for their loyalty to beijing. hello and welcome to bbc news. the uk's brexit minister lord frost has resigned, because of his concerns about the current direction of the government, including its approach to tax and to covid restrictions. it's another set—back for borisjohnson after by—election defeat in north shropshire and a conservative rebellion over plan b covid measues. here's our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. lord frost's resignation is without doubt another blow to borisjohnson, delivered right at the time the prime minister is at his weakest since coming to office. a one—time diplomat, david frost was brought in just days after borisjohnson became conservative leader to negotiate a brexit deal. he helped mrjohnson win the backing of hardline brexit supporters in his party, advocating a tough approach to brussels. the gap between us is still quite significant. here on the left, he was key to securing mrjohnson's brexit and his win at the general election. in return, the prime minister made him a lord and elevated him to the cabinet. but at that table, he has been arguing loudly against some of the prime minister's decisions, opposed to the recent re—imposition of covid restrictions and also to increasing national insurance to pay for social care. in his resignation letter to borisjohnson, he wrote, "you know my concerns about the current direction of travel," adding he wanted the uk to become a lightly regulated, low—tax country, saying on covid he hoped the government would not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere. he set out his beliefs in a recent speech. i personally will argue as strongly as i can that free—market capitalism, low taxes, free speech and the maximum possible amount of economic and political freedom for individuals are the best choices we could make as a country. in reply, borisjohnson wrote he was very sorry, given everything you have achieved and contributed to this government. but the timing could hardly be worse for mrjohnson, right after the shock by—election defeat for the tories in north shropshire. now, the liberal democrats have said lord frost's resignation shows the rats are fleeing borisjohnson's sinking ship. labour said the government was in total chaos. the noes to the left, 126. boris johnson's authority in his party was weakened after 100 of his own mps rebelled against him in parliament over the covid restrictions. now, some are saying time is running out for him. he has lost a minister who was key to getting him into office, and he looks more vulnerable than ever. damian grammaticas, bbc news. jill rutter writes about brexit for uk in a changing europe, and is a former civil servant and whitehall expert. welcome thank you forjoining us. we will talk about the brexit stuff more directly later, but i wondered what your overview is on this resignation in terms of the message it sends and the impact on boris johnson as leader. irate it sends and the impact on boris johnson as leader.— johnson as leader. we were anticipating _ johnson as leader. we were anticipating a _ johnson as leader. we were anticipating a brexit - johnson as leader. we were anticipating a brexit free . johnson as leader. we were - anticipating a brexit free christmas for once since this whole thing started and did not expect lord frost to be resigning for zappia only recently set out quite a big agenda about realising brexit opportunities and talking about negotiations continuing in the new year. so it is, is a real surprise. said, it looks like about the last thing the prime minister needed after an absolutely terrible week. how easy will it be for someone else to slot into thatjob of continuing those negotiations? the to slot into that job of continuing those negotiations?— to slot into that job of continuing those negotiations? the first thing is can the prime _ those negotiations? the first thing is can the prime minister- those negotiations? the first thing is can the prime minister find - is can the prime ministerfind somebody who wants to take whatever his line is? we don't know what his line is on the future of the northern ireland protocol and that is what matters rather than lord frost's line per se. but he leaves a big gap at a ministerial level because whatever you thought about david frost, as a minister he had negotiated the deal is and knew them inside out and no other minister is inside out and no other minister is in that position in the government, no one can slot in easily and know everything to stop the newest might be michael gove but he has a big other task at his new department for levelling up. it is difficult to find somebody to get up to speed that quickly. he has officials but he has two things to decide, what line he wants to take given the nature of the resignation and will his new appointees take whatever he wants and we have heard differences over softening the line on the northern ireland protocol but will he also, he, she be able to get across this issue quickly. and there is the domestic part of lord frost's job, to other people possibly in the business department meant or the treasury. business department meant or the treasu . ., ., ., ., , treasury. how for away are things in terms of resolving _ treasury. how for away are things in terms of resolving this _ treasury. how for away are things in terms of resolving this fiendishly - terms of resolving this fiendishly complicated issue of northern ireland? irate complicated issue of northern ireland? ~ ~ , complicated issue of northern ireland? ~ ~' , ., complicated issue of northern ireland? ~ ~ , ., , ., ireland? we keep on being tailed from inside _ ireland? we keep on being tailed from inside there _ ireland? we keep on being tailed from inside there are _ ireland? we keep on being tailed from inside there are bits - ireland? we keep on being tailed from inside there are