hello there. well, we‘ve seen a lot of heavy rain over recent days, particularly targeting parts of southwest england, southern wales and areas of scotland, as well. and all that water has been running into the river catchments, the rivers now running very high and we‘ve got a number of flood warnings currently in force across the uk — particularly england, wales, scotland — with around 30 flood warnings currently in force. now, weather—wise today it‘s been a day of sunshine and showers. those showers are particularly widespread across western areas. and overnight tonight, it is across the west and particularly the northwest where we‘ll continue to see the most frequent showers. so quite a wet night for west scotland and northern ireland. eastern areas seeing the fewest showers, but nowhere is immune from seeing an odd downpour, and it will stay quite windy — particularly close to our coasts and over some of the hills good evening. in the past hour borisjohnson has in the west, with gusts of about 30 or 40 miles an hour. announced a new tougher level of coronavirus restriction temperatures, not desperately cold — in england, after scientists said looking at lows of four a mutation of covid—19 was spreading rapidly in london, to six degrees celsius. the south east and tomorrow, another day of sunshine east of the country. and showers and, again, the variant is said to be much more the showers will be most frequent contagious but doesn't cause more across the northwest and showers serious illness. tending to merge together to give from midnight tonight, some longer spells of rain tier 4 restrictions will apply in all current tier 3 areas across northern ireland and west scotland as we head in the south east including london, into the afternoon. kent, buckinghamshire, it turns windier here as well. berkshire, and hertfordshire. that's more than 17 milllion people. in this new tier, a stay showers probably ease off for a time

at home order will be issued to residents across wales and southwest england, except for those travelling to work but it‘s going to be a cooler day or for education. wherever you are — temperatures eight to 11 degrees celsius. there will be no christmas bubbles. into next week, another area of low pressure is going to be sliding its way eastwards across england and wales, social mixing will be restricted bringing another bout to meeting one other person in an open public space. of fairly heavy rain. nonessential shops will close, along and given that the ground with personal services such as gyms, is saturated, we could well see some beauty salons and hairdressers. further localised flooding issues. further north, we‘ve also got no one should enter a weather front that will be pushing its way in across scotland — or leave a tier 4 area. that will be bringing rain and there are also which, again, won‘t be particularly welcome. mild across england and wales — changes to the advice up to 13 or 14 degrees celsius in the warmest spots. for those living in tiers 1 to 3 in england. the so—called ‘christmas further north, it‘s bubbles‘ will be restricted turning colder on monday. to just christmas day. scotland, northern ireland, northern england, temperatures closer to about six degrees celsius. the cold air stays to the north the advice is to remain local and not to travel of the uk on tuesday. internationally. tuesday and wednesday sees this our political editor, weather front extending across england and wales, laura kuennsberg bringing yet more rain. has the full stiry. but eventually we are going to see the colder weather across scotland, another twist in 2020's terrible,. northern ireland and northern england sinking southwards that the pirate is outpacing as we head closer to christmas. politician and the publics attempt so, by the big day, we‘ll all be to get hold of itjust when the time

in that colder air — of year journeys are to get hold of itjust when the time temperatures hovering around six of yearjourneys are meant to get hold of itjust when the time of year journeys are meant to to get hold of itjust when the time of yearjourneys are meant to bring to eight degrees celsius us of yearjourneys are meant to bring us together. from midnight, through the afternoons. it will be much drier, mind you, travelled from london's paddington or anywhere in the south—east will with some sunshine and some sharp morning frosts. be banned, the government cancelling family christmas plans point of this couple have already decided not to see family. it was never a good idea to say we are not about any restrictions, it's not like covid was going to take a break. itjust made no sense and it is messing with peoples minds. this man with all of his big family will not get together. i think i am choosing to be wise and say let's celebrate later on next year. i think the consequences of later on next year. i think the consequences of mingling are too great. this man will not see his family from italy. it's an annoying situation but i can't see it getting better. because they are talking about zone for which is even hello. stricter and i can't understand what this is bbc news. is stricter than this. of the prime a short while ago,

