these by—elections were billed as nail—biters. close, tense. in the end, they delivered two significant victories to labour. first in tamworth — the 57th safest conservative seat in the country before last night. edwards, sarah siena, labour party — 11,719 votes. cheering. the new mp was elated. it is certainly feeling very historic. i think one of the things we can take is a lot of comfort from the fact that people have seen labour are offering a positive vision, that they want a fresh start, and they are not seeing that the conservatives have anything to offer. the defeated conservative candidate chose not to stick around. in a statement the tories described it as "a difficult result on a much—reduced turnout". but it was about to get even more difficult for them. over in mid bedfordshire, when the ballot boxes started arriving, it had still been too close to call, in a rare three—way fight between the conservatives, labour and the lib dems. the liberal democrats doubled their share of the vote, but once again it was labour who emerged victorious. i therefore duly declare alistair luke strathern elected as member of parliament for the mid bedfordshire parliamentary constituency. cheering. for labour, an emotional reaction. the labour party wouldn't be where it is right now without keir starmer's leadership. it's the changes he's made, to bring us closer to values that we have here in mid bedfordshire, that have been so powerful — those values of respect, community—first, country—first politics are so important and that's given us the platform we've needed to be able to deliver such a historic result here and set us up for hopefully a historic win going into the next general election. for the conservatives, another swift exit... ..and a lot to contemplate — defeated in two safe seats with their share of the vote slashed in each. by—elections do often throw up surprises — these ones could leave behind some significant political aftershocks. helen catt, bbc news. lots of reaction to those labour victories this morning. first up, labour party leader sir keir starmer — speaking to voters in mid—bedfordshire what a fantastic candidate... cheering he has not only won here, he has made history here, in the last 2a hours, what an incredible achievement already, and thank you to all of you for doing all that hard work, for being such a brilliant team. this is such a hard fight. it was such a big majority. it was a three—way fight. every single conversation, every vote you persuaded to come across to us was work you have done on behalf of this constituency for a betterfuture, so thank you to all of you for having that positive case that we took out there. this is an incredible night, in politics, and an incredible morning, an incredible result here for so many reasons. it is clear that the voters here have turned their back on a failed tory government. they had enough of the decline of the last 13 years, and they are crying out for change, positive change that the labour party can bring them. positive change that a changed labour party can bring them, building the economy so it raises living standards everywhere across the country, not just rebuilding our nhs, but taking it forward so that it is fit for the future, making sure that we have the skills and opportunities for all of our young people, everywhere across this country. so that is our positive case. we take this incredible victory humbly. we know that voters here have voted for us, and they have put their trust and their confidence in a changed labour party, and we will repay them for that trust and confidence. we do so humbly. i know there were people yesterday, probably voted tory in the past, who voted for a changed labour party, because they despair at the state of their own party. i'm glad that they have seen that our party has changed and they can put their trust and confidence in them, and i hope that persuades other voters across the country who may have voted for other parties in the past, the party of the future and the party of national renewal, to reject the decline of the last 13 years, is this changed labour party. we go forward, thank you so much, and an incredible result. cheering that sir keir starmer there with reaction to these victories over night. a different picture for the conservatives. following these two heavy blows, here's how the conservative party chair greg hands reacted. the results are very disappointing, we are disappointed to have lost both of the by—elections, with two great candidates. i think we had good campaigns. i think the biggest problem was previous conservative voters staying at home. the turnout was very, very low in both the polls. we did not see any increase in labour's vote. the lib dems did not do well. i think it was principally a problem we need to find better ways to energise our conservative voters to come out and support the government. you say they are staying at home, it effectively means they are not voting. we spoke to daisy cooper earlier from the lib dems who said on the doorstep, i would be interested to hear what you think has been happening on the doorstep of the constituencies, she spoke to an 80—year—old who had always voted conservative, she was furious with the party. have you recognised that? have you