this is bbc news. the headlines at 6... nearly 18 million people in london and south—east england move into stricter tier 4 restrictions from midnight — people must stay at home and non—essential shops have to close. for those in tier 4, it means the relaxation of rules at christmas has been scrapped and reduced to one day, the 25th, for the rest of england. we must be realistic. we're sacrificing the chance to see our loved ones this christmas so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so that we can see them at future christmases. the new restrictions are due to a spike in cases that's being blamed on a fast—spreading

new variant of the disease. the whole of wales is to be placed under lockdown from midnight with festive rules cancelled for all but christmas day. scotland announces tighter festive restrictions, reducing a five—day window for mixing with other households indoors to just christmas day itself as well as a strict travel ban between itself and the rest of the uk. borisjohnson has announced a new tougher level of coronavirus restriction in england after scientists said a mutation of covid—19 was spreading rapidly in london,

the south—east and east of the country. the variant is said to be much more contagious but doesn't cause more serious illness. from midnight tonight, tier 4 restrictions will apply in all current tier 3 areas in the south east including london, kent, buckinghamshire, berkshire and hertfordshire. that's more than 17 milllion people. in this new tier, a stay—at—home order will be issued to residents except for those travelling to work or for education, there will be no christmas bubbles, social mixing will be restricted to meeting one other person in an open public space, non—essential shops will close, along with personal services such as gyms, beauty salons and hairdressers, no—one should enter or leave a tier 4 area, and there are also changes

to the advice for those living in tiers 1—3 in england. the so—called christmas bubbles will be restricted to just christmas day. the advice is to remain local and not to travel internationally. our political editor, laura kuennsberg, has the full story. another twist in 2020's terrible karma — the virus is outpacing politicians' and the public‘s attempt to get hold of itjust at the time of year when journeys are meant to bring us together. from midnight, travel from london's paddington or anywhere in the south—east will be banned, the government cancelling families' christmas plans. this couple have already decided not to see family. it was never a good idea tojust say, we shouldn't have any restrictions over a short period. it's not like covid is going to take a break. or anything like that, so itjust made no sense whatsoever and it's messing with people's minds.

this man from south london resolved his big family won't get together. i think i'm choosing to be wise and say, look, let's celebrate later on next year. i think the consequences of actually mingling are just too great. this man, a teacher, won't see his family from italy now either. it's a very annoying situation, but i can't see it getting better because they're talking about now zone 4, which is even stricter. i can't understand what's stricter than this. the prime minister pushed to take action he decided against earlier this week. it is with a very heavy heart i must tell you we cannot continue with christmas as planned. in england, those living in tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household at christmas, though support bubbles will remain in place for those at particular risk of loneliness or isolation. we have a particularly fast—moving problem with increased numbers

in the area going into tier 4 but a generalised increase across the country. there were calls for you to drop the plans for christmas last week just a few days ago but, on wednesday, you told me and our viewers it would be inhuman to change the plans, and now that's exactly what you've done. aren't there millions of people whose plans have just been torn up entitled to feel that you just left this too late? of course we bitterly regret the changes that are necessary but, alas, when the facts change, you have to change your approach, and the briefing i had yesterday about this mutation of the virus, particularly the speed of transmission, was not possible to ignore. if someone is packing a bag right now listening to you and watching, trying to leave the south—east by midnight, what should they do? my short answer would be to please

unpack it at this stage. i raised this with the prime minister on wednesday and he dismissed that and told me to have a merry little christmas. only three days later, to rip up their plans and i think the british public is entitled to more decisive leadership than that. they are getting confusion where they need certainty. another upset, another change of heart in number 10. after a year many of us would rather forget, a christmas that might be remembered for all the wrong reasons as well. nick eardley is with me. we have been following the build—up to this are now reaction are starting to come in, so take us through what people are thinking and how they are feeling. through what people are thinking and how they are feelinglj through what people are thinking and how they are feeling. i think is quite a lot of shock at how quickly the situation has moved on 72 hours from the law stays the same for

