this is bbc news. the headlines. pressure mounts for a re—think of plans for easing covid restrictions at christmas — two medicaljournals say mixing households "will cost lives". our health system is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue out on top of the superspread event that will be these five days of christmas. labour leader sir keir starmer calls on ministers to hold an emergency review of the christmas plans. as the government holds talks with leaders of scotland wales and northern ireland, will the case be made for a tightening the rules? greenwich council backs down and tells schools they should stay open after the education secretary threatens legal action.

but the council still says closing schools would have helped stop the virus spreading. we're not interested in a legal argument with the government about who is right and who is wrong, because i know that — presented with the information that i had in front of me, from talking to greenwich head teachers, greenwich families and children who were in schools — this would have been in everyone's best interests. more than 800,000 fewer people are on the payroll now than at the start of the pandemic — with hospitality and retail particularly badly hit the number of people dying in scotland from drug misuse has reached a new record high and is the worst in europe. and coming up in sport — a 9 month driving ban for england and aston villa footballerjack grealish. the 25 year old has also been fined more than 80—thousand pounds, after admitting to careless driving.

good afternoon. there's growing pressure on the government and the leaders of scotland, wales and northern ireland to rethink their plans for easing coronavirus restrictions for five days over christmas. in a rare joint editorial two of the uk's leading medicaljournals have asked the government to reverse what they describe as a "rash decision that will cost lives". labour says the government must urgently review the festive relaxation. the cabinet office minister michael gove is discussing the christmas rules with the devolved administrations now. 0ur political correspondent jessica parker reports. will you stand under the tree? under the tree. getting into the spirit and under the tree, senior minister jacob rees—mogg en route to cabinet, but a small diversion first. will we still get christmas, mr rees—mogg 7 happy christmas.

london, most of essex, parts of hertfordshire head for tighter rules tonight. the government revealed yesterday as well, there was a new strain of the virus, and faced questions whether a temporary relaxation of the rules next week was wise. i think it's important that all of us are cautious ahead of christmas. of course, it's a period of risk and that is the reason we want people to take it very seriously and go no further. last month, all four nations agreed that from the 23rd to the 27th of december, people can mix with up to three households, and stay overnight. there's an extra day, either side, for those travelling to and from northern ireland. but ministers are emphasising wider rules remain in place and while people can take advantage, they don't have to. we've got to trust the british people to act responsibly, to do the minimum that is necessary for them within their family situation.

but we should recognise it has been a very difficult year for many families. many families want to come together over the christmas period. but that doesn't mean all the restrictions are lifted — people will still need to continue act responsibly. it may look appealing, the idea of an easing over christmas. but a warning that the plan is rash, could cost many lives, and should be reversed — that from the british medical journal and health service journal. the real, striking, stark truth of the matter is our health system is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue, out on top of the superspread event that will be these five days of christmas. now the labour leader, sir keir starmer, is calling for an urgent review, while london's mayor says there should be a rethink, suggesting the rules could be relaxed in a safer way. my concern is over those five days you could have three households

of big sizes mixing, having sleepovers, hugging, kissing, all the things we normally do at christmas time. and what would be really, really heartbreaking, knowing the vaccine is now being rolled out, is if you inadvertently pass the virus on to an older relation. as families decide what to do this christmas, ministers are keen to stress personal responsibility. but there will be political accountability as well, if, in the new year, some judge this relaxation to have been the wrong call. will we still get christmas, prime minister? and now it's emerged there's a call this afternoon between the four nations. as we head into next week, leaders will know they're walking a difficult line. jessica parker, bbc news. let's speak now to our political correspondent nick eardley. there have been a few your tunes from the government this year, if there is one on these christmas relaxations that's going to affect millions of people across the uk who

have made their christmas plans already. you are absolutely right. a lot from ministers across the uk to weigh up in that conversation they're having at the moment about what's going on with christmas. worth bearing in mind why this approach was adopted last month. the basic idea was to allow a limited amount of mixing over christmas. the acknowledgements of the would not follow the rules if there were not relaxed in some way so this was a way of saying to people go and see herfamily, but way of saying to people go and see her family, but be way of saying to people go and see herfamily, but be really way of saying to people go and see her family, but be really careful. way of saying to people go and see herfamily, but be really careful. i think the think that's change that is those parts of the uk, many of them in england, some of them in scotla nd them in england, some of them in scotland where his cases are rising significantly. that's causing a real concern of people travelling across the uk could well take the virus with them. speaking to source it this afternoon, it clearly that issue of travel it's one that's causing real concern. particularly

among the devolved administrations. suggested that potentially one of the things that could be on the table is restricting travel, urging people not to travel any further than they need to. i should stress for anyone worried about the christmas plans for we just don't know at the moment and no decisions have been taking. there's that balance between making sure that people are as safe as possible and that virus is kept under control, the fact that many people already watching will have made their plans. there will already know where they're going on christmas day and around that five—day relaxation period that's in place at the moment. got to say the political pressure on this has been building all day, not just the pressure on this has been building all day, notjust the medical express that we have heard from morning this could be a big problem, we've heard from the politicians and from the last couple of hours the labour leader has been urging the prime minister to toughen up the rules around christmas. i think doing nothing is not really viable. i think a responsible government is going to have to do