seen that? have you heard that from your candidates? i think there is a lot of theory about the background to the by—election, what caused them. you mentioned the lib dems, of course the lib dems lost their deposit in tamworth and they did not make any progress in mid bedfordshire. clearly for us, i think it is right a number of our voters are unhappy with the government, we clearly have a job to do to win them back. what i might say, having been ten times to mid bedfordshire, i did not meet a single person saying the solution was keir starmer, labour or the lib dems. responding to the results, daisy cooper, the deputy leader of the liberal democrats emphasised that their party had been able to attract conservative voters. this has clearly in the end turned out to be a three—way seat, and we're proud of the fact we have almost doubled our share of the vote and won over the support of thousands and thousands of lifelong conservative voters. clearly, we won a lot of support in more of the rural villages. there was about 48 villages in mid bedfordshire. we know that labour focused more on the towns in the area, but if the support was replicated, that would put us on course to win a number of constituencies at the next general election. in mid bedfordshire, the labour candidate alistair strathern won the seat with 13,8722 votes. it gives the party a majority of 1,192 votes. this means the swing from the conservatives to labour was 20.5 percent. i'm joined now by our political correspondent nick eardley, who's in mid—bedfordshire. keir starmer saying they won't get carried away, and we do not have a general election until next year,... keir starmer was insisting that he is not getting ahead of himself, but he could hardly hide his smile this morning. he reckons, he argues, this is a game changer. it means that labour can now win seats in part of england that it has never won seats in before. two weeks ago, he was in rutherglen, saying that labour could win back parts of scotland, that it was not —— that it has not won for a decade. laboursaying was not —— that it has not won for a decade. labour saying this morning, yes they do want to appear they are keeping themselves grounded and they are not being complacent, but there is a confidence that has been gradually growing for months now, and will only grow significantly further after these two results. it is worth bearing in mind, where i am in mid bedfordshire, labour have never won here. this is a seat they have never won in the whole time it has existed as a constituency in the past. they didn't really bother to campaign here, because they didn't think they have much of a shot at all. what they did yesterday was overturn the biggest by—election, the biggest majority ever overturned at a by—election. it is a real moment, it feels, in the electoral cycle. labour don't want to get ahead of themselves this morning, but there is a pattern emerging. there are four by—elections in a row now. if you take axbridge to the side and assume it is a slightly different one because of some local factors, there are four by—elections in a row, selby, rutherglen, tamworth and mid bedfordshire, where there have been a swing of more than 20% to the labour party. that is why keir starmer had such a big smile this morning. iii keir starmer had such a big smile this morning-— this morning. if you start to look at those headlines, _ this morning. if you start to look at those headlines, nick, - this morning. if you start to look at those headlines, nick, the - this morning. if you start to look. at those headlines, nick, the first time labour has made two by—election gains on the same day since 1962. as you touched on, no government previously losing such a safe seat as tamworth to the opposition party in a by—election. one wonders this morning, what is going on conservative party headquarters, how they will lay out their strategy ahead of what could be a general election year?— ahead of what could be a general election year? there is going to be a lot of head _ election year? there is going to be a lot of head scratching _ election year? there is going to be a lot of head scratching going - election year? there is going to be a lot of head scratching going on . election year? there is going to be j a lot of head scratching going on in conservative hq this morning. we had greg hands, the tory chairman on the airwaves this morning, insisting his party can still win the next general election, insisting that he doesn't need to resign, it is not his fault that things are in the state they are in. there is no doubt, if you are in. there is no doubt, if you are a conservative mp waking up this morning are looking at your prospects for a general election, you are going to be pretty worried about what we have seen in both tamworth and mid bedfordshire. it is those areas that should be safe, true blue, tory heartlands, that are starting to turn. in the past, some of it has been to the liberal democrats. that is still a threat to the tories in some parts of the country, but now you have labour making his really significant, historic gains in seats like this one. we should point out, ben, that by—elections in general elections are different things. the conservative party will be hoping that although its vote didn't turn out yesterday, they'll be able to do something to enthuse them at our general election. it is certainly fair to say that people think of general elections differently to by—elections. they can be a sense of, who do you want to run the country? ratherthan of, who do you want to run the country? rather than delivering on the government of the day. it is also inescapable that there are some trends in the recent by—elections, trends in the recent by—elections, trends in the polls that are very good news for the labour party, and they are looking at the moment like a complete nightmare for the conservatives.