christmas to christmas effectively being cancelled for a lot of people and huge lockdown measures being brought in for massive parts of the uk. politically, ithink brought in for massive parts of the uk. politically, i think boris johnson will get criticism for not making this decision earlier, we heard keir starmer saying this evening that he supports the decision but wishes that boris johnson had said something a bit earlier. interestingly, we are hearing from a number of tory mps who are lockdown sceptics who are saying they are frustrated that this has not been brought before parliament, they want to vote in the commons, they are suggesting the parliament might even have to be recalled to discuss this but at this stage i don't think that's particularly likely. this will have a massive impact on the economy as well and we have heard from the cbi in the last hour saying it's right that the government takes the necessary steps needed to protect

public health, many retailers were looking to claw back lost ground after hardy, nonessential shops in england and wales are closing tonight, so they are suggesting that support might have to be looked at again. clearly, there is a lot of concern tonight and i think that many people will be re—evaluating their plans based on what we have just heard for scotland, wales and england as well. it's really big moment in his pandemic and it feels like one of the most surprising. when you look at the speed at which these new measures are being implemented as well, really underscoring how serious it is. yes, so underscoring how serious it is. yes, so the new underscoring how serious it is. yes, so the new measures underscoring how serious it is. yes, so the new measures in england, and at midnight tonight, so if you are currently at in the south—east of england, london or the east of england, london or the east of england, you will now be in tearful from midnight, meaning nonessential shops will close here, hairdressers,

james will close as well, in those areas, christmas bubbles have been scrapped. if you live in the west of england, christmas bubbles will go ahead but one day only on christmas day. in scotland, christmas bubbles are also being limited tojust day. in scotland, christmas bubbles are also being limited to just one day. but on boxing day, the whole of scotland, the mainland, will go into the top level of restrictions, level four. that means there will be significant curtailment of what you can do most of scotland as well. it's also worth pointing out that nicola sturgeon talked about a travel ban between scotland and england, she doesn't want anyone travelling from england to scotland over the next few weeks, and in wales there will be lockdown effective at midnight, so really fast moving, nothing changing in northern ireland yet but a huge day for the uk northern ireland yet but a huge day forthe uk in northern ireland yet but a huge day for the uk in this pandemic.

nicola sturgeon has announced tighter festive restrictions for scotland, reducing a five—day window for mixing with other households indoors to just christmas day itself. let's hear what scotland's first minister had to say earlier. in order to reduce the risk of more of the strain imported into scotland we intend to maintain a strict travel ban between scotland and the rest of the uk. unfortunately, and i am genuinely sorry about this, that ban will remain in place right throughout the festive period. we simply cannot risk more of this new strain entering the country if we can possibly avoid it. that means people from scotland not visiting other parts of the uk and vice versa, cross—border travel for all but the most essential purposes is not permitted. we are also asking police scotland and transport operators to consider how the

enforcement of this can be strengthened in the period ahead although of course how that is done is an operational matter for the chief constable. we will also review urgently over the next day or so the position on international travel and i will update on that early next week but in the meantime my strong advice continues to be against nonessential foreign travel. thirdly, we have already advised that where possible people should celebrate christmas at home in their owh celebrate christmas at home in their own household and meet with others outdoors only. the five—day flexibility from the 23rd until the 27th of december was planned to recognise the impact of loneliness and the difficulty i know we all feel in leaving loved ones alone over christmas. however, earlier this week we advise that people should meet indoors with other households if at all or no more than one day over the five—day period. given the concern we now have about this new strain, we now intend to change the law to allow indoor

mixing ina change the law to allow indoor mixing in a bubble on christmas day only. from midnight on christmas day to midnight going into boxing day. in large parts of england, as the prime minister hasjust in large parts of england, as the prime minister has just announced, that will not even be allowed. we will allow christmas day to go ahead but as we have said from the start only use this flexibility if you really truly need to. this new strain makes that message all the more important. our advice is still not to meet indoors, even on christmas day, with other households if you can possibly avoid it. if you had people travelling to join you from elsewhere in the uk for christmas, that will no longer be permitted and equally it will no longer be permitted for any of us to travel to anywhere to the rest of the uk for christmas, we simply cannot take the risk of this strain travelling from different parts of the uk.

