this is bbc news with the latest headlines. after the collapse of the retail giant arcadia, a rescue deal for debenhams appears to have collapsed, risking thousands ofjobs across more than a hundred stores. let us know your thoughts on the demise of two giants of the high street. on twitter, it's @geetagurumurthy or #bbcyourquestions. dozens of conservative mps could refuse to back borisjohnson‘s planned new coronavirus tiers for england when a vote is held in the commons later — opposition parties say they will abstain. the government is urging businesses to make their final preparations for brexit a month before the transition period ends. new scientific analysis suggests the climate change picture is looking more positive, with the goals of the paris accord "within reach".

also coming up this hour... world champion lewis hamilton will miss this weekend's grand prix in bahrain after testing positive for coronavirus. good morning. talks about a possible rescue deal for the department store chain debenhams are expected to come to an end today following administrators being called into sir phillip green's arcadia retail group — the biggest holder of concessions at debenhams outlets. arcadia brands are sold across debenhams stores and account for about £75 million of its sales. the last remaining potential buyer for debenhams, jd sports, is expected to back out of a rescue deal which is pushing the department store to the brink of a terminal collapse.

the shadow business minister, lucy powell, said arcadia's uncertain future had been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. it is an incredibly worrying time for the 13,000 people who work for arcadia and as we are hearing, potentially those who work for debenhams as well in the knock—on. it is really clear that the problems in that company and with parts of the retail sector have been catalysed and made worse by this pandemic. i hope that the administrators do all they can to protect those jobs and to find buyers for the company, or parts of the company, and what we are calling for as well is that philip green really does the right thing by the deficit in the pension pot and uses some of his own personal wealth, that he has got from that company over many years, to plug the gap in that pension deficit. shoppers on the high street in inverness explained what they thought might be behind

some of the difficulties facing arcadia. to expensive and i would say more so for miss selfridge's, probably more for miss selfridge's, probably more for the older end of the scale age wise. you probably wouldn't catch me chopping in that store. there is no range, it's all the same stuff and it isa30 range, it's all the same stuff and it is a 30 quid dearer sol range, it's all the same stuff and it is a 30 quid dearer so i would rather go to primark. and it doesn't la st rather go to primark. and it doesn't last any longer either, everything i have bought from dorothy perkins i had to sew the buttons back on in two weeks. especially topshop, being five they do the petite stuff, it's not too expensive and i think this jumper is from topshop. sir ian cheshire is a veteran retail and until last year chairman of debenhams and he expressed his sympathy for all those who might lose theirjobs. firstly i feel

desperately sorry for the people you might lose theirjobs going into the christmas period and the human cost is the main thing but it's not so much of a surprise because debenhams and arcadia were connected, both each other‘s biggest customers and pa rt each other‘s biggest customers and part of the burton group in the old days and have both dealt with the same problem of how fast you can change particularly when you are stuck with long leases and fixed costs when the internet, the degree of value plays and emerge which means you have to evolve so much faster and i were caught in a straitjacket. we had a new model we probably needed to trade from 70 stores and a very good website which i'm sure, as you will see with arcadia, there will be a series of players interested in the brands because you have a fantastic well established brands but they were caught in the wrong cost structure and if you have that, the only option is a cva ordeal. the reality was that the retail industry got its

committed to a very long leases often upfront catalogue payments to ta ke often upfront catalogue payments to take on those leases but i think fundamentally, if you don't have the ability to change the way you can change your website online virtual ina change your website online virtual in a matter of weeks, you can't reconfigure at 190 stores across the country and the real problem now is you have to be so much faster and have so much more online if you are to survive the changing competitive pressures . to survive the changing competitive pressures. i think you will still have a high street but it will be very different and much more mixed use, probably more residential and much more experiential and you have to remember when the banks started living the high street, everyone thought what would happen to those branches and they were repurposed, copy shops and books, there's always something new that will happen. i believe fundamentally the retailers will find a way to trade differently but they have to have a flexibility to do it and that has been the issue. our business presenter ben thompson has more. so administration for arcadia but it's worse

for debenham's employees because it is facing liquidation? it's very difficult on the jobs front, isn't it? yes, good morning. what a bleak day for the high street. when we talk about potentially 25,000 jobs being at risk in one form or another. firstly let's talk arcadia because that confirmation that many were waiting for coming late last night, that the firm would enter administration and that means it will be run as a going concern, the shops will open and people will trade and staff can turn up people will trade and staff can turn upfor people will trade and staff can turn up for work, no immediatejob cuts at arcadia brands which include things like topshop, dorothy perkins, evans, burton and wallace, and they will continue to trade while they try to find a buyer as you heard from sir ian cheshire, big questions over who would want them in their current form but we expect some of the brands might be snapped up some of the brands might be snapped up by some of the brands might be snapped up by online rivals. butjust the brand and maybe not the expensive