— a complete nightmare for the conservatives. �* , ., ., ., conservatives. and 'ust a word on the liberal _ conservatives. and just a word on the liberal democrats, _ conservatives. and just a word on the liberal democrats, if- conservatives. and just a word on the liberal democrats, if you - conservatives. and just a word on i the liberal democrats, if you would. we heard from daisy cooper saying they were disappointed not to win, but they managed to attract some conservative voters, and talk to me about the role they will play in this next election? the interesting thin u- to this next election? the interesting thing on to now — this next election? the interesting thing up to now has _ this next election? the interesting thing up to now has been, - this next election? the interesting thing up to now has been, there i this next election? the interesting i thing up to now has been, there has largely been a single challenger to the conservative party. labour or the conservative party. labour or the lib dems. ifeel like i've been to half a dozen or so by—elections in the past couple of years, and in each of them there were scenes —— there seems to be one main party that had the chance of ousting conservatives. that wasn't the case in mid bedfordshire, because both labour and the lib dems through the kitchen sink at it. the lib dems were arguing up to yesterday that they could win, they weren't miles away but they weren't that close either. the argument they are making this morning is that they can take on the conservatives in some parts of the country where labour can't. i think it is probably true for the south—west of england, where they have more of a chance of unseating a conservative and labour would. i think that is —— i think there is a question as to whether there are some unofficial tactical voting at a general election. in seats like this, if that doesn't happen, doesn't split the anti—conservative vote? that could have happened here. there were some speculations that the conservatives might slip through the conservatives might slip through the middle, because both stewed and give it a proper st shot —— both stewed. .. they theyare they are almost solely taking on conservative incumbents in the seat that they are hoping to add, and again, it feeds into that picture we were just talking about. if you're sitting in conservative hq this morning and you're trying to figure out what the next general election looks like, you have parts of the country where labour historically have had no chance, where it looks like they do have a chance now. certainly these by—elections are anything to go by. you also have tory heartlands in the south of england, where, in the past, the conservatives would have thought they were pretty comfortable, while they were pretty comfortable, while the lib dems think they could challenge as well. if the conservatives are going to have any hope of turning this around, there's going to have to be a lot of work done quickly. going to have to be a lot of work done quickly-— going to have to be a lot of work done quickly. really good to have ou done quickly. really good to have you there. _ done quickly. really good to have you there, nick, _ done quickly. really good to have you there, nick, in _ done quickly. really good to have you there, nick, in mid _ you there, nick, in mid bedfordshire. that's the picture on the ground there. how about tamworth, the scene of that other important labour victory last night? our correspondent henry zeffman has been spending time there following the result. these results don't determine general elections, sure, but there is plenty that you can read into them. governments don't generally lose by—elections on swings like this, which is why we have spent all morning talking about how historic the scales of these defeats are. for the government to try and pass this off as some and pass this off as some kind of mid—term blues i think underplays the scale of what happened last night. one specific thing to do with tamworth that is very important to understand is that tamworth voted very strongly to leave the european union in 2016, and that was a big reason why, in seats like this, in all different parts of the country but especially around here in the west midlands and also the north, labour's vote really fell away at the 2019 general election, where the conservatives won a landslide. last night suggests, just suggests, that some of those voters who backed brexit now have forgiven the labour party for opposing brexit and for wanting a second referendum, or at least are willing to vote on different issues. if that is true all over the country, in strong