with me are aletha adu, political correspondent at the daily mirror, and the former conservative adviser mo hussein. tomorrow's front pages. that's begin with the tomorrow's front pages. that's begin with the metro. it leads on the falling number of omicron cases in the uk for the fifth consecutive day. there's been a weekly drop of almost 10% in covid hospital admissions. the times reports the comments from the head of nhs providers, chris hopson, who believes the "front line of the service will hold", as there's growing hopes that we are past the omicron peak. the i says that the prime minister is planning to announce a "living with covid plan" by march, which could include winding down testing and the scrapping of free lateral flow tests. another of those measures is reported in the telegraph — reducing the covid isolation period from seven to five days, a measure which the chancellor supports. we were just saying nadhim zahawi also supports that. the mail has a warning from senior tory mps to borisjohnson — that he must tackle the cost of living crisis or face a backlash at the polls. the guardian leads on comments from fire safety campaigners, who say the housing secretary michael gove must spend more than the planned £4 billion to tackle the cladding crisis. the mirror has an exclusive report on what it calls "the sickening truth" behind the government's promise to "level up", featuring a yorkshire school which it says has no money for repairs. and the ft reports on nato�*s warning to russia that it's prepared for "a new armed conflict in europe", after russia's deployment of tens of thousands of troops on the ukraine border. so let's begin with aletha and mo. i am going to handed over to you and say, kick us off with the telegraph, if you would, and destroy that reduce isolation. the if you would, and destroy that reduce isolation. the telegraph is lettinu reduce isolation. the telegraph is lettin: it reduce isolation. the telegraph is letting it be _ reduce isolation. the telegraph is letting it be known _ reduce isolation. the telegraph is letting it be known that, - reduce isolation. the telegraph is letting it be known that, now, - reduce isolation. the telegraph is letting it be known that, now, the chancellor sunak also supports cutting isolation from seven days to five days, and this is really about a lot of discussion in government right now about how you move from pandemic to the end of the pandemic, how we all learn to live with this virus and trying get on with our lives as much as we can. i don't think it is surprising. he is the chancellor. i think other ministers from the main economic ministry as well also would like to see this happen, the americans have already done it. there is a lot of pressure on the public sector and on business as well because of staff shortages, so this can certainly help, but i think the politics here is also interesting because this is an increasingly robust cabinet. we have seen the prime minister's authority drained away in recent weeks with things like the north structure by election loss, the christmas party, which is to not resolve yet, a report coming out soon —— the north shropshire loss. also, the chancellor here is aware that these restrictions are quite unpopular with many backbench mps on the conservative side, so therefore he is thinking he may need therefore he is thinking he may need the support of these mps in the future. ~ . ., ., ~ the support of these mps in the future. ~ . . ., ~ ., future. we are at that kind of uncertain _ future. we are at that kind of uncertain phase, _ future. we are at that kind of uncertain phase, aren't - future. we are at that kind of uncertain phase, aren't we, | future. we are at that kind of| uncertain phase, aren't we, in future. we are at that kind of - uncertain phase, aren't we, in prime ministerial politics? a prime minister's key quality, which is their ability to reach through to their ability to reach through to the electorate and therefore deliver votes, is indeed or has been overtaken by events... i am thinking of theresa may, calling that snap election and throwing away a majority she did not need to do, she was never the prime minister again. is that your sense when you look at these stories? there is jostling? these stories? there isjostling? sam coates was reporting suggesting as many as 34% of tory active members like borisjohnson to be gone sooner rather than later. yes. gone sooner rather than later. yes, and we are — gone sooner rather than later. yes, and we are seeing _ gone sooner rather than later. yes, and we are seeing consistently in the polls. — and we are seeing consistently in the polls, even before christmas, the polls, even before christmas, the labour— the polls, even before christmas, the labour leader sir keir starmer has a _ the labour leader sir keir starmer has a significant need on boris johnson — has a significant need on boris johnson -- _ has a significant need on boris johnson —— seem to lead. he is and quite _ johnson —— seem to lead. he is and quite worrying ground. we muster member_ quite worrying ground. we muster member this is all of his doing and he has _ member this is all of his doing and he has had — member this is all of his