hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me is the deputy political editor for the mail on sunday, anna mikhailova. and we're also joined by the presenter and broadcaster, penny smith. tomorrow's front pages, they haven't been out yet despite the imminence of christmas. the guardian with the studies into the 0micron variant — which says that a possibility of a hospital stay is 40% lower. the telegraph also leads with good news from studies into the 0micron variant — which says the risk of hospitalisation is two thirds lower. same story on the front page of the i — which also mentions the uk recording its highest number of daily cases — topping 100,000 for the first time. the ft leads with a warning from energy companies that a rise in gas prices could lead to a "national crisis". let's talk about all that. we will begin. kick us off with the guardian front page, please. 50 begin. kick us off with the guardian front page, please.— begin. kick us off with the guardian front page, please. so the guardian has -- as quite _ front page, please. so the guardian has -- as quite a — front page, please. so the guardian has -- as quite a few _ front page, please. so the guardian has -- as quite a few papers - has —— as quite a few papers tomorrow, present quite positive news coming out from the first real world data coming out of the uk on the omicron variants. this is that thing we have all been waiting for, the risk of a possible lockdown and has been hanging in the balance of whatever the new data shows, whether or not it will be milder than the delta variant and this data suggests that it is. there is a reduced risk of hospitalisations when people do go to hospital, they are in hospital for less time, which is extremely positive in terms of the fear is that it might over on the nhs. i think what we will see is next week, less pressure to recall parliament, less pressure to recall parliament, less pressure to reduce restrictions before the new year, and i'm sure ministers will say they are continuing to analyse the data this is the first proper positive news we have seen. we is the first proper positive news we have seen. ~ is the first proper positive news we have seen-— is the first proper positive news we have seen. ~ . ., , , ., have seen. we did have a survey from the r0 al have seen. we did have a survey from the royal college _ have seen. we did have a survey from the royal college of— have seen. we did have a survey from the royal college of physicians - the royal college of physicians suggesting something like ten and half percent of doctors are off sick with covid at the moment or at least isolating precautionary in case they develop worse symptoms are because they have potential infections. that figure is much higher in london, and in a sense it's a tale of two pandemics, because in london, the numbers make it that much more problematic than maybe they are at the moment elsewhere. i problematic than maybe they are at the moment elsewhere.— problematic than maybe they are at the moment elsewhere. i don't know about ou, the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you. but _ the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you. but to _ the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you, but to my _ the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you, but to my head _ the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you, but to my head is - the moment elsewhere. i don't know about you, but to my head is almost| about you, but to my head is almost fizzy with _ about you, but to my head is almost fizzy with facts and figures and percentages. i particularly hate percentages. i particularly hate percentages for some reason, just because _ percentages for some reason, just because as — percentages for some reason, just because as we know, whenever, i remember— because as we know, whenever, i remember way back because as we know, whenever, i rememberway back in because as we know, whenever, i remember way back in my early reporting — remember way back in my early reporting day as i use to say can somebody— reporting day as i use to say can somebody help me out with this maths — somebody help me out with this maths. that thing is that it's where the peak— maths. that thing is that it's where the peak is — maths. that thing is that it's where the peak is. i will tell you what some — the peak is. i will tell you what some of— the peak is. i will tell you what some of the daily telegraph talks about— some of the daily telegraph talks about south africa, which acquired south _ about south africa, which acquired south africa felt unfairly penalised and i think there are many people who thought that they wear because, after all. _ who thought that they wear because, after all, all they did but say have after all, all they did but say have a look_ after all, all they did but say have a look at — after all, all they did but say have a look at this. we thank you probably— a look at this. we thank you probably got it there as well. they have got _ probably got it there as well. they have got sharply reduced levels of hospitalisations and in our rates. we used — hospitalisations and in our rates. we used to— hospitalisations and in our rates. we used to talk about