this is bbc news. the headlines. as coronavirus cases continue to rise, social gatherings of more than six people in england — both indoors and out — are to become illegal. the announcement on new restrictions comes as the prime minister denies england's testing system is having problems. we have gone up 2,000 tests to 32,000 today. two we e ks two weeks into september, there is a glareing hole. back for one day only before being back behind closed doors — the crowd pilot scheme at doncaster‘s st leger festival is halted. ministers publish new legislation on trade in the uk — which the government admits breaks

international law the man accused of stabbing jacob billington to death and attacking seven others in birmingham over the weekend — makes his first appearance in court. and coming up, the antarctic glacier the size of the uk — and the discovery that explains why it's melting at an alarming rate. social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in england from monday. the measures follow a steep rise in coronavirus cases, with more than 8,000 people testing positive across the uk since sunday. the new law bans larger groups meeting anywhere socially — indoors or out. it won't apply to schools, workplaces or events such as weddings and funerals. 0rganised team sports will also be allowed. anyone breaching the rules

could be fined £100, and up to £3,200 for repeat offences. scotland, wales and northern ireland are able to set their own coronavirus restrictions. some parts of the uk will continue to have tougher restrictions to tackle local outbreaks. here's our health correspondent, lauren moss. clamping down again after a summer of looser restrictions. from monday in england following a surge in coronavirus cases, it will be against the law to meet in groups of more than six. anyone doing so will face a fine of £100. wash your hands, cover your face, make space. there will be more than 8000 new coronavirus cases across the uk since sunday and in a new campaign, the government says it is vital that everyone follows the guidelines to stop its spread. there are a number of exemptions, for schools because we want to protect education, for work, because workplaces have

covid secure guidelines and for some very special events like weddings, funerals and christenings. tighter restrictions have been brought in in parts of northern england, western scotland and then caerphilly, in wales. in bolton, which has the highest rate of new infections in england, 128 per 100,000 cases, hospitality venues are limited to takeaways and must be closed between 10pm and 5pm. it will be ages before anything is back to normal. i get in pubs younger people when they go in, there is no social distancing, but i wouldn't put the blame on younger people. it is not anyone's fault, is it? something has got to be done. we cannot keep going on like we have. we have hardly been anywhere for six months, havili? for six months, have we? rules vary across the uk. in scotland up to 15 people

from five different parcels can meet outside or eight people from three different households inside. in wales, 30 outside, and four can form an extended household or bubble and in northern ireland, 15 people can meet outside, and six indoors. some have criticised the rules for being too confusing and experts say that it is important the guidelines are explained properly. what is very important in all of this is that we do understand, we do listen, because the last thing we want to do is create a blame game situation, and we all have a role to play. yesterday the director of england's test and trace programme apologised to anyone unable to get a test but the home secretary says a quarter of those trying to are not actually ill. it was a subject of discussion in prime minister's questions. is he saying there are too many people coming forward for tests, is it a capacity problem or not? people are trying to do the right thing. they want to go back to work, we want children back in schools, we encourage and support that, but the government side

of the bargain was to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate scheme, but two weeks into september there is a glaring hole. around 170,000 tests have been done every day, although the capacity is at least 250,000. mr speaker, it is a function of the growing demand, the growing public confidence in nhs test and trace that we have to supply more and more tests and that is what we have been doing. actually, thanks to the heroic efforts of nhs test and trace we have gone up 2000 tests a day in march up to 320,000 a day... today. the prime minister, medical and science advisors will be at a press conference this afternoon. the guidelines will stay under constant review, as the country tries to keep a tight grip on the pandemic. lauren moss, bbc news. let's get more from our health correspondent catherine burns, let us clarify the figures, boris johnson gave a figure, is he right

there? not exactly. that figure he gave of over 300,000 test, that is the capacity, that is including all tests, if you take the capacity of tests, if you take the capacity of test for people to see if they have it now, that is 250,000 tests a day, thatis it now, that is 250,000 tests a day, that is not happening, it is more like 190,000 tests happening a day, so, you know, to give this context, backin so, you know, to give this context, back in june we so, you know, to give this context, back injune we were looking at 100,000, so there has been a big increase but we are not looking at over 3 thousand 00,000. when sir keir starmer says there is a serious problem with the testing is he right? depends what you define as serious, there are hundreds of people out there who say they have symptoms, who are being directed to either hundreds of miles away or being told we can't find you a test right now. so i have been speaking to various people, one dad, his kids we re to various people, one dad, his kids were aged one and three, they had symptom, he drove two hours he says to get a test, he had booked it. he

got there last night and was told they had run out. other people are telling me they have had to drive for hundreds of miles, one said i have been waiting since 19 hours ago i started try, slept in between, but every half an hour, refreshing, trying to get somewhere, got somewhere today. 0ther trying to get somewhere, got somewhere today. other people are saying, iam not somewhere today. other people are saying, i am not having a problem, somewhere today. other people are saying, iam not having a problem, i am finding it easy. the problem is in the laboratories is that right? well... that is what the director of testing for en#4r57d said yesterday, she said it is a critical pinch point, today matt hancock and boris johnson have been giving a different story, they say there has been about 2596 story, they say there has been about 25% of the people who are asking for tests they say they are people who don't have a new cough or fever or loss of taste or smell, so, they are saying the system is being abused. i have called the department of health

asking how they have calculated this and haven't heard back yet. we have the news conference with boris johnson later, underlining, there is real fear johnson later, underlining, there is realfear here, of johnson later, underlining, there is real fear here, of the figures. this is really important. if we look at the moment we are at right now, since sunday there has been almost 8400 new cases, and, at a time schools have gone back, people are being encouraged to go back to work, it relies on a well snippinging test and trace system. if that is not working it won't be possible to contain this so it is vital. thank you catherine. and you can watch that coronavirus briefing with the prime minister here on the bbc. that's at 3:45 on bbc one — and available with british sign language on the bbc news channel. you can stay up to date with the coronavirus epidemic on our live page. there you can check the latest

developments, see reaction as it happens and get instant analysis from our correspondents and experts. you can watch video clips and live coverage of events as they happen. visit bbc.co.uk/news or go to the bbc news app. we'll be answering your questions at 25—past—three on what the new measures mean for you. send them in via email to yourquestions@bbc.co.uk — or you can tweet #bbcyourquestions. new legislation on trade within the uk after the brexit transition period has been published in the last hour. ministers admit it will break international law. the internal market bill could over—ride parts of the divorce deal agreed with the eu about northern ireland. the european commission has called for an emergency there is said to be a "bleak" mood within the chief negotiatior‘s camp, that's according to our europe correspondent nick beake, who is in brussels. we have had a tweet from the european commission president, let

me read it to you she says very concerned about announcement from the british government on its intentions to breach the withdrawal agreement, this would break international law, and undermines trust, she uses the latin phrase, basically, in other words agreements must be kept. as you say top officials here are calling for an emergency meeting, with the senior british government minister, michael gove, to try and explain the british position, and the big question is where does this leave these talks? the trade talk, the future relationship that have got under way in london today? i am told the mood in the barnier camp, the chief negotiator is said to be bleak, we will see what happens in the next couple of days the bill says that ministers may make provision about the application of exit procedures to goods, or a description of goods, when moving from northern ireland to great britain, and that certain provisions to have effect notwithstanding inconsistency or incompatibility with

international or other domestic law. with me now is dup mpjim shannon. good afternoon to you. nice to hear you simon. good to see you, what is your reaction to what the british government is doing? well, my initial reaction is one of caution, to be truthful. government have given us a commitment, which we wish to, ijust, by the way, just now, got the explanatory notes, i haven't had a chance to have a quick scurry haven't had a chance to have a quick scui’i’y over haven't had a chance to have a quick scurry over them but government told us scurry over them but government told us before they were...” scurry over them but government told us before they were... i think we may have a problem with the line. what we will do is try and reestablish that line and return to jim shannon. we don't want him to go away but we will deal with the

technical issues and come back to it. technical issues and come back to it. no new coronavirus deaths have been reported in scotland in the past 24 hours, first minister nicola sturgeon said, but 159 new cases have been recorded. speaking at the scottish government's daily briefing, she said scotland is at a very dangerous point in the course of the pandemic. if the virus runs out of control again, we will face restrictions that are in themselves deeply damaging to the economy. so the best thing we can do right now, notjust for health but also for the long—term good of the economy, is suppress covid as far as we possibly can. it is not an exaggeration to say that scotland is currently at a very dangerous point, so too is the uk as very dangerous point, so too is the ukasa very dangerous point, so too is the uk as a whole and many other countries across the world. we can see from the level of cases in countries like spain and france that, the current increase in cases could very easily continue, and also start to translate into serious illness an deaths if we are not very

careful. having rightly opened up schools, we are now about to welcome stu d e nts schools, we are now about to welcome students back to colleges in universities and that notjust a welcome step but a necessary step for the wellbeing of our young people. but it is also a risky develop 789. and that is why tomorrow's review of the lockdown regulations which are set out in parliament is likely based on all of the recent data to take a cautious approach to any further change, in fa ct we approach to any further change, in fact we can't rule out the need to make changes to the numbers of people allowed to gather together, like those that were announced for england last night. downing street said police had asked for clearer rules on social distancing, and the power to enforce them. until now, officers haven't been able to stop gatherings unless they exceeded 30. ministers say the rules are now "super simple" and police will rigorously enforce them. 0ur correspondent, june kelly, has had exclusive access to one force as they try to ensure the rules are kept.