doing and he has had plenty of chances to try and curb _ he has had plenty of chances to try and curb a — —— omicron. it still took him weeks to try— —— omicron. it still took him weeks to try and _ —— omicron. it still took him weeks to try and make a decision, to go to these _ to try and make a decision, to go to these plan— to try and make a decision, to go to these plan b — to try and make a decision, to go to these plan b measures, and now we have about — these plan b measures, and now we have about conservatives not, his own party, — have about conservatives not, his own party, arguing over whether we need _ own party, arguing over whether we need to— own party, arguing over whether we need to cut — own party, arguing over whether we need to cut down from seven to five days _ need to cut down from seven to five days as _ need to cut down from seven to five days as mo — need to cut down from seven to five days. as mo said, it is deftly political— days. as mo said, it is deftly political playground for them. they seem _ political playground for them. they seem to _ political playground for them. they seem to be gobbling with people's lives, _ seem to be gobbling with people's lives, essentially. we need some consistency and we need to hear from boris and _ consistency and we need to hear from boris and we — consistency and we need to hear from boris and we need some assurances that even_ boris and we need some assurances that even if— boris and we need some assurances that even if we are starting to move and trying _ that even if we are starting to move and trying to live with this virus, that he — and trying to live with this virus, that he has— and trying to live with this virus, that he has certain options we can take, _ that he has certain options we can take, ttut— that he has certain options we can take, but at— that he has certain options we can take, but at the moment we just hearing — take, but at the moment we just hearing lots of scaremongering from different _ hearing lots of scaremongering from different sides of the government and it— different sides of the government and it is— different sides of the government and it is quite confusing for the public, — and it is quite confusing for the public, really. and it is quite confusing for the public. really-— and it is quite confusing for the public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph. _ public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph. next — public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph, next to _ public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph, next to that _ public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph, next to that to - public, really. aletha, front of the telegraph, next to that to next i telegraph, next to that to next story is a very terrific photograph, i think, in terms of capturing a moment, and unfolding a news story, in new york city tonight, this fire in the bronx which is known to have killed 19 people, nine of them children for since we were last on air, the fire commissioner of new york has said that the cause was one of these little plug—in heaters that people have, that seems to have overheated or cut something else alight. and because the person left their door open, there were smoke and fumes, the smoke was billowing through the i9—storey building, but moved fast. a lot of people died as a result. it is a reminder again, isn't it? those images — a frame, a moment in time — can really grab your attention. moment in time — can really grab yourattention. i moment in time — can really grab your attention. i know the never think a lot about his pictures, but even a paper like the telegraph knows a powerful image when they see it. absently right. it is quite remarkable and striking image —— absolutely— remarkable and striking image —— absolutely right. you can see two firefighters in this shot, one of them _ firefighters in this shot, one of them holding this gorgeous baby. his eyes are _ them holding this gorgeous baby. his eyes are open, as if he can see his life has— eyes are open, as if he can see his life has been— eyes are open, as if he can see his life has been rescued of this horrific place, and you have another firefighter going back into the blaze — firefighter going back into the blaze a — firefighter going back into the blaze. a terrific story. we have been _ blaze. a terrific story. we have been hearing a lot about covid, but itiust _ been hearing a lot about covid, but itjust remains us there is so much going _ itjust remains us there is so much going on— itjust remains us there is so much going on in— itjust remains us there is so much going on in the world at the moment, and it— going on in the world at the moment, and it is_ going on in the world at the moment, and it isjust — going on in the world at the moment, and it isjust difficult times and they're — and it isjust difficult times and they're just so many different ways that people are struggling at the moment — that people are struggling at the moment. it wasjust quite striking, the mayor's — moment. it wasjust quite striking, the mayor's address to new york city. he was highlighting the fact that these are not just city. he was highlighting