move on through towards this evening, then. the return of some mist and fog patches where we see some clear skies as well. i think we'll see a touch of frost here or there, some slippery surfaces potentially. lows for most of us, between about five and seven celsius. now, thanks to the high pressure, which remains with us, as i said, over the weekend, we are looking at a lot of dry weather, but we will crank down those temperatures slowly over the next couple of days. you will notice again that gap in the cloud across parts of scotland, so plenty of sunshine here i think. and here or there, you know, brightening up with some sunny spells thanks to the high pressure, a dry story. any mist and fog which may be a bit slow to clear will move on through and then top temperatures tomorrow , 11, maybe 12 celsius across southern parts, whereas further north where you see clear skies, of course, i think we'll see something a little bit cooler. a quick snapshot of sunday, once more, a very grey monochrome kind of feel, a bit more of a breeze coming down here as you can see across eastern parts. it will be cooler across coastal parts, i think, and the temperatures are quite similar, but turning them down a bit at this stage. and that is because we are starting to import this colder air, this will be a feature of the forecast as we look towards next week in particular, turning down the temperatures, you will see that on the outlook. yes, most certainly turning cooler, maybe a little bit less settled through the end of the week, of course, we will keep you posted. that is the forecast. see you soon. this is bbc news i'm martine croxall. the headlines at 11... a shock defeat for borisjohnson as the conservatives lose the north shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years to the liberal democrats. if you are incompetent, if you are telling lies, the people of north shropshire have spoken for the people of britain. it's the seventh biggest by—election swing in modern political history — but the conservatives insist the defeat was unique because it was caused by the resignation of former mp owen paterson over sleaze. i completely appreciate voters' frustration in relation to that. they were angry and they gave us a kicking overnight and the prime minister has rightly said that we made mistakes and he regrets those mistakes. wales announces tighter coronavirus restrictions — with the return of social distancing and nightclubs shut from december the 27th. a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect after two sets of twin boys, aged three and four, died in a house fire in south london last night. and in adelaide...england lose early wickets in repsonse to australia's first innings declaration, in the good morning. welcome to bbc news. the liberal democrats have pulled off a political shock in the north shropshire by—election, taking one of the country's safest conservative seats. it follows the resignation of tory mp owen paterson, who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying. he won the last election — in 2019 — with a majority of nearly 23,000. but the lib dems' helen morgan took the seat by almost 6,000 votes — making it the seventh biggest by—election swing in modern political history. in the past half hour, the party held a victory rally in oswestry — claiming they had �*burst boris' bubble'. the new mp was joined by the former lib dem leader tim farron who spoke to reporters. helen, i don't know if you realise how many millions of people have woken up this morning feeling that a bit of light has broken into the darkness. but it turns out if you are incompetent, it turns out if you tells lies, it turns out if you take the people for granted there is a price to pay. democracy and justice is alive and well in britain and the people of north shropshire have spoken for the whole of britain last night. i am absolutely proud as i possibly can be of helen, of her performance as a candidate here, she will be an outstanding member of parliament for this beautiful range of communities here in north shropshire. communities that have been taken for granted by the conservatives for so long. it is not just communities in places like north shropshire, cumbria and elsewhere around the country that have taken for granted, it is the people who live there who have and take it for granted. if you are a farmer, you have seen your payments cut. if you are somebody concerned about your health services being taken away, moved away further away from you than they already are. if you are worried that your costs are going up and your income is not rising with it, you have been taken for granted and the assumption being from the conservatives that you can just behave as they have done, especially these last few weeks, and no one will punish them for it. the result of north shropshire, the people of north shropshire saying we will not be taken for granted and things can be better than theirs. last night we showed that the liberal democrats are the party who have got them in them to beat the conservative incidents like this and other seats around the country. the conservative chairman oliver dowden inisted the government would listen to the concern of voters. i completely accept how voters feel fed up, given the unique circumstances of this, the selection in particular. so i understand how this began with the resignation of the incumbent mp and the sleaze allegations around that. i also understand how going through it, there were many reports about the conduct of these alleged parties, as you are very familiar with, and i have heard people's concerns about that and i think it is really important that as a government we demonstrate that we are focused on getting on with what the people's priorities are — getting on with the job. and that means focusing on things like the poster campaign. because faced with this searching omicron virus, surging omicron virus, it is absolutely essential the government's focus is laser—like on getting britain boosted. sir roger gale is the conservative mp for north thanet. you have —— it spoken. you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron — you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron and _ you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron and ed _ you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron and ed davey _ you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron and ed davey wish - you have -- it spoken. i understand tim farron and ed davey wish to - tim farron and ed davey wish to claim this as our when for the liberal democrats. it is a referendum on downing street i fear and it is well saying this is a mid—term by—election. it is. of course, people use mid—term by—election is to send messages to government. i think this message is very clear. we are not satisfied with their performance emanating from downing street, it is as simple as that. . . from downing street, it is as simple as that. , ., , ., , as that. the liberal democrats will sa this is as that. the liberal democrats will say this is a _ as that. the liberal democrats will say this is a clear _ as that. the liberal democrats will say this is a clear victory, - as that. the liberal democrats will say this is a clear victory, this - say this is a clear victory, this swing was so enormous and that is what the record books will record. why do you think borisjohnson deserves another chance. the number of people who came to talk to me over the weekend saying it was not the resignation of owen paterson because of the lobbying rules issue that galvanised them. it was very much seeing that there was one rule for the ruling class and one rule for the ruling class and one rule for them. for the ruling class and one rule forthem. in for the ruling class and one rule for them. in the form of those investigations into the gatherings, the parties that were happening in whitehall. i the parties that were happening in whitehall. ., �* , , �*, whitehall. i don't suppose there's is not a conservative _ whitehall. i don't suppose there's is not a conservative member - whitehall. i don't suppose there's is not a conservative member of l is not a conservative member of parliament having a mailbox full expressing what you said. it cannot be one rule for one person and another rule for everybody else. that... that is so blatantly the case. it is not really worth discussing. the fact of the matter is we have had this week a backbench rebellion, not remainers rebellion or brexiteers rib belly on. right across the party. 100 people who voted against the parliament. that is very significant indeed. for the record, i voted for the prime minister on that occasion because i believe that his measures are proportionate and necessary and responsible and i fear, proportionate and necessary and responsible and ifear, i like to be wrong, but i fear he will be proved right. but that was certainly one significant indication of the strength of feeling in parliament. last night, we had an indication of the strength of feeling in the country. and on the basis of three strikes, i think one more strike and i think he is out.— i think he is out. what with that third strike _ i think he is out. what with that third strike looked _ i think he is out. what with that third strike looked like? - i think he is out. what with that third strike looked like? for- i think he is out. what with that l third strike looked like? for many people he stands at the dispatch box and says things that you cannot trust. how can you trust him to smarten up? trust. how can you trust him to smarten op?— trust. how can you trust him to smarten u - ? , ., smarten up? sometimes in government and in parliament _ smarten up? sometimes in government and in parliament and _ smarten up? sometimes in government and in parliament and in _ smarten up? sometimes in government and in parliament and in politics - and in parliament and in politics you have to be lucky and he is lucky in the sense that the house is now in the sense that the house is now in recess for christmas. so the prime minister has got three weeks to put its house in order and get its act together and to come back on the 5th of january refreshed and revitalised and with a much clearer message than has been coming out of downing street recently. if he can do that, and if he can maintain that, then i think most people would say we do not want a leadership election in the middle of a pandemic. he is busy fighting the pandemic. he is busy fighting the pandemic and full marks for the booster campaign. i hope and it is just possible that enough people do get visitors, and this is a vital message to get out, if enough people do get visited, we might not find ourselves in the position that has necessitated the measures that the prime minister has instigated before christmas. it prime minister has instigated before christmas. ., , ., . ., christmas. it does not change the nature of the _ christmas. it does not change the nature of the prime _ christmas. it does not change the nature of the prime minister, - christmas. it does not change the | nature of the prime minister, does not change the character of the man. that i fear is true. i am allowed to say because it is my property, that i put in a letter to, after the barnard castle incident because that gave a message to me that this was not a kind of leadership that a conservative party needed. if not a kind of leadership that a conservative party needed. if enough --eole did conservative party needed. if enough people did that _ conservative party needed. if enough people did that that _ conservative party needed. if enough people did that that would _ conservative party needed. if enough people did that that would trigger - conservative party needed. if enough people did that that would trigger a l people did that that would trigger a leadership election. will people did that that would trigger a leadership election.— leadership election. will you write aaain after leadership election. will you write again after this? _ leadership election. will you write again after this? i _ leadership election. will you write again after this? i have _ leadership election. will you write again after this? i have discussed| again after this? i have discussed it and i am told i do not need to because that letter is already on. i have no idea at all how many other people, if any other people, have written that kind of letter and sir graham brady would not reveal he has got until and unless the trigger point is reached. we don't want, we do not need a leadership election at the moment, we need to concentrate on getting people vaccinated, and getting on with the job of government. getting on with the “0b of governmentfi getting on with the “0b of government. getting on with the “0b of covernment. �* , ., ., ., government. don't you need a leader whose reputation _ government. don't you need a leader whose reputation is _ government. don't you need a leader whose reputation is somewhat - government. don't you need a leader whose reputation is somewhat more | whose reputation is somewhat more intact than the prime minister's? i intact than the prime minister's? i have already indicated to you that that that is coming down the crack and i would be personally proset —— surprised if mrjohnson won the next election... we surprised if mrjohnson won the next election... ~ ., , ., , surprised if mrjohnson won the next election... ., , ., ., ., election... we are years away from a teneral election... we are years away from a general election. _ election... we are years away from a general election. you _ election... we are years away from a general election. you don't - election... we are years away from a general election. you don't do - election... we are years away from a general election. you don't do it - general election. you don't do it 'ust general election. you don't do it just before _ general election. you don't do it just before a _ general election. you don't do it just before a general _ general election. you don't do it just before a general election. l general election. you don't do it just before a general election. i | just before a general election. i think that may be coming down the track. i am one person. i am not speaking further conservative membership. i am speaking further conservative membership. iam not speaking further conservative membership. i am not trying to speak for the country. i membership. i am not trying to speak for the country-— for the country. i think many people will see you — for the country. i think many people will see you do _ for the country. i think many people will see you do speak— for the country. i think many people will see you do speak for— for the country. i think many people will see you do speak for them, - for the country. i think many people will see you do speak for them, not| will see you do speak for them, not just conservatives but other parties as well. you spoke about the prime minister needing to get a grip during the christmas recess. would that include the prime minister asking the metropolitan police to investigate the gatherings that were held against the covid rules last year, rules that saw some people, students, people holding weddings being fined thousands and thousands of pounds? i being fined thousands and thousands of ounds? , ., ., of pounds? i find it strange that the metropolitan _ of pounds? i find it strange that the metropolitan police - of pounds? i find it strange that the metropolitan police are - of pounds? i find it strange that i the metropolitan police are saying we have not got the evidence to investigate these matters. i think they are serious for the reasons you have given, thousands of people were denying themselves opportunities to, for