how do you stop scenes like these? this was bristol last saturday night. around 100 young people gathered in a skate park, apparently in breach of the rules. the police watched on, the music was turned off. there were no fines issued here. the avon and somerset force says it engages with people and encourages them to disperse. these officers are part of a special operation set up by avon and somerset police to respond to covid breaches. yes, we've had multiple calls that there is a street party going on. last month alone 0peration hawthorn, as it's called, had 400 call—outs. and from next week, like all forces across england, the new restrictions will mean more work for the avon and somerset team. the operation i am working on tonight, which is consisting of 18 pcs, three sergeants and an inspector, we don't want to go to a draconian position where we are not engaging with the public when we have

the opportunity to do so. we need to act in a proportionate manner. proportionate policing in an urban and rural force area, which has seen countryside raves. they are already outlawed, with the threat of a £10,000 fine for the organisers. the government says the new lower six—person limit in england will make it easier for police to disperse illegal gatherings. but the police federation, which represents rank—and—file officers, says this latest change will simply add to the existing pressures on those on the front line. june kelly, bbc news, bristol. a man accused of murder and seven counts of attempted murder after a series of knife attacks in birmingham has been remanded in custody. zephaniah mcleod, who's 27 and from selly oak, appeared before the city's magistrates‘ court via video link. a 23—year—old died from a stab wound to the neck. a teenage boy has appeared before

magistrates in norwich, charged with attempted murder and firearms offences, after another boy was shot on his way to school. the 15—year—old remains in a critical condition in hospital after the incident in kesgrave, near ipswich, on monday. the defendant cannot be named for legal reasons. the worst wildfires to hit the west coast of the united states are continuing to burn out of control in california and washington state. small towns have been left in ruins — and officials say the town of malden has been almost completely destroyed. the governor of california says the state is dealing with one of the most challenging periods in its history, with more than 900 fires since the middle of august. greece is declaring a state of emergency on the island of lesbos — where thousands of migrants have fled a fire that has almost destroyed the overcrowded moria camp. the 13,000 migrants in the former army camp had been under lockdown because of a coronavirus outbreak. mark lowen reports. a camp often called a ticking time bomb has exploded. moria, overfour times its capacity, has been almost

completely destroyed. fires tore through it overnight, an inferno in a place where life was already hell. my house is finished. many, all finished. a desperate attempt to douse the flames, first light looking like the sun itself was on fire. the 13,000 migrants here are now homeless, most of them afghans, many of them children. trudging out with the few belongings they had. these people don't have a place to stay tonight. it is about 10,000 people with their belongings sitting on the street. the cause is not yet known. but with reports of 35 coronavirus cases amongst the migrants, it is thought there were scuffles as authorities tried to isolate them. arson is being investigated.

the flames quickened by a strong wind. 0pened seven years ago, hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers pass through moria as the first entry point to europe, in dire conditions and riddled with crime, there were repeated warnings that the bottleneck could not last. lesbos island is now under a state of emergency in a scramble to house the migrants and quarantine those infected. they had barely anything, but at least they had shelter. no more. mark lowen, bbc news. with me now is dup mpjim shannon. let us rejoin him. we have put another penny in the meter, so hopefully we can continue our conversation, i have given you more time to look at those notes, i wonder what you make of what you

read? well, the note, i got them a matter of about 15, 20 minutes ago, i have had a quick scurry over them, and, if it is right what they are saying, that northern ireland's place in the uk entire market will be protected, if it is all those things are right and it seems to be referring to the alternative access, it refers to no customer infrastructure in northern ireland, the prime minister in the chamber today in the questions that were asked, also confirmed that. now, thatis asked, also confirmed that. now, that is what we see on paper, i think we need to look at it, at this moment in time my party and collea g u es moment in time my party and colleagues are looking to it, with a fine tooth comb to be exact, to exact see what where, what it means and what it says and dud it protect us and what it says and dud it protect us the way we have been led toe believe? i think the secretary of state also said yesterday it is about protection, about making sure

northern ireland's position in the united kingdom doesn't change, that we can continue to trade for instance, we sell some 58% of products to the uk, we in turn buy some 65% of products back, we want to make sure there is no tariffs on that or the fisheries either. we, the uk has left the eu, we are in the uk has left the eu, we are in the transition period. the deal was signed, it has been ratified, indeed borisjohnson went signed, it has been ratified, indeed boris johnson went to polls signed, it has been ratified, indeed borisjohnson went to polls on the basis this was the deal. so, why the need, do you think, to break international law, and agist it? well, again, not legally minded, and i have to say that, but following the line of thought of the secretary of state yesterday and his answers to the questions on, on the protocol for northern ireland, he was very clear that in the agreement that was signed between the eu and the united kingdom, that there was provision to

seek the clarification and seek maybe the differences as well, in light of there being no deal. i think the prospect of no—deal seems to be looming on the horizon so government have responded to that, taking the legal advice they have referred to. i can't quote the legal add vice but i listened to what the secretary of state and i have his hansard replies to those questions and also to say for him, he is also, and also to say for him, he is also, a person who has been trained if law and he seems to think it is ok. but we had the northern ireland secretary admit yesterday in the commons this does breach international law, we have the eu, we have the irish government, the irish taoiseach saying that this is a total breach of trust. well, i think what, yes, there has been andre ayew agreement made and i understand that but i also understand that but i also understand the legal agreement drawn up understand the legal agreement drawn up had the provision for, whether it

bea up had the provision for, whether it be a get out clause, clarification, andi be a get out clause, clarification, and i think that can't be ignored either. let us be honest, we have a lwa ys either. let us be honest, we have always fought in the party and we have had confirmation from the conservative party and from the prime minister and secretary of state as well, that northern ireland's position will not change, so ireland's position will not change, so northern ireland's position within the united kingdom, according to the prime minister then, and the secretary of state yesterday is clearly our future lies within the united kingdom of great britain. and northern ireland. and not within the eu, so, that is the priority of any government. but that is not new, jim. you and the dup accepted this, imean jim. you and the dup accepted this, i mean you have had months to accept the future, you may have felt there was some sort of customs deal in the sea but you have come to terms with that. well, i, well, no, i don't believe... 0ur party's position is very clear on it. we voted against the withdrawal agreement in

parliament, we consistently done that whenever theresa may brought her version of the withdrawal agreement andre ayew head. we voted gends the pm's brexit deal so our position has been clear, what we seem position has been clear, what we seem to have now, is another position, and another view of the agreement, and if we are as it seems to be approaching a certain a no—deal agreement, then, everything changes and the game is different, and if that is the case, then the prime minister will have to keep to what he said and may 20th government pub leisured a paper on the northern ireland protocol. four principlesen u nfettered ireland protocol. four principlesen unfettered access to the rest and that should take place as it does now, no tariffs on internal trade. no new customs infrastructure and northern ireland benefits from the uk trade deal, we get every benefit the united kingdom gets, so things are potentially changing, we are holding on to the 20th may

government, when they published that policy paper because it is clear what they are say, northern ireland will continue to be part of the united kingdom of great britain. you say very clear but for businesses in northern ireland the one thing they wa nt northern ireland the one thing they want is clarity. this muddies the waters dramatically doesn't it?|j think that cannot be denied because i had spoken to a a number of business, those in the fishery sector as well over the last two weeks, gauging their opinion, they need clarity, i think that is why in the next three weeks in parliament, the next three weeks in parliament, the bill will be discussed and debated and voted on, and i think there is a chance to get things in place and the company, the business, the fishery sector they need to have clarity, and a focus on where we go within the next, beginning of 0ctober, within the next, beginning of october, the next three weeks in parliament will be crucial weeks for the bill, but crucial weeks for northern ireland, and for our companies, for business, and the way

forward. jim shannon, thank you for bearing was. thank you. you are watching bbc news. a man with serious breathing issues says he was "ambushed" into wearing a face covering on a plane. easyjet has apologised after one of its pilots was filmed threatening to remove the passenger from the flight, from jersey in the channel islands to london's gatwick airport. mobile phone footage captured the moment the man was told to leave the plane. anna collinson reports i have explained the legal position. i have provided you with a document from a government website... this is the moment a passenger is trying to convince an easyjet crew that he doesn't need to wear a face covering. i have shown you proof of my medication. you have given me a piece of paper with something... the fact that you don't know the government website is not my fault. after half an hour, and with the flight already delayed, the pilot and many of the passengers have had enough. last chance. you get two seconds to grab

this and put it on, otherwise you are off. no, i defend the legal position. right, you're off. cheering and applause. this is that passenger. nick struggles to wear a mask because he has chronic asthma. shocked by the abuse he says he received from other people on the plane, he's asked for his face not to be shown. insulted. shouted at. laughed at. i've gone past exasperation. i'm getting worried. is everybody against me? i've just run out of things to say. looking at you now, you look upset talking about it. well, it's not that pleasant, being ambushed by about a hundred passengers. research suggests face

coverings can help to reduce the spread of coronavirus, but some people are exempt from wearing them because of age, health or disability reasons. now, it's not essential, but the government in england says people can carry a badge or a card. nick had one of those cards. it was accepted on his outward flight, but not back. he eventually agreed to wear a mask, but says it caused him to hyperventilate. the government are really clear that there are exemptions from having to wear a mask, and that includes if you have a serious lung condition or serious breathing problems which make it impossible for you to wear one. that is something that should be upheld and should be respected by companies, and it is something that the general public should be aware of. in a statement, easyjet says it had recently updated its policy to accept the government's exemption documents, and has apologised this was not recognised on nick's flight. there will be people watching who say, "well, i have to wear a mask, why can't he? " ijust find it increasingly difficult to breathe.

