according to the guardian — the government has told head teachers in england to start preparing for staff shortages by using support staff as fill—in teachers, combining classes, with someclasses taught remotely and some face—to—face. the daily telegraph says that government plans to force children to wear masks in school are facing a backlash, with warnings about the long—term impact of masks on children's mental health. the daily mirror reports that the nhs is fighting a staffing �*meltdown�* with one in ten absent from work on new year's eve. meanwhile, the daily express describes the prmie minister as �*standing firm' on fresh covid restrictions despite an expected nhs staffing crisis. the times leads with ministers saying there is "nothing" in the data to support further covid restrictions — as scientists suggest that infections may peak, before new measures could have an impact. while the �*i' says borisjohnson is set to put off tough new curbs amid the uncertainty over data. and, according to the daily mail, borisjohnson is being urged by some of his own mps to tackle the cost of living �*emergency�* and save families from soaring energy bills. so, let's begin. will start with the times. mr is confident that this is a story by the chief political correspondent and science correspondent take us through what the times are saying. they have inspected the data and they have _ saying. they have inspected the data and they have come _ saying. they have inspected the data and they have come to _ saying. they have inspected the data and they have come to the _ saying. they have inspected the data and they have come to the decision l and they have come to the decision to make no decision is yet because the data does not suggest that they need to make any more positions on society. whether or not this is the case of no point staples or any further, i will leave it to others to decide, but clearly the numbers are huge and as we'll see you in some the headlines, but we have clearly decided that we have to balance those against the risks to people who seem to be hopeful as to previous times against the needs of the economy and all the sectors we've been talking about this evening. so far nothing, and so they have set as usual that there were changes the situation requires, but they are heating their leaders, borisjohnson they are heating their leaders, boris johnson believes they are heating their leaders, borisjohnson believes we have to learn to live with the virus, not run away from it.— learn to live with the virus, not run away from it. learn to live with the virus, not run awa from it. ., ., , run away from it. the government has to consider a — run away from it. the government has to consider a whole _ run away from it. the government has to consider a whole range _ run away from it. the government has to consider a whole range of - to consider a whole range of perspectives when making these decisions but it's quite a contrast in the front pages between this headline and other stories which are warning of issues in various sectors of life because of staff shortages. absolutely and this is a rare sort of decent. — absolutely and this is a rare sort of decent, but not good but decent headline _ of decent, but not good but decent headline and covid—19, that is not something — headline and covid—19, that is not something we have seen very often. parliameni— something we have seen very often. parliament returns on wednesday, the prime _ parliament returns on wednesday, the prime minister will be very aware that a _ prime minister will be very aware that a minority, but significant minority— that a minority, but significant minority of his backbenchers are very unhappy in the way in which the government— very unhappy in the way in which the government introduce more restrictions in the government has said that _ restrictions in the government has said that if— restrictions in the government has said that if the state, they do not need _ said that if the state, they do not need to— said that if the state, they do not need to have any more restrictions that was— need to have any more restrictions that was slightly less in some of the pressure on the prime minister. but again. _ the pressure on the prime minister. but again, look, everything in life is a gamble. the government persisted _ is a gamble. the government persisted bringing in additional measuresjust before christmas, they may still— measuresjust before christmas, they may still have to bring them in, but ithink— may still have to bring them in, but i think this — may still have to bring them in, but i think thisjust may still have to bring them in, but i think this just an example may still have to bring them in, but i think thisjust an example in may still have to bring them in, but i think this just an example in the way in _ i think this just an example in the way in which the government is trying _ way in which the government is trying to— way in which the government is trying to pivot this, as caroline said, _ trying to pivot this, as caroline said, towards the fact that this is been _ said, towards the fact that this is been going on for nearly two years and were _ been going on for nearly two years and were going to have to try and find a _ and were going to have to try and find a way— and were going to have to try and find a way to still be cautious, stilt— find a way to still be cautious, still take — find a way to still be cautious, still take personal responsibility for actions, still take personal responsibility foractions, but still take personal responsibility for actions, but we cannot shut down the economy— for actions, but we cannot shut down the