heaven sake, visit dying relatives if nothing else and suffering all manner of restriction while it looks as though improper, illegal gatherings were being held within downing street and elsewhere. and if that is so, then you cannot have one rule for one set of people and one rule for another as you rightly said, people have paid fines because they have been partying and ifear because they have been partying and i fear that has to apply to downing street as well as everyone else. i would hope and expect that the metropolitan police will take that on board. i metropolitan police will take that on board. ., ., ., ., on board. i want to ask you one final question _ on board. i want to ask you one final question about _ on board. i want to ask you one final question about the - on board. i want to ask you one final question about the wider l final question about the wider implications of the north shropshire victory by the liberal democrats. again, what a lot of people were saying on the doorstep, they voted leave in the referendum, but farmers were finding themselves to be worse off outside the eu. not getting access to the deals that the government had promised, that boris johnson had promised. how concerned are you that other parts of the country are going to see through the empty promises around regs and the government around brexit? worth government around brexit? north shroshire government around brexit? north shropshire was _ government around brexit? north shropshire was based _ government around brexit? north shropshire was based i _ government around brexit? north shropshire was based i think- government around brexit? jjrrr-ti shropshire was based i think upon the performance in downing street, but and you're absolutely right again to raise it, are other issues. nor shropshire is predominantly a farming community. the farmers are not happy. my farmers in kent are not happy. my farmers in kent are not happy. my farmers in kent are not happy and what we are seeing is two things, three things, first of all a lack of foreign labour. second, a lack of support for farming and third the loss of absolute prized agricultural land for development. you put those three things together in north shropshire, and inevitably you are going to have resentment. brute and inevitably you are going to have resentment-— and inevitably you are going to have resentment. ~ ., , ., ,, . ., resentment. we really appreciate you takin: time resentment. we really appreciate you taking time to — resentment. we really appreciate you taking time to speak— resentment. we really appreciate you taking time to speak to _ resentment. we really appreciate you taking time to speak to us. _ resentment. we really appreciate you taking time to speak to us. thank- taking time to speak to us. thank you very much. taking time to speak to us. thank you very much-— britain's rail fares will increase by 3.8%. with everything else going up, people's incomes are going to have to stretch all that further raising questions about the value of money for public transport in britain. railway fares going up by 3.8% in march next year. the welsh government is to bring back tighter covid restrictions just after christmas — including the closure of all nightclubs, in an effort to slow the spread of the omicron variant. meanwhile, the chancellor, rishi sunak, has cut short a trip to the united states to hold crisis talks with business leaders whose industries have been hit by cancellations because of the virus. we are going to talk to a dot to. what are you seeing in the spread of omicron. it is taking a hold in places, giving us two pandemics alongside delta.— alongside delta. omicron is spreading — alongside delta. omicron is spreading very _ alongside delta. omicron is spreading very fast - alongside delta. omicron is spreading very fast but - alongside delta. omicron is spreading very fast but i - alongside delta. omicron is i spreading very fast but i would alongside delta. omicron is - spreading very fast but i would say that we are not in the business of finding one variant are the other. we are in the business of fighting all variants at the same time and it is clearly what needs to be done. we need a so—called vaccination plus approach. increase the vaccination coverage. boost, boost, boost. ventilate and number five, coverage. boost, boost, boost. ventilate and numberfive, increase the quality of care. my concern is that even if the omicron will be a little bit less severe which we don't know, by the sheer volume of numbers, that may overwhelm already overstretched health systems and health workforce. hope overstretched health systems and health workforce.— overstretched health systems and health workforce. how effective are the measures _ health workforce. how effective are the measures that _ health workforce. how effective are the measures that you _ health workforce. how effective are the measures that you are - health workforce. how effective are the measures that you are seeing l the measures that you are seeing across europe? what is working best, the uk government is very much relying on vaccine, does not want to go to lockdown restrictions if it can avoid it. go to lockdown restrictions if it can avoid it— go to lockdown restrictions if it can avoid it. ., , ., ,, , can avoid it. what is working best? what is working _ can avoid it. what is working best? what is working best _ can avoid it. what is working best? what is working best is _ can avoid it. what is working best? what is working best is what - can avoid it. what is working best? what is working best is what we i can avoid it. what is working best? | what is working best is what we call do it all. only vaccines, only boosting is not going to do the trick. let's look at portugal and spain and france, the reopened school in the summer so what i mentioned, the five pandemic stabilisers. everyone has to do his or her share. stabilisers. everyone has to do his or her share-— stabilisers. everyone has to do his or her share. ., u, . ., ,. or her share. how concerned are you about the non-covid _ or her share. how concerned are you about the non-covid related - or her share. how concerned are you | about the non-covid related problem about the non—covid related problem that these measures bring? people are being encouraged to be very careful about how they socialise particularly over the christmas period that brings isolation, loneliness, mental health issues, how much do those considerations appear in what you are trying to achieve? i appear in what you are trying to achieve? . , appear in what you are trying to achieve? ., , . ., . appear in what you are trying to achieve? ., , _, . ., ,., achieve? i am very concerned about the mental — achieve? i am very concerned about the mental health _ achieve? i am very concerned about the mental health of— achieve? i am very concerned about the mental health of the _ achieve? i am very concerned about the mental health of the people. i achieve? i am very concerned about. the mental health of the people. you go from the youngsters back to the elderly people, so that is a very clear message, be kind to each other. reach out also when we have to live in some kind of bubble. already one out of two youngsters have some kind of anxiety and depression. but also on the physical diseases, still one out of five people in europe and central asia died due to cancer. some other diseases other than covid—19 has to be tackled as well. diseases other than covid-19 has to be tackled as well.— be tackled as well. what is your view about _ be tackled as well. what is your view about the _ be tackled as well. what is your view about the global _ be tackled as well. what is your. view about the global vaccination programme? there have been accusations that their developed countries, richer countries are hogging the vaccine. not really considering what happens in poorer parts of the world and yet that potentially is where we are going to see these variants. how much stronger the case do you think needs to be made of sharing the vaccine across the world? ilkla to be made of sharing the vaccine across the world?— across the world? no one is safe when everyone _ across the world? no one is safe when everyone is _ across the world? no one is safe when everyone is safe. - across the world? no one is safe when everyone is safe. and - across the world? no one is safe when everyone is safe. and we l across the world? no one is safe i when everyone is safe. and we saw it. whenever there is transmission, there is more opportunity for variants to spread globally. i see the glass half—full. it is not enough, we need old political leadership because we know the tools are working and we need the g7 ng leadership because we know the tools are working and we need the g7 mg 22 b much more involved. iloathe are working and we need the g7 mg 22 b much more involved.— b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack — b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack and _ b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack and the _ b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack and the g20? _ b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack and the g20? who - b much more involved. who pays for it? -- rack and the g20? who pays i it? -- rack and the g20? who pays for it should _ it? -- rack and the g20? who pays for it should be _ it? -- rack and the g20? who pays for it should be a _ it? -- rack and the g20? who pays for it should be a combination - it? -- rack and the g20? who pays for it should be a combination of. for it should be a combination of the countries together but according to the possibilities, definitely. the richest economies of the world have to step up the efforts because the damages also to their countries and the threats to social cohesion and the threats to social cohesion and global health security. from there we world _ and global health security. from there we world health _ and global health security. from there we world health organization, doctor kluger, thank you forjoining us. the welsh government is to bring back tighter covid restrictions just after christmas — including the closure of all nightclubs, in an effort to slow the spread of the omicron variant. meanwhile, the chancellor, rishi sunak, has cut short a trip to the united states to hold crisis talks with business leaders whose industries have been hit by cancellations because of the virus. lebo diseko reports. a smaller christmas is a safer christmas, the message today from the welsh first minister mark drakeford. he's set to introduce a return to tougher covid restrictions after christmas in preparation for a large wave of omicron infections. there will be a new two—phase plan combining a mixture of advice for over the christmas period and new regulations to follow. in wales, nightclubs will have to close on december the 27th. in offices, the two—metre rule in social distancing returns. and businesses will have to introduce measures, such as one—way systems and physical barriers to protect customers and staff. the welsh government says £60 million is being made available for firms affected by the new restrictions. if we get the high level, very high levels of community transmission that we are anticipating, then it is inevitable that people are going to end up going into hospitals, requiring oxygen, going into icu facilities and potentially dying. elsewhere, these few determined revellers on the streets of london, this area would usually be full of people. but now the atmosphere is the subdued. with a new variant spreading, many christmas parties have been cancelled. the prime minister says he is not telling people to cancel events but instead urging them to exercise caution. thursday saw a record high in cases for a second day in a row. nearly 90,000 were reported, that's almost 10,000 more than the previous day. and the fear is that things could get worse, impacting on businesses. chancellor rishi sunak has cut short a trip to the us for crisis talks with business leaders about how to help the hospitality sector. until spring of next year, most businesses in the hospitality industry are only paying a quarter of their normal business rates bill, they are benefiting from a reduced rate of vat all the way through to next spring and thirdly, there is about a quarter of £1 billion of cash sitting with local authorities, which has been provided by government to support those businesses. in scotland, new rules for shops and hospitality venues have come into force to deal with the rise in cases caused by the omicron variant. people will be asked to limit socialising to three households at a time in the run—up to christmas. there will be a return to measures to cut down on crowding in shops and businesses will be legally required to take steps to reduce the spread of covid. as coronavirus cases rise and records continue to be broken, the booster programme also reaches new highs, setting more records for daily top up doses. but with streets and bars as empty as this, one thing seems clear — the businesses that depend on is going out, the coming weeks are unlikely to feel very festive. lebo diseko, bbc news. as we heard in that report, from december the 27th, all nightclubs in wales will be forced to close and there will be a requirement for people to work from home where possible. our correspondent tomas morgan has been speaking to the first minister of wales, mark drakeford. i think it is the nature of the nightclub that people go there in order to be up close and personal and we know that omicron is particularly likely to lead to super spreader events where people are packed in together in that way. and i think you can distinguish between nightclubs and the way that bars and restaurants operate. no restrictions at the moment on the hospitality industry, could that change? yes, that could change. i want hospitality to reopen after christmas but i want to do it in a way that gives customers confidence to return to those places. joining me now is shumana palit, co—owner of ultracomida in aberystwyth and curado bar in cardiff. we are going to talk to her. this is a busy time of year for you, what does it mean to you? i this is a busy time of year for you, what does it mean to you?- what does it mean to you? i was sopposed _ what does it mean to you? i was sopposed to _ what does it mean to you? i was sopposed to be _ what does it mean to you? i was supposed to be working - what does it mean to you? i was supposed to be working a - what does it mean to you? i was supposed to be working a shift l what does it mean to you? this supposed to be working a shift and with all that is going on, the cancellations have been flooding in and we are seeing the walkins, they are not coming in. so i am surplus to requirement today.— to requirement today. what are eo - le to requirement today. what are people telling _ to requirement today. what are people telling you? _ to requirement today. what are people telling you? it _ to requirement today. what are people telling you? it is - to requirement today. what are people telling you? it is early i people telling you? it is early da s, if people telling you? it is early days. if we — people telling you? it is early days, if we roll— people telling you? it is early days, if we roll two, - people telling you? it is early days, if we roll two, three - people telling you? it is early - days, if we roll two, three weeks, we were not looking at this hotel. we are all observing the information as we go. people are listening to what is being said, they are making difficult decisions. they are conscious that christmas is next week and they do not want to catch covid end have to isolate. there is a sense of nervousness coming in as yet... if a sense of nervousness coming in as et. .. n. ~ a sense of nervousness coming in as et... ~ _,~ a sense of nervousness coming in as et... ,, ., yet... if mark drake ford says omicron _ yet... if mark drake ford says omicron poses _ yet... if mark drake ford says omicron poses a _ yet... if mark drake ford says omicron poses a threat - yet... if mark drake ford says omicron poses a threat to - yet... if mark drake ford says omicron poses a threat to our yet... if mark drake ford says - omicron poses a threat to our health and safety, how does that affect you? and safety, how does that affect ou? . . and safety, how does that affect ou? , , ., , and safety, how does that affect ou? , ., you? this is a message that we can all sympathise _ you? this is a message that we can all sympathise with _ you? this is a message that we can all sympathise with but _ you? this is a message that we can all sympathise with but where - you? this is a message that we can all sympathise with but where does that leave the industry, where does that leave the industry, where does that leave the industry, where does that leave hospitality? i think the problem at the moment is, it kinda feels we are in the same situation we were in two years ago. it is like a deja vu of march 2020, we are back to going to the unknown. i suppose what makes us fearful in our industry as we have done all of this, we have done as much as as we can, we have adapted and been resilient and got this far. if we have to do it all again this time without government support, i am not sure how many of will be left on the other side of this. i know some money has been mentioned in the welsh government will have available. i think what will need to happen is some intervention from westminster to keep businesses going. westminster to keep businesses anoin. ~ . westminster to keep businesses ttoin. ~ . . westminster to keep businesses r oin r _ . , , , ., , going. the welsh minister saying there will be _ going. the welsh minister saying there will be £60 _ going. the welsh minister saying there will be £60 million - going. the welsh minister saying | there will be £60 million available for businesses affected by the new restrictions. how flight of foot can you be, how easy is it for you to do takeaway is rather than dining in? yes, so we have an online presence as well so we have strengthened their arm. as well so we have strengthened theirarm. every as well so we have strengthened their arm. every time we have gone into that situation, the team has been diverted from serving on the bar to packing up boxes and hiring a van and delivering. there is only so far that can go. most businesses in this industry have adapted and developed another arm. home deliveries are collections or an online presence but all of those things only go so far. what we are about to lose is the bumper christmas that we all need. we are about to lose the biggest cherry of the year. and nothing is going to be compensating for that. you the year. and nothing is going to be compensating for that.— the year. and nothing is going to be compensating for that. you have been here before as — compensating for that. you have been here before as you _ compensating for that. you have been here before as you say. _ compensating for that. you have been here before as you say. i _ compensating for that. you have been here before as you say. i hope - compensating for that. you have been here before as you say. i hope it - compensating for that. you have been here before as you say. i hope it is - here before as you say. i hope it is short lived for you and you can get back to business relation. thank you for your time. the environment agency has won its legal challenge to a ruling over landfill site emissions which are at the centre of a row over a five year old boy's health. the judgement in september would have forced it to strictly limit emissions of noxious gases at a staffordshire quarry. more from our midlands correspondent phil mackie. remainders of stop it is... the smell has become unbearable to residents who live near to the landfill sites. this has led to protests, some people have been arrested during that time. lawyers acting on behalf of their five—year—old, have said his life expectancy would be threatened by these noxious smells. they asked the high court to do something to stop those emissions taking place. the judge agreed with them and told the environment agency it had the end of this month effectively to bring the emissions of that to levels. the judge took urgent steps. it allowed the environment agency's appeal, much to the chagrin of the people who have been protesting about emissions from the site. that removes that deadline which which has january one. that means the environment agency can do the work it's doing to ameliorate problems. even today i am told there is a dreadful stink at the site which is really affecting people's both mental and physical health. hagar really affecting people's both mental and physical health. how long is this allowed _ mental and physical health. how long is this allowed to _ mental and physical health. how long is this allowed to go _ mental and physical health. how long is this allowed to go on _ mental and physical health. how long is this allowed to go on if _ mental and physical health. how long is this allowed to go on if the - is this allowed to go on if the deadline is removed? the argument from the environment _ deadline is removed? the argument from the environment agency - deadline is removed? the argument from the environment agency is - deadline is removed? the argument l from the environment agency is doing all it can, working beside public health england. i havejust been sent an e—mailfrom health england. i havejust been sent an e—mail from the environment agency. they say they have already had, they have made substantial changes to the way they operate and reducing the levels of... i have read the recent figures. one of the sites they are monitoring, it was higher than world health organization levels. one of the problems they have is the weather. we have low high pressure, it is cold, that means the smell sits there. they need warmer weather with fresh winds to blow it away. they are convinced that the work they are doing alongside the operators at the quarry will bring it into line with world health organization levels by the end of this, by the certainly the end of this, by the certainly the getting of next year. they are working towards that. i have spoken to the guy who started the protests. he was very disappointed. he is said it is disgraceful they have not been able to do more already. they are not planning to stage any formal protest outside the site in the run—up to christmas largely because of covid. they don't want to risk anyone getting that.— of covid. they don't want to risk anyone getting that. thank you very much. anyone getting that. thank you very much- about _ anyone getting that. thank you very much. about the _ anyone getting that. thank you very much. about the staffordshire - anyone getting that. thank you very | much. about the staffordshire stink. fire crews say four young boys who died in a fire in south london last night were alone in the house. if the children were two sets of twins, aged three and four. a 27 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect. our correspondent simon jones is with me now: the emergency services describing the emergency services describing the death of these four the emergency services describing the death of these four young the emergency services describing the death of these four young boys is a terrible tragedy. the the death of these four young boys is a terrible tragedy.— is a terrible tragedy. the fire service was _ is a terrible tragedy. the fire service was called _ is a terrible tragedy. the fire service was called at - is a terrible tragedy. the fire service was called at 7pm - is a terrible tragedy. the fire | service was called at 7pm and is a terrible tragedy. the fire - service was called at 7pm and the other ten minutes, 60 firefighters and it fired engines, the managed to get inside the property and promote these four boys, given cpr but could not be saved. it has been confirmed they will all related, two sets of twins aged three and four and early this morning the london fire begin give us an update. the children were taken to a local hospital, and sadly those four children died later that evening. the cause of the fire is currently unknown and we have fire investigation teams on scene at present along with the metropolitan police to determine the cause of the fire. i'd like to take this opportunity to give thanks to my firefighters, officers, control officers and also members from the london ambulance service, who worked incredibly hard to save the lives of these children. they did everything they possibly could, even travelling to the hospital in the ambulances so cpr could continue all the way there. our crews who attended are now being supported by the counselling well—being service to make sure they have the necessary support. and we'll be providing support to the local community, along with the police, over the next coming weeks and months. once again, i'd like to offer my profound sadness and deepest respect to the family and friends and the community who sadly lost four young children yesterday. the fire service have told us when they arrived they run only the four children and say the property, a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and remains in custody. this has affected the community profoundly, lots of people bringing flowers, neighbours described the boys as cheeky and funny. one of the tributes on the fly was simply reads sleep well, love granddad. sport and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. let's start at with the second ashes test in adelaide, where australia have put themselves firmly in charge on day two england took wickets — ben stokes clean bowling cameron green here. but 93 from australia captain steve smith and a half century for alex carey helped them to 473 before they declared. it meant england had a tricky session to negotiate with the pink ball under the floodlights. rory burns fell for 4. then haseeb hameed fell and england were 17 for 2 — lighning stopping play before it got any worse for the tourists. premier league clubs will meet on monday to discuss the escalating issues with the coronavirus pandemic. manchester united, brentford, watford, norwich and leicester all have covid outbreaks amongst their squads, leading to their games being cancelled this weekend. the clubs want a chance to discuss topics including rearanging games and fixture congestion. it is probably on a knife edge would be my verdict. when you start losing players to covid then the body as the competition becomes slightly unfair and i don't think anyone wants to see that, anyone wants to see a fairly, the job went to see disparity in games and players missing. we are what the duct to continue but the welfare of the players and supporters has to come first. well liverpool and newcastle did play last night, despite the reds suffering from a covid outbreak... curtisjones, virgil van dike and fabinho all missed the game. it didn't stop them from coming from behind to win 3—1 though, trent alexander—arnold with the pick of the goals. as it stands their game, with spurs is still set to go ahead on sunday... managerjurgen klopp is one of those who's arguing against the idea of a �*firebreak�* to pause games, until boxing day.... i don't see the mass of benefit in it because we come back still the same effie virus would be gone i would be the first to stop and wait until it is gone but that is properly not the case so where is the real benefit of it, i don't know. we hope we can play and help tottenham can play and play on sunday. elsewhere, the chelsea women's boss, emma hayes, nlamed anxiety and worry over covid, for her side's below par performance, as they were knocked out of the champions league last night.they had only needed a point to progress as group winners but were beaten 4 nil against wolfburg to end their champions league hopes. the result also means that they haven't won in three matches since winning the fa cup... max verstappen finally got his hands on the formula one world championship trophy last night at the fia prize giving ceremony. lewis hamilton didn't attend the gala. verstappen was asked if he felt sorry for hamilton after the controversial end to sunday's final race....hamilton's mercedes team saying yesterday that their driver had been "robbed" of the title and left "disillusioned" with the sport.... i don't feel sorry but i can understand it can be very painful but that is racing, you have to keep fighting until the end and you know anything can happen. he also won a championship like that so i think he can understand as well. and the four—time, women's darts champion, lisa ashton is still waiting for her first victory at the pdc world darts championship. the lancashire rose' was making her third appearance at alexandra palace but, up against the world number 53 ron meulen—kamp, she never quite got going... the man from the netherlands won by 3 sets to nil. elsewhere, two former champions met as gary anderson beat adrian lewis. and finally on the bbc sport website, you'll find the news that shows it's notjust football being affected by covid, rugby union too for this weekend's european games. leinster�*s game at montpellier tonight was already off and now european cup bosses are holding another meeting this morning to look into how new travel measures between the uk and france will affect matches. but that's all the sport for now. let's return to our top story and that shock win by the liberal democrats in the north shropshire by—election winning the seat which has been held by the conservatives for nearly 200 years. let's get more from our political correspondent in the north shropshire constituency, pete saull quite an upset. lots of people digesting the news crn oswestry, it is market day, people doing their christmas shopping and they will have woken up to the news of the historic by—election victory for the liberal democrats, for the first time in 200 years this constituency has not got a conservative mp. a clear message for change coming out of north shropshire. let's hearfrom a couple of voters, keith and lynn. was it a surprise to hear the news this morning? and was surprised, i thought the conservatives would get and with a reduced majority. loath? thought the conservatives would get and with a reduced majority.- and with a reduced ma'ority. why do ou think and with a reduced ma'ority. why do you think people _ and with a reduced ma'ority. why do you think people have — and with a reduced majority. why do you think people have voted - and with a reduced majority. why do you think people have voted so - you think people have voted so emphatically for something different? j emphatically for something different? ~ emphatically for something different?— emphatically for something different? .. , ~ , different? i think they are very fed u . different? i think they are very fed u- with different? i think they are very fed up with what _ different? i think they are very fed up with what has _ different? i think they are very fed up with what has can _ different? i think they are very fed up with what has can the - different? i think they are very fed up with what has can the last - different? i think they are very fed up with what has can the last few. up with what has can the last few weeks, the conservative guy had a difficultjob, with all that has been going on in westminster and the party i think people are just sending a bit of a message that perhaps we are fed up with it so we want to do something different or react in borisjohnson we want something different. [30 react in boris johnson we want something different.