it's notjust a wheeze. asthmatics would describe it like having a steel belt put around your chest. it's from a government website. that is the legal position... with masks now part of all of our lives, the challenges striking a balance between safety procedures and protecting the vulnerable. anna collinson, bbc news. the biggest glacier in west antarctica is melting at an alarming rate — releasing billions of tonnes of water in the ocean every year — and pushing up sea—levels round the world. now scientists have discovered one of the reasons why. they say deep channels under the ice appear to be letting in warmer water, causing it to melt faster. if the glacier disappears completely, it could flood cities around the globe. the bbc s chief environment correspondent, justin rowlatt, has been to see it. we are whiskey 35. our next call will be 1740... this one antarctic glacier

is the size of the uk, and is already responsible for 5% of world sea level rise. and the rate the thwaites glacier is melting has accelerated fivefold in the last 30 years. last year, a team of british and american scientists set up camp on the glacier. it is one of the most remote places on earth. by measuring the gravitational pull of the sea bed under the ice, they discovered a network of deep channels, a key step in understanding why the glacier is changing so rapidly. so these channels are really, really important because they are the pathway that links the deep ocean to the grounded ice sheet. and although the surface waters around antarctica are really, really cold, the deep ocean waters are actually somewhat warmer. and it is if these warmer ocean waters can get in to the ice, that you can actually start to see quite rapid changes in ice sheet

behaviour. this is what they think is happening. a series of huge channels, some almost a kilometre below the ice, allow the warmer, deep ocean water to flow up to the front of the glacier. melting it increasingly rapidly. another team of scientists work from an icebreaker ship at the front of the glacier. exceptional sea ice break—up last year meant they could survey over 2000 square kilometres of the sea floor in front of the thwaites ice shelf. it is so important to understand what is going on in antarctica today, particularly these big glaciers like thwaites, because they are changing really quickly as the climate warms and as they melt, they are feeding more and more water to our global oceans which is increasing the rate of sea—level rise. there is up to 3.5 metres of sea—level rise locked up in the ice here in west antarctica.

that is enough to reshape the map of the earth, flooding many of the world's greatest cities. understanding why this remote area is changing and how quickly it will do so, is essential if the world is to prepare for the rising waters to come. justin rowlatt, bbc news. it hasn't been as warm across the south as it was yesterday, 26 yesterday, more like 22, 23 today, because there has been more cloud around. in fact, in some areas it has been quite grey and drizzly, particularly across the south—west of england but further east there has been some breaks in the cloud and it is meandering its way away through the end of the day. to the north, more sunshine, brighterskies come northern ireland and scotland. showers in the north—west initially but they will become confined to the north—east with time. because we have a ridge of high pressure

building in from the atlantic in the evening and overnight, which means under the starry skies, light winds, lots of clear sky, it will be much cooler tonight, a distinct chill in the air with a touch of frost in the glens of scotland, but even further south, within four or 5 degrees of freezing out in the suburbs. but then we will see plenty of sunshine to start the day tomorrow, more abundant across england and wales, compared with today. but more showers will push back into north—west scotland through the day. hello this is bbc news, with simon mccoy. the headlines... as coronavirus cases continue to rise, social gatherings of more than six people in england — both indoors and out — are to become illegal. the announcement on new restrictions comes as the prime minister denies england's testing system is having problems. thanks to the heroic efforts of nhs test and trace, we've gone up from 2000 tests a day in march to 320,000

a day today. the government's side of the bargain was to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate scheme but two weeks into september, there is a glaring hole. back for one day only, before being back behind closed doors — the crowd pilot scheme at doncaster‘s st leger festival is halted. more on that coming up in a moment. ministers publish new legislation on trade in the uk, which the government admits breaks international law. the man accused of stabbing jacob billington to death, and attacking seven others in birmingham over the weekend, makes his first appearance in court. sport now, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here's katherine downs. i have just promised i havejust promised more on i have just promised more on the saint leger, i am hoping. you have correctly guessed. congratulations. the remaining days of the st leger festival will be held behind closed doors, after doncaster council told the racecourse they could no longer welcome fans. around 3,000 race—goers

are at the course today — there are strict hygiene and social distancing rules in place. but the council have said specators will no longer be allowed to attend — on the grounds of public health and safety. 0ur sports correspondent andy swiss spoke to me earlier from the racecourse. there had been controversy before the start of the meeting. the mayor of doncaster, rosjones, she said she thought this shouldn't be going ahead, she thought it wasn't safe. she has in the last few minutes welcomed the news that it is now going to be behind closed doors from tomorrow. but it also raises biz questions for the whole of sport. —— big questions. it had been hoping to return to some sort of normality of the next few weeks. the premier league for example had been hoping to welcome back some fans from the start of october, but in the wake of this and in the new restrictions the government are announcing later on today, people will be asking whether thatis today, people will be asking whether that is now realistic or not. the final 2020 super league table will be decided by win percentage,

following a number of matches being postponed due to positive coronavirus tests. the switch, which has been applied immediately, sees catalans dragons as the big winners, as they leap from fourth in the table to top, above champions st helens. everybody ultimately has bought into it. it's got advantages and disadvantages for clubs, dependent on how many games won, played etc to date. but ultimately it is the same rules for all. the same will apply, andi rules for all. the same will apply, and i think you've got to really praise the rfl for coming up with some smart footwork in difficult circumstances. so, yeah, ultimately there will be some winners, some losers, but everybody is playing by the same rules. more on that in sportsday at 6:30pm. aston villa have completed the signing of striker 0llie watkins from brentford for a club record fee of £28 million. watkins, who scored 26 goals last season in brentford's run to the championship play—off final, once again links up with his

former manager dean smith, with whom he worked at griffin park. following the signing of lucy bronze yesterday, manchester city have today announced the signing of her england team—mate alex greenwood. the pair played together at lyon, winning the champions league last month. greenwood is also crossing the manchester divide, having had a spell at united before leaving for france, and she's expecting a reaction ahead of the first derby of the season. i fully expect it. i would also give me some stick, as well. it's part of the game and i fully understand. i have a lot of respect for the fans, and they were great with me at my time there, but i also understand that i'm on the other side of manchester now, and that's my full focus. next derby day, it will make ita focus. next derby day, it will make it a bit more interesting and i can't wait. world cup winnerjason roy has been added to england's one—day squad for the upcoming series against australia which starts on friday at old trafford.

meanwhile, dawid malan's sparkling form in the 2020 series victory over the aussies has seen him named today as the top—ranked t20 batsman in world cricket, and he's been called up as a reserve for the one day game, a series all—rounder moeen ali is looking forward to. yeah, 100%. i mean, australia are a very good side and we are number one so we very good side and we are number one so we obviously want to play like the number one side. this is a different format, but the intensity has got to be there. that's all the sport for now. back to you. katherine downes, thank you. the government says it expects a ban on gatherings in england of more than six people to stay in place for the "foreseeable future". the restrictions are being imposed from monday, after more than 8,000 coronavirus cases were recorded in the uk in the past three days. we can now speak to professor devi sridhar, chair of global public health at the university of edinburgh. thank you very much for your time. we are hearing a lot of talk about being at a crossroads. what do you think people mean by that? well, i

think people mean by that? well, i think if we look to some other european countries, like france and spain, we see that cases have just continued to increase, leading to exponential growth. there is a choice for the uk whether we follow and that path or whether there are restrictions and other measures put in place now to try to bring the case numbers down again as we head into the winter months. at the heart of this is a political decision as to whether you put the economy or health first. well, i actually think thatis health first. well, i actually think that is a false dichotomy, because what we have seen globally as the countries that have controlled the virus well had actually faster economic recoveries, whereas the countries that have not control the outbreak appropriately and have had higher numbers of deaths have more economic hit, so i think right now the choice is, i mean, you're going to have economic pain either way, but if you don't control the virus and lift restrictions quickly, it is not like it is going to lead to a full economy again quickly. the dangerfor any full economy again quickly. the danger for any government when it puts out its requirement is that

people stop listening. that is a danger here, isn't it? bacca definitely come out i think the messaging has been quite confusing. so for example, past few weeks we we re so for example, past few weeks we were told get out, eat out, get out to hospitality venues, try to get back to normality, now we are hearing actually you can't meet with groups larger than six. we're also hearing today there is a festival going ahead with thousands of people and then hearing by next monday you can't meet with more than six even outside your home so i think they need to be consistency of messaging otherwise people stop listening. isn't it inevitable with higher numbers out there throughout the country that the death rate increases, because we keep hearing the death rate is falling?|j increases, because we keep hearing the death rate is falling? i think what we will see as is the numbers increase, you will find probably hospitalisations increase in some of those people unfortunately died, but i think doctors are getting better and clinical treatment is improving. we have three new and improved treatments for covid—19, so once