bits of- from inside there are bits of progress but i think lord frost was writing only yesterday in which he said there is still huge amounts outstanding, so the government needs to make a strategic choice about whether it's a red line is a position, that it is set out in the command paper injuly, if there is a complete rewrite of the protocol or a set of practical solutions. the problem is the government is, if you like, former allies of the democratic unionists really want the very maximalist interpretation and we have already seen from large dots about the sense the government was compromising. —— large dots. are they seeking practical compromises in the existing protocol or does it need to go where some thought lord frost was my ultimate goal was, at least going in, a rewrite, that he never wanted... least going in, a rewrite, that he never wanted. . ._ least going in, a rewrite, that he never wanted... and 'ust to go back to the wider _ never wanted... and 'ust to go back to the wider politics, — never wanted... and just to go back to the wider politics, the _ never wanted... and just to go back to the wider politics, the fact - never wanted... and just to go back to the wider politics, the fact that i to the wider politics, the fact that lord frost has chosen to step away from this job has obviously been consuming him for a very long time before it is finished, sending a message about other aspects of government policy, tax, lock down. what does that say about what is going on internally?— what does that say about what is going on internally? whatever the real reasons _ going on internally? whatever the real reasons for _ going on internally? whatever the real reasons for him _ going on internally? whatever the real reasons for him standing - going on internally? whatever the l real reasons for him standing down, whether it was northern ireland or whatever, he is tapping into a stream of conservative disquiet over various aspects of government policy, he is clearly not alone on the backbench, we saw sadly repelled early in the week of the 100 or so mps, overthe early in the week of the 100 or so mps, over the new covid restrictions, lord frost had aired concerns we were not maximising the opportunity of brexit and there was only ever any point to brexit if you diverged from the european social model that we used to call the singaporean terms, deregulated economy otherwise lord frost argued, there was no point of exit at all, you do better staying close to the eu. 0ne you do better staying close to the eu. one of the real problems of the brexit coalition is lots of people voted for brexit but don't accept lord frost's analysis that brexit is supposed to usher in a new era of lower taxes that would equal less well funded public services and are tearing up of lots of regulations, which they would argue are protections for workers and the environment. so i think it is interesting that this ideological battle is going and large frost is on one side of the battle with the conservative party. governments around europe are imposing tight restrictions in reaction to the rapid spread of the 0micron variant. the netherlands has announced a stringent christmas lockdown, in an attempt to prevent a new wave of cases. all non—essential shops, bars, restaurants and other public places are shut as of this morning under the new measures introduced. dutch prime minister, mark rutte, says it's "possibly the hardest moment" of the pandemic." anna holligan reports from the hague. a final flourish of festive cheer before dutch cities shut down for christmas. department stores and toy shops weren't ready for this level of footfall, while hair and beauty salons squeezed clients in for a last—minute shave. translation: it was nice to go to the city for a little _ while before the lockdown. translation: it's too busy everywhere, but i have - to come to get presents before the christmas holidays. under the new measures outlined on saturday, all non—essential stores, bars, restaurants and other public places to shut from sunday. essential shops such as supermarkets and pharmacies must close by 8pm. and as previously announced, schools are closed until at least january the 9th. the prime minister delivered the message in a sombre tone. translation: omicron is spreading even faster than feared _ and so we must intervene now to prevent much worse. this is what a christmas lockdown looks like on my local high street in the hague, most of the shutters have gone down and they won't be rolled up again until at least mid—january. this lockdown is being presented by the politicians as a response to the highly contagious 0micron variant, but critics argue it needs to be seen in the wider context — the slow response to the delta variant and the slow roll—out of the booster vaccine programme, which has meant that hospitals here in the netherlands have no extra capacity to deal with an influx of 0micron cases. the dutch are seeking to speed up that booster programme. the over 60s have just been invited to get theirs and it's hoped that within a month everyone in the netherlands who wants a booster shot will have the chance to get one. this is usually a highly organised society, the dutch don't like chaos. this last—minute lockdown coming just days before christmas underlines the urgency of the situation here. there is some good news — father christmas will still be allowed to deliver presents. his message to the nation — merry christmas, happy lockdown. germany has become the latest european country to ban most travellers from britain. from sunday, german nationals and residents arriving from the uk will need to quarantine for two weeks, regardless of their covid vaccination status. there were protests in several german cities on saturday against covid—19 measures. thousands of people marched in dusseldorf and frankfurt, where there were clashes between