high street locations that involved a lot of overheads, rent and rates and paying for staff. but it could also signal the demise of debenhams. we know the department store it in an ministration twice in a year and it has been struggling because we are simply not shopping in that form any more. “— are simply not shopping in that form any more. —— in administration. they have high rents and rates and staff cost and have been trying to find a buyer and until yesterday we were led to believe that could bejd sports, one of the high street success sports, one of the high street success stories, but shareholders did not like the deal and shares fell pretty sharply and then bounced back when news emerged that perhaps jd sports would pull out of the deal. if they do pull out, and we expect confirmation of that in this morning, it could signal the end of the road for debenhams. debenhams would be a different story. as you said, it would potentially be a liquidation which is the last chance

saloon, the end of the road. stock would be sold, stores would be shuttered and up to 12,000 jobs could be at risk. debenhams has already laid off 6500 staff since may so together, very bleak day for the high street and we expect confirmation that the deal with jd sports is off within the next hour. and four staff working at debenhams, what happens to them if that confirmation comes? —— aren't for staff at debenhams. what we are expecting, and we don't have confirmation of this, but we expect that any deal for debenhams to close will involve its trading over christmas and what administrators will want to do, or liquidator is in fa ct, will want to do, or liquidator is in fact, they will want to sell off any remaining stock in stores and get as much money out of the business as possible. we could see and everything must go type sale at

debenhams up and down the country which will try to realise some money from the stock held, and that could go some way to paying off some debts, paying off some of the landlords or suppliers who have supplied goods and services to the firm. for the staff, they would be expected to turn up to help sales continue but it raises big questions over who would want to work in such an environment. yes, they will need their wages and their salary ahead of christmas and let's not forget it is an awful time to potentially be losing yourjob. but at the same time, a very difficult environment to work in. we know that retail has struggled for so long, they are getting a retreat and are able to openin getting a retreat and are able to open in the run—up to christmas after the covid restriction but those staff could be asked to work to sell off what remaining stock is in stores to help realise a little bit of cash but a very difficult time for those staff involved. but it does seem like all the music is suggesting this is the end of the road for debenhams. and just to let

you know, iam road for debenhams. and just to let you know, i am seeing from our colleague emma simpson, she has reported thatjd sports has just announced that it has pulled out of announced that it has pulled out of a rescue deal with debenhams. a short statement to the stock market. jd sports fashion plc, the leading retail at four sports fashion and out the brand confirms discussions with administrators about a potential acquisition of debenhams have now been terminated. that short statement just have now been terminated. that short statementjust coming in which is confirming what was expected. yes, absolutely. as we said, shareholders did not like the deal one bit. as you heard in the report a little earlier, the big problem with the arcadia collapse and administration was that a lot of the concessions that did quite well in debenhams stores were those of arcadia brands. you could walk into debenhams and you might find a smaller miss

selfridge's or burton's concession, some topshop clothing and accessories in those stores and that was one of the things that was keeping debenhams going to. if there we re keeping debenhams going to. if there were serious doubts over the future of those brands at arcadia, it makes debenhams a much less attractive proposition. as we touched on and as you have confirmed the news to the stock exchange in the last few minutes thatjd sports will indeed pull out of the deal. what we need to wait for its official confirmation from debenhams about what they intend to do because i think it is fair to sayjd sports was the only interested party in potentially buying debenhams. it now leaves them without a buyer with mounting costs and big pressures on what it does next and remember that the christmas trading period is when so the christmas trading period is when so many retailers make the majority of their money to see them through the year, particularly the cold harsh months of january, the year, particularly the cold harsh months ofjanuary, february and march. against it there are a number of factors, the fact that we

will have less money in our pockets because of the covid crisis which means we have been probably earning a little less, there is a looming recession and we will be less willing to go out and spend. after christmas, we traditionally try to spend a little less anyway and a lot of quarterly rent becomes due in january to get them through the first quarter of the year. what you mightfind first quarter of the year. what you might find even now or in the early pa rt might find even now or in the early part of next year is many other retailers facing some very tough decisions about what they do for the year ahead but if christmas is not a success year ahead but if christmas is not a success for a retailer, it is really ha rd to success for a retailer, it is really hard to make it work injanuary and february and march. what we could find is that debenhams and say, we cannot meet our bills, we will go before christmas and sell off the stock and get some money back whilst people are still shopping before christmas and injanuary or february 01’ christmas and injanuary or february or march there is a real reckoning. thank you very much indeed for that. chris mason is outside 10 downing

street for us and we will talk about tiers in a moment but first of these massive potential job tiers in a moment but first of these massive potentialjob losses, devastating for anybody involved ? absolutely, it is a colossal challenge for so many businesses and families at the moment and for government as well because when you step back from the swirling conversations of today about tiers and coronavirus restrictions and the vaccine, there is huge concern in government, illustrated very keenly by the conversation you have been having with ben about impending job losses. we know aboutjob losses happening, about three quarters of a million, as cabinet ministers arrive for a meeting getting under way now in downing street, additional expected job losses on the high street. and a realfearfrom ministers that the huge question of 2021, alongside restrictions and the vaccine, is going to be the economy and job losses. it is white we sought from chancellor rishi sunak

last week an emphasis on the creation of jobs —— last week an emphasis on the creation ofjobs —— it is why we saw. it illustrates one of the huge legacies of the coronavirus crisis, even when we get beyond this acute phase, trying to resuscitate the economy and get as many people as possible back into work. hold on for one moment if you can but wejust wa nted one moment if you can but wejust wanted to get your thoughts on the latest economic news which is pretty dire. we are also seeing a big parliamentary vote today because mps are voting on the introduction of a new stricter three tier system of controls for england to try to contain coronavirus when the current lockdown ends tomorrow. boris johnson is facing opposition from many of his own conservative mps. 55 million people will enter the two toughest tears if the plans are approved, most in tear too many people will not be allowed to mix with anyone outside their household