people are hospitalised their chances of survival are improving. but here's the real crunch, you still need to have enough capacity in the nhs to be able to treat everybody who comes through and give them best level of care. is a country, we are being told what action we should be taking. 0n country, we are being told what action we should be taking. on a personal level, is there anything more you personal level, is there anything more you think we should be doing?|j more you think we should be doing?” think what each of us can do, i often think what each of us can do, i ofte n get think what each of us can do, i often get asked by people, what should i do? i say will look at what is happening locally. if you feel preference is quite low or you live ina part preference is quite low or you live in a part of the country where numbers are quite low, you can probably go to gyms and pubs and restau ra nts a nd probably go to gyms and pubs and restaurants and get on with your life as long as you follow guidance. if you are in a part of a country where it is a local hotspot or numbers are increasing, then probably just lay low two weeks, meet people outside, avoid people indoor, we know indoor transmission is much higher, and everybody shifts their behaviour that way then the numbers will come down naturally because we will have less contacts. professor, what is your reaction if you walk round a street corner and you walk round a street corner and you are confronted by a large group

of people probably not wearing masks, all with drinks in their hand standing far too close to each other, which face it, most of us have seen in the last few weeks?” think what we have learned about this virus as it transmits indoors, so this virus as it transmits indoors, so ifi this virus as it transmits indoors, so if i see a group of people at a park ora so if i see a group of people at a park or a beach outdoor somewhere close together, knock to concern, because we haven't seen large clusters arriving from outdoor hospitality or outdoor venue settings. i would hospitality or outdoor venue settings. iwould be hospitality or outdoor venue settings. i would be much more concerned when i see a bunch of people in let's say an ac restaurant tightly packed together or a pub or a bar, those are the settings i get a bar, those are the settings i get a bit concerned about because if one person had the virus in that setting it is very likely many others will become infected at the same time. have you yet gone up to someone and said, what do you think you are doing? i haven't. i try said, what do you think you are doing? i haven't. itry to doing? i haven't. i try to answer questions when they come to me but i think i also say to people is the more contacts you have, the more likely you are to get a call from test and trace and have to go into isolation for 14 days, so the real message is, you want to keep your freedom of movement and be able to go out and about and have most of

your daily life back, then just go out and about and have most of your daily life back, thenjust keep your daily life back, thenjust keep your number of contacts as low as possible. it is really now about quality of engagement, who you are seeing, rather than quantity. very good of you to join seeing, rather than quantity. very good of you tojoin us, seeing, rather than quantity. very good of you to join us, professor. thank you so much. thank you. jonathan bartley and sian berry have pledged to make the green party the "main opposition" to the government after they were elected as co—leaders for the second time. the pair won with 49% of the first preference votes — beating rivals shahrar ali and rosi sexton. both the co—leadersjoin me now, sian berry and johnathan bartley. congratulations to you both. jonathan bartley, congratulations to you both. jonathan ba rtley, if congratulations to you both. jonathan bartley, if i can start with you, what is your main challenge? the main challenge is to recognise we need a complete transformation of the way our economy runs and the society runs, both in the climate and ecological emergency, which we believe the covid—19 crisis is a part, but

also... jonathan, we have lost jonathan bartley, also... jonathan, we have lost jonathan ba rtley, but also... jonathan, we have lost jonathan bartley, but because they are co—leaders i can go straight to sian berry and perhaps you can finish off his sentence for him! let me carry on where jonathan left off! it is really important we have strong voices in every community, arguing notjust for strong voices in every community, arguing not just for how we get through the current crisis, and there is an awful lot of work to be done building up things like test and trace, building up local support networks to support all the people who are in trouble because of illness, because of losing their jobs. we have got a real crisis right throughout the country at the moment. but also to paint that transformative picture, to have a mission to where we go next, how we build back better, and we are very much a grassroots, bottom—up, movement based party. we are ideally placed to be making the case for transforming society, for building up transforming society, for building up that grassroots movement and making sure that everybody in government hears the call of the people. that we want to have a

better world in the future, that we don't want to go back to business as usual, that we want to make sure everybody has a home, as we have done during the crisis. but climate emergency is part of the absolute priority, what we invest in as we try to restart the economy. these are important messages and we are very enthusiastic, united party ready to make that case and get elected in towns and cities right across the country next year. we will stay with you just a moment, we are trying to re—establish a link with jonathan. for are trying to re—establish a link withjonathan. for many people, these arguments are familiar but busy these are very much the i commence we have from extinction rebellion and i just wonder what your relationship is with them and what you make of their methods? we are part of an environmental movement and extinction rebellion are another part. 0urjob within thatis are another part. 0urjob within that is to get elected, to be that political representation of a movement that is also led by the school strikers, the young people, the students. we have seen so much

activity on the streets in favour of making sure everybody knows there is a climate emergency. say you are linked with extinction rebellion? we are the political representatives of are the political representatives of a much wider movement than that, we say you cannot separate social justice, racialjustice, global justice, racialjustice, global justice from environmental and ecological justice. justice from environmental and ecologicaljustice. these are powerful messages in the midst of multiple crises, where there are people on the streets for multiple movements, we can tie that together and take that to the people in power and take that to the people in power and really have our voices heard when we are making sure, when they are making new policies. this is an important role for us and protest on the streets has an important role to play as well, it is part of free speech, part of making the case to the people who are powerful when you are the people, when you don't have the power but you want to have your voice heard. thank you for that, we have re—establish links with jonathan bartley. have re—establish links with jonathan ba rtley. if have re—establish links with jonathan bartley. if i could just

move on, jonathan, we have been talking about the pandemic for months. one of the very few positives to come out of it does seem positives to come out of it does seem to be the effect on the climate, on the planet. i am just wondering how you think you can harness that, what the message is. nobody would describe the pandemic asa nobody would describe the pandemic as a good thing, but how do we use the benefits of this?” as a good thing, but how do we use the benefits of this? i think people have had a glimpse of change that is possible, albeit in absolutely dreadful circumstances. they have seen dreadful circumstances. they have seen that nature can return quite rapidly if we allow it, we can cut pollution, but i would caution against this idea that somehow we have brought c02 against this idea that somehow we have brought co2 emissions down in any shape or form permanently. we have seen a real resurgence of cars on our streets quite rapidly. we have an issue around the public transport system where we are going to have to build far more capacity, but i think we will have to recognise that some of the changes we have seen, and we can adapt very

quickly, we have learned that in the pandemic, we are going to have to restructure our society, towns and our cities, 15 minute towns, 15 minute cities where everything we need is within 15 minutes of walking or cycling distance to re—localise our economy, how we live and travel. these are all green issues and recognise that we need fundamental system change that we limit during this pandemic and we now know from our response of this emergency it is possible. if i could just return to theissue possible. if i could just return to the issue of extinction rebellion, can you just explain jonathan the issue of extinction rebellion, can you just explainjonathan what your approach is? do you agree with their methods, particularly when we see them stopping newspapers doing their business? we don't always agree with their methods. in a sense, agree with their methods. in a sense , we agree with their methods. in a sense, we are fellow travellers, we recognise together the urgency of what we face, in terms of the climate and ecological crisis, and we will be critical of x are just

like we are of any social movement when they get things wrong, and praise them when we feel they get things right. the overwhelming impact that greta thunberg, school strikers and extinction rebellion have had, the overwhelming good they have had, the overwhelming good they have done together i think cannot be denied, and it has brought it to the attention of politicians who have failed to take on board the enormity and seriousness of this crisis, which actually makes covid and coronavirus pale into insignificance when you think about the millions and millions of lives that will be lost potentially if we don't address the climate crisis right now. jonathan bartley, sian berry, co—leaders of the greens, thank you so much, and again congratulations on your election. let's get more now new legislation that's been published on trade within the uk, after the brexit transition period. it's called the internal market bill, and could over—ride parts of the divorce deal agreed with the eu about northern ireland.

