This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. Of course the incredible nhs staff at the forefront of this, but so have care workers, so have local authority workers, so have Civil Servants. This pandemic has demonstrated one thing. Its how much the government relies on the entire Public Service. It comes as Public Sector debt in the uk has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. Uk Prime Minister borisjohnson
is expected to respond to a report looking into the conduct of the home secretary. Priti patel denies the allegations of bullying. In the United States a recount in the state of georgia reveals the same result joe biden did beat donald trump in the state. The president elect says the refusal to accept defeat sends a bad message. Englands test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas, according to bbc analysis. More than two Million People in parts of scotland face tough tier 4 restrictions from six oclock tonight including a ban on household mixing indoors, and the closure of non essential shops. Whats your opinion about the change in restrictions . Do let us know your thoughts on that or on any of our other stories. You can send a tweet to me at annitamcveigh or by using the hashtag
bbcyourquestions. And 75 years ago today, the surviving leaders of nazi germany went on trial at nuremberg in the worlds First International war crimes trial. Hello and welcome to you if youre watching in the uk or around the world and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. Millions of Public Sector workers in the uk could face a pay freeze next year according to government sources. Its thought nhs workers will be exempt but many other key workers like teachers and Police Officers will face a wage freeze. The chancellor is expected to make the announcement in next weeks Spending Review. The treasury continues to face a spiralling Government Debt after borrowing climbed to {22. 3 billion last month
the highest october borrowing figure since records began. The government has borrowed nearly £215 billion so far this year £169 billion more than the same time in 2019. The uks National Debt continues to rise to nearly £2. 1 trillion. More on that in a moment, but first our economics editor faisal islam reports on the potential pay freeze. Millions of Public Sector workers face a pay freeze at next weeks Spending Review as chancellor rishi sunak makes the case for pay restraint to reflect falls in private sector earnings during this pandemic afflicted year. At the start of the Spending Review process, the chancellor outlined that in the interests of fairness, we must exercise restraint in future Public Sector pay awards, ensuring parity with the private sector. The treasury has taken
an interest in a report on the issue by the centre for policy studies, suggesting a three year freeze would save £23 billion by 2023, or 15 billion if nhs workers were exempt. It is expected that nhs workers would be exempt from a freeze to reflect efforts during the pandemic, but four million workers still include many key workers lauded for their service during the pandemic, from the armed forces to police, teachers and Civil Servants. Unions are already planning a campaign against such plans, having already had rejected their efforts for a special pay bonus in the current year for pandemic front line Public Sector workers. Faisal islam, bbc news. Nhs workers are expected to be exempt from any freezes in Public Sector pay. But speaking to bbc breakfast, the uk Health Secretary matt hancock refused to answer whether he fought for Health Workers around the cabinet table. Im asking you what you are fighting forfor the nhs around the table in a cabinet meeting. Yah. Yeah. Have you fought for nhs workers to be exempt from the pay freeze . Whether it happens or not, you cant tell me. But have you for it . Well, im not going to go into internal discussions. But you know how much i value nhs workers. And colleagues right across the nhs. 0k. But im afraid i am going to respect cabinet confidentiality, as i always do, and instead allow the chancellor of the exchequer to set out the details, because then he can set out the broad landscape. Because of course, as well as a very tough situation when it comes to health this year with the coronavirus, there is of course an incredibly tough Economic Situation as well. Dave prentis is general secretary of the uks biggest trade union, unison. Hejoins us now. Thank you he joins us now. Thank you for your time today, dave prentis. We do not know the full detail of what the
chancellor will announce in the Spending Review but you are clear that all Public Sector workers should get a pay rise. Ive got no doubt whatsoever. The statement this morning and the policy unit behind it, what they are saying, the pay freeze for Public Sector workers, its like going back to the days of austerity over the last decade when those Public Service workers who paid the price, pay freezes, 700,000 jobs lost, which made it much harder to deal with the pandemic when it came, isa to deal with the pandemic when it came, is a kick in the teeth for all of those Public Sector Service Workers who have been on the front line, who have been in our hospitals, who have been in our local authorities, looking after the homeless, day care workers, a myriad of people, care workers on the minimum wage, many of them giving their lives to look after our communities. And it is their courage, it is their dedication which is bringing us through this
pandemic. Sorry to interrupt. According to the reports we are seeing, though, the chancellor is seeking to recognise nhs front line workers. Do you accept that differentiation between nhs front line workers and other Public Sector workers, given the level of public debt that there is at the minute . We are the Largest Health union and it is more than doctors, it is more than nurses, it is cleaners, it is porters, it is all those people who do all thejobs which porters, it is all those people who do all the jobs which make it work, the first responders, ambulance workers, paramedics who have done so much. Are they included in what is being set now because i dont think so. Being set now because i dont think so. Beyond that it is the care workers, the cinderellas who have paid the price with their lives and seen people that they care for die because they have been neglected. And all of that has been going on and is still going on, and now
during the middle of the pandemic we then give them the body blow that you are going to have a pay freeze for three years. These are some of the lowest paid workers in this country. They have given so much. We have clapped for them on a thursday night, and yet at the end of it what are we doing . We are saying we are going back to the old normal, well, we are not going back to the old normal, we are not going back to Public Service workers being undervalued, we are not going back to seeing them underpaid and overworked. Our Public Service workers are absolutely exhausted. It has been their dedication, their courage, that is keeping the rest of us courage, that is keeping the rest of us alive and to treat them like this, i think this is absolutely immoral. We have heard about that exhaustion, the impact on physical and mental health, from so many Health Workers, and otherfront line workers. If you had to make the
economic case for not putting a pay freeze on all of those Public Sector workers, how would you do that . Because perhaps that is what the chancellor will listen to. Public Service Workers mean we have healthy communities. They mean that people can go to work, that we have dealt with the pandemic, that help us get the economy going again. Public Service Workers spend their money in their local communities. Over 80 of their local communities. Over 80 of the wage of a Public Service worker goes into the local communities, into the local shops. We need to grow the economy but we also need to deal with the taxation system. We have so many people in this country, the rich, avoiding taxation. We have got people evading taxation. We have Big Multinational Companies taking their money out of the country when they should be paying their part and helping the economy to grow, and helping the economy to grow, and help us to get the Public Service
workers in those areas where we need them. Just because there is a vaccine possibly in the spring, or even throughout next year, it means we are living with this pandemic through that period of time at least at least, and then the body blow of having gone through that, they are fearing for themselves, they fear when they go into their own homes. When they open their own door after being with Covid Patients they fear they are going to pass it onto their own families and after all of that we kick them in the teeth and say you will not have a pay increase for three years. Care workers the minimum wage working two or three different ca re minimum wage working two or three different care homesjust minimum wage working two or three different care homes just to get a living wage, and will receive no further increases. If you do it for the pay review body you do it for all Public Sector workers. We must leave it there, but thank you for your thoughts today, dave prentis, the leader of the uks biggest trade
union, unison. This Public Sector pay story we are talking about applies to england only, just to be clear. The Prime Minister is expected to set out his response to a report into the conduct of the home secretary priti patel, following allegations of bullying. Its said the report found that she had broken ministerial rules. Ms patel has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Our Political Correspondent helen catt explained what we could expect to hear from the Prime Minister. What were expecting from borisjohnson is his verdict on all this, so the inquiry has been done, the report has been written, he has seen it and now its up to him to make a judgment on what should happen. Because as the Prime Minister he is the arbiter of the ministerial code, that code of conduct that all ministers are expected to abide by. Now, downing street is refusing to comment. But we have seen throughout this borisjohnson sticking very firmly by priti patel and there isnt any sense this morning that that is likely to change. As you said, priti patel has consistently denied any wrongdoing. We also know that borisjohnson has been very resistant to getting rid of ministers who have come under fire over the last year or so and we have seen that happen time and again. And there are some reasons why he might be particularly sorry to lose priti patel. His government has come in for criticism for a lack of visible senior women and she is the most seniorfemale minister in government so that would be a difficult loss. She is also very popular within the conservative party itself, there were lots of mps last night tweeting in support of her and among the everyday members of the conservative party she is very popular. So there isnt likely to be any sort of pressure coming from within the party, significant pressure coming from within the party for borisjohnson to act on this. But of course, these are very serious allegations, bullying is a very serious allegation, so it if the report is
found to have found bullying, as sources suggest, although they suggest it could have been unintentional, and if borisjohnson as expected keeps priti patel in place, i think hes going to have to explain clearly why he is doing that and this morning labour has already raised concerns. Helen catt at westminster for us. Millions of people in parts of scotland will face the countrys toughest coronavirus restrictions from today. The rules will come into force in ii Council Areas across west and central scotland. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, a new two week lockdown period starting next week has been announced. So what are the restrictions across the uk . From 6pm gmt tonight, more than two Million People will be under scottish tier 4 restrictions. This means that household mixing is banned indoors, and only essential shops are open. Northern ireland was due to gradually ease restrictions from today and some business will still be able to reopen. But it will now face a new, two week lockdown period starting next friday which will see all non essential businesses shut, but schools will remain open. England remains under National Lockdown
restrictions until wednesday 2nd december. That means that non essential businesses, including hospitality, are closed and household mixing is banned. And in wales, the firebreak restrictions came to an end on 9th november. Now, groups of up to four people from different households can meet up in cafes, pubs and restaurants and outdoor public spaces. Lets get more details on the changes in scotland coming in today from our correspondent james shaw. These level four restrictions will come into force at 6pm tonight across a very large swathes of west central scotland. So, glasgow, all the towns around it, all of lanarkshire, west the towns around it, all of la narkshire, west lothian, the towns around it, all of lanarkshire, west lothian, which is over to the east, and stirling to the north. The restrictions will include the closure of all nonessential retail, all gyms,
sports centres, hair and beauty salons and entertainment venues. Schools will stay open but there are also quite strict travel restrictions, so you will not be allowed to travel outside your council area, except for essential reasons, which would include things like work, education and caring responsibilities. Those controls are mandatory, so you could be fined if you travel not for essential reasons. It strikes me that some people might be tempted, for example, to go Christmas Shopping from glasgow to edinburgh. If they do that they will be breaking the law and it will also be the case that people will not be allowed to travel to other parts of the united kingdom. So, england, wales and Northern Ireland. During these three weeks, unless it is for essential reasons. So quite strict controls coming in, but it is worth bearing in mind that they are not national
controls. This is just in mind that they are not national controls. This isjust in in mind that they are not national controls. This is just in one specific part of scotland and they will be lifted after the 11th of november with just two weeks to go until christmas. James shaw. Lets look at Northern Ireland in a bit more detail. Northern ireland is set to face a two week period of tougher covid i9 lockdown measures from next friday. Restrictions were due to start easing today, and some businesses like hairdressers and cafes will briefly be allowed to reopen. But, from 27th november, all non essential retail and the hospitality sector will have to close again. Lets speak now to our correspondent in belfast, chris page. Chris, hello to you. This, some people might say, is confusing, given that lots of things will be reopening today, yetjust a week from now they will have to shut down again. So what is the rationale behind that, chris . Yes, well, there is not a small amount of politics behind the way for how things have
turned out here. Last week the devolved government, the Stormont Executive, after four days of pretty intense talks, voted to partially lift the restrictions which are currently in force today. So as you have mentioned, this morning, cafes we re have mentioned, this morning, cafes were able to reopen, Close Contact Services like hairdressers and beauticians are allowed to have customers as well but they are now going to have to close again in just a weeks time. Thats because yesterday the Stormont Executive decided to impose tougher restrictions than the ones which we re restrictions than the ones which were partially lifted this time last week. It is pretty confusing, many here are saying today, so we have had some pretty angry criticism from the Business Community about what they say is a terrible lack of uncertainty. Retailers, for example, now say they will have to close for two weeks in late november and early december. The hospitality trade have said their industry body has said they have lost all trust in the executive. Other parts of the
Hospitality Industry shot since mid october, the likes of pubs and restau ra nts, mid october, the likes of pubs and restaurants, were expecting to reopen next friday. Now they know they will be shut for an additional two weeks. Sorry to interrupt, chris. Is there a concern now with this window of a week that people might have a desperate desire to get out there, to go to cafes, to go shopping in nonessential shops and so shopping in nonessential shops and so forth, and that actually thats the opposite potentially of what needs to happen in terms of keeping cases of the virus, keeping transmission down . Well, there is a strong stay at home message being put out by the executive in addition to their new lockdown measures. So the advice from the likes of Public Health officials is that people should be all the more careful now, even though things are open. They should stick to the regulations and limit their contacts but the manner in which the devolved government has gone about making its decision has led, as i say, to a lot of very
severe criticism, particularly from business, but also from people in the general public who have said the indecision, as they see it, isnt great at all. It isnt doing very much for their confidence in the executive and the wait is handling the pandemic. Minister said the reason things changed is there was a particularly stark prediction put on the table by chief scientific advisers yesterday that said hospitals would be overwhelmed by mid december if this intervention wasnt put in place quickly. Out of the five parties in the power sharing Coalition Four of them broadly last week were in favour of extending the restrictions but the Biggest Party the dup pushed for the partial reopening. Essentially that is in the end what they got, but now the dup falling in behind the other executive parties in deciding that this Circuit Breaker lockdown is needed at the beginning of next week for a fortnight. 0k, chris, thank you very much. Our ireland correspondent chris paige in belfast. The headlines on bbc news. Millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face
a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. It comes as Public Sector debt in the uk has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. The uk Prime Minister is expected to respond to a report looking into bullying allegations against the home secretary. Priti patel denies the allegations. President Electjoe Biden has said donald trump is damaging democracy after he again refused to accept the official result that he lost the vote in the us state of georgia. Officials there confirmed for a second time that mr biden won after a recount. The recount was triggered automatically under state law because the vote was so close, and was not linked to any suspected problems. Georgia is one of five states that mr trump won in 2016, but mr biden took this time. Heres our north america correspondent will grant. The result of georgias recount is in and confirms what we already knew. Mr biden won the state. Still, donald trump will almost certainly not accept that result nor any other he still contests. It is now a little over two weeks since the election was held and this was supposed to be the moment President Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani showed the proof for their campaigns unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Good afternoon. I know crimes, i can smell them, i can prove this one to you 18 different ways. I can prove to you that he won pennsylvania by 300,000 votes, he won michigan by probably 50,000 votes. Meanwhile, the winner of this race, Vice President joe biden, is growing increasingly dismissive of President Trump and his outlandish claims of wrongdoing. What do you think the president is doing, what are americans witnessing . I think they are witnessing incredible irresponsibility. Incredibly damaging messages being sent to the rest of the world about how democracy functions. There was also a timely reminder of the real world consequences to the political debacle. Thanksgiving, perhaps americas most important holiday, is fast approaching, traditionally a time for families to gather and break bread. In this strangest of years, with more than 250,000 in coronavirus related deaths in the us, the centre for Disease Control has issued its strongest advice yet. Stay home. Americans health and that of their family members this pen being responsible says the countrys leading Infectious Disease expert, doctor anthony fauci. Infectious disease expert, dr anthony fauci. We not talking about shutting down the country, were not talking about locking down to talking about intensifying the simple Public Health measures that we all talk about, mask wearing, staying distance, avoiding congregate settings. The legal wrangling will continue for some time yet but frustrations are growing that they are presenting the president elects Transition Team from properly preparing for office amid the greatest Public Health emergency the us has seen in a century. Will grant, bbc news, washington. In a warning from the world health organisation, europeans have been told to expect a tough six months ahead during this coronavirus pandemic describing progress on vaccines as the the light at the end of the tunnel. Across europe, more than 29,000 people died of the disease in a week, as the continent once again finds itself the epicentre of this disease. Mark lobel has more. A breath of fresh air during a trying time. Before the crisis took off,