01’ with anyone outside their household or support bubble indoors although they can socialise in groups of up to six outdoors. the toughest restrictions, tier 3, means no mixing with anyone outside your household or support bubble indoors 01’ household or support bubble indoors or at most outdoor venues and a number of conservatives mps have criticised the restrictions saying the wheels are coming off the government's arguments to impose them but labour, the snp and lib dems will abstain, meaning munich proposals are likely to pass. this report from our political correspondentjonathan report from our political correspondent jonathan blake. when lockdown lifts in england tomorrow, a new set of rules is due to come into force, an enhanced three—tier system which ministers insist is needed to keep coronavirus under control. through everything that people have sacrificed we've reduced the pressures on the nhs, we've brought down the number of coronavirus cases, we've got this virus back under control. last night, the government published a document supporting its approach.

but many conservative mps who were not convinced, still don't believe a tighter tiered system is right. what it is, is a rehash of a lot of the information that was published in the 0br report on the 25th of november. but very little, if anything, around what consequence of these different tiers will be. labour have concerns too, but say opposing the plans would not be in the national interest. so they'll neither vote for or against, but abstain, meaning the new measures are likely to pass. plotting a path through the pandemic has meant difficult decisions at every turn. there may be hope of easier times ahead, but england is about to enter a new phase and nobody can say the near future is clear. jonathan blake, bbc news. well, after previously suggesting his party may support the government vote later today,

late yesterday evening sir keir starmer tweeted, "coronavirus remains a serious threat to the public‘s health and that's why labour accepts the need for continued restrictions. we will always act in the national interest, so we will not vote against these restrictions in parliament tomorrow." which is code for ‘my mps willabstain'. chris mason is still with us but to explain the vote, is it expected, as people come out of a cabinet meeting, that the government will get these measures through? the short answer is yes, and yes there isa short answer is yes, and yes there is a cabinet meeting getting under way. the measures will almost certainly get through because of the labour decision to abstain, ie they will not proactively endorse the restrictions, also means they will go through because unless you had more than half of conservative mps pretty much opposing the

government's own measures, there will be more conservative mps in favour of them than against and therefore, with other parties like therefore, with other parties like the lib dems and scottish national party abstaining as well, there is no risk to them falling. that might mean that some potential conservative rebels feel a bit more gung ho about expressing publicly their reservations and rebelling because they know the jeopardy has gone and they will not defeat the government and neither are they going to leave it in the politically embarrassing situation of being reliant on labour votes in orderfor the measures to get through. 0ne other thing worth exploring this morning is a more medium—term challenge given we know the outcome of today, which is the question of the vaccine and once it is rolled out, how we as a society respond to it in reopening of the economy. what about the idea that places like pubs but insist that you have had the vaccine if you want to come in and

be served? that point was put to michael gove, the cabinet office minister, earlier on. it is up to any individual pub owner or licensee to decide who they will admit and on what basis, they are private businesses. but i'm not sure that is what people are concerned about, i think they are concerned about making sure that we are managing the infection effectively, that the new tiered system will reduce the rate of infection overall and we are in a position to deliver the vaccine. the prospect of mass vaccination is an exit strategy, a way out of the situation in which we find ourselves in. and the most important thing is making sure that vaccine is effectively distributed and available, that is the critical question. the government obviously trying to push ahead to more hopeful news but on today, how many rebels are expected and is number 10 trying to find their way to buy them off effectively? talking you through the timeline, the prime minister will

open the debate in the commons at lunchtime. more than 100 mps are expected to contribute during the afternoon and we think the vote might be around seven o'clock with health secretary matt hancock rounding it off at its tail end. in terms of the overall numbers of rebels, that is always the $64,000 question and the answer is we will not actually know until the votes are cast because plenty of people are cast because plenty of people are expressing a reservation but it does not necessarily mean that will translate into a rebellion. interesting to see if it gets to 30 or 40 because when it gets to about that, it would be enough, if labour had opposed the measures, for the government to have its majority robbed of it and the reason that matters even though it will not have any consequences today is that firstly it chips away at the prime minister's authority, as the defence secretary arrives here, and in addition, there are further votes still to come as we trundle through this ongoing pandemic and the prime

minister will have a watchful eye on further potential rebellions further down the track. chris mason, it looks very festive where you are evenif looks very festive where you are even if it does not quite yet feel like it! thank you very much for now. festive and flipping cold! inside our westminster studio is jonathan ashworth, the labour shadow health secretary. thank you for joining us. keir starmer has tweeted saying, we act in the national interest and will not vote against these restriction but what is the point in saying you support them but abstain? first of all, we know this virus truly spreads through human interaction so we do support public health restrictions, we think they are health restrictions, we think they a re necessary to health restrictions, we think they are necessary to save lives but they need to be backed up by economic support. the government is asking families to make sacrifices, small businesses in the hospitality and