brexit—supporting areas, that opens up a whole new class of seats for the labour party at the next general election, which we are expecting next year, where they could prosper. that could suggest a very dark period for the conservative party at the next general election. yes, and the government will say that these sort of results may happen if there are mid—term blues, the electorate is just a bit unhappy, but it won't be reflected at the general election, but it does feel different this time. that is why the government will be so worried these figures. and to state the obvious, it is not the middle of the parliamentary term. the last general election was almost four years ago, the next general election has to take place by mid—january 2025. we are expecting it really at the very latest december next year. the government doesn't have a lot of time to turn it around. one crumb of comfort, and i think it isjust a crumb, but one crumb of comfort among conservatives i've been speaking to this morning is, they say, "look how volatile public "opinion clearly is." just four years ago, the public delivered the worst general election result of the labour party that they had had in 80 odd years, so they say, "if the public can change its mind "about the labour party really quickly, between now and the next "general election it might change its mind about "the conservative party," and so the position might look quite different come the general election. ithink, you know, that may well be the case. that just underscores that what the conservative party are relying on now is a dramatic shift in public opinion. it is not that the polls are narrowing, the labour lead looks a bit soft or anything like that, that has all been blown away by not just these two by—elections, but the by—election in rutherglen in scotland and some of the elections in the summer. what the conservative party is now hoping for is an extremely dramatic turnaround. it may happen, but the reason it would be so dramatic is because it looks quite difficult to achieve. that is our chief political correspondent. there is much more on the fallout of those election results on the bbc website. storm babet has been battering the uk with torrential rain and strong winds. hundreds of people were advised to leave their homes overnight in parts of scotland as the storm hit — and thousands of properties were left without power. a rare red weather warning — meaning there's a risk to life — is in force until midday with heavy rain sweeping through northern and eastern scotland. simonjones reports. it's been a wet, windy and wild night, and there's more on the way as storm babet batters much of the uk. overnight in brechin in eastern scotland, the coastguard and fire service have been going door to door, asking residents to leave their homes for their own safety. this area is under an extremely rare red weather warning for rain. that means there's a very real risk to life. a woman died after being swept into a river in angus. we've had really extensive disruption overnight to quite a widespread number of communities across northeast scotland. if you're in an area that has been flooded, i'd say please follow the advice of the emergency services. don't walk or drive through flood water. several flood warnings and severe flood warnings have been in place in eastern scotland. communities could be cut off for days, with the wet weather also bringing the possibility of landslides. coastal areas have been hard hit. some homes have been left without power. residents have been doing what they can to protect their properties. community centres have been opened in areas where it's too dangerous for people to remain at home. for some, it's an all too familiar story. cos i was evacuated in november, i was out of my house for five months. i've been flooded umpteen times, i was like _ i've been flooded umpteen times, i was like my— i've been flooded umpteen times, i was like my house for ten months. if you was like my house for ten months. you are was like my house for ten months. if you are flooded, will you go? bwf world tour it is up to the life, she is the boss. -- it is up to the wife, she is the boss. in carnoustie, school shut early. in stonehaven in aberdeenshire, the new flood defences were being put to the test. travel has been badly disrupted — it was a bumpy ride for passengers flying into aberdeen, and the situation on the trains hasn't been much better. our advice is, if you're in a red weather—warning area, do not travel. we've told our staff in those areas to stay at home. if you live across the rest of the network or want to travel on scotrail across the network, check before you travel. warnings for wind and rain cover much of the rest of the uk today — people advised to brace themselves for what babet brings. simon jones, bbc news. what does it look like right now out there? our correspondent fi lamdin has been meeting affected people in brechin. all morning the liferafts you have been getting people in and out. it has been a very concentrated effort to get all those out to have been trapped. i'm not sure why those people are now working. we've seen people are now working. we've seen people tried to drive out, and as you can see, their carsjust people tried to drive out, and as you