— react in boris johnson we want something different. do you think it is a specific — something different. do you think it is a specific message _ something different. do you think it is a specific message for _ something different. do you think it is a specific message for the - something different. do you think it is a specific message for the prime | is a specific message for the prime minister? j is a specific message for the prime minister? ., �* ., ., minister? i wouldn't have thought so, i hoe minister? i wouldn't have thought so. i hope most — minister? i wouldn't have thought so, i hope most people _ minister? i wouldn't have thought so, i hope most people recognise| minister? i wouldn't have thought i so, i hope most people recognise it as a whole — so, i hope most people recognise it as a whole group of people and government, the elected and unelected as well but that has been a lot of— unelected as well but that has been a lot of publicity and owned boris johnson — a lot of publicity and owned boris johnson in — a lot of publicity and owned boris johnson in the ice couple of weeks -- the _ johnson in the ice couple of weeks -- the last— johnson in the ice couple of weeks —— the last couple of weeks and time will tell— —— the last couple of weeks and time will tell and — —— the last couple of weeks and time will tell and that undoubtedly had some _ will tell and that undoubtedly had some effect. will tell and that undoubtedly had some effect-— will tell and that undoubtedly had some effect. , ., some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash _ some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash in _ some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash in the _ some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash in the pan, _ some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash in the pan, a - some effect. some people saying a bit of a flash in the pan, a one-offl bit of a flash in the pan, a one—off protest, but do you think it is a fundamental change? j protest, but do you think it is a fundamental change?— protest, but do you think it is a fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might _ fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might be _ fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might be a _ fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might be a flash _ fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might be a flash in _ fundamental change? i don't think, i think it might be a flash in the - think it might be a flash in the pan. iam not think it might be a flash in the pan. i am not that knowledgeable but i think this is just a temporary message, a temp and add a blip but it might not be. message, a temp and add a blip but it might not be— it might not be. what are the issues that matter — it might not be. what are the issues that matter most _ it might not be. what are the issues that matter most to _ it might not be. what are the issues that matter most to you? _ it might not be. what are the issues that matter most to you? she - it might not be. what are the issues that matter most to you? she is - it might not be. what are the issues that matter most to you? she is a i that matter most to you? she is a local itrl that matter most to you? she is a local girl and _ that matter most to you? she is a local girl and we _ that matter most to you? she is a local girl and we would _ that matter most to you? she is a local girl and we would like - that matter most to you? she is a local girl and we would like some | local girl and we would like some interest— local girl and we would like some interest locally, i think that is the big — interest locally, i think that is the big thing for people around here. _ the big thing for people around here, there was a lot of comment about— here, there was a lot of comment about being from birmingham i'm was quite impressive but people very much _ quite impressive but people very much have attached to somebody local _ much have attached to somebody local i_ much have attached to somebody local. i think if she can make something of that that will be a win. _ something of that that will be a win. . ~' , ., , something of that that will be a win. . ~ , , something of that that will be a win. ., ,, i. , , win. thank you. very festive mood here in oswestry, _ win. thank you. very festive mood here in oswestry, the _ win. thank you. very festive mood here in oswestry, the liberal- here in oswestry, the liberal democrats gathered and the background rn jubilant mood, they threw the kitchen—sink at this seat and what hard on the doorstep added has paid off, they have prompted this massive upset which has sent shock waves a long way from here in north shropshire and westminster. for a bit more analysis on what it means, newsnight�*s policy editor lewis goodall is here.... this was a by—election for the history books. let us be clear— north shropshire is, was as true blue as it gets. conservative for as long as britain has truly been a democratic country, indeed before. massively leave voting. older than average population. it is now represented by a liberal democrat. it takes their total in parliament to 13. that liberal democrat, helen morgan, overcame a conservative majority of 23,000— mammoth. this is how she did it— lib dems, leapfrogging from 3rd— they only got 10% of the vote in 2019— to first in 2021 with nearly 50%. and they did it by direct transference to the lib dems from the conservatives — whose vote was down some 25 points or so from 2019 and from the labour party. labour were in second in 2019— had 22% of the vote but there's big transference in 2021, labour voters deciding the lds had the best chance of winning and they were right. we saw a similar thing in chesham and amersham—another tory safe seat, different part of the country, in buckinghamshire but massive tactical voting against the conservatives. long talked about it's now actually happening. and that translated to a swing of 34%. it�*s basically coming off the swingometer— lib dems needed 26% it's way past that. it's the 7th biggest by election swing in our modern history, reminiscent of some of those huge anti—tory swings we saw in the 1990s. and that's what will worry a slew of conservative mps in the south of england in particular where the lib dems are in second place— seats like wimbledon, seats like lewes— 91 of them mainly against the conservatives, with much smaller majorities than shropshire. this one that stands out, esher and walton— the seat of the deputy pm and justice sec dominic raab. tories haven't had to seriously worry about the lib dems since they ingested them and spat out again after the coalition— a revival changes the complexion of our electoral politics. so— let's neither overstate nor understate. this is a sensational result, but it's also a by election, they can light up the electoral sky then fizzle and mean little. but what it does mean, is taken together with chesham and amersham the lib dems threaten to be back as a force and that borisjohnson, who has for so long looked invulnerable, to whom nothing would stick, is no longer so and that will change what he can do and his power over his party. warnings about the new omicron variant have prompted many people to cancel christmas dinners and parties — and that's having a devastating effect on businesses across the uk. the chancellor has cut short a visit to the us for crisis talks with businesses leaders, who've been hit by cancellations. they're demanding more finanical support from government. joining me now is jo bevilacqua, owner of serenity loves, hair and beauty salon in peterborough. i guess you canjoin us because you're not as busy as you are hoping you're not as busy as you are hoping you would be. that you're not as busy as you are hoping you would be— you would be. that is the case and 'ust the you would be. that is the case and just the huge _ you would be. that is the case and just the huge amount _ you would be. that is the case and just the huge amount of _ you would be. that is the case and just the huge amount of concern i just the huge amount of concern going on, we have had over 200 cancellations and no shows over the last two weeks so absolutely highly concerned, doing what we can in salon with the people still booking but what is usually a very busy time as an industry we are not as busy as what we should be.— as an industry we are not as busy as what we should be. what are people tellint ou what we should be. what are people telling you when _ what we should be. what are people telling you when they _ what we should be. what are people telling you when they bother - what we should be. what are people telling you when they bother to - telling you when they bother to phone to cancel rather than not turn up. jt phone to cancel rather than not turn u . _ ., , ., ., phone to cancel rather than not turn u n . ., , ., ., , phone to cancel rather than not turn up. it has a mixture of things, some tteole up. it has a mixture of things, some people are — up. it has a mixture of things, some people are being _ up. it has a mixture of things, some people are being told _ up. it has a mixture of things, some people are being told to _ up. it has a mixture of things, some people are being told to eyesight, i people are being told to eyesight, some are getting covid, some are concerned, they have been told to minimise what they are doing, do the things you really care for so i am summing their hairare things you really care for so i am summing their hair are nails are not as important as the prospect of not spending time with their family over christmas. ~ . . spending time with their family over christmas. ~ ., , , ., , ,., spending time with their family over christmas. ~ ., , , ., , ., christmas. what is your message to them? you — christmas. what is your message to them? you have _ christmas. what is your message to them? you have put— christmas. what is your message to them? you have put a _ christmas. what is your message to them? you have put a video on - them? you have put a video on youtube. them? you have put a video on youtube— them? you have put a video on youtube. ~ ., ., youtube. we did a live on facebook 'ust to youtube. we did a live on facebook just to talk — youtube. we did a live on facebook just to talk about _ youtube. we did a live on facebook just to talk about what _ youtube. we did a live on facebook just to talk about what our - youtube. we did a live on facebook just to talk about what our industryl just to talk about what our industry is going through, there has been a lot of talk and media coverage of the hospitality industry which is well deserved but for our industry well deserved but for our industry we simply cannot pivot and do take away haircuts, we cannot send things out in the post so unless people are coming into salon we cannot do what we want to be doing and need to be doing to make sure our business at run. people are panicking with the amount of cancellations that have been and the impact of the fact we are still recovering from being closed force along in 2020 and the beginning of this year, we had a huge contributor to the economy but we do not feel we are being heard on supported and the same way as other industries, we have not had any vat cut, we have still had to pay the 20% vat which is a huge impact on small businesses. most here and beauty sounds are self—employed or small businesses so every penny counts, every appointment counts and we need financial support from the government. they were amazing last year with the furlough and grants and that helped so many salons stay open and support their teams through this time but with the uncertainty of possible lockdown or business not coming through the dalby cannot sustain this, we are still and the recovery mode, literally clinging on for dear life. recovery mode, literally clinging on for dear life-— for dear life. also you have the ex-ense for dear life. also you have the expense of _ for dear life. also you have the expense of the _ for dear life. also you have the expense of the extra _ for dear life. also you have the j expense of the extra measures for dear life. also you have the i expense of the extra measures to make sure you are covid safe when people do come in. the chancellor has come back from the united states, what sort of help to you need eminently? taste states, what sort of help to you need eminently?— states, what sort of help to you need eminently? we need more grants, more financial — need eminently? we need more grants, more financial help _ need eminently? we need more grants, more financial help we _ need eminently? we need more grants, more financial help we need _ need eminently? we need more grants, more financial help we need to - need eminently? we need more grants, more financial help we need to have i more financial help we need to have some certainty that the furlough scheme will be brought back, flexing furlough f.c. need to send people home, we have had three other cancellations, people are just standing around on cleaning to repay them to clean and we don't want to send them home short of money for christmas, bounce back loans to be paused or adobe amazing fa were scrapped altogether. i think the business rates, a lot of salons are quite small so that will not impact them but for bigot salons are to be a huge help. vat cuts would be a huge up, there is so much support last yearfrom the huge up, there is so much support last year from the community and government and almost mean the leg feels has been nothing for so long, there is an estimation 8000 salons have shut since covid and i really worry people will close over christmas and will not reopen and salons as we know it not exist in the future. j salons as we know it not exist in the future-— the future. i hope things easy for ou, the future. i hope things easy for you. thank— the future. i hope things easy for you. thank you — the future. i hope things easy for you, thank you for _ the future. i hope things easy for you, thank you for talking - the future. i hope things easy for you, thank you for talking to i the future. i hope things easy for you, thank you for talking to us. | for many people, two jabs and a booster is seen as the optimum when it comes to protecting against covid, but for those with a weakened immune system, the recommended dose is three jabs and a fourth booster. health charities say more needs to be done to ensure a smooth roll out as some people say they're experiencing difficulties accessing their fourth shot. more from our health correspondent, katharine da costa. hal cohen from london had a kidney transplantjust months before the pandemic hit. he's been shielding on and off for nearly two years. his medication severely weakens his immune system. so he's at high risk from covid and had to isolate away from his family when his daughter caught the virus. when my daughter got covid, i was isolating in a loft. if i had to be anywhere near her, i'd wear a very good quality mask, but generally try and stay away. and then generally in life, you know, i don't go — i might pop into a place, a shop or somewhere very quickly, in and out, but don't spend any time really in public indoor places and always, you know, very keen on ventilation and masks and things like that. hal received a third vaccine as part of a trial in august. people who are immunosuppressed are now advised to have a fourth dose three months after their third, but hal has still not been contacted by his doctor or specialist. we've been playing the waiting game the whole of