something. there are a number of things they could do to toughen them up, and we will look at what they say. but, you know, and a sense i don't want to make this party political. we know people want to see each other. families want to see each other. this won't come as a pleasant surprise to families, so i'm saying to the government, do the responsible thing, review, toughen up and we will support you if you do that. there were not specifics in that a nswer there were not specifics in that answer from there were not specifics in that answerfrom keir starmer there were not specifics in that answer from keir starmer about what he would like to see but it's worth pointing out that was first mr who was a liberal politician was a bit more reluctant saying this agreement was not easy to get in the first place. so it would be a big step to unpick it. he will be on that call at the moment with the uk government as will scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon who has been telling holyrood this afternoon that she does think it's right you look again at these rules. i think it's important that we have that discussion across the four nations given family patterns across the uk, but i do think it's a case for us looking at whether we tighten

flexibilities that were given any further, both in terms of duration and numbers of people meeting. and i will consider the views of the other nations. if we can come to a four nations agreement i think that would be preferable. if that's not possible, and then of course we will consider within the scottish government what we think is appropriate. so that was nicola sturgeon, and there's talk that rather than scrapping the christmas relaxation altogether there might be a cross element so goes down to five days to three may be or three households started to two households. you heard her heading out that they are, and she said that that's one of the things you should look at come the duration of the relaxation. and also the number of households that can mix. worth pointing out that there are slightly different rules actually within this common framework, so in scotland you are only allowed eight people within a christmas bubble whereas in england there's not a limit to the number of people you can have in a bubble,

just the number of households and it was interesting also to hear her hint that maybe scotland could take a different path if it does not think the rest of the uk is making the right decision. the truth is that there's a number of options on the table. also as i was mentioning a minute ago the idea that potentially could ask people to restrict their travel so that people are not going from london to the north of scotland or places with the virus is spreading quite significantly to places where there are comparatively fewer cases. there's a lot from ministers to weigh out, i think you are right that it's unlikely that they will scrap the relaxation completely, come scrap the relaxation completely, co m e partly scrap the relaxation completely, come partly because they acknowledge so come partly because they acknowledge so many people have already made their plans. the question is do they feel the need to because of the changing situation to think again and maybe tweak some of those christmas plans. we may not know for sure tonight but if we do find anything out will make sure to let you know as soon as possible. thank you know as soon as possible. thank you very much indeed. let's say the

scene around 0xford you very much indeed. let's say the scene around oxford circus here in central london and lodge and of course just about to head into tier 3. people doing their christmas shopping in oxford street, but of course london and parts of essex and hertfordshire are about to go into the highest tier of restrictions, tier 3. let's speak now to dr luke allen, he's a health policy researcher at the university of oxford, a practising gp and an independent adviser for the world health organization. and what is your view about christmas and this five—day relaxation? indeed does it still makes sense or do you think it should be scrapped ?|j makes sense or do you think it should be scrapped? i can see both sides. unequivocally relaxing over christmas will lead to an increase in cases and in deaths, but many of my patients have been really struggling over the past ten months

with mental health problems being stuck with isolation, i think on a personal note many of your listeners and myfamily personal note many of your listeners and my family as well are desperate to meet up with others, it is a real risk that people will meet up irrespective of what the government says. so i think it's not right to mischaracterize this as a u—turn. when the facts changed i change my mind, what do you do? what do you do? is it apocryphal quote that really fits here. the last locked on the rates were falling and they are not on the rise again. makes com plete not on the rise again. makes complete sense to come and look fresh at the current guidance for christmas. i think the real take—home here is that we are going to have to be incredibly cautious whether the christmas break is allowed to go ahead or not. and patients in the general public should not feel like this is an opportunity to let down our guard. things are really more dangerous now and will be more than they were before. as us at the beginning deaths will unfortunately increase if households are allowed to mix. we also talked about the mental health

applications and in if you are free people that chance to meet loved ones for a period of her christmas and then take it away from them that has a big mental health impact. absolutely. i have a lot of sympathy andi absolutely. i have a lot of sympathy and i think many people are desperate to see an end of this year and meet up with loved ones weather have just not been able to. i think the one thing to say can say is we have a vaccine now and my practice run that out to our first patients on saturday and it will be a real shame to see a surge in deaths that could cripple the health service we are so close to getting on to business. next year's christmas with very different to this one. and it will be more than a shame to see all that wasted. but it is an incredibly difficult and ultimately political trade—off that the government is going to be making this evening. and i really appreciate how hard it will be for them. as we near the end of this year would have been your

experiences on the front line as a gp? it's been a very challenging time. i think my main take—home is been the resilience of nhs staff. 0ut been the resilience of nhs staff. out on our doorsteps cover for them and it's great to see the country really around by all members of nhs staff have been putting in so much time and extra hours, a really burning the candle at both ends to do their absolute best for patients. i think do their absolute best for patients. ithinka do their absolute best for patients. i think a lot of patients have experienced a lot of harm from covid but what does not get as much press as the harm to businesses that has happened and the hard through social isolation, and the breakdown of relationships, just the harm of being stuck in for so long. it's something that's very real but often the medical press we are not as good as presenting the whole balanced holistic costs of the coronavirus pandemic. so lots of costs everywhere, but it's been great to see human spirit and community

spirit and people are really rallying around. this would be my positive takeaways that i hope it's a long time before we ever find ourselves in a situation like this again. thank you so much indeed for your time. thank you. latest government figures for coronavirus here in the uk show there were 18,450 new infections recorded in the past 24—hour period. a further 506 deaths have also been reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. that takes the total number of deaths in the uk to 6a,908. public health england plans to release its findings into the new mutation of covid i9 within the next fortnight — after the health secretary, matt hancock, said the strain could be linked to the faster spread of the virus in some areas. 0fficials stressed there was no evidence the variant caused more severe forms of the disease or was resistant to vaccines.