minister pushed to take action and the prime minister confirmed that london and the south east would now decided against earlier this week. it's with a very heavy heart i must face new tier 4 restrictions, tell you we cannot continue with which were similar to christmas as planned. in england, the november lockdown. he also said the plans to ease those living in tier 4 areas should restrictions over christmas not mix with anyone outside their would have to be dropped because of a rise in cases fuelled own household at christmas. although by a new variant of covid—19. support bubbles will remain in place for those at particular risk of we must, i‘m afraid, loneliness or isolation. we have a look again at christmas and, as prime minister, it‘s my duty particularly fa st loneliness or isolation. we have a particularly fast moving problem to take difficult decisions, with increased numbers in the area to do what is right to protect the people of this country. going into tier 4 but a generalised increase across the country put up given the early evidence we have there were calls for you to drop the on this new variant of the virus, christmas plans last week. just a the potential risk it poses, few days ago. on wednesday you told it is with a very heart i must tell us few days ago. on wednesday you told us it would be inhuman to change the you we cannot continue plans and that is exactly what you with christmas as planned. have done. and the millions of in england, those living in tier 4 people whose plans have been torn up areas should not mix with anyone entitled to feel you left this too outside their own household late? of course we bitterly regret at christmas, though support bubbles will remain in place the changes that are necessary but for those at particular risk

alas, when the facts change, you of loneliness or isolation. have to change your approach and the across the rest of the country, briefing i had yesterday about this the christmas rules allowing up to three households to meet will now mutation of the virus, particularly be limited to christmas day only the speed of transmission, was not possible to ignore. if someone is rather than the five days, as previously set out. packing a bag right now listening to as before, there will be no you and watching, trying to leave relaxation on the 31st of january, the south—east by midnight, what so people must not break the rules should they do? my short answer at new year. would be to please unpack it at this they must not break stage. the problem is most acute in the rules at new year — it‘s very, very important to emphasise that. the south—east but there is concern i know how much emotion people every work with nicola sturgeon warning they could be preventative invest in this time of year action and in wales, a limited lockdown is on the weight straight and how important it is, after christmas but arlene foster in northern ireland also under tight for instance, for grandparents to see their grandchildren, restrictions and said the situation was very concerning. uk opposition for families to be together, leaders had already called for a so i know how disappointing this will be. rethink. i am really frustrated but we have said throughout this because i raised this with the prime pandemic that we must, minister on wednesday and he dismissed that and went on to tell and we will be, guided people to have a merry little christmas. only three days later, to by the science.

rip up their plans and i think the british public is entitled to more when the science changes, decisive leadership than that. they we must change our response. and when the virus changes are getting confusion where they its method of attack, we must need certainty. another upset, change our method of defence. another change of heart in number 10. after a year many of us would and as your prime minister, rather forget, a i sincerely believe there is no 10. after a year many of us would ratherforget, a christmas that alternative open to me. might be remembered for all the wrong reasons as well. it was what without action, the evidence suggests that infections would soar, the prime minister was desperate to hospitals would become overwhelmed, avoid effectively cancelling and many thousands more christmas but leaving the decision so christmas but leaving the decision so late we just put millions of would lose their lives. people in a bind. it is a very and i want to stress that we are not alone in this fight or in taking tricky situation and no doubt it these types of decisions — will be very disappointed but many many of our european friends of our viewers who are hearing this and neighbours are being forced news and there will be mailed knock—on effects for millions of to take similar action. people around the country. it is not we‘re working closely as draconian as the first lockdown with the devolved administrations to protect people in every part in march but make no mistake, it is of the uk and, of course, a really significant hardening of there is now real, real hope the rules for a third of the that we will soon be rid of this population and there will be changes to how everybody is allowed and virus, and that prospect is growing permitted to celebrate christmas in england and there could be at with every day that passes and every knock—on effects for other parts of

the uk where there are already vaccine dose that is administered. tighter restrictions in northern as you know, the uk was the first ireland for example. first and country in the western world to start using a clinically approved foremost, this is of course a reflection of the very significant vaccine, and so, please, concern at the top of government if the nhs contacts you, about how the virus is taking off then get your vaccine and join again. this new variant is really the 350,000 people across making a difference to the spread of the uk who have already the disease in the last week or so, had theirfirst dose. they said. but from a political point of view, it is also tricky for yes, christmas this year will be the prime minister because it gives more ammunition to his critics who different, very different, have said all the way through this but we must be realistic. we‘re sacrificing the chance pandemic that time and again downing street has dragged its feet when it to see our loved ones this christmas has come to taking the big decisions and very often they have been so we have a better chance accused of simply acting too late. of protecting their lives but no mistake, this has all along so that we can see them been a real dilemma for politicians at future christmases. who are trying to balance up our own and as sure as night follows day, freedoms, what is happening with the we‘ll beat back this virus, we‘ll economy, and the very real threat to defeat it and reclaim our lives. human life as well. laura kuenssberg, thank you. the latest government figures on coronavirus show there were 27,052 cases