this small northern italian firm made hot air balloons here. Now, they are embracing existing technologies to combat one of the pandemics greatest losses, and building mobile hugging rooms that inflate in under two minutes. Translation depression amongst all people who are lacking old people who are lacking physical contact by having to let go of everyone is proving devastating. The hope is to see more heartbreaking scenes like these at a nursing home near venice. In a now familiar sight across the world, and here in russia, spaces are being repurposed to offer care for sick people, as hospitalisations across europe rise sharply again. The World Health Organization warns of a tough six months ahead, with the shocking statistic of a person dying every 17 seconds in europe of coronavirus. You are seeing increasing signals related to overwhelmed health systems. We have reports in france, for example, of intensive care wards at over 95 capacity for ten days and in switzerland intensive care units are at full capacity. In the Czech Republic a state of emergency has been extended for three weeks, so some schools and businesses remain shut. The World Health Organization says countries should lock down as a last resort, and keep Primary Schools open. It wants everyone to wear a mask and socially distance. This, though, is what it describes as the light at the end of the tunnel, the great hope in the war against the virus. Vaccines for everyone. And this is how many of them could be distributed, at cooler temperatures all around the world. One leading vaccine developer offers this sunny outlook. Translation i think that if we do a really good job, and by we, i mean all of those involved, governments, pharmacies, truck companies, logistics, we can vaccinate up to 70 of the population by autumn, 2021. But the who warns that vaccines are not a silver bullet, despite the unprecedented speed of their development, it is a frosty reminder that supply is unlikely to match all of the initial demand for some time to come. Mark lobel, bbc news. Joining us now to get a better sense of how European Countries are attempting to tackle the virus is dr hans kluge, a surgeon and regional director for europe at the world health what could the vaccines mean in terms of timescales for things
improving across europe . Terms of timescales for things improving across europe . |j terms of timescales for things improving across europe . I think it is very timely because there is need for a hopeful signal. At the same time we have to be realistic that this vaccine will be too late for this vaccine will be too late for this winter, so the key message is here that every one of us, all the people in europe have to do their share and stick together to adhere to the basic Public Health measures. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. How worried are you that people having coped with restrictions, and in some cases managed those very well and made a lot of sacrifices throughout this year, will fall at the final hurdle, as it were, and not keep to those restrictions if they think a vaccine is coming . A couple of issues here. Iam is coming . A couple of issues here. I am worried about pandemic fatigue, indeed, that people are tired, and we dont point the finger, we have to engage the people. Second is the
health workforce and social workforce that is getting burned out and government and people have to appreciate them. And ultimately we have to look towards christmas and the festive season. It does not mean that there will be no christmas but it will be different and it can be a merry one, but we do have to engage with people to go through the tough months ahead because the situation most likely is going to get a little worse. Any messaging, the most effective messaging, is one that does, you know, think about how people behave and try to bring them along with that message. How difficult is that around the Christmas Period . Well, we have to really engage with the people and have a Clear Communication that there is technology, there is science, but there is also a need for solidarity. I think that is a good message because if you look at what happened during ramadan or
during diwali, those holidays have been honoured while deaths were on the rise in a safe way. But you are right, in some countries the systematic mask wearing is only at 50 . We know if we increase it to 95 , like for example in singapore, we could save a lot, a lot of avoidable deaths in the community. And your reference to cultures where mask wearing is much more, countries where mask wearing is much more part of the culture, is a timely reminder that some of those nations are doing really much better in terms of bringing down transmission of the virus and keeping it relatively low. Give us an overview of where we are across europe now in terms of restrictions, and which restrictions seem to be having more effect compared to others. We see that in 33 out of the 50 countries, the last
two weeks we saw an increase in cases with more than 10 . So i will say that almost all the countries have not implemented their political, technical and operational possibilities, but it is true that we have to double the effort. If we say we would just be laissez faire and do nothing, 1. 7 Million People will die by the 1st of march. That is like the city of brussels. In that sense we have low technology measures which we know work and need to be implemented. But countries in europe are scaling up their health measures. We should not forget, as of today, about 350 Million People in the european region are under some kind of lockdown, soft or hard lockdown. But of course, this should be really a measure of last resort because what we have learnt is the
virus can crunch people and social fabric. 0k, dr hans kluge, thank you very much, and a clear message on what needs to be done to keep transmission down. Dr hans kluge from the World Health Organization, reminding us all to wash our hands, cover our faces and give some space to all of those around us. A simple message but an effective one if followed. The headlines on bbc news. Millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. Of course the incredible nhs staff at the forefront of this, but so have care workers, so have local authority workers, so have Civil Servants. This pandemic has demonstrated one thing. Its how much the government relies on the entire Public Service. It comes as Public Sector debt in the uk has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. Uk Prime Minister borisjohnson is expected to respond to a report looking into the conduct of the home secretary. Ms patel denies the allegations of bullying. And in the United States a recount in the state of georgia reveals the same result joe biden did beat donald trump in the state. The president elect says the refusal to accept defeat sends a bad message. Englands test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas, according to bbc analysis. Later today, well find out the impact of current lockdown measures across the uk, and whether the measures imposed are beginning to work. With Government Health advisers warning against socialising over the Christmas Period, that data will be crucial in deciding the governments next moves. To talk about this a bit more, we can speak now to professor sir David Spiegelhalter from the centre for
Mathematical Sciences at the university of cambridge. Very good to have you with us today. Lets begin with the Christmas Holiday period because just listening to the europe director for the World Health Organization talking to me a minute ago, reflecting on how people in other majors will adjust festival such as ramadan, they have handled this, do you think if we look at the uk, it is possible and desirable in fact i have a four nations approach . 0k. Is possible and desirable in fact i have a four nations approach . Ok. I will not say exactly what any policy should be. We would love to have a family christmas as normal as possible but there would be a cost to pay for that. As i think the data will show today, things are starting to improve, but slowly. We are operating at around 50,000 new cases a day perhaps and that means that in
a day perhaps and that means that in a week steyn, 1500 new hospitalisations, the week after that, 350 deaths, 10,000 covid deaths a month in a weeks time. That is slowly improving. Any relaxation of the measures which of course we would all love will lead to additional cases, it is bound to. Actually, countering that would need more effort. I guess there is no model that says if you ease restrictions for x number of days and impose restrictions for another certain number of days, somehow that will balance out, it does not work like that with the virus. Well, i have heard a claim, i have not seen the signs, a claim mentioned after a briefing this week that one day of easing restrictions had to be paid for by five days of extra restrictions. I think you can kind
of do those sums, i dont think that is out of the way. But it defines an individual behaviour. You cannot possibly take account of the people might want to socialise differently within that short period but it depends on individual behaviour. There will be huge variation. But on average there would be extra cases. When we have looked on, restricting measures, we save lives, but we dont know whose lives we say. If we will expose and have lovely family meetings at christmas and some relations gets covid, or even dies, thatis relations gets covid, or even dies, that is a direct consequence in front of us and it will lead people to come if we get relaxation over the period, lead people to be pretty cautious. But there will be a huge variation in behaviour. That is something that individuals have to
reflect on, depending on what is announced. Lets look at the test and tray system, six months since borisjohnson said that the test and tray system, six months since Boris Johnson said that the test and trace Boris Johnson said that the test and tra ce syste m Boris Johnson said that the test and trace system was going to be world beating, but as the bbc has been discovering in its latest analysis, in some worst hit areas, it is only reaching 60 , may be slightly less, of the people who have been in contact with a positive case of coronavirus. Do you think it is too late to change that to make a difference to that . Local Contact Tracing is doing a lot better. Difference to that . Local Contact Tracing is doing a lot betterlj think that is the picture with that centralised test and trace, even worse than is being talked about by the bbc. That is people being contacted. The centralised system only provides a benefit if only those people would not have isolated a nyway those people would not have isolated anyway because they are part of the family and it only helps if they actually have the virus. We dont know how many of the people who do
isolate after being contacted actually have the virus because we are not doing surveys and that is very u nfortu nate are not doing surveys and that is very unfortunate and that reveals why sage some time ago said centralised test and trace system was having minimal effect. I do think that it has not been a Great Success and i think one would agree with that. I am not sure what would be done. The local system that handle outbreaks have done extremely well, it has always been said and it was set back in august they would be transferring resources to local, but the bbc investigation has shown that some of that has been done, but the technology that requires the Central Control system and the local teams who are best placed to identify what needs to be done, that does not seem to be in place. I do think this is
pretty serious. A brief answer, if you would. Based on the figures we are seen, number of cases, hospitalisations, how is the nhs set to cope over the next few weeks . This is the crucial statistics i now look at everyday, the number people actually in hospitals every day with covid. 16,000 actually in hospitals every day with covid. 16,000 at the moment. It got to 17,000 in the peak of the academic and started coming down. We will go over that number and we will not come down fast of the epidemic. This is a really serious situation. Not all of it, not uniformly across the country, but it means there are going to be greater pressures on the better organised and with better resources than in the first wave, so i think this is the first wave, so i think this is the crucial issue we have to think about, there resilience of the nhs, because it has to stay open for everybody else. If you have heart
symptoms, you have to go to hospital, ask for help. There has been an increase in deaths at home, increase in heart attacks and stroke deaths, and to have the consequence of the measures is deeply reg retta ble. Of the measures is deeply regrettable. Professor sir David Spiegelhalterfrom regrettable. Professor sir David Spiegelhalter from the centre for Mathematical Sciences at the university of cambridge, thank you very much. A 65 year old man held in connection with the murders of 21 people in the 1974 birmingham pub bombings has been released. The arrest on wednesday morning came ahead of the 46th anniversary of the two deadly blasts which ripped apart the mulberry bush and tavern in the town pubs. Officers from West Midlands police assisted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland made the arrest. West Midlands Police say an interview was carried out under caution at a Police Station in Northern Ireland and the individual was released after a search of his home was carried out. Nigeria has seen massive street protests demanding an end to Police Brutality. The government has disbanded the Notorious Police unit known as special anti robbery squad, or sars, which was the catalyst for the violence but has been accused of ordering a brutal crackdown. Now, online activists are aiming to challenge the balance of power at the next election. Some viewers may find images in ishaq khalids report distressing. Officers back on patrol in lagos. They were forced off this street by massive protests in response to allegations that sections of the police were systematically using torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings. The anger which has swept across nigeria has focused squarely on the police and that anger has been driven by nigerias vast young population who feel neglected. It is likely to have a Lasting Impact on the country, so all eyes are now on the political
leaders and how they will act. The authorities have moved quickly to investigate historic claims of Police Brutality. How at least 80 people including civilians and Security Forces were killed in last months unrest and whether live ammunition was used on peaceful protesters. They are shooting at us we didnt use live ammunition at anybody. Those that were actually injured was the result of stampede or what have you. We have not. We are not. But this 30 year old who couldnt afford University Education and is unemployed tells me he was shot and beaten by the police during the demonstrations in lagos. He beat me, all of my body. Who shot you . The policeman, of course. Do you regretjoining the protest . I dont regret because i know. They would be surprised. This thing that happened has never happened in nigeria. So, maybe this thing that happened will make them do what is right at the right time, so i never regretted it. There is an uneasy calm in nigeria, but for many activists, like this british nigerian, the push for change is not over, it is simply evolving online. Using social media and such, we all knew that, ok, the streets arent the same any more and that is not our stage any more. Now we are moving past that. Now we are looking ahead, looking towards the next election in 2023, we are looking towards bringing all the voices together so that we can make a change to the nation for everybodys benefit. The division between nigerias established elite and a frustrated
largely young population has never been clearer. Anger at Police Brutality has developed into a demand to end crippling inequality. The challenge now is whether street anger can organise into a Political Force to upset the balance of power. Ishaq khalid, bbc news, lagos. 75 years ago today, the surviving leaders of nazi germany went on trial at nuremberg in the worlds First International war crimes trial. They stood accused of the responsibility for the deaths of millions. Fergal keane reports on the legacy of nuremberg. Newsreel attention. Tribunal. Judges from britain, america. It was a trial of crimes that defied the imagination. Nazi leaders faced a court that established the principle of internationaljustice. 75 years later, we have been hearing
from some of those who have lived in the long shadow of nuremberg. Newsreel vengeance is not our goal, nor do we seek merely a just retribution. My name is ben ferencz. I am the sole surviving prosecutor from the nuremberg war crimes trials. Ben ferencz was a soldier and lawyer and he wasjewish. But for him, seeing justice done meant leaving all personal feelings aside. I was able to turn myself into a robot. I didnt see the people as being jewish or notjewish, they killed also communists, they killed gypsies, they killed any leaders of opposition parties and so on. I succeeded very well in regarding all the people who were victims as human beings. Newsreel frank was a willing and known participant in the use of terrorism in poland. Among the notorious defendants was hans frank, governor of occupied poland, seen here in sunglasses. 4 million died under his rule. His son, nicholas, pictured with his father as a child of the nazi elite, long ago denounced hans frank. Really, i think my father had deserved the Death Penalty for one reason that he should himself experience the same death fear, which he distributed about hundreds of thousands of innocent people. So many deaths to account for. Ida bach was ten years old when she was murdered. Shed left her sister while in hiding in order to return to her mother. They perished in auschwitz. She would have been alive, my sister, if she had come with me but she left my hand. That, i felt guilty all the time. When they put those german leaders on trial at nuremberg, did you feel any sense of satisfaction . No, it was notjustice for me, not at all. How many were hanged . For me, it was too good to be hanged after what theyve done, you know . Nuremberg was a beginning, but the story at its heart, of massacred minorities, of intolerance, stains humanity still. Fergal keane, bbc news. Joining us now to discuss is kerstin bree carlson, who is an assistant professor at the university of southern denmark
and the American University of paris. And as part of her research, she considers the structural challenges inherent to International Criminaljustice practice. Good to happy with us to consider the legacy of all of this. We had fergal reflect on some of the surviving nazi leaders put on trial. How were the trials in paving the way for the idea of International Justice . They originated in many ways an idea of International Justice. The trials we have now, International Criminal court, ad hoc tribunalfor International Criminal court, ad hoc tribunal for the International Criminal court, ad hoc tribunalfor the former International Criminal court, ad hoc tribunal for the former yugoslavia and rwanda, they grew out of the legacy of nuremberg. Without new and there, they would not exist. Nuremberg made them possible. So, essential. How important was it to establish the detailed records of the crimes of the nazis . I would say thatis the crimes of the nazis . I would say that is probably the most important
thing nuremberg did and in a sense the best part of its legacy when you look at what tribunal can do now. The insistence with nuremberg of what had happened, that these were not just what had happened, that these were notjust tragedies, what had happened, that these were not just tragedies, they were what had happened, that these were notjust tragedies, they were in fa ct notjust tragedies, they were in fact crimes, the categorisation of terrible things as criminal, and the real innovation of nuremberg was to create individual responsibility. To say that there are leaders of course but there are also people on the ground who make the crimes possible and when you individualise responsibility, you make it perhaps possible to insist people think differently about what they do so that atrocities are minimised. A big pa rt that atrocities are minimised. A big part of the deterrence notion behind International Criminal law and it also emerges from nuremberg. You talk about individual responsibility but it also has had a huge impact surely on National Psyche and i am talking not just about surely on National Psyche and i am talking notjust about germany but right around the world and certainly those countries involved in the war. Absolutely. There was an idea that by individualising responsibility you can avoid collective responsibility, you can say, not that all germans are responsible for the holocaust, but certain select nazis are responsible. I think this is actually a slightly more controversial problem because of course often when we look at atrocities being committed, they are committed by governments, by states, that often do have popular support. 0f that often do have popular support. Of course it is important and part of how we tell the story. Again, a lot of the importance becomes being made aware of the story. A court is serious and it looks at proof and establishes facts and the establishment of the facts can be quite important when a country is trying to understand what atrocities happened and what role the country when played in the atrocities. There, courts are essential and the nuremberg legacy is an important pa rt nuremberg legacy is an important part of that. Despite its doubted importance, were there any flaws in
