the government says russia will face severe economic sanctions if it installs a puppet regime in ukraine. a british man has died in thailand — reports say he was attacked with a knife in kanchanaburi, west of bangkok. new zealand's prime minister, jacinda ardern, is postponing her own wedding, after placing the country on the highest level of covid—19 restrictions. hello and welcome to bbc news. good to have your company this afternoon. we begin with the conservative party and the allegations made by nusrat ghani, who was sacked as transport minister two years ago, and says she was told that her muslim faith was one of the reasons for her dismissal. nus ghani has told the sunday times that her "muslimness" was raised as an issue. the conservative chief whip mark spencer says she had been speaking to him, and he called her allegations "completely false". downing street said the prime minister had also spoken to ms ghani and invited her to make a complaint, but she did not do so. our political correspondent helen catt reports. the former minister nus ghani is at the centre of an extraordinary dispute after a week in which the tories have turned on the whips, ministers and each other. ms ghani was the first muslim woman ever to speak from the dispatch box in the commons, and has claimed in the sunday times that her faith played a part of her being sacked as a minister by borisjohnson in 2020. she says that when she asked a meeting of the whips for an explanation, she was told that her "muslimness" was raised as an issue during a reshuffle meeting, that her muslim woman minister status was making colleagues uncomfortable, and that she dropped it after being told that if she persisted in raising this, she would be ostracised by colleagues and her career and reputation would be destroyed. the conservative chief whip mark spencer took the unusual step of identifying himself as the person she was referring to. he said the accusations were completely false and defamatory, and that he had never used the words attributed to him. he said it was... somebody is trying to bully her, if what she's saying is true. you have two scenarios — parliamentarian a is saying something, parliamentarian b is saying another thing, and we need to get to the bottom. we need to establish the truth. the education secretary nadhim zahawi has also called for an investigation, but thejustice secretary has said ms ghani would have to lodge a formal complaint first. i believe a claim like this, as serious as this, can only happen if the person making the complaint makes it formally, that's when procedures kick in. and, just to be clear about this, that advice was given to nus back in 2020. a spokesman for number ten said the prime minister had met nusrat ghani to discuss what it called "her extremely serious claims," and then written to her to begin a formal complaint process, which she didn't do. it is understood that happened in july 2020. a spokesman said the conservative party did not tolerate prejudice or discrimination of any kind. this is yet another potentially damaging dispute ahead of a pivotal week for the prime minister. the report into parties in downing street by the senior official sue gray is expected to be published in the next few days. helen cattjoins me now. lets talk about this in terms of what this story tells us. it's coming at a sensitive time when the conservative party battles over boris johnson's future. you conservative party battles over borisjohnson�*s future. you don't make somebody chief whip who you don't absolutely trust. h0. make somebody chief whip who you don't absolutely trust.— don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a lot - don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a lot of- don't absolutely trust. no, that'sl true. we have seen a lot of claims made against the whip�*s office in the last week, so this is quite a different claim and it taps into a long—running issue within the conservative party, and it is the sort of thing that threatens to reignite that. this is slightly different i think to some of the claims we were hearing earlier in the week which was about the whip�*s tactics when they were trying to persuade mps to vote the way they wanted to, and some of the accusations there about threats to hold money from constituencies. we had that extraordinary moment where william wragg mp said it, and he is meeting police this week. so that element hasn't gone away. now of course we have got these fresh claims which are, as i said, i think they are different and they do speak to this longer running issue in the tory party. we to this longer running issue in the tory party-— tory party. we had the former chairman _ tory party. we had the former chairman of— tory party. we had the former chairman of the _ tory party. we had the former chairman of the conservative i tory party. we had the former - chairman of the conservative party, baroness warsi, talking about this. nusrat ghani is a significant figure in terms of the conservative party saying they represent all parts of the uk, all faiths, colours and genders. it is not the kind of publicity that presumably the