our health correspondent michelle roberts has more. every virus mutates. these tiny genetic changes happen as the virus makes new copies of itself to spread and thrive. most are inconsequential and if you can even be harmful to the virus‘s survival but some can't make it more infectious or threatening to the host. for covid, that host is us. and experts are working to understand precisely what these new changes that have been identified might mean. some viruses do this at a very, very fast rate, like hiv or the flu, for example. other viruses are more indolent and they change more slowly but it all comes down to the fact that they are evolving and they are evolving against pressure from the thing that is trying to stop them doing what they want to do, which is to spread and have more cases of coronavirus. so far 1000 confirmed cases have been discovered in the uk. they are predominantly

in the south of england, although cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas, with numbers increasing rapidly. in the commons yesterday, the health secretary matt hancock said the new strain might be behind big increases in covid infections being seen in london and the south—east. researchers have confirmed that the mutations involve the spike protein of the virus, the part that helps it infect cells, and the target covid vaccines are designed around but that doesn't mean it's necessarily more transmissible, infectious or dangerous — or that a vaccine cannot work. the new vaccines are essentially like e—mails that we send to the immune system and they are very easy to tweak, so if we know the lock has changed very slightly, we just have to edit that e—mail, change a word or two and then

the vaccine will be ready in say, six to eight weeks' time, after that, will be competent and better targeted to the new strain. sharp scratch coming now. 0k? brilliant. gps are already giving high risk patients the new pfizerjab which experts still expect to be highly effective. and one leading expert has accused matt hancock of whipping up fear ahead of london being moved into tougher tier 3 restrictions. it's an unproven connection at this moment and it may well stay like that. reporting that london is going into another tier and all of that, linking it to the variant, my first response was, "that is a bit naughty," blaming the virus, rather than how people are behaving! with cases rising in some parts of the uk, people are being advised to follow the rules and keep social contact to a minimum over christmas. michelle roberts, bbc news.

some news about the ongoing negotiations between the eu and the uk to reach a post—brexit trade deal — from the political editor of the bbc‘s newsnight show, nicholas watt. he's been speaking to mps from the ruling conservative party — and is reporting what he calls a ‘big buzz‘ that the two sides are heading towards a deal. and he adds that eurosceptic mps — who are opposed to any form of what they see as control from brussels — are being reassured they will be happy with the outcome. let's speak to our the political editor of bbc newsnight. good to have you with us. a few days ago these talks look like there were deadin ago these talks look like there were dead in the water, what are you hearing? is resetting a big buzz amongst conservative mps that the uk may be heading towards a deal with the eu, very struck this afternoon the eu, very struck this afternoon the number of conservative mps did come up to me and said i think we getting into the right place, and what was interesting was that this

was conservatives from sides, the conservatives from those we used to call remainers and conservatives who we called brexiteers. and also some on the brexit site have been given reassu ra nces on the brexit site have been given reassurances from inside the cabinet, their core concerns over sovereignty were being addressed and the big area where they have the concern is on the so—called level playing field. that's how the uk and the eu can agree, rules going forward in a way that would respect that sovereignty that the levers say that sovereignty that the levers say that we gained in the referendum in june 2016. and what it looks like they are hearing is that the uk may well, if they pull this off, i have got the deal and outlined to deal back to where it was around about two weeks ago when there would be a joint mechanism that essentially, if the uk were to diverge from eu standards would be a joint dispute mechanism that would look at it and if one side lost then sanctions and

punishment could be introduced come of course it would work both ways. the prime minister has been setting pessimistic about the prospects for a deal committee think the expectations management has been a bit of theatre from him? yes and i think that if he were very annoyed yesterday the form of michel barnier and the chief negotiator has said this bit of progress and movement by the uk. view for number ten that that was unhelpful and make difficult talks more challenging and saying there has not been massive progress. so they are not there yet, and interestingly the distant moment of irritation about what i've been hearing from you and that it's out there. and bernard chicken who is a vetera n there. and bernard chicken who is a veteran brexiteer said i'm not aware of any informal cabinet push to reassure brexiteers, and he says he's very, very sure that boris johnson will protect his and their

redlines on sovereignty, deal or no deal. important to say that conservative mps have been talking to are saying, look, we are not there yet and there's many a slip between cup and lip. an image of the negotiations that are very tough the level playing field, the competition issue but also their fisheries. as the level playing field, is that the key? what fisheries then follow more easily because i was talking to a member of the cabinet a few days ago and they said you need a sequencing. the first thing you need to deal with his level playing field so it's interesting that we are hearing about that today and great downing street sensitivity about that yesterday, because it goes to the heart of sovereignty and then the next issue is fisheries. and there have been, and indeed still our difficulties over fishing because the eu view is that you need to type fishing to the overall trade deal,