entertainment sector to make sacrifices. that could lead to ba n kru ptcy sacrifices. that could lead to bankruptcy and job losses. i remember unemployment in the 80s, going to the dole office with my dad in the 80s and queueing up. unemployment is devastating. what we are saying to the government is yes, introduce public health restrictions in order to save lives but also recompense those families and small businesses whose livelihoods are going to be sacrificed. sadly, the government has not come forward with the economic package that families and businesses in manchester and leeds and newcastle and south yorkshire, in burnley and lancashire need to point that they could still bring forward that package but at the moment they are walking by on the moment they are walking by on the other side when families and small businesses need financial support. if you could hold on one second, we are talking unemployment and the bbc understands that debenhams is going into liquidation. this comes afterjd sports pulled

out of a rescue deal to save the chain currently in administration for the second time in a year. jd sports with the last remaining bidder and the initial sales process has concluded. it therefore seems that debenhams is going into liquidation. mrashworth, if you could hold on one second for me, i wa nt to could hold on one second for me, i want to bring in ben thompson to give us more details. thank you, we we re give us more details. thank you, we were talking a few minutes ago about waiting to hear from were talking a few minutes ago about waiting to hearfrom debenhams because we know thatjd sports, who was potentially the last willing buyer of the department store, pulled out and now what we have is we have heard from the administrators at debenhams. they have told us that the restructuring firm will go in and begin clearing stock, liquidating stocks, trying to get any value out of the business and it really seems like the end of the road for debenhams. that is because of so many factors we were

discussing, the changing way we shop, all of us doing it online, but also the impact of the covid pandemic which has meant those stores have been shut for a long time and it seems the final straw was the administration yesterday of arcadia because a lot of the concessions in debenhams stores are those of arcadia brands. it means that debenhams as a proposition is less viable and less attractive to any would—be buyers and thereforejd sports has pulled out leaving no other buyers on the table. to give you a few more details, debenhams of course has one of the 24 stores across the country, employing around 12,000 staff. inevitably, the big questions now will be about their future. a dreadful time of year for them to be facing unemployment. it seems they may be asked to go into some of those stores if they are to stay open, we don't have initial details about whether the stores will reopen their doors to try to

sell off some of the stock, or whether it will be removed from them and sold elsewhere. but what the liquidators will be trying to do, thatis liquidators will be trying to do, that is what the name suggests, they liquidate stocks, turning it from stock into cash which is used to pay suppliers, landlords or other creditors of the business. just to confirm what we have heard in the last few minutes coming into our correspondent emma simpson, that the liquidators have been appointed, jobs will go in the coming months and unless any other buyer comes forward for any of those stores or brands in the debenhams portfolio, it seems to be the end of the road. we believe the staff were told that this morning but very, very difficult day, potentially over the last 24 hours we have lost up to 25,000 retailjobs if you include arcadia point that we should say that arcadia is a very different story, still open and trading and people hope they can find buyers for those brands but debenham is in

liquidation which means it is the end of the road. thank you and thank you for hanging on, mr ashworth put that we want to bring that news to our viewers but what is your response? 25,000 jobs in the last few days, awful news for everyone involved. devastating news for families across the country who will be losing jobs and in the run—up to christmas, what an absolutely awful time to lose yourjob, it is terrible at the best of times but in the run—up to christmas must be particularly awful. i just think this reinforces that wider point we are making. yes, we need public health restrictions to save lives but we need a financial package to save the livelihoods of families and small businesses across the country in those areas that are now being placed under the most restrictive tiers. pubs are closing, entertainment venues, restaurants, limits on what they can serve and so

on. this will have a huge impact on the economy across a huge part of the economy across a huge part of the country. we are urging ministers to please, please don't walk by on the other side. do something to defend our communities. and just going back to the tiers, people will think, aren't you just fudging it and trying to have it both ways by not voting on one side or the other? either support it and vote for it but if you are worried about the economic package, vote against it and vote it down. i think it would be highly irresponsible not to have any restrictions. there are tory mps who have been parading through studios think they don't want any restrictions, letting this virus ripped through society which would be devastating for individuals and the economy and that an economic illiterate... the economy and that an economic illiterate. . . why the economy and that an economic illiterate... why are you not voting for it then? because we are sending a clear message to the prime

minister that to go alongside restrictions we need economic support to help the livelihoods of families and support businesses and that support is not in place. isn't this just playing politics with something that is much too serious to play any kind of games with? when people are losing theirjobs, that is not a game. fighting for our communities, for the livelihoods of families and small businesses in cities like leicester and manchester and leeds and birmingham, that is not a and leeds and birmingham, that is nota game, and leeds and birmingham, that is not a game, that is fighting for their future. will the public not be very confused? what you are saying, they are being asked to follow this new set of tiers, and yet the opposition parties are saying, we think it should go through but we will not actually back it. because we support public health restrictions, they are necessary to save lives, but we will not break this virus on the backs of the poorest and the low paid, we will not defeat this virus by allowing