demonstrators and police. hundreds of demonstrators gathered in barcelona and bilbao in spain to protest against covid—19 passes that are now required to enter bars, restaurants, gyms and care homes. with a nationwide vaccination rate of nearly 80%, spain has been largely spared the latest wave sweeping across europe. elsewhere in europe hundreds gathered in the italian city of turin against the extension of a covid—19 state of emergency which runs to the end of march next year, and the so—called green pass certificate. there has been a significant rise in the number of 0micron cases in the uk, with 10,000 reported yesterday. it comes amid calls for tougher restrictions before the end of the year. in london, the mayor sadiq khan has declared a major incident, warning the nhs in the capital was at risk of being overwhelmed. dan johnson reports. some vaccination centres are now open 2a hours a day as the arms race against 0micron hits new records, but the new variant is still doubling case numbers every two days. we're incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the 0micron variant. over the last 2a hours we have had the largest number of new cases since this pandemic began, more than 26,000. hospital admissions are going up, but also staff absences are going up by massive levels, so i have taken the decision in consultation with our partners to declare a major incident. it means more co—ordination between public services and more support from central government, but scientific advisers suggest without tougher rules we could see 2,000 hospital admissions every day in england in a fortnight. the move towards some sorts of further restrictions on movement and mixing probably will come about, because the problem, really, is how high this peak will go. if it goes very high, then the health service will substantially come under pressure. and also, if it carries on going at the rate it is, many people who have been working in other industries — in shops, in food outlets, in delivery, all that sort of thing — many of them will be having to self—isolate because they have been positive. they say delaying until next year would greatly reduce the effectiveness of restrictions. we will get more data about 0micron in a week or so, but if the nhs is to cope with this wave through january, big, possibly difficult decisions may need to be made before then. an army of nhs vaccine ambassadors have been deployed to shopping centres and transport hubs across england to encourage people to get their boosterjabs. around 900 people will form �*street teams' and will visit dozens of high footfall areas across the country every day until christmas eve. dr helen lawal is a gp in west yorkshire. welcome, thank you forjoining us. how is the booster roll—out going where you are? do you mind stopping for a moment because we cannot hear you. i think we can now hear you. if you. i think we can now hear you. if you can go back to the beginning and tell us how the booster programme is going there. i tell us how the booster programme is auoin there. ~ , ., going there. i think we should feel really confident _ going there. i think we should feel really confident and _ going there. i think we should feel really confident and it _ going there. i think we should feel really confident and it is _ really confident and it is definitely a positive aspect of all of this, how well the vaccination programme is going. i have some statistics here, that almost nine in ten people over the age of 12 have received their first dose, over 1810 people over the age of 18 have received their second and six in ten people over the age of a0 have their third dose so we are having really good progress, however we have heard how serious the condition is, the situation is with the new 0micron a variant and that is why the government are calling on a national mission, a sense of urgency and this is more important than ever that we get a sense of urgency and this is more important than ever that we get with the 0micron variant but for those people that can get their third booster dose in, it pushes that protection is 70% which is where we needed to be. and that protection is 70% which is where we needed to be. and when you cive those where we needed to be. and when you give these stats _ where we needed to be. and when you give those stats of _ where we needed to be. and when you give those stats of almost _ where we needed to be. and when you give those stats of almost nine - where we needed to be. and when you give those stats of almost nine in - give those stats of almost nine in ten have had theirfirst give those stats of almost nine in ten have had their first dose give those stats of almost nine in ten have had theirfirst dose in their area, ten have had theirfirst dose in theirarea, how ten have had theirfirst dose in their area, how much has the picture changed since 0micron and the drive for more people to get vaccinated? those stats were national, so that is what is going on nationally. i think there was a real push now and thatis think there was a real push now and that is part of what the street invested a team that we have mentioned is, we needed to be really accessible so the teams of people on the streets up and down the country from newcastle to brighton in areas of high footfall, speaking over 33 different languages so they can really engage with the public, provide information there and then and alongside the vaccine buses there are out and about, that extra p°p�*up there are out and about, that extra pop—up site and vaccine centres, some of which are open 2a hours were hoping to see a real increase in uptake over the next few days and weeks as we move into the heart of the festive season.