and the rats what they are saying is that if the uk severely limits eu access to uk waters then that will have a knock on effect on the wider trade deal to which the uk says no we are now an independent coastal nation, and we have the sovereign rights to decide how many people fishing our waters. interestingly in the cabinet there is a bit of chat about how it might actually be in the uk public interest as part of the uk public interest as part of the deal to actually phase out the eu the deal to actually phase out the e u a ccess the deal to actually phase out the eu access to our waters and phase in slowly uk access, and the reason for thatis slowly uk access, and the reason for that is that if, let's take we had 100% control over uk waters on the 1st of january recently would not have the capacity and uk fleets to fish that immediately. need to build up fish that immediately. need to build upa fish that immediately. need to build up a fleet, and he incentives that may be it will be in our interest to phase that in. one last question, would he think borisjohnson thinks in his heart of hearts? does he really wa nted in his heart of hearts? does he really wanted deal? he starts very optimistically about if have no deal

we will have a wonderful future with wto terms, australian style trade but what does he really, really want a deal rather than that?” but what does he really, really want a deal rather than that? i think in his heart of hearts wants to uphold the referendum on the 23rd ofjune 2016 and that may sound trite committed to control them but that's what that referendum was about. it was, in their words, what that referendum was about. it was, in theirwords, taking what that referendum was about. it was, in their words, taking back sovereignty. taking back control of laws, money and border. and he's been very, very clear with the vetera n been very, very clear with the veteran brexiteers and it's interesting talking to them in recent weeks they've been very relaxed. there saying he's not going to cross the redline on sovereignty. and he's very clear, i think it is pa rt and he's very clear, i think it is part of hearts that if he has a deal he's really got to be able to show that that sovereignty is being respected, and that's why on this issue about labour standards and environmental laws, and all of that yes the uk may well continue to match eu standards going forward,

but if there's a dispute it's got to be done through a joint mechanism, nothing unilateral. thank you so much for bringing us the very latest on what you're hearing about the brexit deal talks. there's confusion for parents and students after greenwich council in london said schools will now stay open. on sunday the local council called for schools to close — and take all learning online because of a recent rise in coronavirus cases. but the education secretary, gavin williamson, intervened — and told greenwich that it would face legal action if it didn't keep schools open. he's also announced that every secondary school and college in england will have access to rapid coronavirus testing from january. andy moore reports. just a few parents, mostly key workers and their children, thank you very much for being with us. what did you make with the wa nted us. what did you make with the wanted to do in the education secretary threatening legal action?

whatever happens we are to make the children are priority. i think of the teachers and support staff what they're doing but children have missed six to seven months of learning. we know that millions of children did her the neat learning at all, every day counts. the chief inspector of schools has said that one national day of lost learning is around 40,000 years in terms of a child public education. that's a huge amount of time. we have to do everything possible to make sure we help our children catch up from lost learning that they have had during the lockdown. having said that, if schools are part of the rising cases or really dramatic rising cases, then surely there's a case for closing them. we know that children are at very low risk for getting the virus, the government have announced today that there will be rapid

testing for all secondary schools and daily testing and secondary schools for students and teachers if necessary. we also have to make a judgement as a society, of course we are concerned about the coronavirus but also need to be concerned about the risk of an epidemic of educational poverty if we deny our children the chance to learn and get them that vital letter of opportunity. what you make of the education secretary threatening legal action, they said that the desperate move for government ministers who have lost the plot rather than resorting to legal action. mr should be supporting heads in making professional judgements on the safety of their schools staying open. that legal action isaiah understands now not happening. greenwich will keep the schools open. it but it was threatened by the government, is that the right thing to threaten councils with legal action?”

that the right thing to threaten councils with legal action? i think it's vital that the government and schools work together to keep the schools work together to keep the schools open, to keep our children learning. as i mentioned children have lost over six months of teaching during the lockdown. we are risking their futures, the futures of the next generation of our young people, and we have to keep our kids in school. you said to children, if they catch the virus they're unlikely to display many symptoms, but of course they can spread it. of course they can yes, but we have to make a judgement in the judgement is perhaps the most important thing we can do in this coronavirus is ensure that our children are learning. i mentioned the chief inspector of schools, thousands of years lost of an education potentially every time you have a national holiday‘s

national closure of schools. and we need to keep our kids learning. as i mentioned we don't want to risk an epidemic of educational poverty. we've got a huge amount of catch up, we've got kids doing exam years want to do their exams next year, those are very serious and a lot of catch up are very serious and a lot of catch up needed. we have to do everything possible and have a national conversation about what our priorities are from it if we do one thing during the coronavirus it should be that we keep our children learning in our schools. we are also having a national conversation about whether we should have christmas with our loved ones. government under real pressure right now to have another think about its relaxation over christmas. where do you stand on that commission we still have this five day period when we can have mixing of three households? i hope very much we still have the five day amnesty. i thinkjust as still have the five day amnesty. i think just as we've still have the five day amnesty. i thinkjust as we've got to worry about the coronavirus we also have to worry about the well—being and