the original process that have been learned and changed and modified, built on . Learned, changed and modified, i dont know. This is where a lot of my research lies. The place i start is i think nuremberg isa place i start is i think nuremberg is a progress paradox. On the one hand, certainly very encouraging that instead of obliterated people you conquer, you attempt to make a set of rules about what behaviour is acceptable. The problem is the nuremberg tribunal was not an excellent court. The rules were made by the people who then enacted the rules against any particular actors, not everybody. From a rule of law perspective, if we think the rule of law but everyone is having to listen to the same and be ruled by the same set of rules, nuremberg was really problematic. And we have notjust yet. Right now the International Criminal court has been critiqued for only trying rebels and it is not an entirely fair charge for it is one of the things people talk about. Is nurembergs most important
successor. Can the International Criminal court take on the most powerful . Even the most powerful still in countries where atrocities are going on or several people have tried to bring questions about crimes against humanity committed against migrants in the mediterranean, could we try european leaders in their role for that . So far the International Criminal court has not been open to that idea. It is also part of the legacy of november, certain plot didnt because certain people know the law and apply it. Thank you very much for your time, kerstin bree carlson. News just for your time, kerstin bree carlson. Newsjust coming in for your time, kerstin bree carlson. News just coming in from our brussels correspondent, ambassadors from the 27 eu Member States have been told that if there is political will, there is a good chance of a brexit trade deal will be reached. 0f brexit trade deal will be reached. Of course just a matter of weeks away from the end of the transition period for the uk. However, three
burglaries unsolved at the moment. Fisheries, competition rules and governance of a deal remain the most problematic areas however three areas remain unsolved at the moment. Michel barnier is self isolating after a colleague tested positive for covid 19. A senior diplomat told the bbc most of the negotiating ta bles the bbc most of the negotiating tables have joint legal texts with fewer and fewer outstanding points, between brackets. Some big areas to between brackets. Some big areas to be sorted out, fisheries, competition rules and governance of a deal. Instagram has been accused of significantly failing in its Corporate Responsibility by the Childrens Charity nspcc. Its after new figures showed there had been an 80 drop in the removal of harmful content
during the First National lockdown. This report from Angus Crawford contains some content you may find upsetting. Theyre still there. Easy to find, but too graphic to show images and videos of self harm. Pictures and cartoons of pills, razor blades and nooses. Users openly flout the guidelines. It wasnt meant to be like this. Public outcry over the death of Molly Russell forced instagram to change, promising to remove graphic content around self harm and suicide. And it did 1. 3 million posts at the start of the year. But look lockdown hits, and that plummets to just 277,000. As restrictions lift, so does the figure back up to pre covid levels. This former content moderator says, with colleagues sent home, the Automatic Systems couldnt cope. This content is harmful. And if you let people look at it, you know, at home, and maybe their kids are going to see it and so forth, its going to hurt people. So theyve had to stop the moderators from doing theirjobs. So, if you take the human moderators out of the picture, what happens . Its chaos. As soon as you turn. As soon as the humans are out, we can see this. Theres just way, way more self harm, child exploitation, this kind of stuff on the platforms because theres nobody there to deal with it. The company says. With fewer content reviewers, the amount of content we took action on decreased, but it prioritised and took action on the most harmful content. But for Molly Russells father, it underlines the need for more regulation. I think everyone has a responsibility. To young and vulnerable people. Its really hard. I dont think the social Media Companies set up their platforms to be purveyors of dangerous,
harmful content, but we know that they are. And so theres a responsibility at that level for the Tech Companies to do what they can to make sure their platforms are as safe as is possible. Perhaps covids proved that technology by itself cant yet protect us from the very worst of social media. Angus crawford, bbc news. And if you are affected by any of the issues in that report, you can go online to bbc. Co. Uk actionline where youll find details of organisations that offer advice and support. You are watching bbc news. Now theres one festive song you may not have heard of boogie round the bins at christmas time by three dancing bin men from wolverhampton. You may think it is too early for christmas songs, but we are going to
tell you about this anyway. They are hoping to bag the coveted number one spot this year with some of the proceeds going to charity. Lets have a listen. You know what i want to be number one . The wolverhamptons very own legendary dancing binmen. The reindeers keep on prancing the binmen keep on dancing i said boogie boogie round the bins at christmas time. They will certainly cheer up the bin collection, wont they . Good luck to them. Right now, time for a look at them. Right now, time for a look at the weather. I think we will have to get to skys roughly this colour in the rest of today after a bit of a sunrise. It was cold. Temperatures
well below freezing. Coldest autumn of the morning for many. Further west, double figures, and it is those figures pushing east with the milderair those figures pushing east with the milder air today and outbreaks of rain. Heaviest rain in the western half, easing to patchy light rain. Where it started dry, increasing cloud and some rain could be heavy particularly in the northern half of scotland. After the cold start, taking a while for temperatures to lift in the east. The breeze picking up lift in the east. The breeze picking up from the southerly direction bringing in milderair. Hebrides up from the southerly direction bringing in milder air. Hebrides and northern scotland, the wind whipping up northern scotland, the wind whipping up later, and tonight, gales and severe gales possible. Further rain in the highlands, could cause flooding. Turning wet in Northern Ireland later in the night. Should be dry for much of england and wales, but patchy light rain coming and going and for some milder tonight than by day. Cold in the
north later, northern side of the cold front. They picture showing low pressure spreading between iceland and norway. Strongest of the winds on the southern edge of that. Rough seasin on the southern edge of that. Rough seas in northern scotland. Sunshine and showers for scotland and Northern Ireland, eventually brightening up the far north of england after a damp start. Elsewhere, cloud, outbreaks of drizzle particularly in the west, but reasonably mild, more so than today. Turning fresher in the north later in the day as temperatures drop in the afternoon. Further north, strongest of the winds. 40, 50, may be 60 mile an hour gusts quite lightly. Saturday evening and overnight, outbreaks of rain in southern areas, clear skies and showers and frost around and cooler air pushing south. Warmer milder and could linger in the English Channel through the day. The weather front not moving too much. For most, a
crisp and bright day with sunshine, scattering of showers in scotland, Northern Ireland, may be north west england. Snow over the hills of northern scotland. This is bbc news, im geeta guru murthy. The headlines at 11 millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. Of course, our incredible nhs staff have been at the forefront of this, but so have care workers, so have a local authority workers, so have Civil Servants. This pandemic has demonstrated one thing, it is how much the government relies on the entire Public Service. It comes as Public Sector debt has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. The Prime Minister is expected to respond shortly to a report looking into the conduct of the home secretary. Ms patel denies the allegations of bullying. Englands test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas, according to bbc analysis. More than two Million People in parts of scotland face tough tier 4 restrictions from six oclock tonight including a ban on household mixing indoors, and the closure of nonessential shops. They gave round the bends. And the all singing and all dancing binmen hoping to get to christmas number one for charity. Good morning and welcome to bbc news. Millions of Public Sector workers in england could face a pay freeze next year according to government sources. Its thought nhs workers will be exempt but many other key workers like teachers, Police Officers will face a wage freeze. The chancellor is expected to make the announcement in next weeks Spending Review. The treasury continues to face a spiralling Government Debt after borrowing climbed to £22. 3 billion last month the highest october borrowing figure since records began. The government has borrowed nearly £215 billion so far this year £169 billion more than the same time in 2019. The uks National Debt continues to rise to nearly £2. 1 trillion more on that in a moment, but first our economics editor faisal islam reports on the potential pay freeze. Millions of Public Sector workers face a pay freeze at next weeks Spending Review as chancellor rishi sunak makes the case for pay restraint to reflect falls in private sector earnings during this pandemic afflicted year. At the start of the Spending Review process, the chancellor outlined
that in the interests of fairness, we must exercise restraint in future Public Sector pay awards, ensuring parity with the private sector. The treasury has taken an interest in a report on the issue by the centre for policy studies, suggesting a three year freeze would save £23 billion by 2023, or 15 billion if nhs workers were exempt. It is expected that nhs workers would be exempt from a freeze to reflect efforts during the pandemic, but four million workers still include many key workers lauded for their service during the pandemic, from the armed forces to police, teachers and Civil Servants. Unions are already planning a campaign against such plans, having already had rejected their efforts for a special pay bonus in the current year for pandemic front line Public Sector workers. Faisal islam, bbc news. Nhs workers are expected to be exempt from any freezes in Public Sector pay. But speaking to bbc breakfast,
the uk Health Secretary matt hancock refused to answer whether he fought for Health Workers around the cabinet table. Im asking you what you are fighting for for the nhs around the table in a cabinet meeting. Yeah. Have you fought for nhs workers to be exempt from the pay freeze . Whether it happens or not, you cant tell me. But have you for it . Well, im not going to go into internal discussions. But you know how much i value nhs workers. And colleagues right across the nhs. 0k. But im afraid i am going to respect cabinet confidentiality, as i always do, and instead allow the chancellor of the exchequer to set out the details, because then he can set out the broad landscape. Because of course, as well as a very tough situation when it comes to health this year with the coronavirus, there is of course an incredibly tough Economic Situation as well. Lots of questions stem from this. Well the proposed pay freeze will have a disproportionate impact on women, because of the gender mix in the Public Sector particularly in schools. Ben zaranko is a Research Economist at the institute for fiscal studies. Thank you forjoining us. On the overall report, what are you expecting . And what would that mean in terms of a pay freeze on Public Sector workers . We will have to wait until next week to see if this is confirmed. If it has as it has been outlined in the press today, 3. 7 million workers in the Public Sector will have their pay is frozen next year. That is equivalent to a bill cut if prices rise. It could save £3. 5 billion which is not a small sum of money but it is a drop in the ocean compared to the borrowing. White maxi you are saying it would not make a massive dent and it would
affect individuals very hard . It would affect those Public Sector workers in the sense they would not get the public or pay rise they were expecting and some think they deserve. It is a fairly major saving to the treasury, it is just that the borrowings are so exceptionally large that this really is just going to have to be part of an overall package. One thing to say, which hinted at in your intro, as this will not be felt equally across different parts of the population. About two thirds of the Public Sector workforce are women. In some parts of the work it is much higher than that. 85 of Primary School teachers, for example. More than 90 of teaching assistants are women. There is only 42 female in the private sector, so this will be something that hits women harder than men. A much bigger share of the population in the north east works for the government as compared to the south east. This would not be thatis the south east. This would not be that is something that is felt equally across the country. Many people would feel that they face at
their pockets quite hard. Could the Government Index link Public Sector pay to inflation and peg it there . They absolutely could. A visa is only one of many options. They say they could increase it with inflation. They could cap it at a ha rd level. Inflation. They could cap it at a hard level. In 2010, pay increases we re hard level. In 2010, pay increases were capped at 1 for many workers. The difficulty is that lots of these decisions have to be made in advance before we know how inflation will turn out. For one example, schools already had their cash budget is decided for next year, so it is all very well saying you want to freeze School Teachers pay, but it is not clear yet whether that will mean ploughing money back from schools that have already been allocated a budget. It is not clear whether some parts of the sector are subject to multi year pay deals, not clear whether that will override that. There are some things that still need to be ironed out. There are still things that need to be decided. It is a signal of intent that the chancellor is acknowledging that the chancellor is acknowledging that he wants to support families
and businesses through the pandemic, but he is also saying there has been a huge cost to do so and some tough decisions will have to be made. When we saw austerity in the past, george osman had about 80 cuts in 20 tax rises in terms of balancing the books. Would you expect a similar mix this time for rishi sunak . First of all, i think now is absolutely not that im to be making spending cuts or tax rises. We want to make sure that we support the economy through the rest of the comic first isa through the rest of the comic first is a problem for later. The short a nswer is a problem for later. The short answer is no. The government has already committed huge sums to the nhs, schools in england, and yesterday we saw Big Investments in defence. To deliver on all those promises and then still try to make spending cuts, we will be making some really deep cuts to things like what is left. Local government, justice, and other government departments, hmrc, the home office might have new post brexit
responsibilities. It is really difficult to see how you can make the savings required without making some real damage to the services provided. I think it is inevitable really that the chancellor is going to have to rely more on tax rises this time than George Osborne did in 2010. Those tax rises are of a skill that it 2010. Those tax rises are of a skill thatitis 2010. Those tax rises are of a skill that it is going to be difficult to raise the amounts we need without asking all of us, or at least most of us, to pay a little more. Not just those at the very top. What sort of tax rises do you mean . I will we feel that if that is what the government chooses . Two thirds of government revenue comes from the three big taxes. If you want to raise big sums of money, then the most natural place to look, which is not say you cannot raise sums elsewhere, Corporation Tax and so on, those big three are where you have got to focus your attention. The conservative manifesto promise not to raise the rates of any of those taxes. You can still raise money by freezing income tax thresholds for example. Not increasing the personal tax
allowa nce increasing the personal tax allowance would be one way to raise sums in the medium term. But i think that the government might have to revisit that commitment not to raise the big three taxes if they are serious about raising the sums required. Is a dispute, as far as you are aware, between number ten and number11 in terms you are aware, between number ten and number 11 in terms of the way forward . And number 11 in terms of the way forward . What and number 11 in terms of the way forward . What balance and number 11 in terms of the way forward . What balance of tax rises, spending cuts . All of these are very unpopular decisions. This government had made a big deal out of its promise to bring austerity to an end. Mrjohnson is clearly fond of making big spending announcements, whether on efforts to get to a net zero are levelling up or revitalising the uks armed forces. I think it is extremely unlikely that he will then turn around and have a turn of art and go down the rate of big spending cuts. This government does not seem to be interested in doing so. The question is whether it is interested in doing tax rises and set or are we just going to see much higher levels of borrowing persist into the future. The treasury might have something to say about that, and ultimately
something that we done to get finances back on a sustainable path. When that happens is a very different question. You might think that the most appropriate time economically might be in a few years time. That could bejust economically might be in a few years time. That could be just before an election, so may not be until the next parliament when we see serious effo rts next parliament when we see serious efforts made to try and tackle some of the cost of the pandemic, raise taxes and make savings to try and reduce borrowing and debt. Just in terms of the election cycle, the government is not going to want to have borne all the cost for covid just before the next election, is it . That is perhaps unlikely from a political perspective. If we look back at history, when we look at when have chancellors made big tax rises and made those unpopular decisions, typically it is just after an election. But this time around, just after the election we have had a Global Pandemic that has thrown the economic and public finances into disarray. We are not going to say a typical year by any