party once, never mind the government. ida. once, never mind the government. no, i think it once, never mind the government. iifr, i think it absolutely isn't, and she is a very well liked mp and that also will affect how people... not view the issue, but she has a lot of personal support within the party as well. we have seen some senior figures come out today and put their head above the parapet. as i mentioned, the dean sahalee came out earlier, and sajid javid who was at the heart of getting an investigation into this happening, and he has come out in support of nusrat ghani and said he would support her if she made a formal complaint. support her if she made a formal complaint-— support her if she made a formal comlaint. . , , ., complaint. inevitably, leaving the substance aside, _ complaint. inevitably, leaving the substance aside, the _ complaint. inevitably, leaving the substance aside, the timing - complaint. inevitably, leaving the substance aside, the timing is - substance aside, the timing is interesting because it is such a sensitive time. ijust interesting because it is such a sensitive time. i just wonder who interesting because it is such a sensitive time. ijust wonder who it helps to raise this now at a time when the prime minister is on the defensive. she will no presumably the people will say, nusrat ghani, this may well have happened, we don't dispute what you say, but funny how you are made in this public now. you are not a boris johnson supporter.— public now. you are not a boris johnson supporter. yes, she said it is an interesting _ johnson supporter. yes, she said it is an interesting moment _ johnson supporter. yes, she said it is an interesting moment this - johnson supporter. yes, she said it| is an interesting moment this week, certainly an important moment that we have seen this sort of splits and rows over the last couple of weeks as they ponder what to make of what's been happening in downing street. and we should say of course that downing street is categorically denying the claims. they say the prime minister met with nusrat ghani and encouraged her to make a formal complaint a couple of years ago. and complaint a couple of years ago. and she chose not to do that. yes. - complaint a couple of years ago. and she chose not to do that. yes. in - she chose not to do that. yes. in terms of timing, _ she chose not to do that. yes. in terms of timing, it _ she chose not to do that. yes. in terms of timing, it is _ she chose not to do that. yes. in terms of timing, it is probably i she chose not to do that. yes. in | terms of timing, it is probably the busiest week. i know we say this all the time but this is the week we are expecting the reports to come out in the downing street party is in so many mps we have spoken to have said thatis many mps we have spoken to have said that is the moment they are waiting for to make their decision about whether borisjohnson should stay in number ten. whether borisjohnson should stay in numberten. so whether borisjohnson should stay in number ten. so what that report says, what they think about in terms of does it change whether they think it is tenable for him to be there, it is tenable for him to be there, it is tenable for him to be there, it is a really big moment. and this morning it's been reported that investigation has also been widened now to take in accusations of gatherings in the flat above downing street where mrjohnson lives with his family. street where mrjohnson lives with his famil . . ., ~ street where mrjohnson lives with his famil . . . ~' , ., his family. helen catt, thank you very much- _ the government has said it has intelligence that there's a plot by russia to install a pro—moscow leader in ukraine and fears there's a "very significant" risk that russian forces will invade the country. around 100,000 russian troops have been moved to ukraine's border. moscow has accused the uk of spreading "disinformation". 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. american weapons arriving in ukraine — 90 tonnes of what washington calls lethal aid. others including britain also sending supplies. hardly enough to defeat an invading russian army, but the message to moscow is clear. "if you do this, it will come at a price." but now the foreign office says it's seeing signs of a russian plan to install a puppet government in kyiv after an invasion. washington made similar claims on thursday. pro—russian politicians, they say, in contact with russian intelligence officers involved in planning an attack. it's totally unacceptable, contrary to international law. the international community as a whole needs to step up to the plate. so one of the things you're seeing, and the foreign secretary, i think, is doing a very good job of this, is making it clear what's at stake, so other countries come and support. the reality is... but is that what you are expecting to happen? an invasion? i think there's a very significant risk of it. _ the foreign office says this man, former mp yevhen murayev, is being considered as a future leader by the kremlin. he's denied it. four others named are thought to be in moscow. it's not