can see, their cars just get stuck. this house over here, we have just seen the residents come down, and they are absolutely in tears. it is so sad. they have just seen the damage, the water up to their windows, their car submerged, and they'vejust windows, their car submerged, and they've just told windows, their car submerged, and they'vejust told me windows, their car submerged, and they've just told me that there are actually people up on the top floor that the fire and rescue can get to at the moment because there is no way to get them out the windows. they are just going to have to wait until the water goes down. i was here yesterday, and people living here, that there were evacuation centres, they were told this might happen, but peoplejust centres, they were told this might happen, but people just on one to believe it. they said, i'm sure this won't happen, and so many people choose to stay, and then at four o'clock, the river broke its banks, and that is when many people had to leave stop all morning, we have seen these rafts taking people in and out. they bring pets, bring their medicine, and they come out and go up, there is a very organised chain. you can see the police parked up there. the police then take them up to an evacuation centre, three evacuation centres in this area. this car here, ijust want to show you, we saw the residents, it was pitch black, they didn't realise quite how deep it was, and they started trying to drive out. amazingly, the teams were able to get them out that car to safety. you can see here the people are walking through, and they have got their suitcase, and yes, they are through. let's come and meet euan here. euan, we arejust standing let's come and meet euan here. euan, we are just standing by all your warehouses. good morning to you. how long have you had these warehouses here? we long have you had these warehouses here? ~ ,., ,., long have you had these warehouses here? ~ ., here? we bought some of them in 1998, and the — here? we bought some of them in 1998, and the rest _ here? we bought some of them in 1998, and the rest in _ here? we bought some of them in 1998, and the rest in 2006. - here? we bought some of them in 1998, and the rest in 2006. there| 1998, and the rest in 2006. there are businesses that are absolutely flooded _ are businesses that are absolutely flooded with water. so are businesses that are absolutely flooded with water.— are businesses that are absolutely flooded with water. so you have had them for decades, _ flooded with water. so you have had them for decades, anything - flooded with water. so you have had them for decades, anything like - flooded with water. so you have had them for decades, anything like this j them for decades, anything like this before? we them for decades, anything like this before? ~ ., ., ., ., ., , before? we have had two ma'or floods and one before? we have had two ma'or floods and minor. — before? we have had two ma'or floods and one minor, but * before? we have had two ma'or floods and one minor, but this _ before? we have had two ma'or floods and one minor, but this is _ before? we have had two major floods and one minor, but this is extreme. i and one minor, but this is extreme. we have _ and one minor, but this is extreme. we have never had at this high before — we have never had at this high before. unfortunately, all the units are affected. before there was only five or— are affected. before there was only five or six— are affected. before there was only five or six units. i feel very sorry for the _ five or six units. i feel very sorry for the tenants and that, a lot of them _ for the tenants and that, a lot of them run — for the tenants and that, a lot of them run businesses. we connect all sorts— them run businesses. we connect all sorts goes— them run businesses. we connect all sorts goes on in there, and some are telling _ sorts goes on in there, and some are telling me _ sorts goes on in there, and some are telling me they have raised all their— telling me they have raised all their precious equipment in the hope of saving _ their precious equipment in the hope of saving it? — their precious equipment in the hope of saving it? they put a bit of effort — of saving it? they put a bit of effort into _ of saving it? they put a bit of effort into it last night, because we thought it might get a bit bad. we never— we thought it might get a bit bad. we never realised it would be so severe — we never realised it would be so severe it — we never realised it would be so severe. it isjust because the river came _ severe. it isjust because the river came over— severe. it isjust because the river came over the wall, and this is the lowest _ came over the wall, and this is the lowest part— came over the wall, and this is the lowest part of the whole time. all the water — lowest part of the whole time. all the water accumulates in this area, and there's— the water accumulates in this area, and there's really nothing we can do about— and there's really nothing we can do about it _ and there's really nothing we can do about it it— and there's really nothing we can do about it it is— and there's really nothing we can do about it. it is all hemmed in by the defences— about it. it is all hemmed in by the defences as — about it. it