means. It is not going to be a typical parliament either. It is really important to say that the most important thing in the near term, perhaps the next few years, is trying to support the economy, households and businesses, try to reduce the permanent damage done by the pandemic. The most important thing we can do is make sure we support the economy so that tax reve nu es support the economy so that tax revenues are there in the future to try and reduce borrowing and pay down our debt. That is far more important than tinkering around the outside to save a few million here or there. The most important thing is making sure the economy grows and bounces back so we can support Public Services in the years to come. Thank you forjoining us. The Prime Minister is expected to set out his response to a report into the conduct of the home secretary priti patel, following allegations of bullying. Its said the report found that she had broken ministerial rules. Ms patel has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Our Political Correspondent helen catt explained what we could expect to hear from the Prime Minister. What we are expecting from borisjohnson as his verdict on all of this. So, the enquiry has been done, the report has been written, he has seen it, and now it is up to him to make a judgment on what should happen next because, as the Prime Minister, he is the arbiter of the ministerial code that code of conduct that all ministers are expected to abide by. Now, downing street is refusing to comment, but we have seen throughout this, borisjohnson sticking very firmly by priti patel, and there is not really any sense this morning that that is likely to change. As you said, priti patel has consistently denied any wrongdoing and we also know that borisjohnson has been very resistant to getting rid of ministers who have come under fire over the last year or so. We have seen that happen time and again. There are some reasons why he might be particularly sorry to lose priti patel. I mean, his government has come in for criticism for a lack of visible senior women, she is the most senior female minister in government. So that would be a difficult last. So that would be a difficult loss. She is also very popular within the conservative party itself. There were lots of mps last night tweeting in support of her. And also among the sort of everyday members of the conservative party, she is very popular. So there is not likely to be any sort of pressure coming from within the party, significant pressure coming from within the party for borisjohnson to act on this. But of course these are very serious allegations, bullying is a very serious allegation. So if the report is seen to have found bullying, as sources suggest, although they suggested could have been unintentional, and if borisjohnson, as expected, keeps priti patel in place, well, then i think he is going to have to explain very clearly why he is doing that. This morning labour are already raising concerns. The headlines on bbc news. Millions of Public Sector workers are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. But nhs workers are thought to be protected. It comes as Public Sector debt has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. The Prime Minister is expected to respond to a report looking into bullying allegations against the home secretary. Ms patel denies the allegations. And in sport, chelsea manager Frank Lampard and in sport, chelsea manager frank la m pa rd calls and in sport, chelsea manager frank lampa rd calls for and in sport, chelsea manager Frank Lampard calls for more flexibility in the fixture schedule. The premier League Returns this weekend with a number of players missing matches through injury or coronavirus. Chelsea play newcastle at lunchtime tomorrow. Rafael nadal is through to the semifinals of tenniss atp finals in london. The 2010 grand slam champion beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets to book his place in last four and a clash with Daniil Medvedev. Wigan warriors are into next weeks Super League Grand final after a comfortable win over hull fc. They will face either st helens or catalans in the final next friday. I will be back with more on all those stories at 11 30am. Englands nhs test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas. With coronavirus in some thats according to bbc analysis. With coronavirus in some figures cover the six months since the Prime Minister promised the system would be world beating. The government said it was working hard to refine and improve the way test and trace works. Millions of people in parts of scotland will face the countrys toughest coronavirus restrictions from today. The rules will come into force in 11 Council Areas across west and central scotland. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, a new two week lockdown period starting next week has been announced. So what are the restrictions across the uk . From 6pm tonight, more than two Million People will be under scottish tier 4 restrictions. This means that household mixing is banned indoors, and only essential shops are open. Northern ireland was due to gradually ease restrictions from today and some business will still be able to reopen. But it will now face a new, two week lockdown period starting next friday which will see
all nonessential businesses shut, but schools will remain open. England remains under National Lockdown restrictions until wednesday the second of december. That means that nonessential businesses, including hospitality, are closed and household mixing is banned. And in wales, the firebreak restrictions came to an end on the 9th of november. Now, groups of up to four people from different households can meet up in cafes, pubs and restaurants and outdoor public spaces. Lets get more details on the changes in scotland coming in today from our correspondent james shaw. Well, these level four restrictions will come into force at 6pm tonight across a very large swathes of west central scotland. Glasgow, all the towns around it, all of lanarkshire, west lothian, which is over to the east, and stirling, which is to the north. The restrictions will include the closure of all nonessential retail, all gyms, sports centres,
here and beauty salons, and entertainment venues. Schools will stay open. But there are also quite strict travel restrictions. You will not be allowed to travel outside your council area, except for essential reasons, which would include things like work, education, and caring responsibilities. Those controls are mandatory, so you could be fined if you travel not for essential reasons. It strikes me that some people might be tempted, for example, to go shopping, Christmas Shopping, from glasgow to edinburgh. If they do that, they will be breaking the law. And it will also be the case that people will not be allowed to travel to other parts of the united kingdom. So, england, wales and Northern Ireland, during these three weeks unless it is for essential reasons. So, quite strict controls coming in, but it is worth bearing in mind that they are not national controls,
this is just in one specific part of scotland, and they will be lifted after the 11th of december, which is two weeks to go before christmas. Northern ireland is set to face a two week period of tougher covid 19 lockdown measures from next friday. Restrictions were due to start easing today, and some businesses like hairdressers and cafes will briefly be allowed to reopen. But, from the 27th november, all nonessential retail and the hospitality sector will have to close again. Lets hearfrom president of Londonderry Chamber of commerce, redmond mcfadden. Thank you forjoining us. These restrictions are complex, ever changing, but does this brief, partial reopening for one week help businesses to just get a bit of turnover . Yes, there is the opportunity to get some turnover over the next few days. However, the rationale behind that seems a little absurd. We are allowing some
businesses to open today and then face a full lockdown in seven days time. Other businesses have to remain closed. And we also are led to believe, by our devolved institution, that all businesses will be allowed to be open from the 27th. It is very difficult and very frustrating for businesses to be getting mixed messages. And getting to these cliff edges where we almost can open and suddenly the rules change. It makes it makes it impossible for businesses to plan and that becomes expensive. Do you think that the Government Support the furloughs system has managed to protect jobs despite the furloughs system has managed to protectjobs despite this changing system . Protectjobs despite this changing system . The furlough scheme is welcome, it does protectjobs to an extent. However, businesses still need to make some money to Pay National Insurance contributions, pension contributions. It is not that there is no financial burden on businesses to keep staff employed. It isa businesses to keep staff employed. It is a problem and we need to get a solution to this. We need to get some certainty around what is going on and what the planners over the winter this continual lockdown and release from lockdown is very problematic for business. And what about the next few weeks in the run up to christmas . We know it is a crucial period for some businesses and get the numbers on the covid front are still worryingly high. We have to find that balance. We need to work with our politicians, and we are more than willing to work with our politicians, to find a solution and a strategy to get us through this. Yes, christmas is a hugely important period for businesses, as you can imagine. Most of the trading, for especially retail and hospitality, is done during that period. To be closed even for a partial part of that period, is huge concerns. We will lose businesses and losejobs concerns. We will lose businesses and lose jobs as a result. What would you like to see . Would you
like to see more opening or do you support the shutdown . It is a really tough choice. It is a really difficult choice. What we are not getting is the Scientific Evidence behind that. What i am calling for is for business to be involved and to work alongside our politicians, alongside our medics and scientists so that we can all be involved in finding a strategy to take us through this. We cannot continually close our business is down because the economy will not recover. The bill is that the government are running up with his pandemic to support Everybody Needs to be paid for in the years to come by a buoyant economy. We have to be careful of both elements of this. there is a continued pattern of shutdown, may be slightly opening over the next three months, going into the spring, and then the vaccine allows some partial reopening along with the change in the weather, well most businesses be able to survive . The mostjobs protected . Able to survive . The mostjobs protected . Provided the Financial Support is not only delivered, but
delivered in a speedy manner. We have the issues, the north west of Northern Ireland, where i am from, have been in lockdown for seven weeks, and some businesses are still awaiting support they have been promised. We need to get the support to businesses in an efficient manner and that is just not happening. Thank you very much indeed. The first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said there is evidence the two week firebreak in wales has been successful in lowering the rate of coronavirus transmission. Mr drakeford said the number of people in hospital with covid was stabilising, and urged people to act responsibly in the run up to christmas. The chief medical officer issued a Statement Last night that said that the evidence is now good enough to say that the firebreak period did succeed. We have had ten consecutive days of numbers coming down in wales, positivity rates coming down in wales. We are beginning to see that feed
into a slowdown in the number of people being admitted to hospital with coronavirus. So we think the firebreak period has succeeded. The question is whether it has succeeded enough and whether people in wales are now behaving in ways that allow us to capitalise on the ground we have gained rather than seeing it frittered away. Mark bleasdale is the welsh lead at the police federation, hejoins me now. Thank you forjoining us. Do you think from what your officers are reporting that people are complying with the restrictions or not . think the situation in the. During the firebreak was that the public we re the firebreak was that the public were calling the police more often by bringing into Police Contact centres asking what people could or could not do, and also querying what other people were doing. At that time, the actual demand on front
line Police Officers went down slightly. But i would imagine now that we are back to out of that firebreak, those matters are probablyjust returning firebreak, those matters are probably just returning to firebreak, those matters are probablyjust returning to normal, as they were before the firebreak started for front line Police Officers. The restrictions keep changing, but in the run up to christmas, how worried are you for example that if people are asked to not meet indoors, in pubs, in restau ra nts, not meet indoors, in pubs, in restaurants, that is going to be easy to enforce . All the way through this pandemic, the main difficulty has been the messaging that has gone to the public so they fully understand what they can and cannot do. And what we have found is when there have been restrictions on licensed premises, a small minority of the public have tried to do other things, such as private parties or street gatherings, which to be fair to the welsh government, they have legislated on. What level of compliance is there to the restrictions broadly . And how
difficult is it for you to actually do anything about it if people do choose to meet indoors . The reality is that Police Officers are not going to know whether people are meeting indoors unless they are reported by other members of the public. And when that happens, that has to be assessed by the Police Contact centre. I do not actually have any figures to hand. My suspicion is that people will naturally be trying to skirt around the regulations, as they are. But what is actually going on, i do not really know. Back and in terms of your own thoughts on christmas coming, do you think there is too much focus on having a normal christmas . Or do you think it is understandable and something that police will have to content with in terms of working out what is allowed . Terms of working out what is allowed . The issue is being diverted away from the real issue. The real issue is still trying to suppress the pandemic. As faras
issue is still trying to suppress the pandemic. As far as the Police Service and front line Police Office rs service and front line Police Officers are concerned, whatever the government decides to legislate on, we will try to enforce that legislation as fairly and proportionately as we can. Again, we will still be the currently we are trying to deal with it, as informally as possible, with enforcement and reporting people for persecution really being a last resort. Finally, we have heard reports today about a Public Sector pay freeze, which would affect Police Officers, what are your thoughts on that, what about the morale of officers . Morale is an issue at the moment because they have been very busy for the last 8 9 months. What we have seen as there has been a drift away from the Police Service, certainly mid Service Officers who are leaving the Police Service. That is probably only for one or two reasons. The first either being for the actual
pay that they are finding betterjob somewhere else, and the other is the conditions of service, which links to their morale and what is going on in the Police Service. How that is going to affect numbers, recruiting numbers, it will have effect on that, and it will certainly have an effect on the morale of Front Line Office rs effect on the morale of Front Line Officers who have been working very ha rd officers who have been working very hard and fairly difficult circumstances and conditions over the last ten months or so. Do you think it will feel it is fair given the huge strain on Public Sector finances or will they really feel pretty ha rd finances or will they really feel pretty hard done by if there is a freeze . We have had a pay rise last year, so they will balance it with that. But i think the general feeling is that they will feel let down by the government for the work that they have been putting in over the summer. Thank you forjoining us. A report commissioned by the government is recommending that the drug ghb, which has been
used by murderrers and rapists to knock out their victims, should have a higher classification. Ghb is currently the Advisory Council on the misuse of drugs has advised that ghb should become a class b drug. The government says it will be looking at the recommendations in the report as a priority. Now its time for a look at the weather with matt. Hello. It may have been a sunny and also quite frosty start today across eastern parts of the country, but the sunshine was short lived. Clouds spreading in and with it outbreaks of rain into the afternoon. It will be turning milder though. That milder air is already in the west with south westerly winds. The heaviest of the morning rain easing off to something light and patchy away from the north of scotland that is. But we will eventually see patchy rain and drizzle arrive into the east of england. Here, though, after that frosty start, could struggle to lift the temperatures. Staying cold here, 7 8 for some. 13 in the west. Into tonight, mild start for many, but we will see severe gales
developed in the north of scotland as things turn a bit cooler later on. Outbreaks of rain pushing southwards and into Northern Ireland. England and wales, though, for some of you, actually milder tonight than it will have been during the day. But here, a pretty clouds, cloudy start to the week, patchy drizzle, some heavy bursts. A cold front working its way southwards. To the south of it, it stays cloudy, stays mild, temperatures into the low teens. To the north of it, we will see some sunshine and showers, but it stays very windy in northern scotland. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. 0f of course the incredible nhs staff has been at the forefront of this, but so have care workers, local
authorities and Civil Servants. This can only demonstrate one thing, how much the government relies on the entire Public Service. It comes as Public Sector debt has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. The Prime Minister is expected to respond shortly to a report looking into the conduct of the home secretary. Ms patel denies the allegations of bullying. Englands test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas, according to bbc analysis. More than two Million People in parts of scotland face tough tier 4 restrictions from six oclock tonight including a ban on household mixing indoors, and the closure of non essential shops. Lets catch up with all the sport now and heres holly. Good morning. The premier league is back this weekend. No rest for many of the biggest names whove been busy on International Duty the last of which ended just three days ago this has prompted a lot of concern about fixture congestion with several players missing after contracting coronavirus or picking up injuries. Chelsea travel to newcastle for tomorrows lunchtime game. Boss Frank Lampard says theres a problem. If you want to look after the players and get the product as well as we can, change the time of 1230. Change the time, that is not a difficult conversation for me to have. The amount of things we change due to covid 19 and project p start because of these incredible times, then we have to be looking for the best ways to change it, so the a nswer best ways to change it, so the answer is stop talking and act upon it. Theres growing criticism of the fa and its decision to withdraw the england futsal squad from a european qualification play off. The organisation was fined by uefa last week for refusing to fulfil the euro 2022 play off games against north macedonia. Pressure on the sport is mounting,
with the pandemic forcing massive budget cuts in england, putting the National Side under threat. Joe lynskey reports. This is futsal. It is football, but indoors and at top speed. It is played with a smaller, heavier ball, designed to build skill on the floor. But now the game here is under threat. And scores england say nearly 90 of their funding has been cut. That could be the end for both the National Side and the grassroots. We would estimate at least 100,000 kids are playing the game every year. Instead of going around slashing budgets, you need to look at the impact. This is a very Inclusive Sport played, as it is, by boys and girls and this will have a major impact on them. The england mens team were due to play in north
macedonia in a play off this month, but the fa pulled them out at short notice, due to travel restrictions. The governing body would then fined by uefa. We were preparing by ourselves because the fa had took away all ourfunding ourselves because the fa had took away all our funding for the preparation, but we still wanted to represent our country. Every other nation in europe went ahead and played and now we have had the England Football Team playing games in much worse situations in countries that are suffering from covid 19. Countries that are suffering from covid19. This is obviously a really difficult time for your sport, but there might be people watching this who will say futsal is an indoor game, which is less safe during a pandemic and the Football Association has got its own issues to deal with funding wise, namely trying to keep its professional clu bs trying to keep its professional clubs afloat, so what would you say to them . I think with it being an indoor sport, yes, there is a slight risk. But the research into gyms shows there has been very little infections and bisley will be benefits of kids participating in sport. They have not said these