the fact that these are notjust numbers, these _ that these are notjust numbers, these are — that these are notjust numbers, these are 19 of our neighbours. very heart—warming. it is these are 19 of our neighbours. very heart-warming-_ heart-warming. it is interesting, because eric— heart-warming. it is interesting, because eric adams, _ heart-warming. it is interesting, because eric adams, former - heart-warming. it is interesting, l because eric adams, former police officer in new york, he is following in the footsteps of a mayor who most people in york would say has not been as good as they hoped he would be, bill de blasio. and because he has got that background in policing, and emergency services, he has created and are of reassurance of authority that perhaps new york has been lacking for a few years. what do you make of that photograph? b5 do you make of that photograph? is an act to assange, it is powerful any kind of thing where you don't need a lot of narrative or description, because itjust speaks volumes, in terms of the scale of human tragedy and loss and it brings you back to what we have seen in our own country, with the grenfell tragedy and the impact that has had, entity needs to have, on many peoples lives. entity needs to have, on many peeples lives— peoples lives. and that is important- _ peoples lives. and that is important. and _ peoples lives. and that is important. and we - peoples lives. and that is important. and we are i peoples lives. and that is i important. and we are going to peoples lives. and that is _ important. and we are going to hear from michael gove in the next couple of days, what he is proposing the light of grenfell. because so many suffered so badly from experiencing that fire, as well as the loss of life, the distress caused to the emergency services. manchester is another example of that, were people save lives and watch people die, and people in the emergency services often wonder why these fires have happened, because they have got less frequent, house fires. they are almost shocking in themselves, residential fires, almost shocking in themselves, residentialfires, because they almost shocking in themselves, residential fires, because they are so rare. let's move on to talk about the front of the mail, mo — save us from cost—of—living crisis, boris. this will be the defining issue now for the government to deal with going forward. you have lots of things happening now in the same time which will impact on people's pockets and living standards, whether it is record inflation, real fairs, energy bills, the rises we are seeing in that, national insurance tax rises coming in as well, and you have mps from the conservative party who are getting a lot of letters from their constituents, saying to the government they need to change course or to look again at this before people are being provided —— to support people being provided. there is an interesting line, that people will forget about christmas parties. i think that is debatable, but what will impact on them is the cost of living they will be seeing over the next few months. this will be an issue on the doorstep, this will be an issue in the local elections coming up in may that the conservative are starting to put a height based on, and this is dangerous for the prime minister who is currently still in place but has seen a defeat in north rock scheer, has been seeing confidence in donnette from his back benches —— defeat indoor . . . aletha? aletha? i ... aletha? i have aletha? i have been reading re orts, aletha? i have been reading reports. we _ aletha? i have been reading reports, we have _ aletha? i have been reading reports, we have ons - aletha? i have been reading reports, we have ons statisticsj reports, we have ons statistics suggesting that since the tories and been in _ suggesting that since the tories and been in power over the last decade, the inequality of wealth has just grown, — the inequality of wealth has just grown, drastically, so this is not a crisis _ grown, drastically, so this is not a crisis that— grown, drastically, so this is not a crisis that hasjust grown, drastically, so this is not a crisis that has just suddenly bubbled up over the last few months, it is something people have been dealing _ it is something people have been dealing with for many, many years, and countless conservative prime ministers — and countless conservative prime ministers have had the chance to deal with— ministers have had the chance to deal with this and have simply refused. — deal with this and have simply refused, and turned their backs on this, _ refused, and turned their backs on this, and _ refused, and turned their backs on this, and now in april we have got households— this, and now in april we have got households across the country facing energy _ households across the country facing energy bills going up as much as £600 _ energy bills going up as much as £600 a — energy bills going up as much as £600 a month. it is not easy money. and on top— £600 a month. it is not easy money. and on top of— £600 a month. it is not easy money. and on top of that, potential laterai— and on top of that, potential lateral flow test not free any more, so that's— lateral flow test