the european commission has called for an emergency meeting to discuss it. they are not happy. let's speak to the former attorney general dominic grieve. is this the right approach for the government to be taken? i'm quite sure it is not the right approach. the united kingdom has a long tradition and well established reputation for obeying international law, and it is quite claw —— quite clear when one looks at this new legislation it is specifically intended in clause 45 to override an international obligation that the prime minister signed up to only 11 months ago, and indeed only enacted into our own law about ten months ago. so it is quite an extraordinary decision for the government to make. number ten have been clarifying the position in the last few minutes. i just want to put this to you. what they are saying is the withdrawal agreement and the northern ireland protocol unlike any other treaty, it

was agreed at pace in the most challenging political circumstances to deliver on a clear political decision by the british people with a clear overriding purpose of protecting the special circumstances of northern ireland, and this is the bit, it contains ambiguities and in key areas there is a lack of clarity. it was written that on the assumption subsequent agreements would be written and that may yet be possible. they are covering their backs in case there is no trade deal. this is a very odd argument. it should be borne in mind that when the prime minister came back with this deal in october of last year, there were many of us, myself included, who pointed out how significant the deal was to the relationship between great britain and northern ireland and how it would create a border down the irish sea. there was nothing ambiguous about it. the prime minister said that he was completely happy with it, at the dup, as you may recall,

we re it, at the dup, as you may recall, were not, because i think of the specialised at the time, it sold the dup down the river, but he maintained it was what was in the national interest and he signed up to it. these words which are now being used to justify what he is doing strike me as being somewhat mealy—mouthed. he must have known backin mealy—mouthed. he must have known back in october last year that in fa ct back in october last year that in fact what he was signing up to was a significant erosion of the united kingdom's union with northern ireland, and he was quite happy to do it. indeed, hejustified it. he described it as an up and ready deal. and he also said he was going to get a deal thereafter. but getting a deal thereafter was was going to be dependent on whether the government was prepared to want a deal. and what has happened in the course of this year was also very predictable. as negotiations have gone on, the deal has become less and less apparent. to then justify this piece of legislation on the

basis that you are not going to get a deal can't be right, because the whole purpose of the northern ireland protocol was to try to provide a fallback and a safeguard that the eu were demanding, as were the irish government, in case there was no deal. but all this was done at the time in good faith, and with some level of trust on both sides. there seems to be a sense that the eu may well be looking into this and saying we can get round this, we can actually introduce something that will cause problems on imports in and out of northern ireland and that isa and out of northern ireland and that is a loophole the government has spotted and is trying to close. the treaty that the government signed is a binding obligation, as are its terms as enacted by the government into our domestic law last year. to unilaterally change that is something the government can do, and if parliament approves it, it will go through and it will be done. but

there are serious consequences for there are serious consequences for the united kingdom and i think it is very strange the government thinks this will help them get a deal with the eu, because if i were in the eu's position and seeing the government reneging on a position like this, i think it would be likely to lead to many people in the eu saying we will not continue the negotiations. i have no idea how this will play out, but it is a very bad moment for the reputation of our country. and i'm afraid i think the arguments that are being put forward our spurious, because the government must have known all along. what we have here, i'm afraid, is something that has been pretty consistent over the last year, which is that this is a government that flies by the seat of its pants, and the prime minister is prepared to promise anything to anybody at any given moment if he thinks it is going to help him get through the next few days. i'm just wondering what you think should happen to the current attorney general, those that are giving legal

advice, swell a brave man's name is being thrown about on this one, what should her position be? the attorney is under a duty to uphold the rule of law and to advise the government dispassionately about its obligations and where necessary to point out to the government dispassionately and as a lawyer what is or is not unlawful. what is interesting in this case is that he has just no she has just lost her permanent secretary, that is what sirjonathanjones permanent secretary, that is what sirjonathan jones was, and permanent secretary, that is what sirjonathanjones was, and he has gone because he knows that what is being proposed is unlawful, in breach of the ministerial code which binds all ministers including the attorney general, and the attorney general has chosen as far as one can tell to be perfectly content with the government's position. the other minister who is in i would have thought serious difficulty over this the lord chancellor and secretary of state forjustice, who takes a specific oath of office to uphold the rule of law, which includes our

adherence to our international legal obligations and i do find it difficult to see what we are doing or what the government is proposing to do here is compatible with that oath. so you think they should both go? i think if i were in their position, admittedly they could wait to see whether this goes on the statute book or not, that is one argument that can be made in their favour, but in my view, if this is in the intention of the government, ifi in the intention of the government, if i were in either of their positions, i would if i were in either of their positions, iwould be if i were in either of their positions, i would be wishing to consider my position very carefully andi consider my position very carefully and i certainly wouldn't be able to stay in a government that was doing this. but it is important to understand, people think this may be some sort of esoteric lawyer's argument, and the law is in a way just a series of laws made up by human beings. if you want to break them, you can, and a government particularly can break them because there is no real power that can stop them from doing so, but the reputational consequences for our country, in a world which is

interconnected by treaty obligations. we have signed up to about 14,000 of them in all, and where previously we had a very good reputation for observing them, not perfect, but one where on important matters we could be relied upon, that reputation is about to go into the trash can. can ijust talked briefly about what this means that the union? boris johnson briefly about what this means that the union? borisjohnson saying he is doing this to protect the union. nicola sturgeon has described this asa nicola sturgeon has described this as a abomination, this internal market bill. there are different reasons for her describing the internal market bill as an abomination, because the devolved governments don't like it because it is taking powers back to westminster that were previously being exercised by brussels, and i won't get involved in that, that is a rather separate issue. but what is true is that the government's behaviour over the rule of law is unlikely to commend itself north of the border, andi commend itself north of the border, and i suspect it is unlikely to come in itself with many people in northern ireland as well. so, for

those reasons, it is quite a high risk strategy and i don't see how it enhances the union of the united kingdom. dominic grieve, good of you to give us your time, thank you for joining us. pleasure full stop thank you. now look at the weather with helen willetts. it hasn't been as warm across the south as it was yesterday, 26 yesterday, more like 23 today. in some areas it has been quite grey and drizzly, particularly across the south—west of england, but further is they have been some breaks in the cloud and it is meandering its way away through the end of the day. to the north of that, we have had more sunshine, brighter skies, northern ireland, scotland, a rush of showers in the north—west initially but they will become more confined to the north—east with time, because we have a ridge of high pressure building on from the atlantic as we go through the evening and overnight, which means that under the starry skies, light winds, lots of clear sky, it will be much cooler tonight. a distinct chill in the air with a touch of frost in the glens

of scotland, but even further south within four or 5 degrees of freezing out in the suburbs. but then we will see plenty of sunshine to start the day tomorrow, more abundant across england and wales, compared with today, but more showers will push back into north—west scotland through the day.

this is bbc news, i'm simon mccoy. the headlines at 3. as coronavirus cases continue to rise, social gatherings of more than six people in england — both indoors and out — are to become illegal. the announcement on new restrictions comes as the prime minister denies england's testing system is having problems. thanks to the heroic efforts of nhs test and trace, we have gone up from 2,000 tests a day in march, to 320,000 a day, today. the government's side of the bargain was to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate scheme. but, two weeks into september, there is a glaring hole. back for one day only before being back behind closed doors — the pilot scheme for crowds at doncaster‘s st leger festival is halted. ministers publish new legislation to modify the brexit bill signed with the eu — despite admitting it

breaks international law. the man accused of stabbing jacob billington to death and attacking seven others in birmingham over the weekend makes his first appearance in court. and coming up, the antarctic glacier the size of the uk — and the discovery that explains why it's melting at an alarming rate. social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in england from monday. the measures follow a steep rise in coronavirus cases, with more than 8,000 people testing positive across the uk since sunday. the new law bans larger groups meeting anywhere socially — indoors or out. it won't apply to schools, workplaces or events such as weddings and funerals. 0rganised team sports will also be allowed. anyone breaching the rules could be fined £100,

and up to £3,200 pounds for repeat offences. scotland, wales and northern ireland are able to set their own coronavirus restrictions. some parts of the uk will continue to have tougher restrictions to tackle local outbreaks. here's our health correspondent, lauren moss. clamping down again after a summer of looser restrictions. from monday in england, following a surge in coronavirus cases, it will be against the law to meet in groups of more than six people. anyone doing so will face a fine of £100. wash your hands, cover your face, make space. there have been more than 8000 new coronavirus cases across the uk since sunday and now in a new campaign, the government says it is absolutely vital that everyone follows the guidelines to stop its spread. there are a number of exemptions, for schools because we want to protect education, for work, because workplaces already have covid secure guidelines and for some very special events

like weddings, funerals and christenings. tighter restrictions have already been brought in in parts of northern england, western scotland and caerphilly in wales. in bolton, which has the highest rate of new infections in england, 128 per 100,000 cases, all hospitality venues are now limited to takeaways and will be closed between 10pm and 5am. it will be ages before anything is back to normal. it is just going to spike in other places. i get in pubs younger people when they go in, there is no social distancing, but i wouldn't put the blame on the younger people. it is not anyone's fault really, is it? something has got to be done. we can't keep going on like we are. we have hardly been anywhere for six months, have we? the rules vary across the uk. in scotland, up to 15 people from five different households can meet outside, or eight people from three different households inside. in wales, it's 30 outside,

and four households can form an extended household or bubble, while in northern ireland, 15 people can meet outside, and six indoors. some have criticised the rules for being too confusing and experts say that it is important the guidelines are explained properly. what is very important in all of this is that we do understand, we do listen, because the last thing we want to do is create a blame game situation, and we all have a role to play. yesterday the director of england's test and trace programme apologised to anyone unable to get a test, but the health secretary says a quarter of those trying to are not actually ill. it was a subject of discussion in prime minister's questions this lunchtime. is he saying there are too many people coming forward for tests, it's a capacity problem, or not? people are trying to do the right thing. they want to go back to work, we want children back in schools, the prime minister is encouraging that and quite right too, we understand that, we support that. the government side of the bargain was to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate scheme.