are temporary cuts, these are permanent cuts leaving hardly anything left to fund the game of football itself. The fa say. English football expects losses of £300 million this year. They say they have to prioritise its core functions. Every sport right now is fighting for its future, but for futsal in england, the game could soon be over. Joe lynskey, bbc news. Rafael nadal is through to the semifinals of tenniss atp tourfinals in london. The 20 time grand slam champion beat greeces Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets to book his place in the last four. Nadal will face Daniil Medvedev in the final, as the russian bids to win this title for the first time. They finished the season top of the superleague and now wigan warriors are in to next weeks grand final, after a comfortable win over hull fc. They thrashed the visitors 29 2 with bevan french crossing
for their 5th try of the match. Theyll face either st helens or catala ns in the grand final next friday. Now, if youre frustrated that your local golf club is shut this weekend with some courses closed in parts of the country, we have a hole in one to cheer you up. Its lexi thompson, in the sunshine in florida at the pelican womens championship. Whats amazing is that the ball takes just two bounces on its 163 yard journey before dropping into the hole. The trouble is she had four bogeys after this. I dont know that made me worse about not being able to play golf or better, especially in sunshine. Thats all the sport for now. Sunshine would be a start, wouldnt it . Thanks for that. Theres been more encouraging news this week about coronavirus vaccines. On thursday, researchers in oxford said the vaccine they are working
on shows promising immune response in older adults. Crucial further tests still need to be carried out, but three other vaccines have now already reported preliminary data from phase three trials, with one suggesting 94 of over 65s could be protected from covid 19. So where are we with vaccines and who will get one first . With his assessment, heres our health and science correspondent, james gallagher. Vaccines are being developed at unprecedented speed ten years of work has been condensed into ten months. More than 200 vaccines are being researched, with the most advanced starting to produce results. So how do they work . First i want to point out something on the coronavirus itself. This is known as the spike protein and that is what most vaccines are training your body to attack. There are broadly four different approaches being used to make coronavirus vaccines. The first kills or inactivates the coronavirus and then injects it into people. This triggers an immune response,
but without causing an infection. The second approach takes the spike protein from the coronavirus and just injects that into the body. These are tried and trusted methods of making vaccines, but they are slow to get up and running. A faster and more experimental style of vaccine takes a common cold virus. It is genetically modified to stop it causing an infection, and then again to give it the blueprints for making the spike protein from the coronavirus. This is the technique being pioneered by the university of oxford. You will have heard about that a lot in the news over the past week. The final approach is completely new. Part of the genetic code of the virus is injected into patients. Once inside it starts making copies of that spike protein, which the body reacts to. This is how pfizer and moderna have developed their potent vaccines. We need all of these techniques because we still do not know
which is best. The crucial question. So who might get the vaccine . This is the draft priority list drawn up by thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation. Right at the top are People Living and working in care homes. The Vaccination Programme will then prioritise people by age, with hospital staff and people with some medical conditions getting jabbed. And this is why. Each of these stick people represents 1,000 deaths in the first wave of the pandemic. And look, you canjust see how many deaths were in care homes and in older age groups. The government hopes that vaccinating all these groups would protect 99 of those at risk of dying from covid. I will warn you, if youre healthy and under 50 then youre in for a long wait. No decisions have been made on vaccinating the under 50s and they are a tiny proportion
of all deaths. We are at the point when the first vaccines could be approved for use soon. Then the long and mammoth task of vaccinating millions of people can begin. James, thanks very much indeed. We arejust james, thanks very much indeed. We are just getting james, thanks very much indeed. We arejust getting details james, thanks very much indeed. We are just getting details on the report into priti patel, the home secretary, and it appears that the governments advisor on the ministerial code has resigned or is going to resign, and there is a statement there you can see tweeted by nick eardley, saying. That is a quote from the report. Nick eardley has published there a summary of the report findings and
sir alex allan has resigned, the Prime Ministers adviser on ministerial standards and vicki young, our deputy Political Editor, is in westminster. Clearly disagreement there are any handling of this enquiry . Yes, and when a report like this is carried out it is ultimately up to the Prime Minister, having looked at that report, to decide whether a minister has in fact breached the code and what, if any, has in fact breached the code and what, ifany, punishment has in fact breached the code and what, if any, punishment there should be, so there is clearly a difference of opinion here between the Prime Minister, borisjohnson, who all the indications yesterday we re who all the indications yesterday were that he was going to stick by the home secretary, but clearly a difference of opinion with sir alex allan. He is the person who has put together this report, he is the adviser, the independent adviser on the ministerial code and hasjust issued a statement saying that he recognises it is for the Prime Minister to make a judgment on whether actions by the Prime Minister like a minister relate to breach of the code and he says
that it to breach of the code and he says thatitis to breach of the code and he says that it is now right that i should resign for my position as the premise ofs adviser on the ministerial code, so this is proving to be incredibly controversial, this report we have been talking about asking and we have been asking the government what has happened to it for many months, but finally yesterday after a report by our political reporter, laura kuenssberg, that was starting to emerge, not the full report now, but details are coming out and it has prompted the resignation here of sir alex allan and it is going to be really difficult here for the Prime Minister to explain what hes doing here, the idea that this is potentially intentional bullying raised a lot of eyebrows from the union that represents Civil Servants, saying this is something they just cant servants, saying this is something theyjust cant explain. How can it be unintentional . The whole of someone in accused of bullying is that it someone in accused of bullying is thatitis someone in accused of bullying is that it is harmful to those that are having it done to them. The defence
from lots of priti patels friends and we saw a huge number of them tweeting, conservative mps, yesterday, saying actually they felt she wasnt properly supported in her job as home secretary, that there we re job as home secretary, that there were some who werent listening to what she was saying, they werent acting on the things that she was asking for and lots of tory mps said she is incredibly kind and they have never seen any evidence of her treating people in this way and they also say that Civil Servants didnt raise their concerns with her before all of this went public, so a very messy situation here for the Prime Minister to deal with and he certainly will be taking a lot of political flak. Now, there certainly will be taking a lot of politicalflak. Now, there will certainly will be taking a lot of political flak. Now, there will be everything. I am just looking at the clock, which witch is wrong, but they will be a briefing that happens every day and that will be happening very every day and that will be happening very soon, so we every day and that will be happening very soon, so we should find out more from downing street about what has been going on here. Just reading the summary that has been published,
there is no measure that forces the government to publish the report in full, but what we have got is a quote saying, my advice from the independent adviser is that the home secretary has not consistently met the high standards required by the ministerial code of treating her Civil Servants with consideration and respect. Her approach on occasions amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying, in terms of the impact felt by individuals. It does go on to say, to that extent her behaviour has beenin to that extent her behaviour has been in breach of the ministerial code, even if unintentionally. But we have got a statement from priti patel herself, saying, i am sorry my behaviour in the past has upset people, it has never been my intention to cause upset to anyone, and so it seems as though the report is finally one thing, but the panellist is potentially refusing to accept the consequences of it . Yes, i havent had the chance to read it all, but that does seem to be the case. The Prime Minister is able to make that judgment, that case. The Prime Minister is able to make thatjudgment, that is what Prime Ministers do, they decide
whether there has been a breach that requires some kind of sanction. He has obviously decided that is not the case, but as you say priti patel apologising for any hurt that she has caused and as i say, we have heard from her friends who say that this was unintentional, it wasnt what she meant to do and actually they dont think that she has been treated well. One mp said today they felt she was being treated differently and her ideas being dismissed by people because he said, because she is a woman and because of her background that she is not from a privileged background, and he said that made a difference, that she was patronised, particularly by Civil Servants in the home office. So that is their defence of what happened, but i am sure, is that we have been hearing from labour, they wa nt have been hearing from labour, they want the full report published. These reports arent always published in full, very rarely impact our be published in full, but they want to see the whole thing and im sure well be getting a reaction from the labour party quite soon.
has been reported and one hears that borisjohnson has been reported and one hears that Boris Johnson really has been reported and one hears that borisjohnson really prizes royalty and priti patel was perhaps what are those that stood with him on the boat leaves front and therefore he doesnt want to lose her, at least not yet. On the vote to leave front. But he is going to take some political flak, isnt it . Front. But he is going to take some politicalflak, isnt it . Is it worth him hanging onto her . Well, as you say, her beliefs are in tune with him when it comes to brexit and they did spend a lot of time together campaigning around the country on brexit and i think again her friends feel that because of her views on illegal immigration because of her views on brexit, that again means that a lot of political opponents go for her and they think thatis opponents go for her and they think that is why she is not treated fairly as well, so but he has decided that he wants to keep her there and she is of course one of there and she is of course one of the few senior women in the cabinet and she is pretty much adored, actually, by the conservative
grassroots. I have heard lots of conservative mps talk about how in the days when they could travel around the country speaking to large crowds, it was something she did a lot and lots of mps she was the one who one they wanted to come to speak to their constituency associations because they loved her and her message and so there is that that comes into it as well. Longer term, there is also speculation about a possible Cabinet Reshuffle and maybe she will be moved from a particular job, but clearly at the moment the prime instead very willing to take the flak here to hold onto her. And sir alex allans resignation, how damaging is that going to be . |j think damaging is that going to be . think that is a big problem for him, if you have got the independent arbiter of the code saying they feel they cant stay in their position because of this, then that is a problem and again, when you look at what has happened across the Civil Service in recent months, there have been a number of senior figures pushed out, others resigning, this is clearly also a problem for the
government. I think this is going to be incredibly difficult for the Prime Minister and certainly will be seized on by labour to say that he has made the wrong decision when it comes to holding onto acknowledging that she has broken the ministerial code. Very quickly, people will say, look, bullying, whether intentional or not, when the signal from the top government is that you permit it thatis government is that you permit it that is not a message within government or the Civil Service or across the country that you want. Yes, that has been the message from labour and also the union that represents Civil Service, other people pointing out this is anti bullying week and that behaviour this should not be condoned and people should not be allowed to get away with it, but it appears in this case, having not read the summary i cant say for sure, but it seems that they feel and the Prime Minister feels that there are mitigating circumstances in the way priti patel herself was treated by others. Yes, and details
are coming in as you are speaking and even you cant read and speak at the same time, sorry thanks very much indeed. We will be back with vicky and moore from westminster, i am sure, as soon as we can. Lets move on. Retail sales rose by 1. 2 last month the sixth monthly increase in a row in the uk. Early Christmas Shopping and discounts helped to boost the figures, but lockdown restrictions in england are expected to lead to a sharp fall in sales this month. Lets get more from our business presenter, sima kotecha. Lockdown doesnt mean that everyone are shopping online to help those numbers go up a bit . Well, actually Online Shopping has seen a boost throughout this pandemic. People staying at home has led to people sitting on their couch and ordering things and perhaps behaving anyway they might not have previously. Todays stats show a. 2 increase in retail sales in october. Economists
do fear that will go down in november because of lockdown. Remember, people arent going out as much, not going on trips or out to dinnerand much, not going on trips or out to dinner and perhaps that would have had an impact on football in stores and the fact that they are staying home and perhaps on furlough, not working, that means fewer cash in their pockets, but it is worth saying that octobers figure is higher than many analysts expected. Talk to me about all of this is jack duckett, who is on the line now, the associate director of consumer Lifestyle Research at mentone and thanks for coming on, you have done some of your own research about Consumer Habits and shopping, tell us what you found out. So looking at our research numbers across this year, there have been some encouraging moments this year, but when we look at the grand picture we can see enormous loss across continuous spending. Our stats show
a 15 increase in Household Spending across the board, nearly £184 billion in total has been lost as people have been stuck in their homes, unable to spend on particularly leisure, food service, transport, these are the areas we are seeing the biggest losses from, only small increases in food and alcoholic drinks, not able to made up alcoholic drinks, not able to made up for the significant loss we have seen previously. And do you think that Consumer Spending will go back to the way it was pre pandemic . think yeah, it will, ijust think we are in fora think yeah, it will, ijust think we are in for a rocky ride because if you look at how it has been hit at some of the better points throughout the year, even though it has been pretty muted, even in the summer when we were supposedly all feeling a bit better and able to leave the house, that was quite a muted response, given how excited we had all been to leave the house. We have got to Show Confidence about doing
various activities, going to shops, handling products, getting on an aeroplane, and confidence has remained pretty low throughout the year, even in july remained pretty low throughout the year, even injuly 65 of remained pretty low throughout the year, even in july 65 of adults said they would be either somewhat or extremely uncomfortable taking a flight or extremely uncomfortable taking a flight and that is with the airlines and travel industry doing a huge amount of work to make people feel more comfortable. So letsjust say lockdown relaxes and things start to get a bit better, there is quite a long way before the vaccine starts to spread and before it has an impact and before people start feel better about doing that what they we re better about doing that what they were doing before. People can have ptsd from any virus and this is a mass virus everywhere and it will have hang on consequences for peoples mood and also their spending habits consequently. Briefly, jack, lets look at some of the winners from this pandemic. Sales of alcohol and tea have actually boosted. Yes, tea has been
actually boosted. Yes, tea has been a category declining for many years now. People have just been moving towards more fashionable coffees and it is not really been sexy enough for people to want to buy, but brits do what they do best when they are panicked, they drink tea some teas can carry immune boosting claims which works under certain regulations, and that adds to the feel good factor and theyve also been deemed from the consumer factor asa been deemed from the consumer factor as a way of boosting their health. Alcohol cause doesnt have any health boosting properties, but unable to go into pubs or socialise outwardly, people are instead returning to buying from weak retail outlets and we had a praemia station trend in our Alcohol Consumption in the last few years and that has not gone away, so we are buying more expensive alcohol to enjoy at home and if people are buying more than that trade up and spending more, certainly over time, that trade up and spending more, certainly overtime, i that trade up and spending more, certainly over time, i think it is a 16 rise in sales in alcohol and retail channels, so i dont know if
people are doing both or all of these things, but tea and alcohol alternating is perhaps the way forward alternating is perhaps the way forward sounds good, jack i must say, that is the first time that i have heard drinking tea is sexy. For indians everywhere, they might find that quite an appealing prospect, but anyway, back to, thank you very much indeed. More now on the news that Boris Johnsons adviser on the ministerial code has resigned after the Prime Minister backed home secretary priti patel after bullying inquiry. The governments standards adviser sir alex allan found ms patels approach amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying. Ms patel released a statement, saying she was sorry, that my behaviour in the past has upset people. Dave penman is the general secretary of the Civil Servants union the fda hejoins me now. The Prime Minister is backing the
home secretary, what you make about . The Prime Minister said he was backing the home secretary when this investigation was launched nine months ago, so he hasnt changed his mind about that. This is just the most extraordinary set of circumstances. We started with a resignation on principle by sir philip when he felt that he had concerns of how this was being raised and he felt he was being attacked and then in a resignation on the other side by the adviser on ministerial standards, who quite clearly concluded that the minister did breach the ministerial code and the Prime Minister is simply ignoring that for political convenience. We have had a statement, havent we, from the permanent secretary, matthew rycroft, saying, these findings on sir alex allan make difficult reading, including for the Civil Service, but they are committed to trying to build better relationships moving forward with the home office. Presumably the last thing the government needs now is a
resignation, having to reshuffle in this is at this time and are focused on brexit and covid 19 . This is at this time and are focused on brexit and covid19 . What is the point ofan on brexit and covid19 . What is the point of an investigation though it is actually what we are saying is it doesnt matter what evidence is found, it doesnt matter what the Prime Minister is adviser on the ministerial code says, if it is politically convenient for the brand is to ignore it he will ignore it. He is also the minister for the Civil Service. Lets be clear, this investigation has found that the home secretary bullied her staff. That is the conclusion that the Prime Ministers adviser on the ministerial code has reached, including shouting and swearing at Civil Servants. The Prime Minister said there will be no bullying and no harassment. He didnt mean it. Those words are hollow now. What message is its ending, notjust to Civil Servants in the home office, but across the Civil Servants . If you want to raise a complaint about your ministers behaviour, the outcome of that will depend on the politics that is happening at the