pandemic, really. i mean, we waited for vaccines and then they were probably available later to the vulnerable people than we thought. and they haven't necessarily worked for me. and then we were waiting for additional doses and new treatments to come along. and so it feels like a constant waiting, constant being at risk and unable to get on with the things we did a couple of years ago. for most people, three doses of vaccine will provide good protection against the more infectious omicron variant. but around half a million people in the uk who are immunosuppressed are likely to have much lower levels of antibodies to fight off infection. early data from imperial college london suggests more than one in five transplant patients have no protection after three jabs. so patients on immunosuppression or patients with inherited immunodeficiencies, their immune systems don't work as effectively to fight infection. and so they don't clear coronavirus infection as efficiently as the average population. and that's why they are more at risk of developing severe disease. in addition, we know that patients on immunosuppression have inadequate responses to vaccination, and so they don't have the same level of protection compared with people in the general population. nicola burns from warrington has a type of blood cancer. like many, she experienced difficulty accessing a third primary dose, which was wrongly recorded as a booster. despite being due herfourth jab in a fortnight, immunosuppressed people aren't able to book an appointment online, and her gp isn't sure how to fix the problem. but it feels like this small group of immunocompromised patients who need this extra dose have kind of been left in limbo. and we are stuck basically. some people are getting it. it is a complete lottery as to whether your gp has a way of doing it or their system has been updated. and if you fall into the category of "computer says no" and you can't get updated, then you can't get booked in. in a statement, nhs england said... gps say they're working hard to scale up the booster campaign while at the same time prioritising vulnerable groups. general practitioners and indeed specialist colleagues are aware of the need for that. but there does seem to be a lack of clarity about who's responsible for making it happen. so i think our expectation as gps is that the vast majority of these patients are under specialist care and therefore specialists should be ensuring that it happens. but actually, i think there might be some specialists who think it's happening in general practice. there are hopes new drugs will offer more protection. antiviral pills and antibody treatments are now available for at—risk patients on the nhs. health experts hope they'll cut the risk of hospital admissions and death among those most at risk from covid. for the past three months the cumbre vieja volcano in spain's canary islands has been spewing lava, but this week it fell silent. scientists have now said the longest eruption in la palma's recorded history could be declared over by christmas. tanya dendrinos reports. a sleeping giant in all its majesty. for months, the cumbre vieja volcano has wreaked havoc on the island of la palma. now it has fallen silent. translation: it's - a great feeling for me. it is a joy and a message to the island to keep going. this isjust the beginning and together we can get up again quickly. the islands banana plantations have been decimated by the eruption which started in september. around 3,000 buildings have been destroyed. thousands of people evacuated in what has been the longest ever eruption in la palma's recorded history. this incredible footage shows just how far the river of lava flowed. the platform it's left behind has expanded the size of the island by more than 48 hectares. then there is the mountain of volcanic ash. the work ahead is undeniable. translation: don't forget about us, although the volcano has stopped, i there is still a lot of work to be done here and it will take a long time. perhaps years, decades even. authorities say if the lull in seismic activity remains unchanged the eruption will be declared over on the 24th of december. locals now holding their breath for a christmas miracle. tanya dendrinos, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with owain wyn evans hello, hello, everyone. i hope you are doing all right. we have high pressure in charge of things at the moment. and what that means is we are looking at a lot of dry weather both today and over the weekend as well. let's have a look at the headline, then. there we go. it will be pretty cloudy, but, thanks to the high pressure, we are focusing on a lot of dry weather, maybejust a bit of drizzle here and there where the cloud is thick enough. let's have a look at it, then. there it is. plonked across the uk and underneath this area of high pressure we are expecting light winds, just a bit breezy across southern and south—western parts. on the finer detail, you can see there is a lot of grey. we have had some dense mist and fog patches this morning, especially across northern parts of england, the vale of york, east yorkshire, lincolnshire down towards some south—eastern parts. some of these slow, reluctant to clear. elsewhere, a fair bit of cloud around. some bright spells across south—western parts and parts of west wales as well. you will notice this gap in the cloud across parts of scotland as well. it was a chilly start to the day where we saw clear skies overnight getting to about six celsis across northern parts, but nine or 10 celsius across southern and south—western parts. let's move on through towards this evening, then. the return of some mist and fog patches where we see some clear skies as well. i think we'll see a touch of frost here or there, some slippery surfaces potentially. lows for most of us, between about five and seven celsius. now, thanks to the high pressure, which remains with us, as i said, over the weekend, we are looking at a lot of dry weather, but we will crank down those temperatures slowly over the next couple of days. you will notice again that gap in the cloud across parts of scotland, so plenty of sunshine here i think. and here or there, you know, brightening up with some sunny spells thanks to the high pressure, a dry story. any mist and fog which may be a bit slow to clear will move on through and then top temperatures tomorrow , 11, maybe 12 celsius across southern parts, whereas further north where you see clear skies, of course, i think we'll see something a little bit cooler. a quick snapshot of sunday, once more, a very grey monochrome kind of feel, a bit more of a breeze coming down here as you can see across eastern parts. it will be cooler across coastal parts, i think, and the temperatures are quite similar, but turning them down a bit at this stage. and that is because we are starting to import this colder air, this will be a feature of the forecast as we look towards next week in particular, turning down the temperatures, you will see that on the outlook. yes, most certainly turning cooler, maybe a little bit less settled through the end of the week, of course, we will keep you posted. that is the forecast. see you soon. this is bbc news. i'm martine croxall. the headlines... a shock defeat for borisjohnson as the conservatives lose the north shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years to the liberal democrats. if you are incompetent, it turns out if you tell lies, it turns out that if you take the people for granted, there is a price to pay. democracy and justice is alive and well in britain and the people of north shropshire has spoken for the whole of britain. it's the seventh biggest by—election swing in modern political history — but the conservatives insist the defeat was unique because it was caused by the resignation of former mp owen paterson over sleaze. i completely appreciate voters' frustration in relation to that. they were angry and they gave us a kicking over it and the prime minister has rightly said that we made mistakes and he regrets that those mistakes have been made. wales announces tighter coronavirus restrictions — with the return of social distancing and nightclubs shut after boxing day. a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect after two sets of twin boys, aged three and four, died in a house fire in south london last night. and railfares will go up by almost 4% — the government says the hike is to pay for further investment in infrastructure. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the liberal democrats have pulled off a political shock in the north shropshire by—election, taking one of the country's safest conservative seats. it follows the resignation of tory mp owen paterson, who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying. he won the last election — in 2019 — with a majority of nearly 23,000. but the lib dems' helen morgan took the seat by almost 6,000 votes — making it the seventh biggest by—election swing in modern political history. this morning, the party held a victory rally in oswestry — claiming they had �*burst boris' bubble'. the lib dem leader sir ed davey is isolating at home with coronavirus — so it was left to one of the party's former leaders tim farron to sum up the achievement. helen, i don't know if you realise how many millions of people have woken up this morning feeling that a bit of light has broken into the darkness. that it turns out if you are incompetent, it turns out if you tells lies, it turns out that if you take the people for granted, there is a price to pay. democracy and justice is alive and well in britain and the people of north shropshire have spoken for the whole of britain last night. i am absolutely proud as i possibly can be of helen, of her performance as a candidate here, she will be an outstanding member of parliament for this beautiful range of communities here in north shropshire. communities that have been taken for granted by the conservatives for so long. but it is notjust the communities in places like north shropshire, places like cornwall, northumberland, cumbria and elsewhere around the country that have taken for granted, it is the people who live there who have and taken for granted. so you are a farmer, you have seen your payments cut. and the tories think you're just going to vote for them anyway. or you are somebody concerned about your health services being taken away, closed down, moved further already from you than they already were. if you are somebody worried the fact that your expenses are going up, your costs are going up and your income is not rising with it, you have been taken for granted. and the assumption being, from the conservatives, that you canjust behave as they have done, especially these last few weeks, and no one will punish them for it. the result in north shropshire is the people of north shropshire speaking for the peple of britain, saying, enough is enough — we will not be taken for granted and things can be better than this. and last night we showed that the liberal democrats are the party who have got it in them in them to beat the conservative in seats like this, and other seats around the country. the conservative chairman oliver dowden inisted the government would listen to the concern of voters. i completely accept how voters feel fed up, given the unique circumstances of this, this election in particular. so i understand how this began with the resignation of the incumbent mp and the sleaze allegations around that. i also understand how going through it, there were many reports about the conduct of these alleged parties, as you are very familiar with, and i have heard people's concerns about that and i think it is really important that as a government we demonstrate that we are focused on getting on with what the people's priorities are — getting on with thejob. and that means focusing on things like the booster campaign. because faced with this surging omicron virus, it is absolutely essential the government's focus is laser—like on getting britain boosted. the veteran conservative mp, sir roger gale, says the electorate has sent a clear message to boris johnson. i understand entirely that tim farron and ed davey and others wish to claim this as a victory for the liberal democrats. it is not. it is a referendum on their performance in downing street, ifear. and it's all very well saying it's a mid—term by—election. it is. and of course people use mid—term by—elections to send messages to government. i was going to say, i think this message is very clear — we are not satisfied with the performance emanating from downing street. it's as simple as that. of course, as you say, the liberal democrats will say this was a clear victory because the swing was so enormous and that is what the history books will record. but why do you think borisjohnson deserves another chance? i was in north shropshire for the early part of the week and the number of people who came to talk to me, ordinary voters, saying that it wasn't the resignation of owen paterson because of the lobbying rules issue that particularly galvanised them. it was very much seeing that there seemed to be one rule for the ruling class and one rule for them. in the form of those investigations into the gatherings, the parties that were happening in whitehall. i don't suppose there isn't a conservative member of parliament who hasn't had a mailbox full of e—mails expressing pretty much what you have just said. it cannot be one rule for one person and another rule for everybody else. and that's a... i mean, that is so blatantly the case. but it's not really worth discussing. the fact of the matter is we have had, this week, a backbench rebellion — not a brexiteers rebellion or a remainers rebellion — it is right across the party. of100 people who voted against the government. 