but two weeks into september, there is a glaring hole. around 170 , 000 tests are being done every day, although the capacity is at least 250,000. mr speaker, it is obviously a function of the growing demand, and the growing public confidence in nhs test and trace that we have to supply more and more tests and that is what we have been doing. i don't know, mr speaker, if he has been listening, i have been trying to give the house the figures. actually, thanks to the heroic efforts of nhs test and trace we have gone up 2000 tests a day in march up to 320,000 a day today. the prime minister, medical and science advisors, will give a press conference this afternoon. the guidelines will stay under constant review, as the country tries to keep a tight grip on the pandemic. lauren moss, bbc news. and you can watch the coronavirus briefing from the prime minister here on the bbc. that's at 3:45 on bbc one — and available with british sign language on the bbc news channel.

you can stay up to date with the coronavirus epidemic on our live page. there you can check the latest developments, see reaction as it happens, and get instant analysis from our correspondents and experts. you can watch video clips and live coverage of events as they happen. visit bbc.co.u/news or go to the bbc news app. and building up to that — we'll be answering your questions at 3.25 on what the new measures mean for you. send them in via email to yourquestions@bbc.co.uk — or you can tweet #bbcyourquestions. downing street said police had asked for clearer rules on social distancing, and the power to enforce them. until now, officers haven't been able to stop gatherings unless they exceeded 30. ministers say the rules are now "super simple" and police will "rigorously" enforce them. 0ur correspondent, june kelly, has had exclusive access to one force as they try to ensure the rules are kept.

how do you stop scenes like these? this was bristol last saturday night. around 100 young people gathered in a skate park, apparently in breach of the rules. the police watched on, the music was turned off. there were no fines issued here. the avon and somerset force says it engages with people and encourages them to disperse. these officers are part of a special operation set up by avon and somerset police to respond to covid breaches. yes, we've had multiple calls that there is a street party going on. last month alone 0peration hawthorn, as it's called, had 400 call—outs. and from next week, like all forces across england, the new restrictions will mean more work for the avon and somerset team. the operation i am working on tonight, which is consisting of 18 pcs, three sergeants and an inspector, we don't want to go to a draconian position where we are not engaging

with the public when we have the opportunity to do so. we need to act in a proportionate manner. proportionate policing in an urban and rural force area, which has seen countryside raves. they are already outlawed, with the threat of a £10,000 fine for the organisers. the government says the new lower six—person limit in england will make it easier for police to disperse illegal gatherings. but the police federation, which represents rank—and—file officers, says this latest change will simply add to the existing pressures on those on the front line. june kelly, bbc news, bristol. the prime minister has urged mps to support a new bill which modifies the brexit deal he signed in january, despite ministers admitting that it will break international law. the internal market bill could over—ride parts of the divorce deal agreed with the eu about northern ireland. the bill proposes no new checks on goods moving from northern ireland to the rest of great britain. ministers will be able to modify

or "disapply" rules relating to the movement of goods if the uk and eu are unable to reach an alternative agreement through a trade deal. and there'll be powers to override previously agreed obligations on state—government support for businesses. borisjohnson says it's necessary to "ensure the integrity of the uk internal market". the european commission's ursula von der leyen said, "this would break international law and undermines trust. " her demand for a meeting with the government has now been accepted. 0ur reality check correspondent, chris morris, is with us in the studio. we have talked about this many, many months, thought this was done, so what does this change? what is going on? it is really saying that if there are no free trade agreement merges we reserve the right to act unilaterally to apply the provisions ofa, unilaterally to apply the provisions of a, what is now an international treaty, the northern ireland protocol as part of the withdrawal

agreement, within which there are, there are measures which say these are matters for a joint committee of the two sides, so, where the government says we are seeking to clarify, what the northern ireland protocol could mean in practise, the eu are saying you are changing it and in doing so you are breaking international law, some are specific issues, you mentioned some of them there, the application of eu state rules in northern ireland, the fact that for goods moving from northern ireland to great britain within the uk, you are supposed to fill out an export declaration form online, small things but they are contained ina small things but they are contained in a treaty which is now part of international law. just explain, because some people are suspecting behind the scenes, the eu has rattled the cage and is suggesting it might take things to the letter of the law and the uk side has said we need to cover bases. that is a

possibility. it needs to be seen in the context of whether there be an agreement on a basic free trade deal in the next few weeks? that is up forgrab, if not in the next few weeks? that is up for grab, if not what will happen come the 1st january? the for grab, if not what will happen come the 1stjanuary? the government is arguing this afternoon this treaty isn't like any other treaty, it was concluded very rapidly, i think you and i probably sat in the studio probably about 100 times from 2017 on wards talking about the issue of the northern ireland border, the need to keep the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland open and the options for doing that, so, i think it is hard to argue this was sprung on anyone at the last minute. and what happened was, theresa may's government reached an agreement with the eu, the backstop, which boris johnson he's government did not find acceptable, but it was changed under the auspices of his government and he put a signature to it.” the auspices of his government and he put a signature to it. i was talking to the dup earlier, everyone on the face of it had got used to

the idea, so we are talking about things we thoughts had been dealt with. yes, possibly the bigger difficult issue is if you are to do trade negotiation, there is always ups an downs but you need to establish trust, what happens in trade deals get closer and so the trust develops, in this slightly weird trade deal we are trying to do, we are trying to agree the terms for moving apart, so trust was in short supply already and now on the eu side they will feel they, this has been thrown into the room, as almost like a deliberate tactic to sort of, to blow things up a bit, to make things more difficult. they won't like that, the government... people here are not happy about it either. it is breaking the law. the government's chief legal officer resigned yesterday as we know, because of his disquiet about what this was going to do. it does break the law and interestingly, the internal market bill makes no bones about that. it said parts of this

will apply even if it does contradict international law. the other thing to remember is itjust a bill, it is not a law, so nothing in it, in that sense, has broken... but the intent sent there. the intent is there but also one of the things that the withdrawal agreement said, it committed both sides to try to implement the letter of the law, it contained in the withdrawal agreement. i think you caner gu that sense, publishing this, that is certainly would be seen by many as an expression of bad faith in the attempt to put the withdrawal agreement into practise as it stands. thank you very much chris. the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis yesterday admitted that the plan would breach international law in a "very specific and limited" way. his comments were made in response to to a question from the conservative backbencher, sir bob neill, about the internal market bill.

will reassure us nothing that is proposed in this legislation potentially might breach international legal obligation or international legal obligation or international legal obligation or international legal arrangements that we have entered into, can he a nswer that we have entered into, can he answer the other point, was any ministerial direction taken?” answer the other point, was any ministerial direction taken? i would say to my honourable member that yes this breaks international law in a specific and limited way, we are taking the power to disapply the eu law concept of direct effect required by article 50 four in a certain tightly defined circumstances. 0ur clear precedents for the uk circumstances. 0ur clear precedents forthe uk and circumstances. 0ur clear precedents for the uk and other countries needing to consider international obligations and i would say to honourable member here, many who would have been in this house... sir bob neill is the conservstive mp for bromley. hejoins me now. jaws dropping because you got a straight answer but also by what the

a nswer straight answer but also by what the answer was? it was straight but i don't think it was a satisfactory one, because, ichairthejustice committee in the commons and i am a liar, and, i have taken the view that i don't think i could tell a client he could break the law, to a specific and limited extent. i mean the law is the law. and we have prided oust as a country, and i think my party has prided itself on standing upfor think my party has prided itself on standing up for the rule of law so i was particularly troubled that even under the difficult and pressing circumstances of soaring out a deal as we leave the transition period of the eu, that we should specifically commit ourselves to potentially breaching international law.” commit ourselves to potentially breaching international law. i was going to ask you how angry people are, and! going to ask you how angry people are, and i am reading our political correspondent has tweeted david melding has quit as the shadow cabinet over the internal market bill. so, he is clearly very unhappy

and he is not alone. i think a lot of people are very concerned about that. 0bviously those of us who are lawyers are particularly concerned andi lawyers are particularly concerned and i think there is a broader concern, which was hinted at in the previous piece, there was two things about this, it is wrong, unilaterally to change an international legal agreement that you have entered into and which you have registered with the un so they have registered with the un so they have the force of treaties and international law, if you have a problem you ought to sort that out, by negotiation, and frankly, if there was potential problems, don't sign the agreement until you are satisfied there is a means of resolving it. the second point is, there is the risk of damage to reputation and to trust. there has to bea reputation and to trust. there has to be a sense of this absolute good faith and we are reliable. the uk has always been regarded, our word is dependable. yes, sorry to

interrupt, number ten has been trying to clarify in the last hour or so talking to journalist, they said the withdrawal agreement and the northern ireland protocol aren't like any other treaty, it was agreed in the most challenging circumstances, and it goes on it contains ambiguities and there is a aof—— contains ambiguities and there is a a of —— lack of clarity. in other words, they were dependent on some sort of treaty being signed and it is looking unlikely so they have to cover their backs on that. again, it isa cover their backs on that. again, it is a pity this wasn't foreseen to start w because lots of people enter into contracts they have to draw up at speed but that is not usually regarded as a reason for going back on elements of them, thereafter. my other concern is that even if that we re other concern is that even if that were the case, making, trying to make allowance as much as i can, the actual provisions of the bill are very widely drawn. seem to me far