people to lose theirjobs point that we need a financial package alongside it. what has been proposed so alongside it. what has been proposed so far is inadequate. the business affected say it is never quit, local authorities say that, many of your viewers will feel it is inadequate... what precisely do you think should be put forward instead? especially after confirmation from debenhams of another set of 12,000 jobs to go? what we need in these tier 3 areas is a tailored package of support which includes grants to small businesses that have been told the closed doors, which allows people who have been contacted by the tracing system or indeed themselves have had to go off sick can get access to decent sick pay and the £500 grant which at the moment, there are huge restrictions around that payment. areas in tier 3 should not have to rely on the package they were given before the national lockdown, that they can

access a package of funding now as well because at the moment they get £20 a head which is stretched throughout the whole period for which they are in tier 3 and we don't think that is good enough. and which not, the government should stop threatening employers with a prospect they may have to top up the furlough in january. prospect they may have to top up the furlough injanuary. employers, small businesses need certainty, the government should step in and give them that support until we get through this awful period. jonathan ashworth, many thanks and were hanging on to the debenhams announcement. there is much more coming up, get in touch with us. we will be looking at more on the impact of the debenhams announcement, along with arcadia, 25,000 retailjob losses ahead. more too on brexit which is at a very key stage of talks, many groups pushing for a deal but not certain how

constructive and fast those talks are progressing. davis is, but let's get the weather first with carol. turning colder and more unsettled, there is a lot of uncertainty by the end of the week but some others could see snow, most of its higher ground but potentially low levels. . there is a lot of cloud around, producing patchy drizzle today. the wind eases down the north—east coastline with highs of between six and 10 degrees. clouds moving south this evening and overnight, clear skies, a touch of frost and behind the weather front, blustery showers, snow in the highlands down to around 500 metres. that weatherfront continues to think south tomorrow. showers across northern ireland and

scotland, gusty winds and be no level coming down to about 300 metres. it will feel colder in the north than the south.

hello, this is bbc news with geeta guru—murthy. the headlines... talks over a rescue deal for department store chain debenhams have collapsed — putting 12,000 jobs at risk. dozens of conservative mps could refuse to back borisjohnson's planned new coronavirus tiers for england when a vote is held in the commons later. 0pposition parties say they will abstain. the government is urging businesses to make their final preparations for brexit — a month before the transition period ends. new scientific analysis suggests the climate change picture is looking more positive, with the goals of the paris accord "within reach." formula 1 world champion lewis hamilton will miss this weekend's grand prix in bahrain after testing positive for coronavirus.

sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's katherine downes. good morning. we will start with one of the stories mentioned in the headlines. the seven time formula 1 world champion lewis hamilton has tested positive for coroanvirus and will miss this weekend's race in bahrain. he had returned three negative tests last week but woke up yesterday with mild symptoms and a new test revealed he had contracted the virus. hamilton is now isolating but his team say he is fit and well. he's not missed a race since his debut in australia in 2007 and must return a negative test before returning to the paddock — meaning he's a doubt for the season ending race in abu dhabi next weekend. mercedes say they'll name his replacement for sunday's race later. it's another big night in the champions league. jurgen klopp's liverpool are in amsterdam and will reach the knockouts if they avoid defeat against ajax. they won the reverse fixture 1—0

at anfield but defender andy robertson knows his team will face a tough test tonight. their history is phenomenal and their team just now is excellent, we know what is at stake. if we win we will be through to the last 16, that is always the aim. we want to go far in this competition and by doing so we need to get to the group stages, first and foremost, and we have a chance. manchester city are already into the last 16 having won their first four group games. however, manager pep guardiola says he won't be resting players tonight. a draw against porto in portugal will seal top spot in group c. we have 19 players in the squad, all of them will travel to porto. it is really difficult. we need the best

players possible. and world number onejudd trump is through to the last 16 of the uk snooker championship which continues this afternoon. he was far from his best but came through to beat liang wenbo by six frames to one in milton keynes. elsewhere, john higgins and neil robertson are also through. through to beat liang wenbo by six frames to one in milton keynes. elsewhere, john higgins and neil robertson are also through. you can keep up to date with the snooker across the bbc and on our website, but that is all for now. there's a month to go until the end of the brexit transition period — that's the amount of time given for the uk and eu to agree their future relationship. face—to—face talks between negotiators for both sides continue in london as future economic partnerships and trade deals are thrashed out. this is seen as a crucial week if an agreement is to be reached but there are still differences between the two sides on elements including fishing rights. if no agreement can be reached, trade between the uk and eu will default to world trade organization rules, resulting in tariffs on goods crossing the channel and other trade barriers.