clear what, if any, role they could realistically play. the foreign office has released very few details. the kremlin says it's all propaganda. but russia's build—up goes on. fighterjets now flying to locations in belarus, north of ukraine. moscow says they'll be carrying outjoint drills. but diplomacy also continues. friday's meeting in geneva settled nothing, but the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has promised a written reply within days to russia's expansive demands. further talks could follow. british ministers are expected to travel to european capitals in the coming days. the defence secretary, ben wallace, likely to visit moscow. downing street says it plans to ramp up pressure on russia. sanctions being discussed among allies, the government says, would pierce the heart of the russian economy. paul adams, bbc news. let's speak to the bbc�*s andrei goryanov who is in moscow. what is being said about these british claims? they appeared overnight without much warning and there is not a lot of detail in the press notice of the foreign office put out overnight, but presumably they have caused some reaction where you are? they have caused some reaction where ou are? , , ., �* they have caused some reaction where ouare? ,�* ., .,, you are? yes, you're totally right. the russian _ you are? yes, you're totally right. the russian foreign _ you are? yes, you're totally right. the russian foreign minister- you are? yes, you're totally right. l the russian foreign minister denies those allegations of planning to install the pro russian leaders, and these british allegations are seen by moscow as evidence that nato, not russia, is escalating tensions actually. but also you have to know that all these four men named in the foreign office statement actually... 0ld—fashioned politician lost their influence in ukraine since the revolution in 2014, the so—called revolution in 2014, the so—called revolution happened, and probably he would not be able to find a significant supporter of those two figures in russia... in significant supporter of those two figures in russia...— figures in russia... in ukraine at the moment — figures in russia... in ukraine at the moment. i— figures in russia... in ukraine at the moment. i was _ figures in russia... in ukraine at the moment. i was struck - figures in russia... in ukraine at the moment. i was struck by - the moment. i was struck by something that one of the ukraine presidential advisers said. he said this man was regarded as too ridiculous a figure to be a likely puppet leader. nonetheless we should take the allegations seriously. are they saying this is a bit of false information, a bit of a tactic designed to create a bit of a flurry? in other words using the tactic moscow is often used of accusing back at them.- accusing back at them. you're absolutely _ accusing back at them. you're absolutely right, _ accusing back at them. you're absolutely right, but - accusing back at them. you're absolutely right, but in - accusing back at them. you're absolutely right, but in a - accusing back at them. you're absolutely right, but in a way| accusing back at them. you're - absolutely right, but in a way one could say that would that be in the moscow interest? 0ne could say that would that be in the moscow interest? one could say yes. what is the kremlin looking for friends in ukraine? 0f what is the kremlin looking for friends in ukraine? of course they are. are there significant allies in ukraine and moscow? probably less and less as time goes by. it's been seven or eight years since the revolution happened and ukraine is going away from russia, that is for sure. �* , , ., ., , sure. there's been no attempt... i mean, sure. there's been no attempt... i mean. i'm — sure. there's been no attempt... i mean, i'm interested _ sure. there's been no attempt... i mean, i'm interested on _ sure. there's been no attempt... i mean, i'm interested on your- mean, i'm interested on your thoughts on this, the former president who fled ukraine and was regarded as probably ukraine's last reliably pro—moscow leader, he is in or has been in russia. is there any attempt to put him on television screens to talk about ukraine? because we are obviously talking about it all the time in britain and western european countries, never mind ukraine themselves. i have heard a lot of coverage from your colleagues in bbc moscow saying ukraine doesn't feature that much on television screens in russia at the moment. he television screens in russia at the moment. , , ., , moment. he himself lives a peaceful life in the south _ moment. he himself lives a peaceful life in the south of— moment. he himself lives a peaceful life in the south of russia _ moment. he himself lives a peaceful life in the south of russia on - moment. he himself lives a peaceful life in the south of russia on the - life in the south of russia on the border with ukraine. he doesn't appear much on television, and i wouldn't say he's trying to get back to politics in any way. the only time we see him on a television screen is when actually he is to go in a trial, in a court case. that's the only time actually.