100 conservative members of parliament who voted against the government, that is very significant indeed. just for the record, i voted for the prime minister on that occasion because i believe that his measures are proportionate and necessary and responsible and ifear, i like to be wrong, but i fear that he will be proved right. but that was certainly one significant indication of strength of feeling in parliament. last night, we had an indication of the strength of feeling in the country. and on the basis of three strikes, i think one more strike and he's out. what would that third strike look like? for many people, he regularly stands at the dispatch box and says things that they can't go on to trust. but he hasn't run a very tight ship in downing street. how can you trust him to smarten up? sometimes, in government and in parliament and in politics, you have to be lucky and he's lucky in the sense that the house is now in recess for christmas. so the prime minister has got three weeks to put his house in order, to get his act together and to come back on the 5th of january, refreshed, revitalised and with a much clearer message than has been coming out of downing street recently. for a bit more analysis on what it means, newsnight�*s policy editor lewis goodall is here. this was a by—election for the history books. let us be clear — north shropshire is, was as true blue as it gets. conservative for as long as britain has truly been a democratic country, indeed before. massively leave voting. older than average population. it is now represented by a liberal democrat. it takes their total in parliament to 13. that liberal democrat, helen morgan, overcame a conservative majority of 23,000 — a mammoth majority. this is how she did it — lib dems, leapfrogging from 3rd — they only got 10% of the vote in 2019 — to first in 2021 with nearly 50%. and they did it by direct transference to the lib dems from the conservatives — whose vote was down some 25 points or so from 2019 and direct tranference from the labour party. labour were in second in 2019 — had 22% of the vote but there's big transference in 2021, labour voters deciding the lds had the best chance of winning and they were right. we saw a similar thing in chesham and amersham — another tory safe seat, different part of the country, in buckinghamshire but massive tactical voting against the conservatives. long talked about it's now actually happening. and that translated to a swing of 34%. it's basically coming off the swingometer — lib dems needed 26% it's way past that. it's the 7th biggest by election swing in our modern history, reminiscent of some of those huge anti—tory swings we saw in the 1990s. and that's what will worry a slew of conservative mps in the south of england in particular where the lib dems are in second place — seats like wimbledon, seats like lewes — 91 of them mainly against the conservatives, with much smaller majorities than shropshire. this one that stands out, esher and walton — the seat of the deputy pm and justice secretary dominic raab. tories haven't had to seriously worry about the lib dems since they ingested them and spat out again after the coalition — a revival changes the complexion of our electoral politics. so let's neither overstate nor understate. this is a sensational result, but it's also a by election, they can light up the electoral sky then fizzle and mean little. but what it does mean, is taken together with chesham and amersham the lib dems threaten to be back as a force and that borisjohnson, who has for so long looked invulnerable, to whom nothing would stick, is no longer so and that will change what he can do and his power over his party. a man who stabbed one of the uk's richest men to death in a "ferocious" attack has been found guilty of murder. thomas schreiber killed 83—year—old sir richard sutton at his home near gillingham, dorset, on 7th of april. schreiber also attacked his mother anne schreiber, who was sir richard's partner. she was left paralysed as a result, winchester crown court heard. he was found guilty of murder and attempted murder. he will be sentenced on monday. fire crews say four young boys — who died in a fire in south london last night — were alone in the house. the children were two sets of twins, aged three and four. a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect. the deputy commissioner of london fire service has been speaking to reporters. the children were taken to a local hospital, and sadly those four children died later that evening. the cause of the fire is currently unknown and we have fire investigation teams on scene at present along with the metropolitan police to determine the cause of the fire. i'd like to take this opportunity to give thanks to my firefighters, officers, control officers and also members from the london ambulance service, who worked incredibly hard to save the lives of these children. they did everything they possibly could, even travelling to the hospital in the ambulances so cpr could continue all the way there. our crews who attended are now being supported by the counselling well—being service to make sure they have the necessary support. and we'll be providing support to the local community, along with the police, over the next coming weeks and months. once again, i'd like to offer my profound sadness and deepest respect to the family and friends and the community who sadly lost four young children yesterday. it's been confirmed that rail fares in britain will rise by 3.8 per cent next year. the increase — which is tied tojuly�*s inflation figures — would usually take effect at the start of january, but is being delayed until march to give more passengers the chance to renew their season tickets at 2021 prices. the labour party have sent out a statement saying it is... you're watching bbc news... in the last few minutes the prime minister has been speaking about that shock by election loss in north shropshire. clearly the voting is a shocking result. i hear what the voters are saying in north shropshire and in all humility i have got to accept that verdict. what i would say is of course i understand that what voters want as as the government to be doing at all times is to focus on them and on their priorities and my job as prime minister is to get theirfocus onto the job as prime minister is to get their focus onto the stuff that really matters to all of us. so not just the vaccine roll—out, getting blistered now. what we are doing to fight crime, what we are doing to sort out our borders with the border as well, human rights what we are doing to keep the economy going. morejobs now than doing to keep the economy going. more jobs now than there were before the pandemic began, what we are doing to train up our country and prepare our economy for what i hope will be a great recovery. but i totally understand why people were frustrated and are frustrated and north shropshire. cani can i try... you have said you are to blame- — can i try... you have said you are to blame- i _ can i try... you have said you are to blame. i am _ can i try... you have said you are to blame. i am responsible i can i try... you have said you are to blame. i am responsible for. to blame. i am responsible for everything that government does. 50 everything that government does. so which bit, what things that went wrong under your watch, are your responsibility, are partly to blame, do you think is a cavalier approach to lockdown rules by you and your staff in downing street played a part in last night's defeat? j staff in downing street played a part in last night's defeat? i think tteole part in last night's defeat? i think people are _ part in last night's defeat? i think people are frustrated _ part in last night's defeat? i think people are frustrated and - part in last night's defeat? i think people are frustrated and i - people are frustrated and i understand... basically what has been going wrong is in the last few weeks, some things have been going very well but what they people have been hearing, what people have been hearing isjust been hearing, what people have been hearing is just a been hearing, what people have been hearing isjust a constant litany been hearing, what people have been hearing is just a constant litany of stuff about politics and politicians and staff that is not about them and isn't about the things that we can do to make life better. so to that extent, of course, you are right and i think thejob extent, of course, you are right and i think the job of the government is to make people like you, sam, interested in the booster roll—out and end skills. and in housing and in everything else that we are doing. and unfortunately, you are totally right, we have not been able totally right, we have not been able to get the focus on those issues. prime minister, it sounds to me like you are blaming the public to be focused on those things and further media reporting on those things. j media reporting on those things. i think that is very unfair. this i media reporting on those things. i think that is very unfair. this is i think that is very unfair. this is what tory _ think that is very unfair. this is what tory mps _ think that is very unfair. this is what tory mps are _ think that is very unfair. this is what tory mps are saying i think that is very unfair. this is what tory mps are saying to i think that is very unfair. this is | what tory mps are saying to us, think that is very unfair. this is - what tory mps are saying to us, what your colleagues believe. do you believe that you trying to change the sleaze rules in favour of you and your colleagues, which triggered the by—election, do you accept hands up the by—election, do you accept hands up responsibility for that? l the by—election, do you accept hands up responsibility for that? i do up responsibility for that? i do because it _ up responsibility for that? i do because it goes _ up responsibility for that? i u because it goes back to exactly what i was just saying which it comes into the overall category of politicians talking about ourselves and those issues, and seeming to be focused on those issues at the expense of the things that really matter to people. so i think myjob is to get over what we are doing more effectively and to show people that as a result of the fastest vaccine roll—out and the fastest booster rule at any, that we have got more jobs before the booster rule at any, that we have got morejobs before the pandemic began. i have got to my hands up and say, have i failed to get that message across in the past few weeks? has it been obscured by all this other stuff?— this other stuff? yes, i am afraid it has. this other stuff? yes, i am afraid it has- what _ this other stuff? yes, i am afraid it has. what about _ this other stuff? yes, i am afraid it has. what about your - this other stuff? yes, i am afraid it has. what about your adviser l it has. what about your adviser laughing on camera about covid rules. how do you stop those things happening again? that is the question tories are asking today? with all humility and respect to you, sam. all those questions are exactly the kind of questions about politics and politicians and all those kinds of things... the running of government that i am going to have to fix, of course. but the real issue, i think we want to focus on, issue, i think we want to focus on, is what we are doing to sort out the nhs, the investment we are putting into ghettos through a tough time and what we are doing to tackle the pandemic. —— into it to get us through. omicron is a very serious threat to us and we are seeing a considerable wave coming through. and people have got to be prepared and they have got to understand what it entails. and that is why the best thing everybody can do is notjust follow the guidance and advice we have set out, but get boosted now. that is the crucial thing we need to do. as of yesterday, we have vaccinated 25 million people with a booster, which is a great number. but we need to do a lot more. we have got... everybody is coming forward to help. we have got the army here giving massive assistance, you have got volunteers, teams are expanding all the time. we have the capacity to deliver they get boosted no campaign. what we need is people to recognise the urgency and can forward themselves. tori; to recognise the urgency and can forward themselves.— to recognise the urgency and can forward themselves. tory mps say the d sfunction forward themselves. tory mps say the dysfunction of— forward themselves. tory mps say the dysfunction of your _ forward themselves. tory mps say the dysfunction of your administration - dysfunction of your administration as having real—world consequences about what you're about. your cabinet ministers contradicting your scientific advisors over the rules and over the guidance. should people be cancelling social events in the run—up to christmas, yes or no? i have said already that people should be cautious. but what we have also said is that people should decide what they want to do, it is a matter for their personal choice, we are not closing things down but we do think people need to be cautious. your chief medical adviser goes further. i5 your chief medical adviser goes further. , ~ ,., further. is he right? i think both chris and i. _ further. is he right? i think both chris and i, chris _ further. is he right? i think both chris and i, chris whitty - further. is he right? i think both chris and i, chris whitty and - further. is he right? i think both chris and i, chris whitty and i i further. is he right? i think both| chris and i, chris whitty and i are saying is that there is a big wave of omicron coming through. people need to be prudent, people need to think about your budget of risk as it were. we are not in a position that we were in last year of closing everything down and trying to mandate exactly what people do. we want to leave much more to people's responsibility and own choice but we want them to be aware of the facts and the facts are that omicron, it does represent a very considerable risk and people need to be aware of that risk. they need to take the steps and they need to get boosted now. ., y steps and they need to get boosted now. ., , ~ , . steps and they need to get boosted now. ._ ~ h, steps and they need to get boosted now. ~ ,,_ now. tory mps are saying publicly that conversations _ now. tory mps are saying publicly that conversations have _ now. tory mps are saying publicly that conversations have begun . now. tory mps are saying publicly i that conversations have begun about your future. that conversations have begun about yourfuture. whether you that conversations have begun about your future. whether you should stay in that job. your future. whether you should stay in thatjob. if it was the interests of the country, if it was in the interest of the conservative party, would you resign?— would you resign? sam, could i remind you _ would you resign? sam, could i remind you of— would you resign? sam, could i remind you of everything - would you resign? sam, could i remind you of everything i - would you resign? sam, could i remind you of everything i have would you resign? sam, could i - remind you of everything i have been saying in this interview. that is the type of question that breaks the golden rule. what we are fulfilling on is getting thejob done, trying to make sure that we not only have the fastest vaccine roll—out in europe, the fastest booster roll—out as we have already done but we are able because of the get boosted campaign, to avert some of the more damaging consequences of omicron. that is what the government is engaged in doing no, that is what tim —— like i am focused on. that is what people would want me to be focused on right now. new covid guidance for businesses in scotland has come into force to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus. let's hear from scotland first minister nicola sturgeon. good i am joined by the chief medical officer and we will give you an eight on the spread of omicron in scotland. we will also take the opportunity to reinforce the important request we are making of everyone else know to limit the number of contacts you are having in the run—up to christmas and indeed to stay at home as much as is feasible. firstly though i will run through today's statistics. . a positivity rate of io% through today's statistics. . a positivity rate of 10% was recorded. public health scotland have made us aware that due to the larger volume of tests being processed the turnaround time for results were slightly affected. yesterday that means that the number of tests being reported on today and possibly the number of positive cases might be slightly lower than expected. i also want to repeat my plea to everyone, if you have symptoms of covid are a positive lf t—test, make sure you get a pcr test. 522 people are in hospital with covert. ten fewer than yesterday and 33 people are in intensive care, one fewer than yesterday. there is always a lag between rise in cases and rising numbers in hospital. sadly a further seven deaths were reported in the past 2a hours and that takes the total number of deaths under this daily definition to... i want to convey my condolences to everyone who has been bereaved. in relation to the omicron variant specifically, as our 5pm yesterday, there were 696 confirmed cases in scotland. however, these are cases confirmed through genomic sequencing and this measure therefore very significantly underestimates the true volume of omicron cases. as i have set out before, an earlier indicator of whether or not i cases omicron and a better measure