the r rate, the or _ we used to talk about the r rate, the 0r rate below one. and they are saying _ the 0r rate below one. and they are saying this _ the 0r rate below one. and they are saying this is only weeks after reports of the first cases of the very— reports of the first cases of the very end, so already they have had to speak _ very end, so already they have had to speak so — very end, so already they have had to speak. so it seems to be very quick— to speak. so it seems to be very quick to — to speak. so it seems to be very quick to go — to speak. so it seems to be very quick to go up, very quick to come down, _ quick to go up, very quick to come down, and — quick to go up, very quick to come down, and as— quick to go up, very quick to come down, and as was said, the point is that all— down, and as was said, the point is that all looks like good news at the moment. it seems to be on the front page of— moment. it seems to be on the front page of the _ moment. it seems to be on the front page of the guardian coming back to that, if_ page of the guardian coming back to that, if you — page of the guardian coming back to that, if you happen to have covid and you — that, if you happen to have covid and you haven't been vaccinated, you still have _ and you haven't been vaccinated, you still have an — and you haven't been vaccinated, you still have an 11% lower risk of hospitalisation, but, of course committee have been vaccinated, it seems _ committee have been vaccinated, it seems to— committee have been vaccinated, it seems to be very good, and i don't know— seems to be very good, and i don't know about — seems to be very good, and i don't know about you two, but i seem to come _ know about you two, but i seem to come up _ know about you two, but i seem to come up until now known a known a huge _ come up until now known a known a huge number of people suddenly getting _ huge number of people suddenly getting told that all of a sudden. now it's — getting told that all of a sudden. now it'sjust everybody. getting told that all of a sudden. now it's just everybody. they have i -ot now it's just everybody. they have i got a _ now it's just everybody. they have i got a bit _ now it's just everybody. they have i got a bit of— now it's just everybody. they have i got a bit of a sniffle and being rather— got a bit of a sniffle and being rather surprised when instead of 'ust rather surprised when instead of just the — rather surprised when instead of just the control, they suddenly had the tea _ just the control, they suddenly had the tea pop up as well. that just the control, they suddenly had the tea pop up as well.— the tea pop up as well. that is interesting. _ the tea pop up as well. that is interesting. coming _ the tea pop up as well. that is interesting. coming back- the tea pop up as well. that is interesting. coming back to i the tea pop up as well. that is i interesting. coming back to that. this is all, obviously, it's not anything scientific, but what has been your impression among the people you know, colleagues, friends, relatives?— people you know, colleagues, friends, relatives? every single wa , we friends, relatives? every single way. we have _ friends, relatives? every single way, we have had _ friends, relatives? every single way, we have had a _ friends, relatives? every single way, we have had a lot - friends, relatives? every single way, we have had a lot of - friends, relatives? every single i way, we have had a lot of people friends, relatives? every single - way, we have had a lot of people get it. it way, we have had a lot of people get it. ._ , way, we have had a lot of people get it. , , , way, we have had a lot of people get it. ., , , , .. , it. it may be untypical 'ust because of the nertue h it. it may be untypical 'ust because of the nature of _ it. it may be untypical 'ust because of the nature of the _ it. it may be untypicaljust because of the nature of the place - it. it may be untypicaljust because of the nature of the place you - it. it may be untypicaljust because | of the nature of the place you were, and encase that part of the problem, we have a situation where people's expenses can be very, very different, and there are some people who have been sitting around going what is this hysteria about covid in my town are my village clement hasn't had a dramatic effect, others have lost dear relatives, friends, colleagues in significant numbers. we have all become armchair scientists. and that is what we talk about, _ scientists. and that is what we talk about, isn't— scientists. and that is what we talk about, isn't that chris in the first time _ about, isn't that chris in the first time that— about, isn't that chris in the first time that i— about, isn't that chris in the first time that i knew a number of people, they all had _ time that i knew a number of people, they all had children who just gone back to _ they all had children who just gone back to school. so there was that everybody — back to school. so there was that everybody standing around having a conversation, the water cooler was outside in — conversation, the water cooler was outside in the fresh air as far as ways— outside in the fresh air as far as ways you — outside in the fresh air as far as ways you