with an agreement yet to be reached, there is uncertainty for businesses, but cabinet minister michael gove says there are lots of things that firms can do to prepare. whether or not we get a free trade agreement with the european union, we are definitely leaving the single market and customs union on the 31st of december, come what may. so a lot of what businesses need to do is the same, whether or not we get a free trade agreement or not. no one is keener than i am to see this negotiating process conclude, but nevertheless there are lots of things that businesses have done and can do on what is called a sort of no regrets basis. there is no harm in doing these things because they will be necessary, come what may. to guide us through where we are with the issues regarding brexit, i'mjoined by our reality check correspondent chris morris. plenty of things are changing whether there's a deal or not. it has fallen out of the headlines are better for understandable reasons due to covid, but the deal

is whether there will be terrorists or taxes on goods crossing the border, but lots of changes as michael gove said. —— whether there will be tarriffs or taxes. there will be tarriffs or taxes. there will be tarriffs or taxes. there will be checks on goods moving from great britain to the european union, meaning trade declarations, certificates, vat procedures, the list goes on. what the government is doing to try to make things easier is that trade going on the other direction, stuff coming into great britain from the eu, it is delaying most of the cheques until the 1st of july by six months. there will still be customs declarations on controlled su bsta nces be customs declarations on controlled substances like alcohol and tobacco but lots of the other things will be waved through and the government hopes that will give businesses enough time to prepare for what businesses are saying is the biggest imposition of new red tape on their businesses for 50

yea rs. tape on their businesses for 50 years. inevitably a lot of focus on kent, the south—east and the channel? the focus on kent is obvious, you have to tell the calais route and the channel tunnel, between them for many intricacies those two routes every year —— you have the dozer to calais route. it will be bottlenecks? it is a circular route, the same lorries going back and forwards. 0ne circular route, the same lorries going back and forwards. one of the things they are trying to work out is what happens to all these european hauliers who carry 85% of the trade, if it is blocked on one—sided could be blocked on the other because the hauliers will not be able to keep moving from one side to the other. they get paid by the kilometre, not the hour, so if they are sitting for hours in queues some of them will decide it is not worth doing this route the moment. another thing the government is trying to alleviate problems with his that they will introduce a permit for lorries to go into kent, meaning

that unless you have all the right paperwork you will not be allowed to go into kent, that is trying to make sure the motorways do not get blocked. the issue is that is not included fans, and thousands of fans across the channel every week, most of the european shops in this country rely on vans to poland or somewhere, they unload them every day and go back again. there is still concern that could be some delays as this new system starts to move into gear. northern ireland is another key point, isn't it? the retailers and hauliers i have spoken to are most concerned about northern ireland trade, we are 20 business days to go now and i have no idea how the trade between great britain and northern ireland within the uk will work. —— and they have no idea. that is because northern ireland is

being treated differently under the terms of the brexit which all agreements are there is an entirely new customs it system which nobody has ever yea rs before new customs it system which nobody has ever years before that will be in operation, there will need to be full checks on food consignments. an awful lot of lorries go from great britain to northern ireland everyday for love different food consignments, each will have to be checked for documents and many will have to be checked physically, and lots of business groups in northern ireland are calling for some pride of adjustment period which would give them ineffective and extension to the transition in all but name to give them a bit more time, because they say they are not ready at the moment —— which would give them, in effect, and extension. much more on that as we get developments. 0ur ireland correspondent chris pagejoins us now from belfast. give us a sense of the key concerns, chris? the main concern is about how

prepared businesses can be for this change, which will happen onjanuary to first, and businesses here are really saying they cannot be as prepared as they would want, simply because they do not know what will happen. there are two sets of negotiations affecting the arrangements are northern ireland, one is the trade talks on the other is the process around the finer details of the northern ireland protocol, that is the arrangement by which northern ireland will in effect remain in the eu single market for goods, meaning into the likes of belfast port from the rest of the uk will be subject to some new checks and administrative processes “— new checks and administrative processes —— meaning goods arriving into the likes of belfast port. details are being worked out in the joint committee involving the eu and the uk government but still no clarity until synergy important issues. particular focus clarity until synergy important issues. particularfocus on clarity until synergy important issues. particular focus on food, products of animal origin like meat, eggs and dairy products are under

strict regulation by the eu so for example have been raised about what range of goods might be on supermarket shelves here come the 1st of january. the likes of sainsbury‘s and marks & spencer have warned there is doubt about whether there will be the full range of supermarket products they are able to offer at the moment still being available unless there is flexibility shown in order to basically give the supermarkets flexibility around eu rules and to enable them to keep on sending goods across the irish sea in the way that they do at the moment, that they are not held up by expensive administration or delayed by checks. thatin administration or delayed by checks. that in particular is an issue, businesses have said they need to know what is going to happen as soon as possible, they need to eu and the uk to work out those details. the government says it is intensifying negotiations and it has provided