wider than might be necessary to rectify specific and technical areas which is what we were being told to start with about this. for example, we have definitions which say that you can override relevant international or domestic law, and that includes any provisions in the withdrawal agreement, any other eu law or international law provisions, any retained eu law, any other legislation, that is relevant and any decisions of the european court orany any decisions of the european court or any other court, that includes british courts so that is massively widely drawn. i am not sure how they can square widely drawn. i am not sure how they can square that with actuallyjust dealing with certain specific perhaps unexpected consequences that you need to put right quickly. final point to make, it is proposed that ministers be given the power to override international and if need be domestic law in these circumstances, not by a further act

of parliament by by regulations so it won't have the full scrutiny you get in the normal parliamentary process , get in the normal parliamentary process, it will be a statutory instrument which we know gets very little time to be debated in parliament. you are a lawyer, the government will have taken legal advice, i wonder where you think this leaves the attorney general and the justice secretary? well, they are honourable people and they have sworn to act in clock dance with their oaths of office. —— accordance, i suppose it might be said, as your guests said, nothing happens until such time as you make a regulation which departs from international law, but i can only speakfor international law, but i can only speak for myself, i am uncomfortable at the idea of giving ministers any ministers, which ever government it might be be power to overright international agreements by regulation. i am just wondering because as we have been speaking, we have had the welsh tory quitting,

the shadow cabinet in the senedd david meld, do you think there is strong enough feeling within your party that others may feel that this isa party that others may feel that this is a step too far? well, i wouldn't presume to speak for others but i know a number of people within the parliamentary party an elsewhere have real concerns about this. this isn't some arcane lawyers' point. some of the detail i have talked about might seem to be so, this is a fundamental principle. if you stand up fundamental principle. if you stand upfor fundamental principle. if you stand up for the rule of law it is not negotiable and that is a important constitutional point. the government i hope are able, continue its work in thejoint i hope are able, continue its work in the joint committee and resolve these matters so it is not necessary to use this fall back position, that is far the best option but they need to look at the scope of the provisions because this is potentially driving more of a coach of horses through our normal processes and respect for the rule

of law than i think the evidence of, any evidence i have seen seems to justify. i am wondering what your reaction was when you were watching prime minister's question, the first question to borisjohnson, he was asked where a government stood if people were prepared to break the law, and his response simply was, we expect everybody to obey the law. how did you respond to that? well i was sitting behind the prime minister when he said it. he was right on that one, so let us be consistent and not put ourselves into a situation where we give ourselves if you read the terms of an indemnity for breaking the law because that is what the bill as it is currently drafted does. heaven knows what the house of lords would make of this, but a lot of people in the commons would sayjust be consistent about this prime minister, you were right about saying everybody must obey the law, we have got to find a means of leaving the european union in an ordinary fashion, i accept that is

the outcome that the british people decided but again, we have to do that in accordance with law, i accept you want to implement the pa rty‘s manifesto. but accept you want to implement the party's manifesto. but you have do that in accordance with the law. thank you for your time this afternoon. pleasure. the public inquiry into the bombing at the manchester arena has been hearing evidence about why the fire and rescue service did not arrive at the scene until two hours after the explosion. a fire service expert told the hearing that the response to the bombing had been ""inadequate and ineffective", and that a decision to muster three miles away had been a systemic failure. 22 people were killed and hundreds injured in the attack in may, 2017. fiona trott is at the inquiry. 0ver over the past hour the inquiry has focussed on another question, could this attack have been prevented and to a nswer this attack have been prevented and to answer that, we have been told over the coming month, evidence will

be scrutinised from m15. what intelligence was available, how is it assessed, what steps were taken asa it assessed, what steps were taken as a result? this is all because we heard during the inquiry that salman abedi was linked to people of interest, a friend noticed he has more extreme views, was wearing traditional clothing and talked about supporting is. he visited a known extremist in prison and he met the threshold of someone who needed further investigation, that was due start in may, but was overtaken by events nine days earlier we were told and that was the arena bombing. the counsel to the inquiry explained several times today that because of its sensitive nature, some of that information from the security services will be heard behind closed doors. it is not what some of the relatives want, they want transparency, but he explained several times that information like

that could assist terrorists in the future. we also heard that he no member of the family were willing to give a statement to the inquiry but counsel hoped they will reflect and understand they have a moral obligation to provide the information we require. he has now finished his opening statement, next week, we are due to hear from the families who will speak about the loved ones they lost. fiona trott in manchester thank you. nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, the british—iranian woman who was detained in iran four years ago and is almost reaching the end of herjail term, but has been told she will face another trial on sunday. earlier we spoke to richard ratcliffe, nazanin's huband, to find out more, who has spent the past four years fighting for her return. we've been battling to get her home, insisting it was unfair all along and that it's been a political use of her as a bargaining chip, but we were near to the end and certainly she was counting down the weeks until it was going to all be over.

so, yeah, to be dragged into court yesterday in front of the judge who tried her the first time around, to be told that there's a new court case, are going to be in on sunday, and to be told, actually it's all the same evidence as last time around, so it's a very political charge, yeah, it was a tough day yesterday. i'm actually calling on the government to protect people. it's not for me to tell them how to do theirjob, but, you know, clearly their policy's not working and they have to look at ways both to protect nazanin and the others who are currently being held, but also to make sure that others are not taken. at the moment it seems to me that the iranian authorities are getting more emboldened and are threatening to take more people, and if this doesn't work with nazanin then i'm sure they will take others. the duke of cambridge has visited northern ireland to mark emergency services day. on a tour of the police service of northern ireland's training college in belfast, prince william thanked police

officers, firefighters and ambulance crew members for their work during the covid—19 pandemic. today is 999 day. it is a day when we come together to celebrate and thank the two million people, just like all of you in this room, who put their own lives on the line time and time again, to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. this has already been an extraordinary year — the months ahead will no doubt be uncertain and at some point scary. but thanks to the dedication and sacrifice of those of you working across the emergency services and in the nhs, i count myself and others in this country very fortunate. your dedication is not only apparent when we are faced with the global pandemic. each and every day, people from teams across the blue light community are called to the scenes of dreadful incidents. just last week in birmingham, ambulance and police workers turned up to a horrendous incident and provided critical care support to the most vulnerable. but as you care for us in our time of need, so too must we ensure that we are there are to you when you need it the most.

and now let's have a look at what you've been asking about the changes to restrictions, it's bbc your questions answered. to look at this in more depth, i'm joined by our health correspondent nick triggle. also i'm joined by alice wiseman, director of public health for gateshead. thank you both forjoining the programme. let us get straight on to questions. nick i will start with this. shouldn't any gathering of o more that six people be restricted whether it is social or otherwise? well if you think about it, if there we re well if you think about it, if there were if they were to ban gatherings of more that six people that would create huge problems for schools, workplaces, what they are doing is trying to tackle a specific problem, and that is the fact that the police

didn't have powers to disperse groups if they were up to 30 people, and the current guidance said, two households of any size of up to six people from different households could gather. police said they were faced with large gatherings they didn't feel they had the powers to crackdown on. so they are introducing new rules that will allow police to issue fines of £100 to tackle this problem. when we talk about specifics david lowe asked this, there is confusion out there. is this six people from two household, three, orfour as in scotland, wales and northern ireland? scotland, wales and northern ireland ? if so scotland, wales and northern ireland? if so which one? it is six people from any household, but it is a maximum of six people, so if you area a maximum of six people, so if you are a household of four people you can only have two other people coming to that house, so it is six people maximum but they could be from different households. let us go

to alice. before i take more questions, the north east has a specific problem it seems, i am wondering what you make of the messaging and how the government is dealing with this? so, we have always been concerned that the message has been overcomplicated. the issue that you raised earlier on about the police finding it difficult to respond, it is really been hard for us to keep up with it. i think basic messaging is the way forward , i think basic messaging is the way forward, we are still trying to stick to the basic messages of keeping safe social distance of two metres or no, good hand hygiene and isolating. if we start to overcomplicate this, to too much of an extent people start to lose trust in the messaging they are being given. that is what we have seen, and certainly contributing to the increasing in cases that we are seeing both in the area, i represent, gateshead, but across the whole of the north east. now, back to the questions, gail kitchen, i

wa nt to to the questions, gail kitchen, i want to clarify, it goes the rub of the difficulties here, this is from gail kitchen saying we are a family of five, does this mean we can only welcome one person to our home or garden? yes, i think from the interpretation we have seen so far unless further guidance is provided before monday, the answer is it is the numberof six, before monday, the answer is it is the number of six, and when i heard matt hancock speak about it, the numbersix is matt hancock speak about it, the number six is something that is enabling us to be take enforcement action if necessary, so while it may seem arbitrary for this particular question, and for this particular family, it is really important that we have really cleared a vice and guidance out there, because otherwise it is too open to interpretation and also to be misused. i will stay with you, alice. this one from karen, we are getting married on 19th september, we are having 13 family members, two

bubbles, back to our house afterwards for the reception. can we still do this? we have changed our wedding reception from 100 to 30 to 13, do we now have to change it to six? these are examples that are really tragic for the individuals in the families concerned. i know that weddings are going to have some level of exemption and i will have to wait to see the further detail thatis to wait to see the further detail that is written into the policy by monday. but as i understand it, if they were having their reception in a covid safe premises, so in a business premises where they were able to implement to me a safe social distancing, they may well be some exemptions, but i am not yet sure about whether that will apply to an individual's home. this is something borisjohnson will be expanding on later but what we think? from what i understand, as alice says, there will be some exemptions, and covid secure weddings will be one of them, but it is aimed more at the venue than the private residence, i understand, but