happiness and mental health of millions of people up and down the land, and we need families to come together and to celebrate christmas together. scientists are saying it will cost lives. there has been mixed views about that, and i think there has to be some kind of amnesty whether it's for five days or not i don't know. but there has to be some we have to be considering people's well—being, mental health and happiness alongside the around the coronavirus. could talk to you, many thanks for being with us on bbc dues. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. good afternoon. 0ur unsettled spell of weather is set to stick around for the next couple of days. we've got more rain on the cards and the winds will be picking up as well. but for the rest of today, quite a lot of clear skies out there. there are some showers around, dotted here or there as well. some heavy ones pushing across parts

of scotland into the evening hours. there could be the odd rumble of thunder. most places dry as we head into the evening. a few showers in the south—east. but then, overnight, this next area of rain and strengthening winds moves in from the west. so, the western half of the uk, wet and windy from the word go tomorrow. whereas, further east, a cooler start to wednesday — should be dry first thing. and actually, east anglia and the south—east keeping the dry weatherfor quite a good part of the day. but eventually this band of rain and strengthening winds moves eastwards, affecting all of us at times — followed by scattered heavy showers heading in from the west. gusts of wind up to around 60 mph around exposed coasts in the west. further east, around 30 mph gusts. blustery wherever you are. still mild at 9—11 celsius. goodbye for now. it was a chilly start to the day for some of us, hello this is bbc news with ben brown. the headlines. pressure mounts for a re—think of plans for easing covid restrictions at christmas — two medicaljournals say mixing households "will cost lives".

0ur health system is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue out on top of the superspread event that will be these five days of christmas. labour leader sir keir starmer calls on ministers to hold an emergency review of the christmas plans — as the government holds talks with leaders of scotland wales and northern ireland. greenwich council backs down and tells schools they should stay open after the education secretary threatens legal action. but the council still says closing schools would have helped stop the virus spreading. we're not interested in a legal argument with the government about who is right and who is wrong, because i know that — presented with the information that i had in front of me, from talking to greenwich head teachers, greenwich families and children who were in schools — this would have been in everyone's best interests. more than 800,000 fewer people are on the payroll now than at the start of the pandemic — with hospitality and retail particularly badly hit.

sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's holly. some football action tonight. a busy evening tonight. there's two premier league games tonight. chelsea are in action at wolves in around half an hour, then at eight, manchester city host west brom. arsenal meanwhile will be looking for a much needed win over southampton tomrorow night after making their worst start to a season in 46 years. manager mikel arteta has admitted he must "take the bullets" for the club's poor form, having lost four of their past five league games. they're 15th in the table and nowjust five points above the relegation zone. we have to face it. and we have to face it being brave. fighting, no one giving up, oranything.

there's no time to hide, it is time to put your face and your body on the line. at the moment, i'm sorry, but we have to take the bullets. we are not winning football matches. you have to put your chest there, and hit me, because you have the right to hit me because i am not winning, so what else can i do? but my head down. work harder and then try to do things better and improve. it's a confusing time for football fans with spectators allowed to attend some premier league games depending on what tier the stadium is in. well, the tottenham boss jose mourinho admits he's also "confused" by the restrictions on fans with london set to move into tier 3 tomorrow. spurs trip to liverpool tomorrow night will be played in front of 2,000 people at anfield, but their next home game against leicester will be behind closed doors. not just at the football level, but also and especially at the social level, i am so confused

with contradictions. i'm so confused to understand why this decision, why that decision. of course, i am a football man, i'm not a politician or scientist. but i'm too confused to make any comment. the aston villa captain jack grealish has been banned from driving for nine months and fined a total of £82,499. it's after this incident when he crashed his range rover during march's coronavirus lockdown. the england international was sentenced at birmingham magistrates‘ court, after previously pleading guilty to two charges, including one linked to this incident in which his 4x4 hit two parked vehicles in solihull in the west midlands. there's two scottish league cup games tonight but tomorrow steven gerrard's rangers will be without alfredo morelos for their last eight match at st mirren. the club have accepted a two—game ban after the striker was cited for violent conduct for this incident in their win over dundee united on sunday.

he was initially booked for that elbow but will now miss tomorrow's game and saturday's league match against motherwell. england's women will begin the defence of their cricket world cup title against australia in 2022. they'll meet in hamilton on the 5th of march. england took the crown on home soil in 2017, with victory over india. the 50—overs competition was moved back a year, due to the covid—19 pandemic, with the same six venues in new zealand hosting the 31 matches. the former yorkshire bowler azeem rafiq has filed a legal complaint against the club under the equality act, following his allegations of institutional racism at the club. rafiq played for the county for ten years, until 2018, but said in august that incidents had left him close to taking his own life. he claimed he suffered "direct discrimination and harassment "on the grounds of race".

