now this one more strike and he s out. the prime minister has always had enemies inside but a former leader who backs him warns he has to change. he is our leader and he will lead us to the next election. he will? are you sure of that? well, as long as he wishes to do it, he has the right to do it. the party has to get behind him and he has to deliver on the basis that downing street and the departments are themselves structured and disciplined, and that will be the key litmus test. i mean, you are essentially saying he has to change and he has to make sure that the way his government operates has to change, or else? well, that is always the signal sent by the public when they feel that things have gone wrong. and the answer to that is very simple it s not more of the same. number 10 may take some comfort from the fact that this by election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough, but the cold reality it s the prime minister who is being put on notice.
that this by election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough, but the cold reality it s the prime minister who is being put on notice. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, downing street. you are watching bbc news. the headlines: as the uk records another record number of covid infections, scientists are warning that tougher restrictions will be needed in england very soon to control hospital admissions. and the british socialite ghislaine maxwell, who s on trial in new york on sex trafficking charges, has told the court she won t be giving evidence. the united states has called for an end to ethiopia s civil war, after the un voted for an independent investigation into atrocities by all sides. the conflict is ongoing between tigrayan rebels and the government. a state department spokesman
that the way his government operates has to change, or else? well, that is always the signal sent by the public when they feel that things have gone wrong and the answer to that is very simple. it is not more of the same. number ten may take some comfort from the fact this by election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough but the cold reality is hits the prime minister who has been put on notice. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, downing street. we begin with more evidence if any were needed that the 0micron strain of coronavirus is continuing to spread rapidly around the world. the headline figures are coming from europe in particular, the uk. in the last 2a hours, for a third successive day, the number of infections has reached a new record high. just over 93 thousand cases were confirmed in that time frame that s nearly 60% more than a week ago. the increase in people being treated in hospital though, is less dramatic
when they feel that things have gone wrong. and the answer to that is very simple it s not more of the same. number 10 may take some comfort from the fact that this by election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough, but the cold reality it s the prime minister who is being put on notice. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, downing street. let s get some of the day s other news. the united states says it s prepared for dialogue with russia over its security demands, following the publication by moscow of a long list of proposals to the us and nato, including a commitment to end any expansion of the alliance. moscow s call for security guarantees comes as thousands of russian troops are massing on the border with ukraine. iran has opted to adjourn talks in vienna aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal. european negotiators have called on the tehran authorities to try to reach agreement as quickly as possible when discussions restart in the new year.
well, that is always the signal sent by the public when they feel that things have gone wrong. and the answer to that is very simple it s not more of the same. number 10 may take some comfort from the fact that this by election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough, but the cold reality it s the prime minister who is being put on notice. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, downing street. stay with us on bbc news. still to come, the cats and the canary islands: the feline survivors of a major volcanic eruption. saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, ourwomen, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives.