but if you look at the dates, in terms of why mps are thinking there might bea terms of why mps are thinking there might be a deal, the recessed dates and the fact they might have to be in parliament has meant those increase the talks that there is going to be a deal. we also the fact that it's not the talks are going well, but it's definitely a sense that they aren't going disaster relief. i think it was very negative last weekend moments. i think there isa last weekend moments. i think there is a danger in terms of a specific deal coming back because ultimately, what jacob rees—mogg has deal coming back because ultimately, whatjacob rees—mogg has to prepare for is if there is a deal, all these parts of it need to be voted on for the end of the month. when would you factor that in? i think part of this is almost just factor that in? i think part of this is almostjust thinking ahead in terms of the logistics. i think there are lots of tory mps who are not thrilled at the prospect of a boxing day vote. also have time for it to be ratified by the eu. it's

worth remembering proxying boating and remote voting. while it is frowned upon, it is an option. there might bea frowned upon, it is an option. there might be a way... how many mps take as proxies? can you get one poor guy to ta ke as proxies? can you get one poor guy to take the whole lot?” as proxies? can you get one poor guy to take the whole lot? i think that's probably pushing it. but i imagine be up a few people keen to have someone imagine be up a few people keen to have someone come imagine be up a few people keen to have someone come for them and prepare with. i think that would be something to look out for. but in terms of a deal, i think the general assumption amongst tory mps is a deal is more likely than not. very keen to play down expectations. let's go on to dft. —— the -- the ft. i —— the ft. i think -- the ft. i think it —— the ft. i think it was philip hammond who was describing how brinton was maybe wanting to see itself —— how britain.

brinton was maybe wanting to see itself -- how britain. this is a fascinating story, the uk sees itself and with the encouragement of the prime minister has a real rival to singapore as a nation that registers shipping with huge financial benefits. worth a {3.7 billion over three years and a numberof billion over three years and a number of $2500, plus 25,000 in related industries. they are quite extraordinary figures, but that would be at last a gain of brexit presumably. katy, talking about re—designating oil rigs for ships. with this tie in with rishi sunak‘s hopes for freeport? he's always been a supporter of that. yes, he has. when you talk about what the government can say. . .

when you talk about what the government can say... recorders feel strongly about this. i think that when you look ahead, we are expecting a budget in the spring —— a three quarters feel strongly. i think ministers would like to have some good news to announce, perhaps like free ports. the piece points out that the number of ships registered under the uk has gone down. there's clearly a bit of work to do. let's look at the guardian quickly. disruption to schools hits poor areas most. this is the impact on schools because of the pandemic. well, this is, i regret to say, the story of the extremes of rich and poorin story of the extremes of rich and poor in our country, even in the year 2020. they have been shown up as being a children's commissioner has been pointing out, starkly by what has happened during the

pandemic. school attendance has ranged from 37% in the sandwell district of the west midlands as opposed to 92% in south end on c, which is not a usually properly this area “— which is not a usually properly this area —— usually prosperous. children in many schools, state and independent, who have received a lot of online teaching and also children who have received absolutely none. if nothing else comes out of this awful pandemic, putting things like that right would be a huge step forward. katy, can we move onto the post? what to do in terms of funding for

hsz. what to do in terms of funding for h52. yes, i think the concern for support is there are lots of transport links, railways, trains that ought to be fixed and ultimately, the concerned is because of hs2 in the huge sum of money, that could mean these regional services do not get the same look and. ithink services do not get the same look and. i think this is the... he obviously chose to press ahead and i think the length of time it takes, also in terms of how coronavirus has changed with lots of people working at home. that might not be permanent, but even if we do get back to normal from a vaccine, perhaps businesses are going to alter how many people they need, there are questions about what links in terms of our transport. while some people want those local links

more than perhaps connecting london to various cities. a few seconds left. meghan and harry new podcast. what you think. i suppose there will be many people tonight saying what next for harry and meghan. i have no objection to them doing what they like, ijust hopein them doing what they like, ijust hope in decades' time, neither of them regret what has happened in the past year. quite a lot of money after that hundred million dollars netflix. i hope we have more time but we have so many papers in. katy and david, thank you very much indeed.