- the only time actually. that is fascinating — the only time actually. that is fascinating stuff. _ the only time actually. that is fascinating stuff. thank - the only time actually. that is fascinating stuff. thank you . the only time actually. that is i fascinating stuff. thank you very much for that, going to speak to you. thanks forjoining us. here, four teenagers have been arrested... first of all, let me take you to brussels where there has been a protest going on. several thousand protesters have marched against coronavirus restrictions. it isa it is a protest we understand led to tear gas being fired in the office of the european commission in belgium. the demonstrators chanted "freedom", and held placards condemning what they called vaccine dictatorship. belgium has seen a surge in infections, but with a high level of vaccinations, this has not put the health system under strain. restrictions include showing a covid pass when entering bars and restaurants. that seems to have fired up the protest, which was met with tear gas, fired by riot police because they clearly were concerned about how the protest was going and what buildings they were getting too near to. i don't know if that's the case. we will find out more about the protest and share with you some of those pictures. as i say, things have calmed down now thankfully on the streets of brussels this afternoon. four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16—year—old boy was fatally stabbed last night in the stretford area of manchester. those arrested are all boys aged between 15 and 17 years old. a crime scene is in place at the scene and also at nearby trafford park train station. 0ur reporter phil cunliffe reports from the scene. greater manchester police are calling this a fast—paced investigation led by its major incident team. four teenage boys aged between 15 and 17 have been detained on suspicion of murder. it comes after three warrants were issued last night in the stretford, old trafford and hulme districts of the city. it's a very large crime area. as you can see, this cordon stretches all the way down thirlmere avenue and into the neighbouring street, coniston road. it was here on thirlmere avenue round about seven o'clock last night that officers were called to reports that a teenage boy had been severely injured and had been stabbed. the boy was treated at the scene but taken to hospital, where sadly he died a short while laterfrom his injuries. the 16—year—old boy's family are being supported by specially trained officers. police say that investigations are continuing. more details are expected later about what's happened here in stratford. phil cunliffe, bbc news. a british man has died in thailand. there are reports that he was attacked with a knife in kanchanaburi, west of bangkok. the foreign office said a second british man had been taken to hospital. 0ur reporter matt graveling has been following this story and joins me now. what more do we know about this? two friend's, what more do we know about this? twr friend's, two british men were having a drink on friday night from about 9pm by police have told us, and they were drinking all through the evening. it was in the early hours of the morning that a fight broke out because the music was being played too loud. this was in a tourist area of thailand called kanchanaburi, and both men had lived there for a number of years. during there for a number of years. during the fight, marcus evans from weston—super—mare was tragically killed, and sean duggan, 59 years old from nuneaton, was taken to hospital. i have been speaking to sean's partner who says she is very shaken up. he is in hospital and recovering well but he has a big wound on his head. police who were investigating the scene over the last few days say they found a sickle which they believe was involved in the attack. 22—year—old thai man with a history of mental illness was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene. i've also been speaking to the foreign office and they said they are in contact with they said they are in contact with the royal police following the death of one man and the hospitalisation of one man and the hospitalisation of another in thailand and they are ready to provide consular support. thank you very much. a retired british iranian engineer being held in iran on spying charges has said he is beginning a hunger strike. anoosheh ashoori was arrested five years ago and later convicted by iran of spying for israel's mossad intelligence agency, which he denies. the british government says his continued detention is wholly unjustified and has called on iran to release him. police in the us city of atlanta say they're following up on a number of leads after the killing of the british scientist matthew willson. mr willson had only arrived two days earlier to visit his girlfriend when he was hit by a stray bullet while lying in bed, after a number of shots were fired nearby. vincent macavinny reports. the final photo of matthew willson taken on the second day of a visit to his girlfriend katherine shepard in atlanta, just hours before his life was taken away. at around 