the whole country is set to be moved into the tightest level of restrictions from boxing day. the first minister has introduced a travel ban for people coming into mainland scotland. and the relaxation of the christmas rose in scotla nd relaxation of the christmas rose in scotland will be limited to christmas day online as well. for schools, the holiday period will be extended until the 11th of january, but there will be online learning until the 18th of january apart from children of key workers as we saw in the first lockdown in march. let's speak to our correspondent, james cook. the first thing i would like to bring up is the fact that nicola sturgeon was keen, she said not to let the figures run out of control

as they have done in england and she said the country is still in the phase where we can take preventative action, described to us where scotla nd action, described to us where scotland is and what she means by preventative action. where scotland is in terms of this new variant of the virus, which scientists are telling the government, both governments, is considerably more transmissible. nicola sturgeon repeating the prime minister's statement that it may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant. she said there are only 17 confirmed cases of that new variant in scotland but since we heard that she has been cautioning and her experts are standing with her and they have been saying that reaching that type of sequencing, figuring out which strain is spreading, takes quite a long time, so they'll put some parts of scotland where there is an uptake of the virus and the figures for scotland have started to come up, and the suspicion is the

new variant is here and more significant numbers already, so that's the concern. whether or not i that's the concern. whether or not i that the scottish authorities of the authorities elsewhere in the uk can actually stop it, i don't think anyone knows at this stage but as you have outlined, pretty tough measures coming in in scotland to try to do so. not only reducing that five—day window for indoor mixing to just christmas day itself, and the first minister who said all along even though that is the advice she really thinks that people should be more cautious and not do that unless it is absolutely essential that they need to, so that is happening, but also this lockdown effectively beginning on boxing day for three weeks, and as nick was saying a few minutes ago, what a blow to business thatis minutes ago, what a blow to business that is in scotland because you're talking about the boxing day sales, nonessential retail closing,

hairdressers and james closing. so a huge economic blow coming down the line and of course there has been some reaction to that. in the last few minutes, we have heard from the leader of the labour party in scotland. richard leonard asking for the detail as to what lies behind this, he says evidence needs to be published, we need transparency, openness, there needs to be a substantial rise in testing as well otherwise they won't just substantial rise in testing as well otherwise they won'tjust be disappointment, people might not obey the rules. wales is also introducing tighter restrictions, with the whole country moving into lockdown from midnight. here's first minister mark drakeford. we have had new information shared with us today about the new variant in its seriousness and as a result isa in its seriousness and as a result is a cabinet we have decided to bring forward to tonight the restrictions that were already planned for immediately after

christmas and over the christmas period itself what would have been five days of relaxation are being collapsed simply to one day, christmas day itself. i know you we re christmas day itself. i know you were worried about the christmas period potentially being a super spreader event, are you still co mforta ble spreader event, are you still comfortable with that, even though it's just one day of relaxation? comfortable with that, even though it'sjust one day of relaxation? we know there is more than one form of harm from coronavirus, there will be people who are lonely, isolated, who will have made plans for christmas day itself and provided people go about it all carefully and responsibly i think that's something we can accommodate, despite the seriousness of the situation we face. what about support for businesses that will have to from midnight? will that package be accelerated in light of the restrictions? we are doing our best to bring it forward as fast as we can with our colleagues in local government and any extra help that