economy or shut down the whole school _ the economy or shut down the whole school network as what is happened in 2020 _ school network as what is happened in 2020. ~ ., school network as what is happened in 2020. a, , ~ school network as what is happened in2020. , ~ , , ., in 2020. more striking because of the scotland _ in 2020. more striking because of the scotland and _ in 2020. more striking because of the scotland and wales _ in 2020. more striking because of the scotland and wales and - in 2020. more striking because of. the scotland and wales and northern ireland have taken to this compare to england. let us move on to the mirror now and mothers front pages talking by the staffing crisis is the nhs and talking about a meltdown with one and ten on new year's eve as omicron cases rocket. there is a real sense of this building to a point where the premise dress to make a rather than make a decision when headlines like this. —— make a decision. plat make a decision when headlines like this. -- make a decision.— this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn — this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn un _ this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn up the _ this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn up the work— this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn up the work is - this. -- make a decision. not being able to turn up the work is a - able to turn up the work is a significant amount and if that continues, that is going to have a bil continues, that is going to have a big knock— continues, that is going to have a big knock on effect of the nhs ability~ — big knock on effect of the nhs ability. they may have to cancel procedures. they may have to be, all of this— procedures. they may have to be, all of this will— procedures. they may have to be, all of this will add to the significant waiting — of this will add to the significant waiting lists that exist because of the nhs — waiting lists that exist because of the nhs being like this since the start of— the nhs being like this since the start of the pandemic. but i think that the _ start of the pandemic. but i think that the government will be very, very cautious of taking new approaches at this stage and if those — approaches at this stage and if those required legislation will present— those required legislation will present another challenge to the government, labourand present another challenge to the government, labour and consistently sunborted _ government, labour and consistently supported the government and all the measures— supported the government and all the measures that they have taken, but it's never— measures that they have taken, but it's never a — measures that they have taken, but it's never a good look for the prime staff to _ it's never a good look for the prime staff to have a third of his own party — staff to have a third of his own party voting against an.- staff to have a third of his own party voting against an. went into in sick on new— party voting against an. went into in sick on new year's _ party voting against an. went into in sick on new year's and - party voting against an. went into in sick on new year's and peers . party voting against an. went into | in sick on new year's and peers at absences could rise in the summer were talking about earlier, the worse case scenario 25% of sector workers off because of covid—i9. because there isolating. and obviously, sectors like the nhs have to prepare for a range of scenarios, don't they. to prepare for a range of scenarios, don't they-— don't they. choose your paper, church or _ don't they. choose your paper, church or sector _ don't they. choose your paper, church or sector that _ don't they. choose your paper, church or sector that you - don't they. choose your paper, church or sector that you care | don't they. choose your paper, - church or sector that you care about the most and clearly, the nhs affects everyone in this country and the idea that the carers are so imperiled, it is really drastic. the numbers are staggering in the millions. the worst—case scenario with staff way. just the absence of staff rather than the potential illness of staff. it feels like focus is shifted from people being in danger but all of the medias on the absence of the chaos in the knock on effect and so, just a shift of focus there, but certainly the nhs is arguably, i think more important than anything else in this country. but as you say, many think that some of the government is thinking, but so far, no changes. i5 thinking, but so far, no changes. is that choose your paper, choose your sector. all of this on education stories. take us through this in a bit more detail, with the guardian is saying here. . . detail, with the guardian is saying here. , , ., ., , , detail, with the guardian is saying here. , ., , , ., here. this is another industry that is miuhtil here. this is another industry that is mightily decimated _ here. this is another industry that is mightily decimated with - here. this is another industry that l is mightily decimated with teachers forced take either take either a negative test and not being ill hopefully asymptomatic or suffering from covid—i9 or omicron. huge knock on effect on schools coming up with ideas and remedying that and trying to accommodate those numbers, including the merging of different classes within schools, taking out a whole year groups as necessary. potential mandate of mask wearing amongst young students. all sorts of measures to work around the fact that they would do anything just to keep those classrooms full of young children whose schooling has been so disrupted over the last two years, anything but that.