time. That is the clear message to Civil Servants on the right minister. Would you say to the line that in the report it says that, this behaviour might have been unintentional, and also reportedly priti patels supporters saying she is an asian female, perhaps she was patronised by others who were senior in the department . We can all speculate, cant we . So if everyone just wants to add their own facts, then they can do that. We have got fa cts , then they can do that. We have got facts, we have got the facts that have been established, that is what sir alex allan was asked to do, to establish the facts and make a conclusion, so lets just stick to the fact he has found. He has found that a minister bullied staff, he is found that the ministerial code has been breached and the Prime Minister has decided to simply ignore that. Asa has decided to simply ignore that. As a result, as a matter of principle, now the Prime Ministers adviser on the ministerial code has resigned. What does it take to make this Prime Minister are aware how serious and important these issues are, when we have lost two outstanding public Civil Servants as
a result of what is going on . An investigation has concluded that the home secretary bullied Civil Servants, yet the Prime Minister is failing to act because he is listening to the backbenchers rather than paying attention to the evidence. There is a very clear signal here to the Civil Service and on where they set their priority. Dave penman, thanks very much ryan joining us. Now its time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. Hello. Heavy morning rain easing off light and patchy and heavy to the north of scotla nd and patchy and heavy to the north of scotland others. Some patchy rain arriving to Eastern England and after that frosty start temperatures stain cold here, seven or 8 degrees for some, 13 in the west. A mild start tonight for many, severe gales
in the north west of scotland as things turn a bit cooler, outbreaks of rain pushing southwards and into Northern Ireland, england and wales mild at night and it will have been by day, but even here a pretty cloudy start to the weekend, patchy drizzle, heavy cold front work its way southwards and to the south are that it stays miles and cloudy, temperatures in the low teens and to the north of that sunshine and showers, but very windy in northern scotland. This is bbc news. The headlines at midday the Prime Minister has backed priti patel and says he has full confidence in herfollowing a report into alleged bullying which suggested the home secretary broke ministerial standards of conduct. Ms patel has apologised for her behaviour and said it was never her intention to cause upset. In response, the Prime Ministers advisor on ministerial standards, sir alex allan, has resigned. Millions of Public Sector workers in england are expected to face a pay freeze in next weeks Spending Review. Nhs workers are thought to be protected, but unions say the efforts of all Public Sector workers need to be recognised. Of course, our incredible nhs staff have been at the forefront of this, but so have care workers, so have a local authority workers, so have Civil Servants. This pandemic has demonstrated one thing, it is how
much the government relies on the entire Public Service. It comes as Public Sector debt has reached a new high with government borrowing of more than £22 billion last month, the highest october level on record. Englands test and trace system has failed to reach nearly half of the close contacts of people with coronavirus in some of the worst hit areas, according to bbc analysis. More than two Million People in parts of scotland face tough tier 4 restrictions from six oclock tonight including a ban on household mixing indoors, and the closure of nonessential shops. Boogie, boogie boogie round the bins at christmas time. And the all singing and all dancing binmen hoping to get to christmas number one for charity. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. In the last few minutes, the Prime Minister has backed his home secretary, priti patel, and has put his full support behind her after deciding she hadnt breached the rules on ministerial behaviour in a case about alleged bullying of staff. But an independent report has found she had not met the high standards that were expected of her as home secretary and the Prime Ministers adviser on ministerial standards has resigned from his role. Sir alex allen said he recognised that it was the Prime Ministers decision on whether actions by a minister amounted to a breach of the ministerial code but that he felt it was right for him to stand down. The home secretary has apologised for upset caused by her behaviour. In a statement priti patel wrote
i am very grateful for the hard work of thousands of Civil Servants who help to deliver the governments agenda. I care deeply about delivering on the commitments we have made to the people of this country and i acknowledge that i am direct and have at times got frustrated. I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his support. The permanent secretary and i are working closely together to deliver on the vitaljob the home office has to do for the country. Our deputy Political Editor vicki young is in westminster. Vicki, this report does say that the behaviour of priti patel has been in breach of the ministerial code, even if unintentionally. Lets start with the findings of the report itself. It is not published in full, it is very rare that that does happen, but we do have a summary. That is a summary from sir alex allan, and he is the independent adviser to the Prime Minister on the ministerial code. He says in this that civil serva nts code. He says in this that Civil Servants should be expected to
handle robust criticism, that they shouldnt face behaviour that goes beyond that. He acknowledges that priti patel justifiably in beyond that. He acknowledges that priti pateljustifiably in many insta nces felt priti pateljustifiably in many instances felt frustrated by the home office leadership, that she was not being supported by them, and they did not release respond to some of the things she wanted doing. But he says that the evidence is that this was manifested in forceful expression from her, including on some occasions shouting and swearing. He says this may not be done intentionally to cause upset, but that has been the effect on some individuals. He then talks about the definition, if you like, of bullying, saying it is intimidating or insulting behaviour that makes an individual feel uncomfortable, frightened, less respected or put down. Instances of the behaviour reported to the Cabinet Office would meet such a definition. He said the home office, and the other side of the argument, was not as flexible as it could have been, and actually they should have done more to
support priti patel. They did not give any feedback so she was not aware of how she was making people feel. But the crucial thing is that sir alex allan has advised that the home secretary did not consistently meet the high standards required by the ministerial code of treating her Civil Servants with consideration and respect. Her approach, Civil Servants with consideration and respect. Herapproach, on occasions, has amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals. You can see very clearly what he thinks has happened here, and he says that the behaviour has been in breach of the ministerial code, even if unintentionally. What has happened, of course, is that the Prime Minister has read this, he has taken the advice, he has read the full report, and he does say that he ta kes report, and he does say that he takes the issue of bullying very seriously. But crucially the Prime Minister himself, in his statement, says that he notes that many of the concerns now raised were not raised at the time. The home secretary was unaware of the impact that she had,
and he is reassured that the home secretary is sorry for inadvertently upsetting those with whom she was working. He is also reassured that relationships, practices and culture in the home office are much improved. He is damn mac cat has considered the advice and weighed up the factors, but his judgment is that the ministerial code was not breach. Complete contradiction between the findings of sir alex allan and what the Prime Minister has decided to conclude himself. Of course, that seems to be what has prompted the resignation of his independent adviser. How big a political problem is this going to be for Boris Johnson . Political problem is this going to be for borisjohnson . Circular starmer is saying that the Prime Minister has been found wanting when his leadership has been tested. He says she would have been removed from herjob if he was in power. Why is borisjohnson so keen to hang on to her . This is a huge decision by the Prime Minister to stick by her. It would have been easier to sack
her given these findings. He has decided to hold on to hold onto her, he does not think she has broken the code, he clearly believes that there are mitigating circumstances, the fa ct are mitigating circumstances, the fact that she was not properly supported by Civil Servants. What is interesting is that there was what looked like a very coordinated outpouring of support for priti patel last night when use of this report was leaking out. Lots of her friends feel that because she is a women, because she is not from a privileged background, they feel that she is often being patronised and treated badly by Civil Servants. They think that she, as the home secretary, should be able to say what she wants done, and they feel that actually those instructions we re that actually those instructions were often ignored. So that is where were often ignored. So that is where we are on that. I think the premise will be mindful of the fact that she is one of the few senior women in his cabinet. She is also incredibly popular with the conservative grassroots. She is a brexiteer, who
campaigned alongside Boris Johnson during the referendum campaign, she has very strong views on illegal immigration, and has very strong views on illegal immigration, and i think all of that means that she is popular with the grassroots. The Prime Minister has made this very controversial decision to hang on to her, and he is obviously willing to take a lot of political flak in order to do so. Thank you very much indeed. Lets get more reaction now from the labour mp and shadow home secretary nick thomas symonds. Sir alex allan could not have been clearer that the home secretary has not consistently met the high standards of the ministerial code. The home secretary is the person in government responsible for law and order. I am frankly shocked that the home secretary remains in post when it is sir alex allan who has made those findings at a very, very distinguished career, and yet it is him that is resigning today. The report does say that her behaviour has been in breach of the ministerial conduct, even if unintentionally. So perhaps really into one of the biggestjobs in government, her behaviour was unintentionally bullying. She deserves a second chance, doesnt she . Sir alex allans advice suggest that behaviour may not be intentional, but the Crucial Point here is his finding that she has not consistently met the ministerial code. The ministerial code is absolutely crucial, and in the forward to it, borisjohnson has said that there shall be no
bullying. But we see these report findings, and it is frankly awful today to say that it is alex allan who is resigning and the home secretary who remains in post, despite the fact that there is this clear finding that she has not met those standards in the ministerial code. It is extraordinarily serious and there are serious questions now, both for the home secretary and for the Prime Minister, they should both be answering questions in parliament next week. We should see this report in full. We are seeing this statement from the permanent secretary, the most senior Civil Servant in the home office, saying that although it is difficult reading, they are determined to Work Together to improve the home office and build the strongest possible partnership between ministers and officials. So, given that, surely she deserves to stay, despite these findings. Clearly they are significant improvements to be made. I would not expect anything else to be said after a report as damning as
this one. That is just in terms of the summary that we have actually seen. We cannot get away from the fa ct seen. We cannot get away from the fact that the standards of the ministerial code have not been met. That is not something just to be brushed under the carpet. That is extraordinarily serious. But it is not legally binding, is it . The element that is absolutely right, but it has been setting the standards for ministerial behaviour throughout the post war era. It is extraordinarily serious and important document, and it is vital for trust and confidence in government that those standards are met, particularly at a time when during this Global Pandemic we have handed over even greater powers to the government in order to get through the pandemic. That imperative trust and confidence is even higher than it usually would be. The home secretary has been found, by sir alex allan, not to have met the standards of the ministerial code will stop the Prime Minister should have acted, he has not, he has failed his test of
leadership. There is nothing you or anything, anyone else can do though, is there . The Prime Minister of the ministerial code and he has failed this test. I will be doing what i can to make sure that the Prime Minister and home secretary do a nswer minister and home secretary do answer questions on this in parliament. The Prime Minister, today, on anti bullying week, to be trying to brush to one side a document, a serious report like this, that came across his desk on theissue this, that came across his desk on the issue of bullying is frankly shameful and wrong. Went back to what you say to those friends, we have seen minister sweeting saying she was very polite with them, saying not from a privileged background and has perhaps been bullied by people in the Civil Service. What you say to those claims . The issue and has never been how the home secretary speaks to her political colleagues, who speaks to
opposition politics turns. It has beenin opposition politics turns. It has been ina opposition politics turns. It has been in a situation where the power dynamic is very different, where she is the person with status and power. It has been her Civil Servants, and this very clear finding that they have not been treated with consideration and with respect. The issue then comes back to these breaches of the ministerial code that she consistently has not met those standards. If that is the case, there have to be consequences for that because otherwise trust and confidence in our government is com pletely confidence in our government is completely and utterly undermined. Again, others in her defence have said that she was an arch brexiteer, very strong views on immigration and so on, and she perhaps ran into people in the Civil Service who were more on the remain side, he politically did not agree with her, and that is why there were even more tensions. I am a realfan of our Civil Service, our neutral civil
service, but even if the home secretary came into contact with people with whom she disagreed, which is not uncommon in politics frankly, that does notjustify the kind of behaviour that we have seen in this report. It does notjustify not treating people with consideration and respect. Whether you agree with someone or disagree with someone, those standards of behaviour are extraordinarily important. What the government is doing today is sending out a message from the very top from the Prime Minister that clearly he is willing to tolerate behaviour of this kind, which is completely wrong judgment. Thank you very much indeed. Miriam cates is the conservative mp for Penistone Stocksbridge and a supporter of the home secretary. Thank you forjoining us. This is a pretty damning finding. It should not be the independent person looking into bullying that resigns, should it . Surely it should be the home secretary removed from herjob . Ido home secretary removed from herjob . I do not think that is the case at all. The report shows that there
we re all. The report shows that there were some very strange relationships on all sides during the period that is being looked at. At times, the home secretary did unintentionally upset people. I think it is important that those things have been made clear, i think there is really important that the home secretary has apologised, but the Prime Minister has made clear that he is confident that she has not breached the ministerial code and that he has got confidence in her and the Civil Service to deliver what we have been elected to achieve. This report says there were on occasion shouting and swearing, this may not have been unintentionally took cause upset but that has been the effect on some individuals. Anyone knows that if you shout and swear at people that you shout and swear at people that you work with or people who work for you, that is not the way that a minister should behaviour. All of us can empathise with stressful and challenging work situations, and situations in our personal lives where perhaps we work out at the end of the day and think we regret certain things we have said or certain things we have said or certain ways we have behaved. Shouting and swearing is beyond the pale, surely . Ori
shouting and swearing is beyond the pale, surely . Or i think the report makes clear that there were some very challenging relationships on both sides during that period. I think this clear the home secretary did not always receive the support that she did. The important points are firstly that this was not raised at the time, so she was not aware that she was intentionally hurting the people around her to that effect. If you shout and swear at people, how can you not know that you are going to hurt people . People will perhaps be too frightened to raise complaints at the time. In a Pressure Cooker situation where people are not getting on up challenging relationships, ithink we all know from personal experience that we do not necessarily behave our best. But i think the point about human relationships, the point about human relationships, the point about human relationships, the point about human beings as we can change and we can get better. The important thing today is that she has acknowledged that, unintentional as it was, she has damaged some of those relationships, but she is sorry and that things have started to change. If someone apologises
afterwards, that is fine, then, that excuses bullying behaviour . She has reach the ministerial code according to this report. Youll make the report has not how bullying behaviour. It has said she had does not always treat Civil Servants with the consideration that she should have done. It may have read some of them to feel that they had been bullied but it was certainly not intentional bullying. This report says her report on occasions amounted to behaviour that could be described as bullying. In terms of the impact felt by individuals. That is in breach of the ministerial code. The fact that this report has not been accepted, presumably, has led to sir alex allan, who wrote it, to resign. The premise is the ultimate arbiter of the ministerial code, and as i said, he is clear that she has not reached it. What mackie is contradicting the findings of the report, isnt he . There is a
difference between not always showing the consideration that is due and reaching a code. The premise is absolutely right to have full confidence in her as a minister. Those of us who know her, and this is why we have seen such an outpouring of support from her colleagues, know that she is a strong character, she is assertive, but she is also an incredibly good listener, she shows great empathy. She came to my constituency last year, she listened to a number of people who have been deeply affected by crime, they were really impressed by crime, they were really impressed by her. She made some excellent comments, really implies, really listen. You cannot fake it character and integrity. That might be true. In front of you and people she regards as peers, maybe she is not bullying. But clearly this report shows there has been bullying behaviour. I just shows there has been bullying behaviour. Ijust wonder shows there has been bullying behaviour. I just wonder why shows there has been bullying behaviour. Ijust wonder why is she so important to the Prime Minister, why does he feel he has to stand by her . Do you think she will be moved inajanuary her . Do you think she will be moved in a january reshuffle, with that if this be the right thing to do .