well, the club say they have taken the allegations made extremely seriously and are launching a thorough independent investigation, with results expected early next year. they added racism has no place in society or the sport. and in rugby, danny cipriani has left gloucester with immediate effect after two and a half years at the premiership club. it's thought the england international departs as part of the overhaul at kingsholm which started during lockdown with a new director of rugby and head coach. he's been replaced by scotland fly—half adam hastings. that's all the sport for now. goodbye for me. holly, many thanks. how we hamilton there. —— holly hamilton. there were 819,000 fewer workers on uk company payrolls in november than at the start of the pandemic — that's accodring to new figures from the office for national statistics. hospitality was the worst hit sector, accounting for a third of the job losses,

followed by retail. our business correspondent sarah corker reports. i was in denial at first, and i went through, like, the stages of grief. nina from dorset worked as cabin crew at virgin atlantic for 15 years, but as the pandemic grounded flights, she was first furloughed and then made redundant injune when the airline laid off more than 3000 staff. the financial pressure has been very great on us, and we've been claiming universal credit, but unfortunately that doesn't cover our basic outgoings, and we've had to really cut back this christmas. unemployment has continued to rise. in the three months to october, the jobless total rose to nearly 1.7 million people and the numbers suggest a worsening trend as unemployment hits 5% in october. and this is the number of people claiming benefits, it went up to 2.7 million. so these might be people in work

but on reduced hours, or using savings and topping up their income with universal credit. since the pandemic began, nearly half a millionjobs have been lost in hospitality and retail, sectors employing a large number of young people. but the over—50s are struggling too. it does get a little bit depressing at times. in lancashire, it's been a tough yearforgraham. his work as a freelance business consultant dried up in march. there are redundancies, people losing theirjobs, when furlough‘s coming to an end you know there is going to be a wave there, so it's a competitive market. i've been trying but, yeah, it gets you down. i've got ten years left of work and, yeah, i think i've got a lot to give. a quiet high street and boarded up shops are one of the most visible reminders of the economic damage of this health crisis. the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online shopping

and our spending habits are changing the types ofjobs available. companies that pick... ..pack... ..and deliver goods to customers have been hiring. there's been an opportunity there to bring more staff in earlier, and at this moment in time there's still a lot of orders that we need to shift, it gives them an opportunity to continue into the new year. back on the south coast, nina has now been offered work from january, and with effective vaccines on the horizon, while there is some optimism, unemployment is expected to continue rising in the months ahead. sarah corker, bbc news. as well as the economic costs of the pandemic, there are very personal stories of loss as well. and the government is coming under further pressure to review its decision to ease coronaviurus restrictions over

christmas as the numbers of covid infections continue to rise. we can speak now to annette gardner who spent 17 days in intensive care in april, after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus. and she is now still suffering long covid said adams and is also said we lost several family members to the virus. —— long covid symptoms. you lost your father very shortly before you yourself got covid—19. lost your father very shortly before you yourself got covid-19. yes, that is right, ben. what happened was my sister went into our parents who we re sister went into our parents who were not very well, called an ambulance because my mom was collapsed and my dad was not breathing very well upstairs. they we re breathing very well upstairs. they were taken to hospital. my sister andi were taken to hospital. my sister and i were then told to isolate at mom and dads house and five days later, my sister and i were both taken into later, my sister and i were both ta ken into hospital. later, my sister and i were both taken into hospital. in the next day, my dad died. and on the friday, the day after that, we was told that

my mom was dying as well and we had to say goodbye to her on the phone. and i think two of your father's's brothers have also lost their wives? my brothers have also lost their wives? my dad is one of four, and three of the boys have now died. —— my dad is one of four, and three of the boys have now died. -- lost their lives. that is an unbelievable toll it is taken on your family. but just talk about you and your expensive covid. i went into hospital, i was coughing, i got a high temperature, i was tachycardic. i went high temperature, i was tachycardic. iwent in high temperature, i was tachycardic. i went in on a wednesday night and by the friday they said i was positive so i went on the covid ward and a few days after that i ended up being in intensive care. so the first thing i remember was when they woke me up and took me off the ventilator and said that i had been on the ventilator for 14 days and then i was put in a big mask with oxygen and i was on that for another

four days before eventually i came onto a normal ward after that. it was really bad. and what about your symptoms not because i mentioned long covid, it is very common amongst people who have had the disease. what are your symptoms now? iam very disease. what are your symptoms now? i am very breathless still. my lungs are damaged and also my liver function is not quite right. ijust get very tired, i had a bad back so i have had to have physio— on my back because as they were returning me to intensive care, my back got a little bit damage but that is getting better. but i'm still not at work, i couldn't manage to do my normal work so i'm off until at least the end of february. but i don't know how long it's going to be until i could feel better. and tell us until i could feel better. and tell us everybody is talking about christmas plans at the moment and whether we can have a normal christmas or anything like a normal

christmas. what are your christmas plans at the end of this absolutely ghastly year for you and your family? i'm going to spend christmas eve and a bit of christmas day with my son first and then i'm going to spend christmas day with my daughter and my other grandson. so i'm shared and my other grandson. so i'm shared a bit between the two children because other than my daughter because other than my daughter because i live on my own, my daughter has been my bubble. i will see my son and his family on christmas eve and christmas day. and it will be different because we used to spend christmas as a whole family with my mum and dad as well, so it will be a very sad christmas. with my mum and dad as well, so it will be a very sad christmasm with my mum and dad as well, so it will be a very sad christmas. it is indeed but how important is it to you that you have that christmas, you that you have that christmas, you had that time with loved ones? because the government as a citizen under pressure to maybe have a rethink on that relaxation over christmas? i think it's very important. i need to have a contact with the children. they have found it very hard, they have had to say