— disrupted over the last two years, anything but that. interesting that this latest guidance _ anything but that. interesting that this latest guidance on _ anything but that. interesting that this latest guidance on wearing i this latest guidance on wearing masks for secondary school pupils in the classroom seems to have appeared first in the media and there were complaints going back to the previous education secretary about policy decisions appearing in the media before schools themselves had been held. the media before schools themselves had been held. ., ., , ., been held. the government has a get out of “ail been held. the government has a get out ofjail free — been held. the government has a get out ofjail free card _ been held. the government has a get out ofjail free card in _ been held. the government has a get out ofjail free card in the been - been held. the government has a get out ofjail free card in the been in - out ofjail free card in the been in recess _ out ofjail free card in the been in recess on — out ofjail free card in the been in recess on wednesday, the speaker has made _ recess on wednesday, the speaker has made clear— recess on wednesday, the speaker has made clear that they're things to the press — made clear that they're things to the press before their announcement to parliament. this is a part of their— to parliament. this is a part of their strategy in the sense that they are — their strategy in the sense that they are being cautious about schools. _ they are being cautious about schools, they're going to mandate mask— schools, they're going to mandate mask wearing for other children. i think— mask wearing for other children. i think that — mask wearing for other children. i think that is probably as far as they're — think that is probably as far as they're willing to go with this. they've — they're willing to go with this. they've issued guidance to try to help teachers see common sense but with if— help teachers see common sense but with if this _ help teachers see common sense but with if this pandemic ever ends, the lasting _ with if this pandemic ever ends, the lasting effect this is had on children— lasting effect this is had on children and their education and on the mental— children and their education and on the mental health. so, it's no surprise — the mental health. so, it's no surprise that people are going to try their— surprise that people are going to try their best to make sure the schools — try their best to make sure the schools stay open. it try their best to make sure the schools stay open.— schools stay open. it has to be said, schools stay open. it has to be said. move — schools stay open. it has to be said, move away _ schools stay open. it has to be said, move away from - schools stay open. it has to be| said, move away from covid-19 schools stay open. it has to be i said, move away from covid-19 to schools stay open. it has to be - said, move away from covid-19 to the said, move away from covid—i9 to the front page of the daily mail. energy bill crisis, the papers say borisjohnson is under growing boris johnson is under growing pressure borisjohnson is under growing pressure from his backbenchers to scrap the green taxes that make a quarter of electricity bills and cost households as much is £20 a year. and caroline was making the point that he is under pressure from different groups of backbenchers and sometimes, there is an overlap in these backbenchers on a whole range of issues. . . these backbenchers on a whole range of issues. , , , ., ., of issues. yet, but this is a real bread and _ of issues. yet, but this is a real bread and butter _ of issues. yet, but this is a real bread and butter issue. - of issues. yet, but this is a real bread and butter issue. we - of issues. yet, but this is a real bread and butter issue. we are| bread and butter issue. we are expecting significant rises in energy— expecting significant rises in energy costs in this year, one of the things— energy costs in this year, one of the things that i'm finding interesting is that some mps in the labour— interesting is that some mps in the labour party have called for this as well. _ labour party have called for this as well. this— labour party have called for this as well. this is— labour party have called for this as well, this is a result of the uk leaving — well, this is a result of the uk leaving the european union leading into brexit. as a result of that, the government can cut them and even abolish— the government can cut them and even abolish vat— the government can cut them and even abolish vat on heating bills. and that's— abolish vat on heating bills. and that's the — abolish vat on heating bills. and that's the sort of thing that the government and the prime minister may want— government and the prime minister may want to do and will want to do because _ may want to do and will want to do because he — may want to do and will want to do because he may lose tax revenue. by this find _ because he may lose tax revenue. by this find that an interesting short term _ this find that an interesting short term solution that the government can grasb — term solution that the government can grasp. however, as you rightly say, can grasp. however, as you rightly say. the _ can grasp. however, as you rightly say, the significant cost to consumers is of the so—called green taxes _ consumers is of the so—called green taxes and _ consumers is of the so—called green taxes and this is a direct conflict for the _ taxes and this is a direct conflict for the prime minister between what he sees _ for the prime minister between what he sees as— for the prime minister between what he sees as the priorities and the aspirations— he sees as the priorities and the aspirations of being a leader on climate — aspirations of being a leader on climate change. as always with the sort of _ climate change. as always with the sort of questions, it all boils down to who _ sort of questions, it all boils down to who for— sort of questions, it all boils down to who for it?