is all hemmed in by the defences as well, so they keep the water— defences as well, so they keep the water in _ defences as well, so they keep the water in as— defences as well, so they keep the water in as well as keeping it out, so there's— water in as well as keeping it out, so there's no place for the water to id so there's no place for the water to go down _ so there's no place for the water to go down. when the river goes down, there _ go down. when the river goes down, there is— go down. when the river goes down, there is no— go down. when the river goes down, there is no place for this floodwater in here to go to, so we have _ floodwater in here to go to, so we have to _ floodwater in here to go to, so we have to pump it out. and floodwater in here to go to, so we have to pump it out.— floodwater in here to go to, so we have to pump it out. and power, you live 'ust have to pump it out. and power, you live just up — have to pump it out. and power, you live just up the _ have to pump it out. and power, you livejust up the hill, _ have to pump it out. and power, you live just up the hill, did _ have to pump it out. and power, you live just up the hill, did you - have to pump it out. and power, you live just up the hill, did you have - livejust up the hill, did you have power? i know a lot of the town doesn't have power. the power? i know a lot of the town doesn't have power. the bottom of the town is — doesn't have power. the bottom of the town is dead _ doesn't have power. the bottom of the town is dead with _ doesn't have power. the bottom of the town is dead with power. - doesn't have power. the bottom of the town is dead with power. the l the town is dead with power. the substation — the town is dead with power. the substation for the bottom of the town _ substation for the bottom of the town is— substation for the bottom of the town is under about four foot of water, — town is under about four foot of water, which is why the whole bottom of the _ water, which is why the whole bottom of the town _ water, which is why the whole bottom of the town has been... we water, which is why the whole bottom of the town has been. . .— of the town has been... we seen this before, of the town has been... we seen this before. how — of the town has been... we seen this before, how long _ of the town has been... we seen this before, how long do _ of the town has been... we seen this before, how long do you _ of the town has been... we seen this before, how long do you think- of the town has been... we seen this before, how long do you think it - before, how long do you think it will take to get power back on, to get the water out? how long before you can walk through this time, before this is a road again? i would think, honestly, _ before this is a road again? i would think, honestly, with _ before this is a road again? i would think, honestly, with past - think, honestly, with past experience, it would be two weeks before _ experience, it would be two weeks before some of the businesses start up. before some of the businesses start up~ power— before some of the businesses start up. power is a non—entity, the substations _ up. power is a non—entity, the substations are under water, so we don't _ substations are under water, so we don't know— substations are under water, so we don't know much at all. we don't know— don't know much at all. we don't know the — don't know much at all. we don't know the consequences of the flood and that _ know the consequences of the flood and that. ., ., ~ know the consequences of the flood and that. ., ., ,, , ., know the consequences of the flood and that. . ., ~' , ., , . and that. euan, thank you very much, and that. euan, thank you very much, and i'm and that. euan, thank you very much, and i'm really — and that. euan, thank you very much, and i'm really sorry, _ and that. euan, thank you very much, and i'm really sorry, it _ and that. euan, thank you very much, and i'm really sorry, itjust _ and i'm really sorry, itjust heartbreaking. it isjust and i'm really sorry, itjust heartbreaking. it is just so sad seeing people coming down and realising, looking at their homes, and looking at their cars and realising that they are underwater, and they have lost so much. i think the really important thing that everyone is holding on to at the moment here is that they believe they have got everybody out there that needs to, and so we believe, at the moment, everybody is safe. they've got people who are cold and wet to the evacuation centres, and so the main messages here is that the emergency services have been working wonderfully, and the plan has worked, they got everyone safe, and out a massive clear up operation, and there are still people trapped. until this water goes down, they will have to remain up goes down, they will have to remain up there in that top floor. abs, up there in that top floor. a reporter talking to me a bit earlier about the impact of storm babet in many parts of scotland. to give me a broader picture, weather presenter matt taylor joined me earlierfrom the newsroom. this was the scene in eastern scotland yesterday. some parts of aberdeenshire is of the wind gusts over 70 mph for over nine hours in total. strong winds also develop quite widely across northern england today, with the rainfall has been the big issue, and will be the biggest issue of this storm. perth is in the south—east grampians. it is in the south—east grampians. it is this area that feeds the rivers across this wed what —— red warning area. it is notjust here we seen the problems with rainfall, we are also seeing it across other parts of england right now and north—east wales. rainfall totals continue to tot up here, and the minorflooding is already on the go. find tot up here, and the minor flooding is already on the go.