is made available to businesses in england because of the prime minister's announcement, money that comes to wales because of that, all of that will be made available to businesses in wales. we can speak now to james williams, our news correspondent, who is in cardiff. take us through reaction to those announcements. it is only wednesday that the first minister announced a tightening of the rules here in wales, he announced that there would bea wales, he announced that there would be a staggered introduction of a full lockdown starting from christmas eve when nonessential shops would close at the end of trade, then on christmas day hospitality would close at 6pm before the full lockdown introduced 0h before the full lockdown introduced on the 20th of december. he also announced that the christmas relaxation period of five days would be different here in wales, there would only be... they would only

allow to households to mix compared to three in the rest of the united kingdom. fast forward three days and those plants have been ripped up, accelerated and tightened so from midnight tonight the full lockdown is been introduced to all hospitality will close, all nonessential retail closed, people told to stay at home unless it is absolutely essential for them to leave their house and in terms of christmas, that five—day period is becoming a one day period, just for christmas day itself, two households allowed to meet and one other as well if they need to, and that is the breakdown of the family unit. the welsh conservatives say they com pletely the welsh conservatives say they completely understand why the first minister has made that announcement. he briefed the leader of the conservatives and said ahead of the announcement, we have had a statement from the tories, but many independent members of the senate

angry with this announcement, saying it has been foisted on businesses and people at the very last minute and people at the very last minute and it's something that should have been given far more time to bed in anfar more been given far more time to bed in an far more rigorous assessment of whether it's the right thing to do, but the first minister as we already had in that clip absolutely sure it's the right thing to do because of this new variant of the virus. we already knew it was present here in wales, they now think it's far more present than they first thought, and what is crucial here is that they don't believe that most tests at the moment are actually picking up this new variant, it is only certain tests in certain lighthouse labs run by the uk government that are picking up this new variant, hundreds picked up in wales already, but there could be many more of them because they are not or picking them up because they are not or picking them up so the first minister believing it's the right thing to do given the in wales the numbers in terms of its case rates and positivity have been

much higher parts of the united kingdom. —— than in other parts. there were 20,000 cases —— 27,000 new cases. 534 deaths were recorded in the last 2a hours. that is of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. 0n people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. on average, in the past week, there were a36 deaths per day, bringing the total number of deaths across the uk to 67,000. callum is a professor of medicine at the university of liverpool. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we heard a lot of

figures and statistics, 70% more transmissible, six in ten people within the affected area who have this new variant, how concerned are you by those figures? the concern here is that this virus is moving to the community very quickly. much faster than the previous strain. and this means that it will cause more disease in more people in the same amount of time, services and our hospitals. we keep hearing people saying it's not unusualfor viruses to do this, when you look at when you say, this is a virulent virus? at the moment, we are saying it's very contagious, its transmissibility is high, but we are worried about the relents. this is

already nastier than influencer, so we are already at that point that this is recognised to be a dangerous virus, so that does not change. we have no reason to believe it is becoming any more dangerous than existing strains but we will look for this very carefully over the coming weeks. there is a delay between anything that happens in the community, whether that is a lockdown virus, because it takes time for people to come into hospital then they typically have a i—2—week stay in hospital before they either make a good recovery or sadly passed away and then a further delay the reporting so typically it's taking i7—2i delay the reporting so typically it's taking 17—21 days between anything that happens to a result where we can say, this is a nasty strain, causing more severe disease, but we have no evidence for that. do you think the public have got fatigue in terms of compliance and thinking we can now manage covid—i9

from when it first started and we hit those early peaks? you hear the chief medical adviser saying that in terms of the immune response, there is no concern yet. there are two questions, the first is about fatigue. i'm not a behavioural specialist but my understanding is that in areas where there are higher regulations people to adhere to them on the whole so it's not a case of fatigue. you do get permutations with behaviour at the start of a tear where people tend to be out and be silly and rushed to the shops so we hope we will not see that on this occasion. the second question is about immunity, there is nothing to suggest here at the moment that this will prevent the virus being preve nta ble will prevent the virus being preventable by the vaccine. the vaccine is very effective so even if it were to move from 65%