not free any more, so that's another imposition on people's— so that's another imposition on people's freedom. there's a lot going _ people's freedom. there's a lot going on — people's freedom. there's a lot going on. we have tax hikes, increasing _ going on. we have tax hikes, increasing inflation — it isjust a really— increasing inflation — it isjust a really tough time. any resolution foundation called 2022 years of the squeeze _ foundation called 2022 years of the squeeze because of these crises people — squeeze because of these crises people are having to face across the country _ people are having to face across the country so _ people are having to face across the country so it — people are having to face across the country so it is something that boris — country so it is something that boris really needs to just try and fix, essentially. it is quite good we are — fix, essentially. it is quite good we are hearing senior conservatives calling _ we are hearing senior conservatives calling him — we are hearing senior conservatives calling him to tackle this. we have had the _ calling him to tackle this. we have had the likes of one asking how people — had the likes of one asking how people will put food on the table, so it is— people will put food on the table, so it is up— people will put food on the table, so it is up to the prime minister to really help— so it is up to the prime minister to really help britain if he is dead keen on— really help britain if he is dead keen on really trying to level up the country, that is. we keen on really trying to level up the country, that is.— keen on really trying to level up the country, that is. we have got, aletha, a couple _ the country, that is. we have got, aletha, a couple of— the country, that is. we have got, aletha, a couple of stores - the country, that is. we have got, aletha, a couple of stores on i the country, that is. we have got, aletha, a couple of stores on thel aletha, a couple of stores on the front of the ft which we can draw together — i —— again, a great photo at the top, a medical worker swabbing a child in the latest city levet covid outbreak in china. the chinese taking a different approach. we complain about wearing facemask and restrictions on the movement and someone. their blocking densities and testing is compulsory. in hong kong, which increasingly feels like part of china, businesses are really strategy can up about... —— business early started to pick up. h0 strategy can up about... -- business early started to pick up.— early started to pick up. no country at the moment _ early started to pick up. no country at the moment has _ early started to pick up. no country at the moment has certainty - early started to pick up. no country at the moment has certainty on i early started to pick up. no country at the moment has certainty on the best way of— at the moment has certainty on the best way of trying to get out of this coronavirus wave. there is no real plan, — this coronavirus wave. there is no real plan, but itjust seems these governments are trying their best to try and just — governments are trying their best to try and just nip it in the blood, really. — try and just nip it in the blood, really. and _ try and just nip it in the blood, really, and i think to be honest boris _ really, and i think to be honest borisjohnson can take really, and i think to be honest boris johnson can take anything out of their— boris johnson can take anything out of their and — boris johnson can take anything out of their and just come up with a concrete plan to help us... not too bi a concrete plan to help us... not too big a leaf. — concrete plan to help us... not too big a leaf. i — concrete plan to help us... not too big a leaf, i hope! _ concrete plan to help us... not too big a leaf, | hope! laughter- big a leaf, i hope! laughter i was struck in the hong kong story about some figures, the flight reductions. cathay pacific, one of the key airlines with routes in that part of asia, has cut its cargo capacity for hong kong flights to 20% of what it was ended passenger capacity to 2% of what it was. the impact on what is a relatively small place geographically, although a very powerful place financially, must be considerable.- very powerful place financially, must be considerable. yes, i think it will be, and _ must be considerable. yes, i think it will be, and i _ must be considerable. yes, i think it will be, and i think _ must be considerable. yes, i think it will be, and i think the - it will be, and i think the questioner means about how powerful financially —— the question remains... these measures seem very extreme. hong kong is not trying to pursue a zero covid policy, but quarantine for pilots and crew barely will have an impact on flight schedules and people actually making journeys —— clearly will have an impact. it feels a bit like, well, yes, this may prevent deaths and may prevent strains going in, there is a question mark about the numbers coming out of china and hong kong anyway, in terms of cases, and let's not forget that hong kong is becoming much more aligned with beijing under the guise of national security. you've seen the erosion of civil and political rights, you've seen the erosion