— weeks as we move into the heart of the festive season. what i went from our the festive season. what i went from your persnective _ the festive season. what i went from your perspective as _ the festive season. what i went from your perspective as a _ the festive season. what i went from your perspective as a local— the festive season. what i went from your perspective as a local gp, - the festive season. what i went from your perspective as a local gp, what| your perspective as a local gp, what your perspective as a local gp, what you are seeing in terms of people's desire to get the vaccine versus reticence and whether that is something that is changing, because with 0micron there has been so much must talk about the boosters and the importance of getting a roll—out and the timing before christmas. how do you see those factors coming together? i you see those factors coming together?— together? i think people are fearful, together? i think people are fearful. we _ together? i think people are fearful, we hoped _ together? i think people are fearful, we hoped we - together? i think people are fearful, we hoped we would| together? i think people are i fearful, we hoped we would be together? i think people are - fearful, we hoped we would be in a better situation this time compared to next year and in many ways we are, we have the protection of millions of people having had their vaccines and 26 million people having their boosters. in general, people are really keen and people i am speaking to you are really keen to have their vaccine and get the booster, so for me the main barrier is accessibility and it has to be easy and that is why this roll—out and the extra pop—up centres are there to make it easier than ever for people to get their vaccination. but i'm certainly seeing lots of people getting the information, they appreciate these services and they have an understanding of how effective the vaccination actually is. . , ., ., , effective the vaccination actually is. once someone gets there booster oran is. once someone gets there booster or an of is. once someone gets there booster or any of the — is. once someone gets there booster or any of the vaccines, _ is. once someone gets there booster or any of the vaccines, how _ is. once someone gets there booster or any of the vaccines, how long - or any of the vaccines, how long does it take for the immunity to properly kick in?— properly kick in? from the information _ properly kick in? from the information i _ properly kick in? from the information i have - properly kick in? from the information i have come i properly kick in? from the. information i have come we properly kick in? from the - information i have come we know after the booster dose, it can take up after the booster dose, it can take up to 1a days for maximum protection which can be high as 9a%, but the way they work in general, and these are the conversations i'm having with patients, as soon as the vaccine goes into the body, the immune system starts to conjure up a response, it provokes a response in the body and that is why we can get some mild side—effects which are expected and you see a maximum response around 1a days later and immunity wanes over time, whether it is natural immunity from having covid or immunity from the vaccine or booster, we know it wanes over time and that is why there is a push now for people to get there first, second and third booster and remember you can book in as soon as two months after you have had it and you can plan ahead so you know you are getting your next vaccine with a three—month gap in between. thank three-month gap in between. thank ou so three-month gap in between. thank you so much — three-month gap in between. thank you so much for— three-month gap in between. thank you so much forjoining _ three-month gap in between. thank you so much forjoining us. - people in hong kong are voting in the first election since china imposed sweeping changes on the territory's political system. every candidate has been approved by a pro—beijing committee and most opposition groups are not taking part. early figures suggest a low turnout. the bbc�*s danny vincent is in hong kong and has the details. this is the first election for the legislative council since beijing imposed a sweeping reform of electoral systems. this year according to the ref are made means only people that are deemed patriotic to the country are able to stand. furthermore, since this city has seen a lot of turmoil since 2019, there was an introduction of a national security law around a year ago, that means that many of the word candidates, many of the pro—democracy camp, many people have been arrested or essentially fled the city. so this election is quite different from past elections here in hong kong, many of the pro—democracy candidates that many of these parties will be looking to vote for simply are not able to stand this year.— vote for simply are not able to stand this year. and how weather selection change _ stand this year. and how weather selection change hong _ stand this year. and how weather i selection change hong kongpolitical landscape? selection change hong kongpolitical iandsca e? . , ., selection change hong kongpolitical iandscae? . , ., ., landscape? critics would argue it was already _ landscape? critics would argue it was already changed _ landscape? critics would argue it l was already changed significantly, the introduction of the national security law, critics would say has eroded many of the political freedoms hong kong was promised for 50 years after the handover. however the authorities claim that this election, the political reforms that have taken place in this city have helped to restore stability, they say it has helped to remove or eradicate the anti—china elements in his political landscape, so it depends who you ask. but i think many critics would feel that this election is more a selection process than a traditional election because many of the would—be candidates are not standing this year. there are two candidates with very different political views on chile. katy watson sent this report from santiago. just a few days ahead of the vote, there was a political earthquake, the death of general pinochet�*s widow lucia hiriart was for many a celebration. 