2am last sunday, the couple awoke in this bed to gunshots being fired nearby. in what police are calling a random and senseless act, one of the bullets penetrated the exterior wall of the room, hitting matthew as he lay dying in katherine's arms. her flatmate dialed 911. after the third orfourth round, ijust remember katherine shepard screaming that matt had been shot, and when i walked over to the... ran over to the room, i saw he was laying on the bed, a wound on his head and just we called 911 instantly and we were trying our best and to stop the wound. matthew, from chertsey in surrey, was a former phd student at the university of exeter, now working remotely as a postdoctoral researcher for the university of liege in belgium. in a statement, the foreign office has confirmed they're in contact with us authorities and are supporting matthew's family, who've described him as a wise and joyful person. "such a beautiful soul." i mean, we are graduate students. we don't have a tonne of money, or at least that we get paid, but we were trying...we were on a budget, but we were trying to stay in the safest neighbourhoods. and so brookhaven is one of the atlanta suburbs and is considered a safe area. and so this apartment was picked and i, me and katherine moved in in august last year and we heard shots back in october, and we had to call the cops saying that we heard some gunshots. but again, there were justjust a few shots, didn't go past a couple of minutes and then another time in november. and then we heard this time. but this time, the unusual part was it was just. . . it wasn't just a few shots or a few minutes. it kept going on for 20, 30 minutes until one of those stray bullets hit matthew. police in the us are offering a reward for information. no arrests have been made, but officers say they are determined to put those responsible behind bars. scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon has said the impact of covid restrictions on business and hospitality there have been worth it. she was speaking to my colleague sophie raworth this morning. is scotland in a better position now than we were previously, and are we in a better position than we would have been without these restrictions? it is always difficult in any country to absolutely prove cause and effect in the handling of a virus. but if you look at what we were predicting through our modelling would be the case injanuary before christmas, what we were on track for — it was around 50,000 infections a day and we didn't see that materialise, or anything like that materialise. and i think that was a combination of the acceleration of the booster campaign. scotland is the most vaccinated part of the uk in terms of first, second, third and booster doses. these sensible, balanced, protective measures were introduced before christmas, and lastly, perhaps most importantly, the magnificent responsible response of the public. they changed their behaviour in the face of 0micron in order to try to stem transmissions. so, yes, i think what we did has been worth it and we are hopefully now seeing scotland, as other parts of the uk, very firmly on the downward slope of that 0micron wave. that is nicola sturgeon speaking to sophie raworth. covid restrictions may be coming to an end but people across the uk are braced for extra pressure as the cost of living rises this year. energy bills are likely to increase from april, we'll actually know about that at the beginning of february — but it is notjust gas that is pushing up prices at their fastest rate for nearly 30 years. here are some of the less obvious items which have seen rapid price rises. for those families who still sit down to eat a traditional sunday roast lunch together, data from the kantar survey shows that prices of fresh beef rose by 8.6% in decemberfrom a year earlier, and fresh lamb prices rose by 10%. prices of skincare products rose by 9.6% in the 12 weeks to boxing day compared with the same period a year earlier. furniture and other household goods also saw a steady rise in prices since the start of 2021, 0ns figures show. the 7.4% inflation rate of this category in december was the highest since comparable data began in 1989. and used car prices grew by 28% during 2021, compared with a 7.3% increase the previous year, due to the global shortage of computer chips which led to a rise in the cost of manufacturing new cars. that obviously has a knock—on effect. suddenly the price of old cars go up. let's speak now with pete lambdon, owner of the quicksilver mail pub in yeovil, somerset. i know you are not in the pub this afternoon and you are not skiving off, you have broken your leg. i think we should say that, otherwise they will say he has people to run they will say he has people to run the pub for him, but it's not like that, is it?— that, is it? unfortunately not. i broke my _ that, is it? unfortunately not. i broke my ankle _ that, is it? unfortunately not. i broke my ankle on _ that, is it? unfortunately not. i broke my ankle on new- that, is it? unfortunately not. i broke my ankle on new year'sl that, is it? unfortunately not. i. broke my ankle on new year's day that, is it? unfortunately not. i- broke my ankle on new year's day and i broke the bottom of my leg. i broke my ankle on new year's day and i broke the bottom of my leg.