in the latest 24—hour period. nick eardley is with me. the average number of new infections reported per day in the last week is now 24,752. borisjohnson was boris johnson was taking borisjohnson was taking us through england, there are also the other 534 deaths were recorded for the last 2a hours — nations, we have heard about wales? that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. huge restrictions in england, almost on average in the past week, a third of the population under tier there were a36 deaths per day. 4, which is a form of lockdown, and the total number of uk for everyone else christmas bubble deaths is now 67,075. is limited to one day, wales has our medical editor, announced in the last 20 minutes fergus walsh, is here. that it will go into a full lockdown tell us more about this new variant and why it‘s influenced ministers‘ from midnight tonight, that was expected just after christmas, it is decisions over christmas. now happening from midnight tonight, because of its transmissibility. the now happening from midnight tonight, now level four will be adopted from 12 o‘clock. they have also limited government says they estimate it the christmas relaxation to one day. could be up to 70% more i‘m expecting in the next few transmissible than the previous minutes we were here very similar message from nicola sturgeon, the variants that are out there and that isa variants that are out there and that is a really significant amount because they suggest it could relaxation of the christmas will be significantly curtailed probably increase the r number which is

currently between 1.1, and 1.2, by just a one day, and the potential as much as 0.4 which means the that some areas will go fairly soon epidemic will grow much more into their top tier level four, speedily and it will be harder to which is quite similar to lockdown as well with nonessential shops and control. it is crucial we remember there is no evidence that it causes things like that closing. people in more serious disease. viruses mutate places like glasgow will be very familiar with that but we can hear from nicola sturgeon any minute now. all the time and every now and again by chance one comes along that gives them an evolutionary edge and make them an evolutionary edge and make them more transmissible. often that actually makes them less lethal thank you forjoining us, and you point of this was first identified can imagine that us in speaking to in kent in late september but it you at 5:30pm on the saturday before already accounts for around six in christmas having just chaired a ten cases in london and parts of the meeting of my cabinet and spoke to east of england, spreading at lower the leaders of the opposition levels to the rest of the uk and parties suggest a serious situation found in some other countries. and also suggests a situation that necessitates action. the information coronavirus is actually much more sta ble coronavirus is actually much more stable than some other viruses like that i and my cabinet have received flu, we need a new flu vaccine every today about the new variant of the year, and there is no evidence at the moment that covid vaccines will covid virus that has been identified be any less effective. 350,000 in the uk suggests to me that we now people have had their first dose of do face a very serious situation. it

the vaccine and in a sense the government is saying to hold on for is, in fact, other people to be protected. thank do face a very serious situation. it is, infact, probably do face a very serious situation. it is, in fact, probably the most serious and potentially dangerous you, fergus walsh, our medical juncture we have faced since the editor. the retail and hospitality sectors start of the covid pandemic in have faced unprecedented challenges this year because of the pandemic. february and march. that means we today‘s announcement that all nonessential shops will have to close in areas moving into tier 4 have to take this seriously and it will be a further blow to retailers in the last means that we have to act weekend before christmas. our business correspondent, accordingly and appropriately. the katy austin, reports. upside, although i appreciate that there were plenty of shoppers out given what i am about to set out to and about on oxford street in london you, it may seem appropriate to be this afternoon but all nonessential talking about upsides, but the stores will have to close after upside is that if we do act now and today under tier 4. for this small you aren‘t from now, we cannot men‘s clothes shop in kent it is a huge blow. devastating, awful. we prevent that serious situation and materialising. —— we can prevent. have another five days i think of the advantage we have in scotland, trading up to christmas when we unlike some would take a lot of money, potentially. and we won‘t take a penny. this weekend the last before christmas would normally be one of the busiest if not the busiest weekend of year for retailers. just

today, more areas of england have 00:10:05,204 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 moved into tier 3 restrictions