30 years after the return of democracy, this was a moment many people had been waiting for. herman's brother was one of the disappeared dead. ——disappeared. translation: today, the wife | of a dictator, a tyrant, has died. there's no doubt she had a big influence in his life. so those of us who suffered are celebrating the end of a dynasty. chile has become used to protests these past couple of years. an economically stable, yet deeply unequal country, it's been shaken up by demands for change. and this is the candidate trying to forge a new path for chile. a former protest leader turned politician determined to turn the page on the country's past. there's no way that we can make our country stable if we try to impose one vision over another. politics cannot be just for professionals like just for, you know, these old guys with a tie and talking in difficult language in offices. but not everyone is convinced of boric�*s politics. andres shows me his cafe that was ransacked by protesters. 0vernight, 70% of his business was destroyed. "i came down here and cried. "ten years of work destroyed in a matter of hours," he tells me, and it took him months to return, so traumatised and fearful of what had happened. it's this fear that far—right candidate jose antonio kast has capitalised on and helped him to win the first round. a man who's spoken fondly of the country's military past, he's been compared to brazil's bolsonaro and to donald trump. in the crowds, there were plenty of symbols of the american far right, including a trump hat. translation: he was the best president in history. _ he represents me, kast has the same right wing politics. the past few years of protest seem poised to change a new direction for chile. for the people here, order and stability is more important. and if that means voting in a man who has praised the dictatorship, then so be it. chile's history is dark and still haunts people. these elections have brought fear to the fore, making them remember the past when having to decide the country's future. katie watson, bbc news, in santiago. you are watching bbc news. if you don't want to know who won the strictly come dancing final, mute your tv and look away now. the eastenders star rose ayling—ellis has become the first deaf contestant to take home the glitterball trophy. she and her partner giovanni beat tv chef john whaite and johannes in the final. 0ur media and arts correspondent, david sillito has all the details. welcome to strictly come dancing. it's the grand final... with the tv presenter aj 0dudu having to pull out because of injury, it was a straight head—to—head final between the first male same—sex couple, john whaite and johannes radebe, and strictly�*s first deaf contestant, rose ayling—ellis, and giovanni pernice — a partnership that in this little burst of silence brought one of the tv moments of the year. rose ayling—ellis went on the show, she said, to change perceptions about the deaf community. this dance changed a lot of things, and it made me realise how powerful dance can be. it shared my messages for the deaf community. and for me and for giovanni, and how he adapted to my world — ijust feel like this is a dance that said everything about my strictlyjourney. let's take a look at the final leaderboard... the judges couldn't separate them, but the audience vote... and we can now reveal the strictly come dancing champions 2021 are... rose and giovanni. the culmination of 13 weeks of dancing that has provoked applause, a lot of tears and inspired thousands to learn some sign language. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. hello. it was a cold start to this morning, we had temperatures last night as low as minus 8.9 celsius in braemar in aberdeenshire. that made it the coldest night of the autumn winter so far. now, through today, some sunshine. most places keeping rather a lot of cloud but mostly dry. still some mist and fog lingering all day for some central and eastern parts of england and eastern scotland. quite a lot of low cloud. it's further west that you will see some some holes in that cloud. so some sunshine for, north—west england and wales as well. sunny spells for northern ireland and parts of south—west england but further east feeling fairly chilly where you're trapped under that cloud all day. this evening and tonight, then, largely cloudy, mostly dry. the odd spot of drizzle coming out of that cloud at times for today and tonight. it won't be quite as cold as it was last night, still a bit of frost across parts of scotland in particular. one or two misty patches monday morning. another largely dry, cloudy day but more sunshine breaking through the cloud for central and eastern england where we haven't seen the sun for a few days. top temperatures around two to nine degrees. this is bbc news. i'm joanna gosling. the headlines: the uk's brexit minister lord frost resigns citing concerns about what he called the government's "direction of travel" germany bans british travellers and the netherlands goes into full lockdown — as europe ramps up its fight against the spread of 0micron. translation: it was nice to go to the city for a little _ while before the lockdown. translation: it's too busy everywhere, but i have - to come to get presents before the christmas holidays. scientists in the uk put more pressure on the government to announce fresh restrictions to stem the spread of the covid variant. in the first election since china tightened its control, people in hong kong are voting in a poll where every candidate has been vetted for their loyalty to beijing. let's cross to the bbc sport centre and join gavin.