goodbye to me a couple of times when i was goodbye to me a couple of times when iwas in goodbye to me a couple of times when i was in intensive care. they have been through so much. for us as a family, we are going to be separate and not together but at least i could to see the grandchildren and spent and give each of the support really because it is going to be a difficult time. and you have suffered so much this year. what is your message to people who don't a lwa ys your message to people who don't always follow the guidelines or the restrictions on coronavirus, what do you say to them when you have suffered yourself so badly physically but also lost so many members of your family?” physically but also lost so many members of your family? i just say please be careful, just follow the guidelines. be sensible because at the end of the day, i could have died. i'm very lucky to be here, but the actually going through covid and how you feel and all the emotion behind it is not nice and i wouldn't wish it on anybody. well annette, thank you so much for talking to us andi thank you so much for talking to us and i hope you do have a lovely christmas with their loved ones.

thank you very much for being with us on thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. well, the argument has been raging today about the wisdom of the uk government allowing restrictions on covid—19 to be loosened over a five—day period for christmas. critics say with infection rates soaring it would make sense to reduce that to just three days. well, we can speak now to doctor zubaida haque from the independent sage group. the group that shadows the government project advisory group, sage. she joins us live from south london. what is your view on this christening it is a hot topic of debate at the moment.” christening it is a hot topic of debate at the moment. i think when you hear annette's story and you understand why she wants to be with herfamily. she understand why she wants to be with her family. she rightfully understand why she wants to be with herfamily. she rightfully says understand why she wants to be with her family. she rightfully says that she has been through a really risky period, at deaths door several times this year, it's too much of a risk and it is astonishing really that the public recognise that it is a risk, they recognise we are

experiencing soaring coronavirus rates. the government has had to put london into tier three, most of eastern england, southeastern parts of england, northwest parts of england... about 10 million people are now in tier three and get the government is carrying on with its reckless and dangerous policy of saying, "no, it's fine, there is going to be a christmas amnesty this year and you can spend five days of christmas together with three families," which frankly is dangerous, chaotic, and an astonishingly reckless message to give to the public. you say it is reckless and dangerous. at what you say to the argument that in terms of people's mental health, they need just a short reprieve from this, they need a little amnesty over christmas where they can see their loved ones just for a day or so? christmas where they can see their loved onesjust for a day or so? and i completely hear that, i think all ofa i completely hear that, i think all of a sudden one point or the other this year have just lost all heart and we desperately have wanted to be

with our loved ones, ourfriends and we desperately have wanted to be with our loved ones, our friends and so on. but the reality is right now, coronavirus cases are soaring. right now if we get together just as the government have prescribed over five days with three families, frankly, the only thing it's going to be a christmas for is for the coronavirus because people will be infected. what coronavirus basically works in terms of being in contact, people coming into contact. now what independent sage have said then is it is still possible for people to get together. just because you can doesn't mean you should but you can still meet outdoors instead of indoors. if you are meeting indoors then make sure you are not staying overnight if you can avoid it. if you are meeting indoors, try to maintain the social distancing, the handwashing, and the mask wearing. we are at a stage right now where the vaccine is around the corner but

it's not here yet. even if we vaccinate 1 it's not here yet. even if we vaccinate1 million people per week, it's still going to take more than a year to get the vaccine. so we need to carry on being cautious and what we need most of all is for this government to protect us. and right now, carrying on as it is with its christmas amnesty, it's open christmas, that's not going to happen. good to talk to you. thank you so much for your time. dr zubaida haque from time to make independent sage normal thank you. the great british bake 0ffjudge prue leith has become one of the first celebrities to receive the covid—19 vaccine. the 80—year—old chef said she was absolutely delighted to receive the pfizer/biontech vaccine. the rollout began in the uk last week, with healthcare workers, people living in care homes and the elderly being prioritised. eddie izzard is no stranger to epic fundraising challenges —

he ran 28 marathons in 28 days in february. that challenge raised over £140,000 for charity and highlighted eddie's campaign to unite people, countries and communities. but now he's going one step further with his latest sporting feat. this january he's going to be running 31 marathons in 31 days and doing a stand up gig after every one of them. and a little earlier, he explained how it would all happen on a treadmill in london. no one's normally crazy enough to do a marathon on a treadmill. and it's mind—numbing. there are some beautiful treadmills out there, some really good ones but nothing happens! because normally i run somewhere, and when you run somewhere you have to run back to get to your house, but the incentive is there to keep going, you see. but on the treadmill, if you go to the loo, you think, "i'lljust have a sandwich." and then you go, "oh, this is not right." it is going to be tough, i always say this, it is very glib,

but the first ten marathons are the hardest, and then after that it gets easier. is it harder on the feet being on a treadmill than being on a road? or is it easier? no, it's easier on the feet, it seems to be easier on the body. i've been training on it and my hip was complaining, it was talking to me a bit, and then that calmed down. but it feels more springy, so that's good. but you can fall off the thing. you can hit the thing with your hand. i keep hitting the left—hand side, you know, the arm struts that come out. but you have to just get it — i'm going to link up with people, people canjoin me on zoom, they can get on the softwares with swift, and they can sign up and become an avatar and run with me. so, that's going to be fun. so, there is a number of things happening. and the make humanity great again fund is on and active. and the gig's afterwards. as you mentioned, slightly crazy. 0n the last two gigs in february, last two runs in february, i tried the gigs afterwards and they're a bit odd. it is a bit like you are off your head... but i got them done.