£200 million for a support scheme to help traders deal with these changes but at the moment there is no doubt amongst most of the business community, there is a lot of nervousness about what will happen over the next months and a storm of senior civil servant in charge of looking up a devolved government's preparations for the change warned just last week that he thought ferns could face a very, very difficult to january. could face a very, very difficult to january. people facing a difficult december already with this announcement from debenhams and the arcadia news. what is the impact that? well, there is certainly a major impact. the arcadia group employs around 1000 staff here and has about 30 stores in northern ireland, debenhams about 700 staff and five branches. debenhams in particular has a long history in northern ireland terms. during the troubles, many high street names

from the rest of the uk were not in business in northern ireland, so whenever debenhams opened their first store in belfast city centre around 30 years ago it was a major moment for consumers and businesses in northern ireland. people still remember that quite fondly and the loss of debenhams in particular, the bad news barrett debenhams and the arcadia group, i think many people, not just those who work arcadia group, i think many people, notjust those who work in the shops, will be extreme consent —— the bad news about debenhams. thank you, chris page in belfast. let's get more now on the problems of arcadia, the retail empire that's dominated so much of the high street for so long, but is now in administration. debenhams is continuing to seek office after its rescue talks with jd sports failed. our business presenter ben thompsonjoins me now. so manyjobs at stake? what ap today full retailjobs and the state of our high street, 12,000 jobs at

debenhams hung in the balance, that is after they cut 6500 since may due to the covert pandemic, 124 stores across the country look set to close their doors —— due to the covid pandemic. news from the administrators confirming what we knew, they are blaming the downturn from the covid pandemic for being the final straw, but they talk about continuing to trade through those 124 stores to clear the stock, they wa nt to 124 stores to clear the stock, they want to try to realise the money from the stock in those stores which should go some way to paying creditors, suppliers, landlords or some other stuff. but they say if there is no bias forthcoming for the business or part of the business at the end of the process then the doors will close for good in the third quarter of next year, so that is january, february and march next year, debenhams could disappearfrom

the high street. just to recap, this in part has been brought about by the way that shopping habits have changed as we move online, also many stores have been closed during the coronavirus restrictions. some would say debenhams fail to keep up, it did not invest enough to compete with cheaper, nimbler online rivals and it seems the final straw, the administration of arcadia yesterday, many brands present in debenhams stores, whether top or miss selfridge, those concessions also facing administration, it paints a picture of a firm that was not going to attract customers and the last would—be buyer, jd sports, pulled out and therefore it seems like the end of the end of the road for debenhams. thank you for now, ben thompson. let speak to consumer and retail expert kate hardcastle, dreadful news for everyone his job is at risk, is it a surprise to you

given the troubles backdrop?” is at risk, is it a surprise to you given the troubles backdrop? i am so sorry for all of those retail workers, significant numbers again. today we heard we might be looking at you hundreds 5000 job losses by the end of the year from the high street. we know e—commerce has been buoyant and we have seen lots ofjob opportunities there, but very different roles and opportunities. i prayed for debenhams, i was aware of their challenges years ago, i wasn't bolted challenging at the time the chair, en cheshire, in terms of what i saw as chair, en cheshire, in terms of what isaw as a chair, en cheshire, in terms of what i saw as a slippage approach to change, they definitely needed investment. the stores out very baconjust investment. the stores out very bacon just like investment. the stores out very baconjust like we had investment. the stores out very bacon just like we had from department store giantjohn lewis, they are seeing store closures as they are seeing store closures as the way forward and moving quite nimbly into things like financial services, even becoming residential landlords. debenhams had not lived with the times, it had a store

portfolio, many of the stores having excessive rents and rates agreed many years ago when high street retailing was buoyant, and it lost its connection with consumers as huge disruptors its connection with consumers as huge disru ptors have its connection with consumers as huge disruptors have come into the marketplace, with the likes of zara. what is this mean going forward for the high street? will change happen ata the high street? will change happen at a much faster pace with the combined effect of changing shopping habits plus a pandemic, and we do not know what is happening with brexit? we need strategy for our high streets that does notjust rely on retail, we have needed that for yea rs. on retail, we have needed that for years. my biggest concern is timing, we know a lot about will be said to and engaged by local authorities, making changing difference, to make places to be once more rather than just shop. socialisation, retail, places to live, work and learn, we need to make sure our isolation crisis is helped by having better

community centres but the drive from that, lots of the funding, will come from local authorities, people of which are absolutely dealing with the immediate issue of covid, trying to keep safe, how are we going to make the change happen when we will have depleted local authorities and stakeholders fighting the fire on the covid basis? it makes me nervous because some of these plans should have changed years ago and is one of the most frightening things over recent yea rs the most frightening things over recent years is at one point we had five high st ministers in matter of six years, nobody and post long enough to make the significant changes high street needed to adapt toa changes high street needed to adapt to a feature including a lot more e—commerce. to a feature including a lot more e-commerce. kate hardcastle, thank you very much for your time. there is just a there isjust a month there is just a month ago until the end of the transition period.

ian tandy is the head of trade for hsbc. thank you forjoining us. how urgent is it in your view that there is a deal agreed? thank you for having us on. i think it is important to note that we have less than 30 days to 90, that we have less than 30 days to go, we have been talking to customers continually about preparing for this. we think of it ina number of preparing for this. we think of it in a number of days, there are three groups of customers, the company that actuated internationally for many years, they will be aware of the regular —— various regulations, but we are concerned about the second group of companies, the one searchable never just traded second group of companies, the one searchable neverjust traded with the european union, we think it is important that businesses get certainty and more importantly that they think about what that means. and there is a final group, those businesses who do not believe... it is important they talk to suppliers about (inaudible) i