good evening. this is your sports news. chelsea missed the chance to move top of the premier league after pedro neto scored the winner for wolves in the fifth minute of added on time at moilneux. olivier giroud had put chelsea ahead in the second half, but daniel podence levelled matters just after the hour mark, and then with 95 minutes on the clock, neto grabbed the winner to hand wolves a first win in three matches, taking them tenth. a draw by west brom having gone ahead on the half hour mark through ilkay guendogan, but a rubenm dias own goaljust before half time brought it level with albion keeper sam johnstone making some vital saves late on. tomorrow, arsenal will be looking for a much needed win over southampton 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 that we embrace fighting and no one giving up for anything. there is no time to hide, it's time to put your face no time to hide, it's time to put yourface and no time to hide, it's time to put your face and body on the line. at the moment, i'm sorry, but we have to ta ke the moment, i'm sorry, but we have to take the bullet. we are not winning matches. have the right to hate me because i'm not winning, so what else can i do? put my head down, work harder and fight to do things better and improve. bournemouth are the new leaders in the championship after a 1—0 win over ten man wycombe. junior stanislas got the goal, while brentford also had a player sent off at watford. despite being a goal down, an ivan toney penalty was enough for thomas frank's side to snatch a point side

to snatch a point. elsewhere, barnsley beat preston 2—1 to go ninth, millwall won at bristol city, nottingham forest moved clear of the relegation zone with a win over bottom side sheffield wednesday and it was goalless between stoke and qpr. hibernian are into the scottish league cup semi finals after beating championship club alloa 2—1. a paul hanlon own goal had put alloa ahead, but two second half goals from christian doidge saw hibs progress to the last four. elsewhere, dunfermline beat stjohnstone on penalties after it finished i—i after extra time. rangers will be without striker alfredo morelos for their quarter final at st mirren tomorrow. the club have accepted a two—game ban following this incident in sunday's win at dundee united. he'll also miss saturday's league match against motherwell. 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. the first day of the world darts championship saw a lucky crowd of 1000 at alexandra palace in london, and they were treated to something a little different. defending champion peter wright came out dressed as the grinch for his match up with steve west, which he comfortably won 3 sets to i. tier 3 restrictions come into effect from midnight, meaning tomorrow will see no fans able to attend. sir frank williams, who built the williams team into one of the most successful in formula i, is in a stable condition in hospital. the 78—year—old's family said his condition is a private matter and won't release any further details. he had spent time in hospital in 2016 with pneumonia. he and daughter claire stepped away from williams earlier this year after its sale to us investors.

one other f1 line. briton callum ilott will be ferrari's test driver next year. the 22—year—old finished second to mick schumacher in formula 2 and said the move was a "great opportunity". 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—over a side 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". the club say they've 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. and just one line to bring you that's on our website. it comes from the nba. milwaukee bucks star giannis antetokounmpo has signed a five—year contract extension worth just over £170 million, the richest deal in the sport's history. there's more on that and all the other stories at bbc.co. uk/sport. hello there. a deep area of low pressure spreading northwards across western

parts of the country overnight. it's brought a swathe of rain and gales. and it's going to stay pretty windy throughout the day today with further heavy rain at times, which will continue to move northwards and eastwards. so, a wet, windy start across much of the west, that heavy rain pushing across much of scotland, followed by blustery showers for northern ireland, western scotland. a band of rain will spread eastwards across england as well, though not reaching the far southeast until later on. it's going to be a windy day for all but not as windy in the afternoon as how the morning will start, as the winds will slowly ease down. another fairly mild day on the face of it, nine to 11 degrees, but factor in the wind, it might not feel quite mild. now, wednesday's low pushes to the north of the uk. we're between weather systems for thursday, so it's going to be another fairly breezy day but dry for many, with some good spells of sunshine, particularly across eastern scotland, eastern england. and there will be some showers around, particularly in the west, and then later in the day, we'll start to see some rain piling in. it's going to be another mild one for most.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. as coronavirus continues to claim lives across europe, the netherlands begins five weeks of restrictions, while germany goes into a hard lockdown on wednesday. just eight days before covid restrictions are relaxed in england over christmas, two leading medicaljournals say the move would be a mistake and cost many lives. a senior republican finally breaks ranks with donald trump — senate majority leader mitch mcconnell speaks to joe biden and congratulates him on his election win. so, today, i want to congratulate president—electjoe biden. the president—elect is no stranger to the senate. he's devoted himself to public service for many years.