could go without actually havirrg _ ways you could go without actually having to shout at people. everybody was saying _ having to shout at people. everybody was saying its children. then the next _ was saying its children. then the next one — was saying its children. then the next one comes along and who knows, who can _ next one comes along and who knows, who can possibly know, but it does look like it's — who can possibly know, but it does look like it's going in the right direction _ look like it's going in the right direction. there is a comment in the daily— direction. there is a comment in the daily telegraph which i thought, there _ daily telegraph which i thought, there would be people who would agree _ there would be people who would agree with sir ian duncan, the former— agree with sir ian duncan, the former tory leader saying we just have _ former tory leader saying we just have to _ former tory leader saying we just have to keep, you know, hospitality open, _ have to keep, you know, hospitality open, he _ have to keep, you know, hospitality open, he says, let's have no more of this doom _ open, he says, let's have no more of this doom and — open, he says, let's have no more of this doom and gloom, which is going to kill— this doom and gloom, which is going to kill us _ this doom and gloom, which is going to kill us. otherwise we are going to kill us. otherwise we are going to be _ to kill us. otherwise we are going to be looking at shutting down every single winter, he says the scots and the welsh _ single winter, he says the scots and the welsh are ridiculous administrations. now, what can we do? all_ administrations. now, what can we do? all we — administrations. now, what can we do? all we do isjust trundle on. i -et do? all we do isjust trundle on. i get told _ do? all we do isjust trundle on. i get told to— do? all we do isjust trundle on. i get told to shutdown, told to do this, told — get told to shutdown, told to do this, told to do that, we try our best _ this, told to do that, we try our best i— this, told to do that, we try our best. , ., ., ., ., best. i will tell you what, one of the things _ best. i will tell you what, one of the things that struck _ best. i will tell you what, one of the things that struck me - best. i will tell you what, one of the things that struck me when | best. i will tell you what, one of| the things that struck me when i best. i will tell you what, one of- the things that struck me when i was out and about in london on tuesday nights, this may not be typical of other towns and cities in the country, but it was kind of people have taken it upon themselves. they are still out and doing stuff, but they are doing it in a different way. pubs and restaurants in the part of london i was walking through yesterday, very noticeable that people were there, but they were outside, they went inside, they were having their meal on the little terrace, even if they had three coats on rather than one because it was so cold last night and a very big hats pulled down, and eating their food very quick before it went cold. they were still going to have their food, cold. they were still going to have theirfood, still cold. they were still going to have their food, still have their night out, but they were going to do it conscious of the fact that infections are higher indoors and outdoors. moving on to the front of the eye. omicron is lower risk than delta picking up on that headline. cases at new record. this is presumably the other side of this, that thing that ministers are presumably quite worried about, not that they are going to be mass deaths in the same way they feared before, for example, inoculations were possible. the sheer number of cases could create a strain all of its own. ~ ., , ., ,, ., its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases — its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases in _ its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases in a _ its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases in a day - its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases in a day for - its own. we have broken through 100,000 cases in a day for the i its own. we have broken through i 100,000 cases in a day for the first time, _ 100,000 cases in a day for the first time, but _ 100,000 cases in a day for the first time, but i — 100,000 cases in a day for the first time, but i will say we have been almost _ time, but i will say we have been almost plateauing at 90,000 cases for a few— almost plateauing at 90,000 cases for a few days now, so the lead to 100 is— for a few days now, so the lead to 100 is there — for a few days now, so the lead to 100 is there be a huge rise commit certainly— 100 is there be a huge rise commit certainly not the doubling every day that initially was feared. it is still— that initially was feared. it is still a — that initially was feared. it is still a significant moment, and of course _ still a significant moment, and of course what everyone has said from the start _ course what everyone has said from the start in — course what everyone has said from the start in response to the argument that omicron might be milder— argument that omicron might be milder than delta is if the numbers are big _ milder than delta is if the numbers are big enough, it will reach people on a wider— are big enough, it will reach people on a wider scale and stale threaten to overwhelm the nhs. one thing that was in _ to overwhelm the nhs. one thing that was in a _ to overwhelm the nhs. one thing that was in a lot— to overwhelm the nhs. one thing that was in a lot of the papers today, so i was in a lot of the papers today, so i don't _ was in a lot of the papers today, so i don't know— was in a lot of the papers today, so i don't know if there will be there tomorrow, but people are starting to point out _ tomorrow, but people are starting to point out that a lot of the people in hospital are on vaccinated, so there _ in hospital are on vaccinated, so there has— in hospital are on vaccinated, so there has artie come a point where people _ there has artie come a point where people are — there has artie come a point where people are debating, well, should the whole of society, where is a 90% of people _ the whole of society, where is a 90% of people are jabbed broadly have to shut down— of people are jabbed broadly have to shut down from a have as you say, pubs, _ shut down from a have as you say, pubs, they— shut down from a have as you say, pubs, they are still empty. we don't have a _ pubs, they are still empty. we don't have a lock— pubs, they are still empty. we don't have a lock down, because everybody's been told to be careful and to _ everybody's been told to be careful and to prioritise christmas, people have cancelled plans. all of these businesses are massively suffering. there _ businesses are massively suffering. there has— businesses are massively suffering. there has to come a point where people _ there has to come a point where people say, well, if we are looking at most _ people say, well, if we are looking at most of— people say, well, if we are looking at most of the people who are falling — at most of the people who are falling sick with this being on vaccinated and that is still leading to restrictions, then why do why do we do _ to restrictions, then why do why do we do about— to restrictions, then why do why do we do about it? is a huge debate. london. _ we do about it? is a huge debate. london. for— we do about it? is a huge debate. london, for example, where omicron has soared _ london, for example, where omicron has soared has one and three people still unvaccinated. it�*s still unvaccinated. it's an astonishing _ still unvaccinated. it's an astonishing statistic. - still unvaccinated. it's an astonishing statistic. atl still unvaccinated. it's an . astonishing statistic. at that still unvaccinated. it's an - astonishing statistic. at that thing that struck me looking at that front—page was the little line at the bottom, regulator approves vaccine for five—year—olds come up for now any vulnerable way to get them, this is quite an interesting debate, isn't itabout parental freedom and about who decides, because there have been some saying you have schools, so you have you have to have vaccination programmes, schools should be at the forefront of it. there are parents, and i was talking to when a couple of weeks ago who actually was in the news for another reason. he was the chap who resigned from the conservative party alive on air on the radio because he was so unhappy with what the government was proposing, the restrictions last week, and he said if they come from a three—year—old commit one to be a five—year—old cement they came from a three—year—old, i'm not letting them vaccinate my child against my will. that's a very life political debate. yes. it is a big news story that five—year—olds have now got the initial _ five—year—olds have now got the initial regulatory and all, not for all children yet. i will say to that point _ all children yet. i will say to that point that— all children yet. i will say to that point that this has been a huge area of concern _ point that this has been a huge area of concern from the start, which is why and _ of concern from the start, which is why and peas have constantly insisted — why and peas have constantly insisted and pushed for parental consent— insisted and pushed for parental consent to be at the forefront of all of _ consent to be at the forefront of all of this — consent to be at the forefront of all of this. there is and ministers repeatedly— all of this. there is and ministers repeatedly reassuring them that parents — repeatedly reassuring them that parents absolutely get a say and our schools _ parents absolutely get a say and our schools have rights. there are exceptional pay circumstances read child can _ exceptional pay circumstances read child can overrule, but that apparently is used rarely, and there are protections in place for that. the point — are protections in place for that. the point about five—year—olds is like a _ the point about five—year—olds is like a lot — the point about five—year—olds is like a lot of— the point about five—year—olds is like a lot of our coping strategy, this has— like a lot of our coping strategy, this has been coming down the line, most _ this has been coming down the line, most countries are already ahead of us on _ most countries are already ahead of us on this — most countries are already ahead of us