about (inaudible) , but the sooner we get certainty the better. we had seen the bank of england giving focused intent of how the overall economy will be affected from brexit in the covid context, would you agree that without a deal the impact on the economy overall will be worth from brexit than even the pandemic effects? locale thinking about what we have all the through intensive covid, the supply chain impact has been huge on businesses and the direct impact on the economy, but what that has allowed businesses to do was take a deep look into the supply chains to consider some of the measures to help them get through the covid period, in effect preparing them for some of the challenges that will be coming through rex hit. but still lots of challenges ahead even with a deal? there are 30 days to go, we have been talking for the last couple of years now in terms of

advising clients and i know as banks and other institutions have, in terms of what a no deal might mean, but there is still 30 days, we would urge companies to think about the options and what they need to prepare for. we have heard a lot about fishing, but what about the effect on the financial sector? has enough been done to safeguard that? we know big financial banks and institutions have already moved to try to offset another brexit risks? iam from try to offset another brexit risks? i am from the commercial side of the business, nine in focus is to help our customers and help them get through what was the covid crisis that we are all living through but also making them think (inaudible) we have thoughts to a number of scenarios and it is important we are therefore our customers. —— the four other customers. let's get more on

the vote that mps are going to take pa rt the vote that mps are going to take part in later on the new tiers when lockdown ends tomorrow. dr chris papalopoudos is a principal lecturer in public health at the university of bedfordshire. the measures are pretty tough, in your view, do we need to be that strict? i do believe thats that is made quite clear in the impact assessment provided by the government last night. they provide the owners and reducing case rates in the areas that were under the tier 3 restrictions, i think the

restrictions are having a noticeable and very important impact on case rates. we have seen a lot of dispute about whether they are necessary, if people think, great, we can go shopping as of tomorrow, what would you say about the virus spread within retail? i absolutely think there will be significant risks, evenin there will be significant risks, even in the hospitality sector they have made incredible progress in trying to protect the public, the risks are quite a bit lower than previously, in part because of the enormous progress in that front in hospitality but also the general public being much more aware as to what they need to do, but the reality is that when people come into co nta ct reality is that when people come into contact with each other there was always a significant risk, that is simplyjust how covid—19 works. wearing a maskell help, but

ultimately being close to people is a risk and there will be more and more people who will be in close contact with each other, given we are coming up to the christmas season “— are coming up to the christmas season —— wearing a mask will help. do you think the measures are tough enough? look out you had to look at the evidence. the evidence and the impact assessment is quite clear and compelling that tier 3 restrictions in particular prior to the lockdown we have just had to having an effect on reducing case rates. the lockdown was a step above the previous tier 3 restrictions and a step above what we will be entering soon, and therefore the lockdown absolutely would have had an impact, that is clear from the evidence. for people trying to understand what they should do now, it is the run—up to christmas, will be thinking if they

can go to the pub. third, can they do that? schools are still open so there is a lot of hassle mixing and it is deepest winter now. there is confusion, has not always been clear with messaging, they had tried to walk the balance between putting out sensible advice but not being very strong on implementing... 0n requesting people implement that advice. it has been a bit confusing for the public. it is difficult for the public to be on top of this all the time. 0ne to be on top of this all the time. one of the main problem that has implemented the public has been the threat perception, as we call it in health behavioural science, the idea that the public have not been made sufficiently clear in terms of the threat that covid—19 produces for their individual health and well—being, that needed to be clearer from day one, well—being, that needed to be clearerfrom day one, i think, but overall i think it is confusing and difficult for the public, they will have to try their best to follow

guidelines and we will see, i suppose. we will have to leave it there, thank you for your time, dr chris papalopoudos. there, thank you for your time, dr chris pa palopoudos. lots there, thank you for your time, dr chris papalopoudos. lots more coming up chris papalopoudos. lots more coming up at ten, including the latest on debenhams being liquidated after failing to find a buyer. the club to debenhams, which trades from 120 point uk stores and employs 12,000 people and the day after philip green's arcadia fashion group entered administration, threatening about 13,000 jobs, so we are looking at around 25,000 jobs at risk in retail this week. very glad news for the start of december, we will bring you more when we can. “— the start of december, we will bring you more when we can. —— very grim news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. the weather is turning colder and u nsettled, the weather is turning colder and unsettled, some others could see some snow later in the week, some at higher ground but lower levels. ——

some of us could see. the best son will be in eastern england but there isa will be in eastern england but there is a lot of cloud producing patchy drizzle, height of between six and 10 degrees. the clouds moved south this evening and overnight, some clear skies, some frost in parts of the southeast campus to be showers behind the level front, with the snow level in the highlands down to around 500 metres. lots of showers coming in across northern ireland and scotland in particular tomorrow, gusty winds and the snow level coming down to about 300 metres, feeling colder in the north than the south.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. talks over a rescue dealfor the uk department store chain debenhams have collapsed, putting 12,000 jobs at risk. after the collapse of arcadia last night, let us know your thoughts on the demise of two giants of the uk high street. on twitter, it's @geetagurumurthy, or #bbcyourquestions. dozens of conservative mps could refuse to back borisjohnson's planned new coronavirus tiers for england when a vote is held in the house of commons later — opposition parties say they will abstain. while these restrictions on our freedoms are painful, they go against the grain for me, they are there to try to make sure