effectiveness to 90%, that is still much better than most vaccines we have four other viral diseases such as influenza so we should remain optimistic. the other aspect is vaccine is editable because it's like an e—mail, so there is good reason to believe we will have a vaccine in the coming months that may contain several different flavours of the virus code to cover both the new variant in past variants. this is not the first time this will happen and it will not be the last time. we will see many more variations, we want to call them mutants, that is inappropriate, but we will see variations of the coming yea rs. we will see variations of the coming years. —— we don't want. we will see variations of the coming years. -- we don't want. in your experience of dealing with disease like this, are the current ta restrictions and the geographic limitations enough? we do know that

regulations when adhered to work. i will not give a political commentary because i would lose my trust equity ifi because i would lose my trust equity if i did that. but what i can say is that what drives these outbreaks is human behaviour so if people stay—at—home when they are sick, if they stay at home if they don't have to go to work, that will be very important, if they can limit social distancing when they are outside the home that will be very important, so the marginal gains for a cyclist in a cycle race, the big difference is stay at home, that is the key issue. all the other aspects are marginal gains so maintaining social distancing, wearing a facemask all add up to reduce transmission, but now more than ever we need to be very careful. thank you very much indeed. the retail and hospitality sectors have faced unprecedented challenges this year because of the pandemic. today's announcement that all non—essential shops will have to close in areas moving into tier a

will be a further blow to retailers in the last weekend before christmas. thank you for speaking to us here this afternoon. first, your reaction to london entering ta. it's horrific but this is what the science tells us we need to do, businesses will step up to the plate and do what they are required to do, no question. but it is a very serious blow and i'm really disappointed the prime minister had not done this earlier and therefore enabled businesses to prepare better. so it's the preparation that is having the most impact, not the fact he would have had the restrictions? the restrictions of course have a huge impact but they are inevitable, that is what science tells us we must do

to try and stop this new variant of spreading further, but there are ways in which you can mitigate that and that means the prime minister behaving in a prudent and responsible way but i'm afraid he just seems to have this whimsy of hoping everything will turn out for the best in the decision for me is too late, and when they are made businesses do not know what support they will get, we now have businesses all over london, the engine of the country's economy, this is not just engine of the country's economy, this is notjust any city, it is 20% of our country's economy and wealth generated in london who are actually closing now and they thought they would have a couple more days left to try and sell some of their goods, and they haven't. it's a desperate blow for them and there is no sign of the chancellor telling them what help they need and at the end of this month they would still pay their rates and rent and they will have to do their vat returns, at the very least the chancellor should announce immediately that all affected businesses should not be handing over money to the

government, local or national, through taxation. there will be businesses north of london and the south—east who are saying, it is coming our way, we need to prepare. what would your businesses and members have done had they had the notice you have said to mitigate the impact? what would your advice be looking to those to prepare? control your costs, don't buy stock, don't commit yourself to spending money. how big your cash very carefully. and do not rely on the government telling you to do that in time, just assume it's coming, stop spending money and start hoarding. and what needs to happen in terms of support for businesses to get through this phase? immediately, particularly small enterprises and independent enterprises required to shut or cannot operate any more should be

getting cash grants directly from the government and through the local authority and the government should immediately announce the suspension of all requirements to pay any form of all requirements to pay any form of taxation, vat, national insurance, income tax, it doesn't mean to say that businesses will not have to pay them eventually but at least they can hang onto that cash now because that may make the difference between surviving and dying. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello again. the heavy rain we have seen over recent days have been working into our with her catchments causing a few issues. we've got similar flooding causing a few issues. we've got similarflooding building in an we've got that rivers coming over the banks here in worcestershire. and it's not just the banks here in worcestershire. and it's notjust across parts of the midlands risking flood warnings, estimate for us across other areas of england, wales and scotland. about 30 flood warnings in force at the moment. today has been a day of

sunshine and showers and overnight though showers will