on this. america approved this a while ago — us on this. america approved this a while ago. it's not a surprise and it's almost— while ago. it's not a surprise and it's almost a _ while ago. it's not a surprise and it's almost a surprise that they haven't— it's almost a surprise that they haven't gone further and said all five and — haven't gone further and said all five and above. this is all an of five and above. this is all a of bein- five and above. this is all an rrf being offered to children, it's available for parents who want to. it's by no means compulsory and while there are some concerns that perhaps— while there are some concerns that perhaps pressure will be put to come it is also— perhaps pressure will be put to come it is also concerned about antibacterials protesting outside of schools. _ antibacterials protesting outside of schools, there's two sides to that claim _ schools, there's two sides to that claim all— schools, there's two sides to that claim. all of it needs to be dealt with very— claim. all of it needs to be dealt with very careful messaging careful communication from schools, from the government. _ communication from schools, from the government, as to when this is needed — government, as to when this is needed and exactly for who stop penny? — needed and exactly for who stop penn ? , . w needed and exactly for who stop penn ? , ., ., ., , penny? yes, i wanted to actually look at the _ penny? yes, i wanted to actually look at the other _ penny? yes, i wanted to actually look at the other side _ penny? yes, i wanted to actually look at the other side of - penny? yes, i wanted to actually look at the other side of this as l look at the other side of this as well because when we talk about what well because when we talk about what we should be doing to protect everybody and we want to have no access deaths at all from this disease, but we do have to look at the other side of this, we have to take other contains into account from anxiety in children, for example, how is said for children growing up and seeing masked people all the time? you have families in dire straits, careers in tatters, the entertainment industry and bets, people losing their businesses, mental health issues. there are so many other sides of this and we do have to think ahead, surely, and say if we are, you know, the problem with not closing down and therefore putting in some kind of help for businesses which are feeling the pinch, we are going to come out the other end, and we are going to look around and go what have we got left? what is there. that around and go what have we got left? what is there-— what is there. that point, with the businesses — what is there. that point, with the businesses as _ what is there. that point, with the businesses as well, _ what is there. that point, with the businesses as well, a _ what is there. that point, with the businesses as well, a lot _ what is there. that point, with the businesses as well, a lot of - businesses as well, a lot of businesses as well, a lot of businesses are being shredded by this at the moment, even though there are no lockdown requirements thus far in england and none yet coming into force in the other parts of the uk as well. just one of their story and the telegraph, penny, uk ponders fourjabbed as well in germany leading the way. we could be going down that same route, notwithstanding what the secretary—general of the world health organization had to say today, which was no country can boost its way out of the pandemic. just what i was about to say is, yes, i am up for a fourth booster if it's going to keep me from getting serious, you know, the only seriously. at the same time, i am terribly aware of the fact that there are some places which have no vaccination at all, nothing there, and i did he think, you know, we shed, surely, we are global, this is global. this is a global issue. it's not as though this is only happening to one area. it's happening everywhere. so therefore, surely, it helps us to go say, right, let's try and stop at keeping and sweeping around, otherwise itjust feels like it's going to be a very —— around until who knows when. that it's going to be a very -- around until who knows when.— it's going to be a very -- around until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't _ until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't it, _ until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't it, in _ until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't it, in terms - until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't it, in terms of - until who knows when. that is the evidence, isn't it, in terms of the | evidence, isn't it, in terms of the emergence of the omicron variants. we warned you about this, said south africa, when we were pleading for more help to get vaccine production in our own countries. the neck as, but don't forget that thing patrick fallon said very early on, the way viruses work is new variants develop all the time, usually the pattern is they do become milder with time. so whether it south africa, it would've been somewhere else if not there, so i'm not sure that's quite the same argument. it's something that people like gordon brown argue usually for, give awayjabs to