would throw that back and say is it the right thing, when someone discovers that they have unintentionally hurt someone, apologises, changes and make amends, is it then the right thing to force them to resign . I do not think so. What hope is there for any of us if we cannot range or learn and change and get better . She has clearly shown that she is brilliant at the job, she is forcing through some difficult changes in difficult circumstances, and she has acknowledged her weaknesses and wa nts to acknowledged her weaknesses and wants to move on. That is far better than forcing her to make way for someone else. We do not get into this culture where somebody makes a mistake, which is human nature and we all do, makes immense but then has to leave. That is wrong. It was not just one has to leave. That is wrong. It was notjust one occasion. Why has sir alex allan resigned . Notjust one occasion. Why has sir alex allan resigned . He is the independent adviser, very long standing in hisjob, and it is not precedented that ministers who have found to have broken the ministerial code stay in theirjobs. I do not
know why he has resigned. I imagine you will have to ask him. Why do you think . I would not to speculate. I do not know why he has resigned. The Prime Minister has read his report and that has been taken into account, i think there is very important that these reports have been made, but he has decided on balance that the home secretary does have his confidence and she has not reached the ministerial code. I fully support him in that. Have you spoken to priti patel census report was published . Spoken to priti patel census report was published . I know it isjust spoken to priti patel census report was published . I know it is just out publicly. How she ever told you that she felt patronised in the job in the home office by Civil Servants . That is some of the defensive line is we have been hearing. that is some of the defensive line is we have been hearing. I am not going to reveal any private conversations i have had. She is highly respected in the Parliamentary Party because of her character and integrity. She has a warm person, she is strong and assertive. As i said, we can all
empathise with situations where people an extremely frustrating times do not always behave the best way they should. The important thing is she has apologised publicly and things have changed. We havejust heard that statement from the new permanent secretary saying that they are working hard together to improve things at the home office. Just finally, is this just brexiteer standing together . Boris johnson finally, is this just brexiteer standing together . Borisjohnson is awarding herfor standing together . Borisjohnson is awarding her for loyalty, standing together . Borisjohnson is awarding herfor loyalty, she was prominent in vote leave, she stood by him through thick and thin, and he is refusing to accept an independent report . If you are asking me whether loyalty is a good characteristic, then i absolutely agree. But i think what the pie minister is doing is taking an objective view on this report, acknowledge eyes that things went wrong, she is trying to put things right, but giving her his full confidence to get on with herjob. Many thanks. Lets cross to edinburgh now where the first minister Nicola Sturgeon is giving a briefing. Good afternoon, thank you for joining us. I will start with todays statistics, as usual. The total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 1018. That represents 4. 8 of the total number of tests. Takes the total number of confirmed cases to 86,630. 391 of the new cases were in Greater Glasgow and clyde. Hundred and 62 in lanarkshire. 123 in lothian. The remaining cases are spread across the remaining health board areas. I can also confirm that 1234 people are currently in hospital, which is an increase of 22 from yesterday, and 88 people are in intensive care, thatis and 88 people are in intensive care, that is three more than yesterday. Finally, i regret to report that a further 32 deaths have been
registered in the past 24 hours of a patient who first tested positive over the previous 28 days. That ta kes over the previous 28 days. That takes the total number of deaths under this measurement to 3459. Every single one of these deaths represents an individual who has loss will be causing grief and heartbreak. Yet again, i want to give my condolences to everyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. Iam has suffered the loss of a loved one. I am joined today by the National Clinical directorjason leech. Jason will help me to answer questions from journalists in a moment or two. Before we get to that, i want to obviously reflect on the restrictions which will come into force in parts of scotland later today. From 6pm this evening, 11 local Authority Areas in scotland will move to level four. These areas are at the city of glasgow, renfrewshire, east renfrewshire, east dunbartonshire, west
dunbartonshire, north lanarkshire, south lanarkshire, dunbartonshire, north lanarkshire, south la narkshire, east dunbartonshire, north lanarkshire, south lanarkshire, east ayrshire, south lanarkshire, east ayrshire, south ayrshire, stirling and west lothian. Infection rates in most of these areas have stabilised in recent weeks because of sacrifices eve ryo ne recent weeks because of sacrifices everyone has been making. But in all of these areas, the infection rate remains stubbornly high. If the situation continues like that, the fa ct situation continues like that, the fact is more people will die orfall seriously ill. There is also a danger if we do not get infection rates down that our hospital and i see you services will become even more stretched as we move deeper into the winter period. That will obviously affect the nhss ability to treat Covid Patients and also offer services to people with other illnesses. In addition, we want rates to come down further before the Christmas Period when people might be meeting up with family members a bit more than is the case now. The fact is, the fewer people
in the population who have covid by the time we get to christmas, the lower the risk of others being infected with it during that period. It is very important for me to be clear that the risks would not be zero, which is why we must be very careful about any relaxation over christmas. People will have to think carefully themselves, even with any relaxation about what they want to do or not. The risks would not be zero, but they would be lower if there are fewer people in the population who have covid at that time. For all of these reasons, we have decided, we decided and set this out earlier in the week, to move these 11 Council Areas into level four for a period of move these 11 Council Areas into level fourfor a period of three weeks, until the 11th of december. I wa nt to weeks, until the 11th of december. I want to say again, it is not a decision that we have taken lightly. I know how deeply frustrated people in these areas will be feeling right now. I know that because i do live in one of these areas, so i
absolutely understand the sense of disappointment and a sense of frustration. Given the reasons and considerations i have set out, we believe this action is absolutely necessary. I would ask you to remember that point, whether you agree or disagree with these decisions, that is entirely your right, but it stands to reason not be taking these difficult and potentially unpopular decisions if we did not think it was absolutely essential to do so. We know of course that as well as having an impact on individuals, these restrictions have an impact on businesses. That is why we have put in place extra support in addition to the uk wide for low scheme to help businesses through this period. Full details of the help available can be found at the fine business support dot, dot scott website. There is a point i want to make to businesses because i know how difficult it is at any time but particularly as we approach the Christmas Trading period, that we will do everything we can to help
financially. The most important thing all of us can do to help business right now is to get infection rates down. I understand that sometimes there can be a view that sometimes there can be a view that if we just take fewer restrictions to control the virus, life will be easier for businesses. But in the medium to long term, that would not be the case. If we do not control the virus, then businesses will be affected more deeply and potentially for longer. Getting rates of the virus under control is in the interest of all of us, including business, no matter how difficult it feels right now when we are living with these restrictions. Detailed information about what level four means and what level applies to your local authority can be found on the Scottish Government website. I would encourage all of you to go on and familiarise yourself with the restrictions in yourself with the restrictions in your area. There is a postcode checker. If you put in your postcode, you can find out what level your local authority is in and what that means for you in terms of
the restrictions in place. But let mejust take the restrictions in place. But let me just take this opportunity to very briefly summarise what the restrictions will mean for people specifically living in level four areas over the next three weeks. Firstly, we are asking you to stay at home as much as possible. Reducing interactions with other people, hard though this is, is how we will bring infection rates down. The more we do that, the faster we hope these rates will come down. Also, as is already the case and is the case in all parts of the country with the exception of orkney, shetland and the western isles, you should definitely not visit other peoples homes. You can still meet outdoors, of course, in groups of up to six people from two households. We all know the characteristics of a scottish winter, i would encourage you if you can to get outdoors and perhaps meet up within these limits with others in that way. As i said a moment ago, the advice to people in level four areas is to try to
stay at home or as close to home as much as possible over these next three weeks. Nonessential retail will close, essential indoor retail can remain open. There is no need for anyone to rush out and stock up on supplies. Shops that sell food will still be open, although we are asking people obviously to comply with all the social distancing rules and other precautions whenever they are in essential shops. Level four also unfortunately sees the closure of Close Contact Services, hairdressers and beauty salons, leisure and entertainment settings and indoor gyms. Hospitality premises will close for this period, although there is an exception for ta keaway although there is an exception for takeaway services. Anyone who can work from home should continue to do so. Basically, except for some work from home should continue to do so. Basically, except forsome very limited purposes, including child care, caring for someone who is vulnerable, exercise, shopping for essential goods, our advice to People Living in level four areas is not to go out and about if you can
avoid it over this three week period. If we all try to abide by that, then we will get these infection levels down more quickly. The final point i would make before i move on to the issue of travel is to remember this, and i say this for context to remember this, and i say this for co ntext a nd to remember this, and i say this for context and perspective, not because i think it will make anyone feel better, this is notjust something we are living with in scotland right now. We are today seeing a significant part of the country, the most populated part of our country go into level four restrictions, but much of our country will not be in level for restrictions and we want to keep it that way if we possibly can. This is why the points im about to make on travel are so important. But we see in england right now, the whole country of england is in a lockdown, similar to our level for restrictions. Northern ireland government last night announced that, as a week today, they will go back into a full,
effectively a full National Lockdown. Wales has had similar restrictions. We see similar restrictions. We see similar restrictions in many countries across the world. As i say, that does not make anyone feel better, but this a Global Pandemic and many people in many parts of the world are living with the same restrictions and being asked to make the same sacrifices as we are right now. That brings me onto the issue of travel. I can confirm as you heard me say earlier in the week also from 6pm today the guidance we have given about nonessential travel in recent weeks will become law. And that means if you live in a level three ora means if you live in a level three or a level four area, you mustnt travel outside your own local Authority Area unless it is for an essential purpose. You can find a list of essential purposes on our website. Overall, you can travel if you have a reasonable excuse and we
give examples of what that might be, so childcare, caring for a vulnerable or older person, exercise that you cant reasonably do within your own local Authority Area within a very short distance. Obviously if you have to travel associated with somebodys end of life or for a hospital appointment, for example. So they are examples of essential travel, but if you dont have to travel, but if you dont have to travel for an essential reason then you mustnt leave your own local Authority Area. People living elsewhere in scotland mustnt travel into level three or level four areas, again unless it is for an essential purpose and there must be no nonessential travel between scotla nd no nonessential travel between scotland and other parts of the uk or the republic of ireland. Now, there is a lot of tension, rightly and understandably, on this aspect of our restrictions in scotland that we are asking people by law not to travel to england unless it is essential. But remember structures like this have been in place wales for some time, where it is already not permitted under the law to go to
wales if you live in other parts of the uk and right now the restriction in england says do not leave your homes. Again, these are tough restrictions, but we are not alone in having to live with them as we seek to control this virus. In addition, we are continuing to advise very strongly against unnecessary travel overseas at the moment and that includes advice not to go overseas on holiday right now. Now, i know people have been asking why are we making it against the law, depending on where you live, to travel to an airport, but not against the law to fly to another country . So im going to be clear about this. Just because it is not against the law to travel overseas, does not mean it if we think it is 0k to does not mean it if we think it is ok to do it right now. This is, as i have said already a few times today, it isa have said already a few times today, it is a Global Pandemic and it is for that reason that we have in recent months repeatedly advised
people not to travel overseas unless foran people not to travel overseas unless for an essential purpose and you will have heard me at this podium say that many times. Some people have asked if you would be more likely to get refunds on flights or holidays booked if we did make overseas travel specifically against the law. That does not follow your entitlement to a refund, it depends on the terms of your travel insurance. For these reasons, on the terms of your travel insurance. Forthese reasons, our advice is not to book non essential overseas travel right now. That brings me back to the basic point here. Travel anywhere in a Global Pandemic carries potential risk, whether that is the risk of importing the virus within scotland or allowing it to spread within scotla nd or allowing it to spread within scotland in high prevalence areas from them too low prevalence areas. So these travel restrictions, nobody likes them, i dont like them, but they are vital in helping us minimise these risks and in a
particularly scottish context right now they are vital to help avoid having the whole country in the same level of restrictions. These travel Restrictions Mean that below the central belt make that even though the central belt has to be a level four, we can avoid other parts of the country would lower prevalence being in level four, they are in level two, so it is vital that we need to maintain this targeted approach and i hope we can avoid a National Target for definite level for lockdown and we need to abide by these restrictions should do that. I dont underestimate it, but these restrictions are essential and are about helping us reduce the spread of the virus and helping us protect our nhs and make sure it can cope, and they are about trying to give us the best possible chance of having some ability to see loved ones at christmas without that risk being massive. That is going, as i said yesterday, to be a difficult balance to strike, but one that we are resolved to try to do. The final
point i want to make, i hope, is a bit more optimistic. These restrictions are difficult and we are all thoroughly scunnered and fed up are all thoroughly scunnered and fed up with them and im not going to stand here and say otherwise because i had that same experience of feeling very scunnered by all this as much as you do. We may see the end inside with all this and i think it is important we dont forget that. In the last few weeks we have had very positive news about possible vaccines for covid 19. The Health Secretary set out a statement about that yesterday, which set out our current planning assumption that depending of course on the vaccine is finally being approved as safe, depending on the flows of supplies that we need, but if all that goes the way that we hope it will she set out that we may be able to vaccinate 1 Million People before the end of january. That is within touching distance. And then of course the
rest of the Adult Population will follow after that. So there is a very real prospect now for all of us ofa very real prospect now for all of us of a substantially more normal way of a substantially more normal way of life being returned to us by the time we reached the spring of next year. And i hope that encourages us. It would make the next few weeks any better, but it hopefully will strengthen our resolve to stay safe on ourselves, keep the family is safe, keep others safe before we reach that point because if we all do these things that are difficult now, we hopefully reach that point of safety with as few people dying as possible, as a few people becoming ill as possible and with the overall impact on our society being minimised, so please in the difficult days and weeks that lie ahead, please try to keep your eye on that light that is now on the horizon. Of course, the level four restrictions are just one level of restrictions are just one level of restrictions and they will come into force today, but remember everybody across the country should be
complying with these restrictions in their areas. Let mejust complying with these restrictions in their areas. Let me just very briefly before i finish and prepare the questions remind people what these are. In all parts of the country, apart from orkney, shetland and the western isles, please do not go into other peoples mccombes. That is the single most important and most effective thing we can do right now. It is also the toughest thing, but it is the most effective thing we can do to try to limit the spread of the virus, unless of course youre going to somebodys home for an essential purpose. If you are meeting outdoors, where possible, in a public outdoor place, limit your gatherings to six people from no more than two households. The one exception to that is level one areas where they are now allowed groups of eight from three households, but the general is six from two. Member to avoid car sharing, keep working from home, and download the project scotla nd home, and download the project scotland app. The most basic things we can do to try to keep each other safe, rememberface