and it will have to be one hour, because we are in tier 3 now, they'll have to be streaming gigs. so, these will be streamed out around the world. and crowdfunder. co. uk are going to help me raise money. it's fun. it can reach around the world. that's the fun thing of it. people can be running on a treadmill from anywhere and join me. or they can take photographs in the different cities we're representing and send in photographs from the cities they are representing, be it london, or lisbon, or paris or berlin, or new york, or tokyo, or 0saka. i'm just wondering when you are going to sleep. when are you going to get some kip? well, the kip comes immediately after. when i did it before, you don't have to worry about kipping, because as soon as you've stopped having to do things you do collapse into a heap. and ijust have to take my lipstick off and then i can do it. you've got a cap on saying make humanity great again. a reference i assume to donald

trump's make america great again. what is your message? well, mine is slightly more inclusive. everyone is represented here. my message is, it is a very tough time with covid, with covid nationalism going on, people saying that we have got the vaccine first, and certain countries are not going to happen have it until much later, and i just think this is the 21st—century, it is the coming of humanity. number 21 is number21 is an number 21 is an important time. so i think we have got to be making a stronger connection is now, even though some people are saying that we break connections. i am saying let's make even stronger connections. so this is why i want to reach out around the world to encourage people to say let us do this even more than we have done it before. because this could be the first century where we make it

a fair world for everyone. everyone have a pair chance in life. surely that is worth fighting for? or it is goodbye humanity. i really think it is that high stakes. there is a new strain of covid in london. i just want to push. it is a run for hope. that's what we are calling it. it is positive, i'm transgender, i'm running 31 marathons and doing 31 gigs. i will be doing french in france and germany in berlin. so there will be three languages. and you are raising money for charity? charities that make humanity great. we get the money into the fund, and then we put them out to different charities like unicef and other great charities that make humanity great. most of them do but we pour them out. it's a style that was started by comic relief and sport relief. so we are following that mould.

you can spread all around the world, and people very generous. eddieizzard.com, that is the easy place to go. it'll be a trial. you have done this before. it was only in february you are running 28 marathons in 28 days, and that was before we knew all about the extent of the pandemic. it has been such a year. i know, we finished and then it went into lockdown almost immediately. the fear that was coming. but it was a whisper in the wind at that time. i have done this before, but i have not done it. ido i do six hour marathons. the record is two hours. i'm very slow, but i keep repeating it every day. it is a lot of time on a machine. u nsettled unsettled and mild of the two words that sum up the weather for this week. we had showers around to say and this is how we ended the day in york with patchy cloud here and

there. through tonight things will turn increasingly wet and windy from the west. some easter parts stay dry throughout the course of tonight. ca ptors throughout the course of tonight. captors going down into single figures but milder with the cloud rain and wind was up here is that rain and wind was up here is that rain pushing in across the south west of england, wales, northern ireland into the south west scotland strengthening the gusty southerly winds as well. for the ecf clear skies through the course of tonight. the scriptures will fall into mid to low single figures for some. toward the west, 6—10 the overnight lows. through the course of one say the weather dominated by this area of low pressure with is associated with the fronts slowly working eat words of pumping at the higher pressure sitting across europe so they're not moving through in a hurry. very heavy rain across western parts of britain and northern ireland, gusty southerly winds. east anga and the south—east likely to stay dry for pa rt south—east likely to stay dry for part of the day but the rain arriving to the course of the afternoon. there will be some sunshine for parts of scotland into

northern ireland send wales, southwestern england but also scattered blustery showers. wind gust up to 60 miles power through expose parts of the irish sea. 30 mile proper gusts further east. it will be a plus sort of day. around about 9—11 degrees feeling cool within it did on to say when you add a strength of the wind and the outbreaks of rain around as well. moving through wednesday night into thursday there is a brief ridge of higher pressure and that will squeeze away most of the showers but with low pressure still to the north, scattered showers will affect parts of scotland at times, a few showers possible for the south—east. for much of the uk thursday is predominantly dry before the next area of cloud, rain, and when move in from the west later on in the afternoon. aperture is about 9—13 associates, average for the time of year, heading towards the end of the weekend, scattered showers around, still mild on friday, gradually cooler as we head through the

weekend. sunday probably the dry day of the weekend for bye—bye.

today at six, growing pressure on ministers to change their minds about relaxing covid rules for christmas. we're all getting in the festive mood but leading medical experts say lives could be lost. 0ur health system is not going to manage if we allow the current trend to continue on top of the super spread event that will be these five days at christmas. the decorations are up, and the presents are ready but what if it all falls through? the turkey is on order, 15 lb turkey, if there's onlyjill and i for christmas dinner, that's a hell of a lot of turkey to eat, you know. also on tonight's programme... classroom covid — as one in five secondary pupils in england stays away, the government announces mass