— is already on the go. and 'ust exlain is already on the go. and 'ust explain why it i is already on the go. and 'ust explain why it has i is already on the go. and 'ust explain why it has been h is already on the go. and just explain why it has been so i is already on the go. and just l explain why it has been so bad, is already on the go. and just i explain why it has been so bad, why are parts of scotland feeling this so heavily? it are parts of scotland feeling this so heavily?— are parts of scotland feeling this so heavily? it is all down to a big area of low _ so heavily? it is all down to a big area of low pressure _ so heavily? it is all down to a big area of low pressure that - so heavily? it is all down to a big area of low pressure that has i so heavily? it is all down to a big i area of low pressure that has been with us. here it is on the chart. this area of high pressure across scandinavia stopped it from moving anywhere, and it means anything wrapped around to get stuck in the same place for a length of time. there's quite a bit of warmth mixed in with this, meaning higher rainfall totals, and adding to that the strong easterly winds coming round the northern edge of it, which is in scotland now, north—east england, and because these rainfall totals to get even higher, particularly over the hills. that means the rain clouds get even bigger. that is why we have seen, combined with the warm air that is with us, there is excessive amounts of rainfall. �* ., ., , with us, there is excessive amounts of rainfall. . ., ,, , ., of rainfall. and taking us through the weather _ of rainfall. and taking us through the weather warnings _ of rainfall. and taking us through the weather warnings that - of rainfall. and taking us through the weather warnings that are i of rainfall. and taking us through l the weather warnings that are still in place, we know the red warning is in place, we know the red warning is in place, we know the red warning is in place until midday, but you are telling us that water levels will still keep on rising?— still keep on rising? indeed. it takes awhile _ still keep on rising? indeed. it takes awhile for _ still keep on rising? indeed. it takes awhile for the _ still keep on rising? indeed. it takes awhile for the water i still keep on rising? indeed. it takes awhile for the water to l still keep on rising? indeed. it i takes awhile for the water to come off the hills, down through the rivers. just a reminder for that area is, and what does laps at midday, doesn't mean we are out of the woods by any means will stop river levels could continue to rise, and these areas will see more rain through tomorrow after a bit of a respite later in the day. it is not just here where there is a risk of flooding. heightened risk of flooding. heightened risk of flooding across other parts of eastern scotland, and as alison mentioned, an amber warning comes in place this lunchtime in the eastern side of the pennines, the piece district, despite the peak district, and rainfall will be piling on and continuing to tot up. we seen that rain already moving, flooding has been reported across the west midlands in north wales due to this relentless rain which will ease as we go through the day. pretty wet in northern ireland, but notice the brighter colours here, how they set in across parts of eastern england from the north—east, midlands, lincolnshire, northwards into south—east scotland. in other parts as well turned drier, and parts of it still windy during the day. by comparison much calmer across southern counties, a few heavy showers, but those winds because the northern part of the country gusting 50, 60 mph. a northern part of the country gusting 50,60 mph. a big split northern part of the country gusting 50, 60 mph. a big split from north to south, we will get the respite later today, then the rain will move northwards and sit there through much of saturday, with the worst may be yet to come. we much of saturday, with the worst may be yet to come-— be yet to come. we are returning to the crisis in — be yet to come. we are returning to the crisis in the _ be yet to come. we are returning to the crisis in the middle _ be yet to come. we are returning to the crisis in the middle east. - be yet to come. we are returning to the crisis in the middle east. for. the crisis in the middle east. for the crisis in the middle east. for the latest, my colleague katya adler. hello. i'm katya adler injerusalem with our continuing coverage of the israel—gaza war. us presidentjoe biden has delivered a rare night—time address from the oval office, following this week's visit to israel. he linked the russia—ukraine and israel—gaza conflicts, and he urged congress to approve a giant aid and defence package.