- i broke the bottom of my leg. i hope the ain is i broke the bottom of my leg. i hope the pain is slowly _ i broke the bottom of my leg. i hope the pain is slowly receding. - i broke the bottom of my leg. i hope the pain is slowly receding. i'm - the pain is slowly receding. i'm takin: the pain is slowly receding. i'm taking lots _ the pain is slowly receding. i'm taking lots of _ the pain is slowly receding. i“n taking lots of tablets. the pain is slowly receding. i'm taking lots of tablets. good - the pain is slowly receding. i'm l taking lots of tablets. good man. and of course _ taking lots of tablets. good man. and of course you _ taking lots of tablets. good man. and of course you are _ taking lots of tablets. good man. and of course you are not - taking lots of tablets. good man. | and of course you are not drinking as a result, which makes it even worse, although at least you don't drink away the profits. what effect has it had on the launch is being served in the quicksilver this lunchtime?— served in the quicksilver this lunchtime? . , ., , lunchtime? prices are definitely auoin u. lunchtime? prices are definitely going un- we — lunchtime? prices are definitely going up. we have _ lunchtime? prices are definitely going up. we have noticed - lunchtime? prices are definitely going up. we have noticed over| lunchtime? prices are definitely - going up. we have noticed over the last day six to eight weeks, everything is going up. little bags of vegetables which we go down to the local supermarket to get some fresh veg, a perfect example, recently one went from 49p to 56p, which is more than 5%. other things as well, a perfect example is wine. wine is shooting up. during the pandemic our local supermarket had superb offer, £6 50 for a bottle of wine, two for £10. guess what, that has gone, it is now 6.50 per bottle. so all of this at some point you had to make a decision about what this was going to do to the prices of the finished meal you served in the pub? that's correct. unfortunately we have had to tickle up the prices. most people shrug their shoulders and move on but we get one or two people getting grumpy about it, wondering why we have to put the price up. do wondering why we have to put the rice u. wondering why we have to put the ”riceu, ., wondering why we have to put the rice u. ., ., ,., ., wondering why we have to put the --riceu. .,., ., ., price up. do you do a plated meal or re-covid price up. do you do a plated meal or are-covid was _ price up. do you do a plated meal or pre-covid was it _ price up. do you do a plated meal or pre-covid was it plated _ price up. do you do a plated meal or pre-covid was it plated or _ price up. do you do a plated meal or pre-covid was it plated or was - price up. do you do a plated meal or pre-covid was it plated or was it - pre—covid was it plated or was it carvery? it pre-covid was it plated or was it carve ? . , pre-covid was it plated or was it carve ? ., , ., , ., pre-covid was it plated or was it carve ? . ., ., carvery? it was a plated meal and we cook everything _ carvery? it was a plated meal and we cook everything on _ carvery? it was a plated meal and we cook everything on site. _ carvery? it was a plated meal and we cook everything on site. everything l cook everything on site. everything is done fresh. 50 cook everything on site. everything is done fresh.— is done fresh. so what was the rice, is done fresh. so what was the price. and _ is done fresh. so what was the price, and what _ is done fresh. so what was the price, and what is _ is done fresh. so what was the price, and what is the - is done fresh. so what was the price, and what is the price - is done fresh. so what was the i price, and what is the price now? it was 8.95 for roast beef on a sunday, now it is 9.95. the only indifferent is some big fellas want a combination of all three meats, that is an extra pound, 10.95. the bottom line is ou is an extra pound, 10.95. the bottom line is you have _ is an extra pound, 10.95. the bottom line is you have gone _ is an extra pound, 10.95. the bottom line is you have gone for— is an extra pound, 10.95. the bottom line is you have gone for that - line is you have gone for that option presumably rather than giving people four sprouts rather than six, giving them four potatoes. do you think this is a honest way to deal with this? because there are people that do that. with this? because there are people that do that-— that do that. there are people that do that. that do that. there are people that do that- one _ that do that. there are people that do that. one of— that do that. there are people that do that. one of my _ that do that. there are people that do that. one of my chums - that do that. there are people that do that. one of my chums with i that do that. there are people that do that. one of my chums with a i that do that. there are people that l do that. one of my chums with a pub along the road, instead of giving you a bottle of wine, he will give