the government has promised to publish before monday a full list of the details of what is covered and what is exempt, so people can understand it more and plan the sort of events they might have been planning. but alice this is something that has been raised, why are we waiting until monday, williams has why wait until monday to impose the new restrictions?” think it is probably because of all the confusion we are exploring now and to enable us to get on the front foot as organisations to be able to provide support to communities. we need some time to be able to understand this and interpret it for our communities. having said that, the guidance has always been to keep your contacts to a minimum, and certainly i would encourage people to continue to do that or to start doing it more if they haven't been before, because we are absolutely at a critical point now, if we don't act together as a community, across the country, then we are going to be ina the country, then we are going to be in a position where further restrictions will have to be put in

place. nick, this from david westwood, who says our post funeral —— our post funeral celebrations in private homes still exempt? my father's funeral is next week with just 17 family member is at the crematorium. this is a similar issue to the wedding one. accept he is talking about the family reception afterwards at the house. —— except that he is. covid secure funerals, similarto that he is. covid secure funerals, similar to the weddings, you are allowed gatherings of up to 30 people now. you will still be allowed larger gatherings but i'm not sure that will extend to the house. we will have to see these full details, the guidance, but i think things like that could be difficult. i would urge him to look at that guidance when it comes out. there will be plenty of exemptions for team sports and other things to allow things to take place. but i think in private households, things might be difficult. if you have a funeralfor might be difficult. if you have a funeral for next week and we want to

know now don't you, really? alice, gordon haslam says why can't the whole country agree on a common policy? yeah. it is not an exact science, as you will know. we are working with trying to give people enough freedom so they can start to live their lives but actually making sure we have sufficient restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. i think we had hoped and anticipated that the virus would be much more through various outbreaks across the country, which we could manage in different ways and different places, so that we can limit the restriction on people's lives. it does feel like we are moving towards a position of much more widespread community transmission where we may well end up transmission where we may well end up in transmission where we may well end upina transmission where we may well end up in a position where we are having to provide guidance across the whole country. i guess my other point is there are lots of people who have views on this, and many valid views will stop we are concerned about the impact on our economy, and the longer—term impact that will have on

health and well— being, longer—term impact that will have on health and well—being, so it is not an exact science. nothing has zero risk and we are actually having to work with people and make the changes that we need to make as different and new evidence emerges. it is really tricky, though. i understand, i it is really tricky, though. i understand, lam it is really tricky, though. i understand, i am finding it hard to keep up so i can't imagine being a general memberof keep up so i can't imagine being a general member of the public trying to follow at all. this question from eileen donnelly, who says can you tell me of overnight stays with family will be allowed after monday? i have been asking about this actually. my understanding is overnight stays will be allowed. againi overnight stays will be allowed. again i would urge let's wait for the guidance, because the briefing i got from government wasn't so clear, but i think they will be allowed. the briefing from the government wasn't clear? (!) indeed. these rules change quickly. 0ne wasn't clear? (!) indeed. these rules change quickly. one of the things the government wants to do is try and get a set of rules and guidance now in place. we are likely to see this in place for a couple of

months. that is quite clear. from what i understand, overnight stays will be allowed but the important principle to remember, when you are in someone else's home is to be socially distance women that home, ta ke socially distance women that home, take those necessary precautions, wash your hands and try and keep some sense of space wash your hands and try and keep some sense of space and distance from the other people in that house. and i think those are the principles we will hear later in the press briefings that take place in the messaging the government will be getting across. jessica has messaged, alice, she asks, what will the impact of the new local social distancing rules be upon restaurants? you can widen it to cafes, pubs, anything.” restaurants? you can widen it to cafes, pubs, anything. i am of the understanding now that the majority of restaurants are operating quite strict policies, in terms of the numberof strict policies, in terms of the number of people they will allow to sit at a single table. so certainly many of the businesses that are in gateshead will only allow you to have a party of six people and they

will have been turning away groups where there are greater numbers than six. so for me the majority of places are already operating this, and it willjust be a case of ensuring it is continually enforced, and it gives us an opportunity to work with those businesses who are not yet complying with the covid safe guideline so we can ensure that their customers, their staff, are actually protected as well. 0k, nick? i would reiterate that. the key is groups of six. what the government is hoping the guidance will do is ensure in restaurants and particular pumps, we have all seen the pictures of crowded pubs, it will help ensure that there is social distancing and we see no more groups of six and then some distance between them. it is honestly a problem on a friday or saturday night ina problem on a friday or saturday night in a busy pub, but those of the sort of measures and guidance that will be expected and the police will now have those powers to

enforce that. friday night, gateshead, newcastle, all these places, they will be heaving —— heaving before this is brought in on monday, aren't they? we have definitely had some issues in the hospitality industry locally. the majority of places are being really responsible, but we are being really tough with those who are not. we have already served 15 prohibition notices in gateshead alone. we have revoked one license and actually we are determined that we will continue to do more of this work as it is needed. what we have done just today, and i know local authorities across the country are doing similar things, we have an online reporting syste m things, we have an online reporting system so that people can report very easily where they think there are rules being broken in relation to businesses. the other thing we have done is we have written out to all of our businesses across the whole of gateshead, regardless of what type of business they are, to remind them of their duty of care to

both their staff and their customers, and also to let them know that we know which places are not operating covid safe guidelines and we will be visiting and we will be taking action. final one, this is from sheila and it is a biggie. my daughter hasjust from sheila and it is a biggie. my daughter has just returned to university, what are the rules for social gatherings and face—to—face tutorials which are still going ahead at university? are they exempt? universities, educational establishments are exempt from the six person rule. that doesn't mean there won't be social distancing procedures in place at universities. i think some of the face—to—face tutorials and classes you will see there is a lot of social distances in the lecture halls, there will be a lot more done online, and if stu d e nts a lot more done online, and if students are going up to restaurants and pubs, they too like everyone else will have to make sure there is no more than six in their groups. thank you very much. both of you.

now time for the sports news with katherine downes. the remaining days of the st leger festival will be held behind closed doors after doncaster council told the race course they could no longer welcome spectators. around 3000 racegoers are at the course today. strict hygiene and social distancing rules in place. the council have said spectators will no longer be allowed to attend on the grounds of public health and safety. andy swiss spoke to me earlierfrom health and safety. andy swiss spoke to me earlier from the racecourse. there had been controversy before the start of the meeting. the mayor of doncaster, rosjones, she said she thought there shouldn't be going ahead, she thought it wasn't safe. she has in the last few minutes welcomed the news. it will now be behind close doors. it also raises

the question from the whole of sport that had been hoping to return to some form of normality over the next few weeks. the premier league for example had been hoping to welcome back some fans from the start of 0ctober, back some fans from the start of october, but in the wake of this and the new restrictions the government is announcing later today, people will be asking whether that is realistic or not. the final super league table will be decided by one percentage following a number of matches postponed due to coronavirus tests. everybody ultimately has bought into it. it's got advantages and

disadvantages for clubs, dependent on how many games won, played etc to date. but ultimately it is the same rules for all. the same will apply, and i think you've got to really praise the rfl for coming up with some smart footwork in difficult circumstances. so, yeah, ultimately there will be some winners, some losers, but everybody is playing by the same rules. more on that in sportsday at 6:30pm. aston villa have completed the signing of striker 0llie watkins from brentford for a club record fee of £28 million. watkins, who scored 26 goals last season in brentford's run to the championship play—off final, once again links up with his former manager dean smith, with whom he worked at griffin park. following the signing of lucy bronze yesterday, manchester city have today announced the signing of her england team—mate alex greenwood. the pair played together at lyon, winning the champions league last month. greenwood is also crossing the manchester divide, having had a spell at united before leaving for france, and she's expecting a reaction ahead of the first derby of the season. i fully expect it. i would also give me some stick, as well. it's part of the game and i fully understand. i have a lot of respect for the fans, and they were great with me at my time there, but i also understand that i'm on the other side of

manchester now, and that's my full focus. next derby day, it will make it a bit more interesting and i can't wait. world cup winnerjason roy has been added to england's one—day squad for the upcoming series against australia which starts on friday at old trafford. meanwhile, dawid malan's sparkling form in the 2020 series victory over the aussies has seen him named today as the top—ranked t20 batsman in world cricket, and he's been called up as a reserve for the one day game, a series all—rounder moeen ali is looking forward to. yeah, 100%. i mean, australia are a very good side and we are number one so we obviously want to play like the number one side. this is a different format, but the intensity has got to be there.

this is bbc news. the headlines. as coronavirus cases continue to rise, social gatherings of more than six people in england, both indoors and out are to become illegal. we will be live in downing street in a few minutes' time for an update from the prime minister and his advisers. hundreds of miles to get a test. thanks to the heroic efforts of nhs test and trace, we've gone up from 2,000 tests a day in march to 320,000 a day today. the government's side of the bargain was to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate scheme but two weeks into september, there is a glaring hole. one of the leading coronavirus vaccine trials