— to who for it? and these taxes are used to subsidise _ to who for it? and these taxes are used to subsidise renewable - to who for it? and these taxes are | used to subsidise renewable energy schemes and just a matter of weeks after 26 and the prime minister declarations of britain leading the way and fighting against the climate crisis, this is a real bind for him, isn't it? . .., crisis, this is a real bind for him, isn't it? , .., , crisis, this is a real bind for him, isn't it? , .. , ., isn't it? he is caught between a rock and a _ isn't it? he is caught between a rock and a hard _ isn't it? he is caught between a rock and a hard place. - isn't it? he is caught between a rock and a hard place. after- isn't it? he is caught between a i rock and a hard place. after copp 26, we saw but a small potato we are in the scheme of things in terms of the roads contributions to sustainability and their responsibilities, but imposing those levies on its own citizens will not go down very well against the background of probable tax rises, inflation on the up and the bank of england about change being the foot and the idea that somehow, we are going to be the ones coughing cups that borisjohnson can pump his chest and columns of an equal warrior. i don't think it's going to go down very well. so, he's going to have fun getting that one past and inverted comments, the backbenchers. the headline, the other big story on the front page of tomorrow mornings times is that the veteran is the first to go on record and calling for the duke of york to step down from his role as a kernel of the regiment and this is in relation to the accusations that virginia is making against the plans and accusations which he denies and attorney, do you want to take us through the times are singing a bit more detail? this through the times are singing a bit more detail?— more detail? this is been percolating _ more detail? this is been percolating for _ more detail? this is been percolating for a - more detail? this is been percolating for a while. i more detail? this is been - percolating for a while. there's so much _ percolating for a while. there's so much unhappiness under elements of the armed _ much unhappiness under elements of the armed forces of the duke of york having _ the armed forces of the duke of york having stepped back, still has various— having stepped back, still has various honorary positions and there is some _ various honorary positions and there is some concern that the association with the _ is some concern that the association with the armed forces could be detrimental. i think this would be an interesting development in this case on _ an interesting development in this case on tuesday and i'll be looking forward _ case on tuesday and i'll be looking forward to— case on tuesday and i'll be looking forward to seeing what happens in the united states. a look, this is obviously— the united states. a look, this is obviously huge embarrassment for the royal family. the queen herself is above _ royal family. the queen herself is above reproach, but unfortunately as we have _ above reproach, but unfortunately as we have seen over the decades, that's— we have seen over the decades, that's not— we have seen over the decades, that's not to cast any sort of judgment on what is being alleged by prince _ judgment on what is being alleged by prince andrew, but it doesn't surprise _ prince andrew, but it doesn't surprise me that senior members have broken _ surprise me that senior members have broken ranks _ surprise me that senior members have broken ranks as you put it in colour for him _ broken ranks as you put it in colour for him to— broken ranks as you put it in colour for him to stand down. what broken ranks as you put it in colour for him to stand down.— broken ranks as you put it in colour for him to stand down. what is your thou~ht on for him to stand down. what is your thought on the _ for him to stand down. what is your thought on the significant _ for him to stand down. what is your thought on the significant event - thought on the significant event development and the fact that there have been lots of headlines about the duke of york, prince andrew, which is something that the queen undoubtedly and other senior royals would be looking at very closely. their two points that come to mind, normally, in any institution or regiment are teaming up for royal patronage and a crest on their body and for them to decide that this is to sustain their brand rather than the opposite way around, that they do not want this associated with them any more, just shows how loki has gone down in the estimation and he has managed to accrue a lot of honour through these associations when you think a0 years ago that he was returning with a rose in his teeth as an esteemed war hero and it has come to a pretty bad pass. it also makes you realisejust has come to a pretty bad pass. it also makes you realise just how much of a brand, it's a family and a brand in the queen who has many tiring days at the hands of her family members mustjust decide what is right for the whole entity as well as obviously the pressures of dealing with her allegedly favoured sons. so, yes it is a complicated part to navigate in the next few weeks. none of optics, the royal family is all about optics, they