you a bottle of wine, he will give you a bottle of wine, he will give you a carafe of wine which is like 2.5 glasses. he will probably drink it himself! he 2.5 glasses. he will probably drink it himself! . , �* , , it himself! he hasn't broken his let! it himself! he hasn't broken his leg! careful, — it himself! he hasn't broken his leg! careful, he _ it himself! he hasn't broken his leg! careful, he might- it himself! he hasn't broken his leg! careful, he might break. it himself! he hasn't broken his| leg! careful, he might break the other one for you for revealing his secret is! but seriously, you said most people accept it, they might be a bit grumpy about it, but you are not losing customers at the moment. are you worried about the combination of you having to put up your prizes and the fact people's household bills in other ways are going up might mean they may be a bit grumpy about it, but you are not losing customers at the moment. are you worried about the combination of you worried about the combination of you having to put up your prizes and the fact people's household bills in other ways are going up might mean they maybe eat out less, maybe not coming so often to the pub in an evening orfor lunchtime in the week? evening or for lunchtime in the week? . , ., , week? that is exactly what is happening- — week? that is exactly what is happening- we _ week? that is exactly what is happening. we have - week? that is exactly what is happening. we have quite i week? that is exactly what is happening. we have quite a i week? that is exactly what is i happening. we have quite a lot of couples who go and do shopping and then pop in for lunch. they used to coming times a week, now we only see them twice a week. since the pandemic, i'm amazed how many people i see at the local supermarket and they say, "we are going to come and see you when it is all over." i think, crikey, i haven't seen them for two years!— for two years! last question. is there anything... _ for two years! last question. is there anything... we _ for two years! last question. is there anything... we can't i for two years! last question. is there anything... we can't say| for two years! last question. is i there anything... we can't say the government can solve every problem, but is there anything they can do from your point of view as a businessman that would just make this all a little bit more manageable?— this all a little bit more manageable? this all a little bit more manaueable? .,, this all a little bit more manaueable? , , , manageable? ok, well, most publicans and restaurant — manageable? ok, well, most publicans and restaurant owners _ manageable? ok, well, most publicans and restaurant owners will— manageable? ok, well, most publicans and restaurant owners will tell - manageable? ok, well, most publicans and restaurant owners will tell you i and restaurant owners will tell you that in april we have a cliff edge coming, because started, the chancellor kindly reduced the vat on food sales to 12.5%, which is what it is at the moment but in april it goes back up to 20%. also the living wage comes in in april, which goes up, national insurance contributions are going up, and the business rate... we were paying a third, which is very kind, and next year they are giving us a 50% discount, which means it's going up. 50 50% discount, which means it's going up. so all of those things are cominu up. so all of those things are coming right _ up. so all of those things are coming right at _ up. so all of those things are coming right at the _ up. so all of those things are coming right at the start i up. so all of those things are coming right at the start of l up. so all of those things are i coming right at the start of april. it is incredible. and with gas and electricity prices going up. the company i was with went bust and they put me onto another one, and my gas price hasn't doubled but gone up by about 40%. it is gas price hasn't doubled but gone up by about 4096-— by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame _ by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame you — by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame you if— by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame you if you _ by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame you if you decide i by about 40%. it is a tough time. i don't blame you if you decide to i don't blame you if you decide to stay at home longer even when the leg is fully recovered. i stay at home longer even when the leg is fully recovered.— leg is fully recovered. i haven't been there _ leg is fully recovered. i haven't been there actually! _ leg is fully recovered. i haven't been there actually! the i leg is fully recovered. i haven'tj been there actually! the owner leg is fully recovered. i haven't i been there actually! the owner of the quicksilver _ been there actually! the owner of the quicksilver mail— been there actually! the owner of the quicksilver mail pub - been there actually! the owner of the quicksilver mail pub in - been there actually! the owner of| the quicksilver mail pub in yeovil, thanks for talking to us. get well soon.