we can do to try to keep each other safe, remember face coverings, remember to avoid crowded places, clea n remember to avoid crowded places, clean your hands, clean hard surfaces, clique keep two metres distance from people from another household and self isolate and get tested if you have any symptoms of covid 19. I am going to end there, but i do want to take the opportunity to thank everybody for everything that you are doing. I know today feels difficult for all the people who live in the 11 Council Areas. It doesnt feel easy for people outside these areas either, but it is necessary to get us through these next hopefully final few months of this pandemic with as little impact on life, health, society and the economy as possible, so thank you for being patient and stick with it. I will now move straight to question Nicola Sturgeon there with the daily briefing, ahead of taking questions again urging caution in the run up to christmas, where things hopefully will improve in the new year, but at the moment everyone still has to be
very, very careful with all of these restrictions still having to be followed and if you want more detail there is plenty of detail on the website because it is different of course across all the nations and regions in the uk. We are going to go now to Northern Ireland because that is now set to face new covid 19 measures from next friday. Restrictions were due to start using today and some businesses like cafe is in restau ra nts businesses like cafe is in restaurants will briefly being allowed to reopen, but from the 20th of the month, in places like that will have to close again. Our ireland correspondent chris page explained the reasons behind the new restrictions there is a lot of politics behind this. Last week the Northern Ireland executive after four days agreed to lift the restrictions that were currently in force today, so as you mentioned this morning cafe is were able to reopen, contact services
like hairdressers and beauticians are allowed to open as well, but now they are going to have to close again injusta they are going to have to close again injust a weeks they are going to have to close again in just a weeks time and that is because yesterday the Stormont Executive decided to impose tougher restrictions than the ones that were partially lifted this time last week. It is pretty confusing, many here are saying, today. So we have had some pretty angry criticism from the Business Community about what they say is a terrible lack of uncertainty, retailers for example saying they are now having to close for two weeks in late november and early december, the hospitality trade have said their industry body has said they have lost all trust in the executive. Other parts of the Hospitality Industry that have been shut since mid october, like some pubs and restaurants, were expecting to reopen next friday and now they know they are going to be shut for an additional two weeks. There is a strong stay at her message being put out by the executive, in addition to their new lockdown measures, so the
advice from the likes of Public Health officials is that people should be all the more careful now, even though things are open, and they should stick to the regulations strictly and very much limit their contacts, but the manner in which the Northern Ireland government has gone about making its decision has led, as i say, to a lot of very severe criticism, particularly from business, but also from the general public, who have said the indecision, as they see it, isnt great at all and isnt doing much for their confidence in the executive in it is handling the pandemic. Ministers have said the reason why things changed is because there was a particularly stark prediction put in the table yesterday by chief scientific advisers, which said hospitals will be overwhelmed by mid december of this intervention wasnt put in place quickly. Now, the five parties in the parish, for an embodied speaking last week were in favour of extending the restrictions, but the Biggest Party, the dup, pushed for the partial reopening and essentially that was in the end what they got, but now the dup following
behind the other parties in deciding that this Circuit Breaker lockdown is needed, beginning for the next week for a fortnight. We can speak now to glyn roberts who is chief executive of retail ni which represents over 2000 retailers in Northern Ireland. What effect is this future break, another two week break, in a weeks time going to have . It is a hammer blow to our high high streets and town centres and this will disproportionately hit many small independent retailers. There is a basic unfairness in this and we have seen this and other parts of the uk, where the large supermarkets will be able to sell clothes during this two week Circuit Breaker, but many independent retailers who are in the fashion business will not be able to sell clothes, so there is a basic unfairness there and i think the other big winnerfrom unfairness there and i think the other big winner from this is amazon. I think christmas has certainly come early for amazon in relation to this decision, so it will be a heavy blow, putting
thousands of jobs and will be a heavy blow, putting thousands ofjobs and businesses at risk at what is the most important trading time of year for our Retail Sector and sadly they are going to lose two weeks of that. How much has the Government Support package, including furlough, helped people to keep afloat and is it going to be enough to get them through the next few months if things can then open up few months if things can then open upa bit few months if things can then open up a bit in the spring . few months if things can then open up a bit in the spring . I think the furlough has been very helpful. There is no doubt about that, but we await to hear what finance package our own is active is going to bring forward. I have to say, i wouldnt be full of confidence that much is going to come of that because many of the existing schemes just have not paid out to Small Businesses, so we are not particularly holding our breath in that regard. Let me say this, this was done to tackle the mission of the virus and we accept that in one sense, but in the following week until this break comes into operation, we are going
to see our high streets and town centres rammed full of shoppers and what impact is that going to have on transmission of the virus . Likewise, when these two weeks are up, what is going to happen is you are going to see Christmas Shopping compressed into a very short space of time. Again, that is going to lead to crowded town centres and high streets. What does that due to the r figure . So there is a contradiction fundamentally in this. They didnt consult or work with us and they are not engaging properly and this is a shameful decision that will disproportionately bear on many thousands of Small Businesses, independent retailers, Family Businesses that have worked so hard andi businesses that have worked so hard and i have been talking to many of them in the last few hours and one of them who traded right throughout the troubles, traded through many different recessions and they are telling me they probably will not survive this. And that is catastrophic for businesses like this and again, this is ordinary working people, working families who
are now going to be struggling to put food on the table and pay their mortgage as a result of this ill considered decision. We still dont know on the brexit front, just to add to further pressures on everyone, especially Northern Ireland at the moment, we still dont know if theres going to be a deal or not. There are different arguments on all sides about what is best. But how much pressure does that add to businesses there . Well, potentially it is another cliff edge and we absolutely do need to get a deal on that front. You know, there isa deal on that front. You know, there is a lot of work that we need to do to make sure that businesses are ready for the end of this transition phase. We are engaging with government at all levels on this, so iam government at all levels on this, so i am hopeful we can make progress on that, but it adds a whole other level of uncertainty, you know, with covid 19 and now brexit, the possibility of no deal. All of this isa possibility of no deal. All of this is a huge burden on an already
struggling business. It is going to bea struggling business. It is going to be a tough few months or less. Can i ask you very quickly, finally, when you say you talk to Small Businesses including those who are worried about whether they are going to survive, what are the margins . How much money are we talking about that makes the difference . Well, i think it is hard to put a figure on it, but these are businesses that have already suffered a big loss in footfall because the hospitality sector has been shut for some time, so hospitality and retail, the symbiotic link between the two of them and they are integral to our high streets, so already they are in a difficult situation and then to be forced to close for two weeks in the golden time, you know, the most important time of the year for the Retail Sector. Well, i have no doubt a number of them will be pushed under and it is soul destroying for these businesses. These are independent retailers, Small Businesses who have put their life and soul into their businesses, and now to be told that they are closing in the vital few weeks of
christmas, it is just terrible and i have listened to people that have beenin have listened to people that have been in tears with this decision, so angry with the executive about how they have been tree treated. It is a shameful decision. They are not engaging with businesses here, they are not working with us, they are doing stuff to us. And i think what was the most disappointing thing is not a single minister or official could even give us the heads up with this or consult us. Our executive has handled this very, very badly. 0k, has handled this very, very badly. Ok, glyn roberts, chief executive of retail ni, many thanks for your time. Just some breaking news this hour. The coroner in hampshire, jason peg, has madejeremy kyle and interested person for an inquest of his tv show guest, steve diamond, stating the presenter may have caused or contributed to his death during a pre inquest review in winchester. We will update you on
that as we can. The first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said there is evidence the two week firebreak in wales has been successful in lowering the rate of coronavirus transmission. Mr drakeford has been speaking at briefing in cardiff in the past half hour. It is now just it is nowjust over ten days since the firebreak period here in wales came to an end, and this afternoon i wa nted came to an end, and this afternoon i wanted to share with you the latest information we have about the impact of that firebreak on infection rates in wales. This morning the chief medical officer for wales has published his conclusion that there is good evidence that the welsh firebreak has had its intended impact on the transmission of covid 19. And you can see from this slidejust covid 19. And you can see from this slide just how covid 19. And you can see from this slidejust how far covid 19. And you can see from this slide just how far and how quickly cases of coronavirus have fallen in
that period at the right hand end of the site. We have seen a consistent reduction in the rate of coronavirus across wales in the past ten days. We have seen a consistent fall in the positivity rate, that is to say the positivity rate, that is to say the percentage of tests which turn out to be positive. The seven day case incidence rate for wales has fallen to around 160 cases for every 100,000 people in the population. And that ranges from just over 20 cases per 100,000 in some areas to more than 350 cases per 100,000 people in glen al grant and Blaenau Gwent is now the highest area in wales. We have seen a huge drop in the rate of cakes in merthyr tydfil, from a high of around 170 cases to now around 250 per 100,000. But of
course, we need to see that figure grew further. That went from a high of 270 cases to 250. We will have a Mass Testing Programme there this weekend, offering testing to eve ryo ne this weekend, offering testing to everyone living and working in the local Authority Area in the coming months and i hope of course that as many as possible of those citizens will come forward to take part in this very first Mass Testing Programme in wales. We have also seen as a result of those figures a fall in the r number. The latest estimate for r, and that was a week ago, was between 0. 9 and one point to. And the latest ons Infection Survey has just been published at the end of this morning. The results suggest that the number of people with coronavirus last week in wales
has fallen by about 40 , compared to when the firebreak period was instituted. Now, as you would have expected, we are yet to see this translate into a sustained reduction in pressure on the National Health service. The wave of cases going into the nhs is always going to be about two weeks behind what we see in the community. But we have seen the rate at which people are being admitted to hospital in wales with coronavirus stabilise over this last week. Nevertheless, there are still currently the equivalent of more than 50 hospital wards full of people seriously ill with coronavirus. And many of those people may end up being in hospital forup to people may end up being in hospital for up to three weeks. And very sadly, we continue to see high
levels of deaths involving coronavirus here in wales. The office for National Statistics here have said there have been more than 3100 coronavirus related deaths this year and those deaths are now back to their highest level since mid may. In everyone of these briefings, i want to take a moment to acknowledge the experience of families of all those people and those people who have died during this second wave of coronavirus. Mark tricks of there, the welsh first minister, and in his daily briefing. Mark drake third. Instagram has been accused of significantly failing in its Corporate Responsibility by the Childrens Charity nspcc. Its after new figures showed there had been an 80 drop in the removal of harmful content
during the First National lockdown. This report from Angus Crawford contains some content you may find upsetting. Theyre still there. Easy to find, but too graphic to show images and videos of self harm. Pictures and cartoons of pills, razor blades and nooses. Users openly flout the guidelines. It wasnt meant to be like this. Public outcry over the death of Molly Russell forced instagram to change, promising to remove graphic content around self harm and suicide. And it did 1. 3 million posts at the start of the year. But look lockdown hits, and that plummets to just 277,000. As restrictions lift, so does the figure back up to pre covid levels. This former content moderator says, with colleagues sent home, the Automatic Systems couldnt cope. This content is harmful. And if you let people look at it, you know, at home, and maybe their kids
are going to see it and so forth, its going to hurt people. So theyve had to stop the moderators from doing theirjobs. So if you take the human moderators out of the picture, what happens . Its chaos. As soon as you turn. As soon as the humans are out, we can see this. Theres just way, way more self harm, child exploitation, this kind of stuff on the platforms because theres nobody there to deal with it. The company says. With fewer content reviewers, the amount of content we took action on decreased, but its prioritised and took action on the most harmful content. But for Molly Russells father, it underlines the need for more regulation. I think everyone has a responsibility. To young and vulnerable people. Its really hard. I dont think the social Media Companies set up their platforms to be purveyors of dangerous, harmful content, but
we know that they are. And so theres a responsibility at that level for the Tech Companies to do what they can to make sure their platforms are as safe as is possible. Perhaps covids proved that technology by itself cant yet protect us from the very worst of social media. Angus crawford, bbc news. And if you are affected by any of the issues in that report, you can go online to bbc. Co. Uk actionline, where youll find details of organisations that offer advice and support. For some of us, last night was the cold est for some of us, last night was the coldest night of the autumn so far, but the cloud and rain has been moving its way in from the west and we are all in that milder air now, so really for the rest of the day we are going to continue to see the rain putting eastwards, turning
while theyre ahead tonight compared to last night, so temperatures this afternoon into this evening around about 12 13 in the west, a little cooler on the east coast out of chilly start and the cloud will remain on top of that cool air. These are the average wind speeds for the rest of today, windiest conditions in the north west of scotland, winds are strengthening here as we head into this evening and overnight, gill is likely of 60 mph or more across the north of scotland. Some rain in scotland, much of england and wales remaining cloudy with the odd spot ofjazz all around, but a lot of dry weather as well and much milder than last night, most of this temperature staying in double figures, a little colder, for most of us. One that called front. This cold front will continue to push slowly further south through the weekend, fresher air, scattered, blustery showers and again very windy conditions across northern parts of scotland and quite a breezy day everywhere that on saturday. We have got this line of cloud and rain spreading southwards
across england and wales, to the south mostly dry, perhaps the odd bright spell, very cloudy though, mild, temperature is 14 degrees. Scattered showers across the north west of the uk on saturday, wind gusts are going to be a real feature, gusting 20 30 mph widely, but about 60 mph for the western and Northern Isles and parts of the highlands of scotland. Through saturday evening, we keep the showers, the blue colours here are the colder air mass working its way southward here across the uk into sunday, but we are likely to keep that milder air sunday, but we are likely to keep that milderair in sunday, but we are likely to keep that milder air in the far south, so cloudier and milder here on sunday, with the odd spot of drizzle. Elsewhere, dry, a few showers in the north west, again briefly, but not as windy saturday and temperatures widely 8 9 in the north, 11 or 12 further south. Into next week, things remain fairly unsettled, cloudy and mild, some rain at times
in the north west. Goodbye. The government adviser on ministerial standards resigns after the Prime Minister backs the home secretary over a bullying inquiry. The independent probe found priti patel had broken the ministerial code but borisjohnson is standing by her, saying he doesnt believe she broke it. Priti patel says shes sorry if her behaviour in the past has upset anyone a Civil Service union says its disappointed. What is the point of them the ministerial code, then . What is the point of the investigation, if, actually, what we are saying is, it doesnt matter what evidence is found, it doesnt matter what the Prime Ministers own advisor on the ministerial code says . If it is politically convenient for the Prime Minister to ignore it, he will ignore it. Well have the latest
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