of the overall volume of cases is the absence in pcr results of a specific genetic characteristic known as the s gene. around 85% of all test that are done in scotland are analysed in a way that allows us to see if this test gene is present or not. this has revealed over the past couple of weeks that omicron cases have been rising exponentially, indeed faster than anything experienced previously in the pandemic. as you have heard me say in recent days, cases have been doubling every two to three days. last friday when i stood here, reported that the s indicator was telling us then that 15.5% of all cases were likely to be the omicron variant. today it is 51.1i%. that does mean omicron has now replaced delta as the dominant covid strain circulating in scotland. that presents a challenge because we know omicron is significantly more transmissible than delta, it has an r number that is possibly about four and therefore it is driving, and the bigger the proportion of cases that are omicron, the more it will drive or it risks driving a much steeper increasing cases overall. cases have already increased in the past week by more than 40% and we should expect to see that continue and indeed accelerated in the period ahead will stop this tsunami i warned about a week ago is now starting to hit as. however and this is a key point, really key point, we should not be fatalistic about this. we are not powerless in the face of it and i will return later to what we can all do know individually and collectively to slow down the spread of omicron and try to avoid these worst fears that we have right now coming to pass. slow it down because there is no doubt as of now the scale and the immediacy of the challenge it presents is of profound concern. even if it did turn out to be generally a little bit less severe for most people, i want to stress again, we do not know that to be true. some people even if that was true, it will still cause serious illness and hospitalisation and tragically more people will die stop even if the number of people falling seriously ill is a smaller number of cases than with delta, the basic fact of arithmetic is inescapable. a smaller percentage of a much bigger number of infections will result in a massive number of cases needing hospital care. indeed, total hospital admissions in scotland in the week up to the 13th of december were slightly higher than the week previous so we're already starting to see an increase as a result of the relatively moderate rise in cases seen in previous weeks. perhaps more significantly in london right now where the number of omicron cases is currently the highest in the uk, hospital admissions are now rising quite sharply. if we don't act now, what we have feared all along since the very start of this pandemic so far managed to avoid, the overwhelming of the nhs, could happen and that is one, not the only, one important reason why slowing this down matter so much. it is important to understand that this is important to understand that this is not simply an issue for the health service. the numbers of people becoming infected even mildly and having to isolate is already putting a significant strain on the economy and on other critical services as people become infected we lose drivers for trains, we lose teachers for classrooms, we lose nurses are hospital wards and workers were businesses the length and breadth of the country. so there really isn't a choice to be made, there never has been. but right now there never has been. but right now there is not a choice to be made between slowing the spread of omicron and protecting the economy. we will only protect the economy if we slow the spread of the virus and reduce the number of people getting infected with it. that said, i realise i am acutely aware of the steps we are asking people to take right now, particularly that advice to limit social contacts as having a severe economic impact. this is hard on sectors like hospitality and culture. these have been badly affected by previous waves of covid and the restrictions we have been living with and these set as were hoping until recently, with some justified to miss, for a better christmas period ahead. what has happened in the last three weeks has been a cruel blow to ever be body but hit the sector is hard all over again. that is why in the scottish government have found £100 million to help businesses in these sectors. i can confirm 66 of this will go to the hospitality sector, 8 million will go to the food and drink supply chain affected by hospitality cancellations and that includes wholesale your. 20 million will go to the culture sector, 3 million to their wedding sector and 3 million to the worst affected parts of the tourism sector. we are working with councils, enterprises and agencies to make sure businesses get this money as soon as possible. those who have received support previously will be contacted directly and further details of the funding and how it will be paid are available on the find business support website. the support we are providing a significant but i know it will not fully compensate for the impact and thatis fully compensate for the impact and that is why i look to the prime minister asking the uk government to provide the support needed. in my view business needs the type and scale of financial support available earlier and the pandemic. the reality is that can only come from the uk government because it has borrowing powers that the scottish, welsh and northern ireland simply do not have. i will press this point with the prime minister later today, i had hoped i would already have spoken to him by now because we must realise that with a virus doubling every couple of days businesses already bleeding every 2041 was counts. there is no time to waste. i hope the conversation later will be positive and it will give businesses the assurance of support they so badly need. to return to the point earlier, the best way any longer term to support businesses are sustainably as to get the virus back under control and that most important line of defence as vaccination, it seems very likely omicron is better than previous variance at evading to an extent the immunity conferred by one or two doses of vaccine but more positively and seems booster is a very effective in reducing the risk of falling seriously out from omicron. getting a boost and is an essential way of protecting yourself and others and helping relieve the burden on the programme has picked up burden on the programme has picked up speed in the past week, yesterday saw the highest number of vaccinations we have ever delivered and a single day, 67,000 jags delivered and of these 63,000 where booster and third jags. let miele a straight more for you just how much faster the booster programme is running, on the 25th of november which is the debut first learned about omicron 32,000 boosters delivered, yesterday 63,000, almost doubling of the daily rate. most of that acceleration has happened just in the past week. in the past four days alone more than 220,000 booster and third jags have been administered. i am deeply grateful to everyone working so hard and they are working exceptionally hard and vaccination teams across the country and to everyone coming forward to get theirjags, more than half of the other 18 population has had a blister but we won't as many people as possible to get boosted by the time the bell straight on hogmanay. online booking is open to everyone over 18, also additional working capacity and many centres so if you have not had your bush don't yet make adage was to get out, if you have an appointment but it might be untiljanuary you can go online and rescheduled to bring it forward. if you have not had a first or second jag yet please get that, as is never too late. that is important for anyone who has not been vaccine to play want to emphasise the point for pregnant women. thejc vi and a pregnant women. thejc vi and a pregnant woman to the priority groups underlining it is the most important protection for any woman who is pregnant and their baby. the continued roll—out of boosters is essential but that is a key point to emphasise to everyone, no matter how fast we do it and the immediate term not be fast enough on its own to out run omicron, not least because the immune protection from a bristoljag does not kick and straightaway, it takes and owned a week so given that omicron is doubling every two to three days we have potentially seven more doubling cycles between now and the end of the year and given that case numbers are already high that could take them much higher than anything we have seen before and that would pose the most severe challenges yet for the nhs and economy. the serious message for all of us as we must speed up vaccination and we are doing that but at the same time you must also act to slow down the virus, that is why be put a new duty on businesses effective today backed by guidance to take reasonable steps to the just transmission and their premises, that includes physical distancing and measures to control the flow of customers in supermarkets and support for home—working. it is also why we are asking all of us to reduce as much as possible the number of social contacts we have outside our household. if we meet up with people we should make sure that admiral more than three households and we should absolutely take lateral flow tests before the, that is a safety net, my fundamental ask of everyone as this, in the run—up to christmas stay—at—home much more than you normally would and stay—at—home as much as you can. if what matters most to you are spending time with loved ones on christmas day and that is for many of us, do not risk that by going out before then and possibly catching covid. the reality is if you are mixing with others just know getting this virus is a real and increasing risk. covid and this omicron form as a circulating really widely and it is very infectious. much more than previous strains. if someone in your group on even someone in the same venue as you hazard your chances of catching it out much higher than with the delta variant. please try to stay at home as much as feasible and prioritise the event and occasion that matters most to you and after christmas every go back to limiting contacts for a period further we can hopefully then minimise anyjanuary surgeon cases. i know this is awful for all of us and particularly for businesses affected. i think many of us are finding it even harder this christmas than last year, i know that as the way i am feeling. three weeks ago i really thought we had turned a corner and had a genuine prospect of a much more normal run—up to christmas. the emergence of omicron really has been the cruellest of blows. it is quite understandable b are all feeling sad and upset and frustrated and even angry about this and i am not immune from these feelings. but we should also however difficult it is right to hold onto hope as well, ed might not feel like it but we are in so much better in a position now than this time last year because of vaccination. every booster and an arm is another brick in the wall of protection i do believe will increasingly defend us against omicron into the new year. although learning this has been long and hard and really we know what to do to slowdown divide us. we need to do as follows, firstly get vaccinated, thatis follows, firstly get vaccinated, that is the most important thing any of us can do, second test regularly, i am asking everyone to stay at home as much as possible but if you are mixing with other people please test yourself before you go. just before yourself before you go. just before you go a few and going out at night not rely on a test from the morning, make sure you test yourself just before you go. if we do that to be significantly dojust before you go. if we do that to be significantly do just the risk that we are and adversely passing the via this honour to others. lateralflow test and easy to take and get hold of, orderthem test and easy to take and get hold of, order them online, they will be mailed to you, collect them from local pharmacies are testing centres. put on your postcode on the website and they will tell you where the closest collection point as so make sure you are going anywhere. do stay—at—home as much as possible and when we do mix as well as testing comply with all the other protections, face coverings, on public transport and shops, and hospitality, keep your windows open a you are meeting indoors, not easy at this time of year but important and follow all the advice on hygiene and follow all the advice on hygiene and work from home as far as possible. there is no point sugar—coating this, we face a daily difficult period ahead but if we do all these things and limit social contact and get vaccinated and look out for each other we will get through it, i am grateful again for the way in which the country is responding and it is obvious the country is responding well, we can already see people are listening to and following this advice and given how hard it is, so much harder now than before it underlines the sense of responsibility and solidarity we all feel for each other. i hope very much we will see the do once a vest and the period ahead, if some other ross fears do not materialise but we need to stick at it so let's look out for each other and be kind to each other, this is probably a good time to drop a line on ring someone who might be feeling especially down or unknown, that might also cheer as as well. the most important thing in my view we have learned is how much we need each other so this is a time to pull together again and support each other in every way possible. nicola sturgeon with her latest covid briefing saying the omicron variant is now the dominant strain in scotland. the liberal democrats are celebrating their second by—election victory over the conservatives in six months. the party overturned a 23—thousand tory majority in north shropshire to take the seat by almost six—thousand votes. andy carter is the conservative mp for warrington south. what message do you think the voters in north shropshire are trying to send to your party and the government?— send to your party and the government? . , ., , ., government? that is a very good and clear message _ government? that is a very good and clear message coming _ government? that is a very good and clear message coming not _ government? that is a very good and clear message coming notjust - government? that is a very good and clear message coming notjust from i clear message coming notjust from north shropshire but constituents across the uk, they want us to focus on their priorities, understandably they are very frustrated with covid and the resurgence of some restrictions because of omicron. we have to make sure we deliver what we said we would do and we have to work, as communities to get ourselves through this what will hopefully be a short period where the virus surges so be can try and return to as normal as possible to nicola sturgeon will also ask the primaries that for more money for i was an north shropshire on monday and people told us for them things changed on the campaign trail when all the stories about the christmas parties taking place in whitehall as customers came to light. this parties taking place in whitehall as customers came to light.— customers came to light. this is about the integrity _ customers came to light. this is about the integrity and - customers came to light. this is| about the integrity and authority customers came to light. this is i about the integrity and authority of the prime minister. what has he got to do to restore trust because for many people they do not believe what he says at the dispatch box. trust is important _ he says at the dispatch box. trust is important and _ he says at the dispatch box. trust is important and we _ he says at the dispatch box. trust is important and we should i he says at the dispatch box. “inst is important and we should be clear that anybody involved in the parties and from what i understand it was officials and advisers in a number of government departments, they should expect to face the consequences. there was a very clear instruction at last year not to do that and if people have broken those rules that they should expect to face the consequences. it wasn't just there expect to face the consequences. it wasn'tjust there because we have seen photographs of borisjohnson at a close. we have seen photographs of what he was socially dozens. then;r what he was socially dozens. they were not socially _ what he was socially dozens. they were not socially dozens. they have put you follow because you are royal to the prime minister but effort is about restoring integrity this government needs to realise that the prime minister sets the tone and downing street, effie new the stuff has gone on he needs to act and surely the police should be bright and, normal members of the public refined thousands of pounds for breaking the rules. i saw the payments that stand at the dispatch box and apologise. that is not taking consequences for the actions. he has instigated a review into exactly what happened to stop it is important we do that, these are workplaces and we should investigate if people have broken the rules and then we should take action. if the police need to be involved then they should, i will not defend anybody breaking the rules. if you break the rules you should expect the consequences whether you are in downing street or coronation street full stop you should expect to face the consequences of wrecking the rules will stop we have spoken to roger gale who says it is two strikes already against boris johnson. , ~ , . johnson. three strikes and he thinks he will be out. _ johnson. three strikes and he thinks he will be out. he _ johnson. three strikes and he thinks he will be out. he has _ johnson. three strikes and he thinks he will be out. he has written i johnson. three strikes and he thinks he will be out. he has written to i he will be out. he has written to the chair of the 1922 committee. how much longer do you think boris johnson has got? it would appear it is not a case of if but when he has to go. i is not a case of if but when he has to no. . , ,., is not a case of if but when he has to no. . , ... .. to go. i want this government to deliver on _ to go. i want this government to deliver on the _ to go. i want this government to deliver on the things _ to go. i want this government to deliver on the things we - to go. i want this government to deliver on the things we were i deliver on the things we were elected to differ top i am asking you about the play minister. i was in shropshire yesterday talking to constituents and i have been out this morning, what they want this government to do is deliver on the priorities it was elected and i am not sure it is in the interests of the country to stop talking about having a newly done. we need to get on and are the priorities that people asked us to in 2019. that of our -a people asked us to in 2019. that of your party lurches _ people asked us to in 2019. that of your party lurches from _ people asked us to in 2019. that of your party lurches from one - people asked us to in 2019. that of your party lurches from one crisis l your party lurches from one crisis to another, there is review after investigation, how much longer bigger think he has got? out by spring? according to some of your mpc will not be the folly selection and you will not have a leadership election just before a general election. ii election just before a general election. , .. election just before a general election. ,. .. .. ~' election just before a general election. i. . ., election. if you look at the last two years _ election. if you look at the last two years the _ election. if you look at the last two years the government i election. if you look at the last| two years the government have election. if you look at the last - two years the government have worked on credibly hard to deliver vaccines and a solution to a global pandemic which allowed us to release restrictions in july and which allowed us to release restrictions injuly and run a relatively normal life until this point of this variant. the government actually have done a tremendous amount and the leadership of that under the play minister has meant we have been able to have it relatively normal period. we need to get through this brief period and focus on delivering priorities. that is what we were elected to do and that's what i expect the government to do. myjob as a backbencher is to hold the government to account, i am calling on ministers to focus on the things we were elected to do and the message is delivered on the things we were expected to do. it is message is delivered on the things we were expected to do.— we were expected to do. it is very hard when — we were expected to do. it is very hard when you — we were expected to do. it is very hard when you have _ we were expected to do. it is very hard when you have a _ we were expected to do. it is very hard when you have a play - hard when you have a play minister who appears to have put his foot in it and not see things through when people across about rose being broken and we have also seen the conservative party find for breaking rules about donations. how concerned are you that this is a watershed moment is the liberal democrats are saying? what we have seen and shropshire could play out across the country. amersham and chesham also went to lib dems, people starting to realise this government is not keeping its promises, least of all on brexit. .. .., , keeping its promises, least of all on brexit. ., , . ., on brexit. you conveniently avoided mentioning — on brexit. you conveniently avoided mentioning we _ on brexit. you conveniently avoided mentioning we actually _ on brexit. you conveniently avoided mentioning we actually won - on brexit. you conveniently avoided mentioning we actually won a i mentioning we actually won a by—election two weeks ago. i think. i am asking you about now, it was a seismic change and north shropshire. people expect the government to deliver for them and also expect integrity and honesty and where people have broken rules they should expect consequences. i do not defend anybody breaking the rules in that sense. i do think what people actually want is for the government they elected to deliver on the things they said they were going to and that is the work we are focused on. i want to make sure _ work we are focused on. i want to make sure when _ work we are focused on. i want to make sure when i _ work we are focused on. i want to make sure when i go _ work we are focused on. i want to make sure when i go to _ work we are focused on. i want to make sure when i go to the i work we are focused on. i want to| make sure when i go to the house work we are focused on. i want to i make sure when i go to the house of commons and talk to minister they are ready commons and talk to minister on the news and have an agenda to work to and thatis and have an agenda to work to and that is in the interest of people in my constituency and across the uk. that has to be the focus. thank you. are ready on the news that the department for transport has announced rail fares will go up next march by 3.8 percent. (read on) let's speak to our transport correspondent katy austin. this is about regulated tickets for the government helps to control the prizing where the government were commuters having the past. usually every year bca increase injanuary, that was not the case this year, it was pushed back until march 2021 and that was 2.6%. this time again we will see a fair increase and much. the amount it goes up as set by a formula usually done by calculating on the basis of what the retail price index measure of inflation was six months before so it is usually captivated an july six months before so it is usually captivated anjuly effort comes on in january. this captivated anjuly effort comes on injanuary. this year when the 2.6% rise came in march it was actually rpi plus 1%. what the government said this time as they are not going to do it by more than inflation, it will not be plus 1% again, and will be based on what the level was in july this year so even though it will be more than six months after july when the rise comes in next march they will still use the july rate of inflation which is right will be 3.8%. that matters because since then rpi has gone up and it reached 7.1% last month saw the government saying we are protecting people from that even a higher potential rise we could have seen, however labour as pointed out the cost of living has been rising all round and this is a nightmare before christmas, a hike for people when they are already facing increases in their bills. labour are saying it has gone up far more than the average wage in the last few years. again, what help is there likely to be for the average person? everybody is asking for government support at the moment. there are big pressures on the cost of living, and lots of different ways, notjust on the cost of living, and lots of different ways, not just a on the cost of living, and lots of different ways, notjust a rail fails but lots of increases, fuel prices have gone up as well but the government view as when it comes to the railways we are all heard real usage has dropped during the pandemic and that has affected the finances of the rail industry and the government says the taxpayer has had to put £40 million into helping the industry through this time and therefore it has to strike a balance between recouping some costs and also not putting prices up to high that it actually puts people off returning to the railway because thatis returning to the railway because that is a big focus on the industry, how to encourage people to come back and use railways again, that has been set back a bit by the advice to work from home but over the long—term how do you set fares in a way that you are getting enough money back end by not putting off people travelling altogether and one way they have said they are trying to do that as introducing a new flexor season ticket and we know 100,000 of those have been sold so far but it is still very early so we will see how that pans out in future. thank you. aj odudu and her dance partner kai widdrington have had to withdraw from strictly come dancing and will not compete in tomorrow's grand final. in a statement, aj said "i'm deeply upset that i am unable to perform in the final due to a torn ligament in my right ankle". the presenter went on to say learning to dance on the programme had been �*an incredible honour�* a man who stabbed one of the uk's richest men to death in what police described as a "ferocious" attack in dorset has been found guilty of murder. 35—year—old thomas schreiber killed 83—year—old sir richard sutton at his home in april. he'll be sentenced on monday. andrew plant has the background to the case. april this year, armed police responding to help at a mansion any dorset countryside. inside sir richard sutton has been fatally stabbed, has partnered stabbed multiple times. after the attack her son packed a suitcase and fled to wonder, as cartwright by a police helicopter. he begins to stab himself as they stop to arrest him, police use a taser, his chest woods described as superficial. in court witnesses said thomas schreiber harboured strong feelings of hatred and resentment towards his mother and resentment towards his mother and sir richard and was convinced he had been unfairly treated when it came to money. sir richard sutton owned a property empire including the sheraton hotel on park lane and the sheraton hotel on park lane and the athenaeum and mayfair. and schreiber survived the attack and is now paralysed. giving evidence she said her son had dollars had a furious temper and had tried to strangle her in the past. the court heard any months before the attacking headset messages to friends saying he had a plan for revenge, that has mother and sir richard sutton were toxic and he wanted to go out with a bang. when he was arrested he asked police to shoot him saying i pay your wages, put a bullet in my head. sir richard sutton was stabbed multiple times, one blow penetrating at 12 centimetres into his heart. doctors used 27 litres of blood to save an's life, she spent months in hospital. she told the court has sun appeared behind tell that night with wild eyes as he was stabbing me she said ifelt like he was eyes as he was stabbing me she said i felt like he was not really there. the singer and songwriter bruce springsteen has sold his master recordings and music publishing rights to sony music — in a deal estimated at five—hundred million dollars. the music magazine billboard said sony would have ownership of the rock legend's entire catalogue — including classic albums such as �*born in the usa'. tim allman reports. they call him the boss. an icon of blue—collar america. one of the most successful performance in rock music history. so he's not exactly short of a few bob. but the boss has just got a lot richer. # i come home in the morning... he signed a deal believed to be worth somewhere in the region of half a billion dollars, selling the rights to his entire back catalogue. a big move but, perhaps, an understandable one. running a catalogue, especially the publishing side of it, is an enormous amount of work. and if no—one wants to do it makes sense to let them inherit the money instead of a difficult business to run. springsteen is by no means the first veteran artist to sign such a deal. last year, bob dylan sold the rights to his back catalogue for an estimated $300 million. earlier this year, tina turner did the same for around 50 million. and there are reports of a similar deal worth $200 million that could be on the cards for the estate of david bowie. # this gun's for hire... as for bruce springsteen, he shows no signs of slowing down. it looks like this gun is still very much for hire. tim allman, bbc news. in a moment, the bbc news at one with jane hill, but first it's time for a look at the weather. many parts of northern angled and scotland have had a lovely day with lots of sunshine, elsewhere be held on to the cloud. the weather comes from the area of high pressure setting on top of the uk, winds remaining light throughout, temperatures high around 7—10. overnight we hold on to cloud across southern and western areas, and clearer skies in scotland and northern angled will see the lower temperjust, frost and mist and fog by the end of the night, further south with the thicker cloud close of 6—8. into the weekend very little change, beholden to the high pressure, staying mainly dry and mostly cloudy, the odd sunny spell could look particularly through sunday. double figure values on saturday, starting to drop a bit across the country through sunday. the north shropshire by—election. three, two, one! the tory party acknowledges the government has been given a kicking. the lib dems say voters in the constituency spoke for the whole country. borisjohnson, the party is over. your government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. it will be scrutinised, it will be challenged, and it can and will be defeated. i hear what the voters are saying in north shropshire and, in all humility, i've got to accept that verdict. we'll have all the latest on what this means for the conservatives and boris johnson's leadership. also this lunchtime...