out organisations to recruit more scientists to work around the clock, and to hire more staff to help find volunteers more quickly. —— thrown at organisations. and because covid—19 has been so widespread, finding volunteers to test the vaccine on has been easier than in other trials. when enough data has been gathered, it is submitted to a country's regulators for approval. scientific and clinical experts review it to see how effective the vaccine is, how safe it is, how stable it is, its quality and check that it's been manufactured and stored in a way that meets safety standards in public health policy. in the uk, this is thejob of the mhra, the commission on human medicines and even members of the public are asked what they think. normally, this happens after all the trials have ended. but in the case of covid—19, the uk pulled back a regulatory body was being given data as the trials went along. this is called a rolling review. if a vaccine is then approved, it can be given to a wider population.

but the regulators keep monitoring health records and data on anyone who gets one. the same as for any vaccine or medicine. and every batch of the vaccine that is made is checked for purity and quality before it is sent anywhere. mps have overwhelmingly approved the uk's post—brexit trade deal bringing the deal into uk law back in the comments by 521—73 votes after her moment was recalled today. some labourmps, plaid cymru, moment was recalled today. some labour mps, plaid cymru, and all the northern ireland parties that take seats at westminster voted against the deal. we can speak now to the snp's the deal. we can speak now to the snp‘s deputy leader at westminster, christian oswald. thank you for joining us. which are preferred no deal to the deal that was presented today? know, what we would have preferred was the deal we already had as members of the eu. that is the best deal, that was always the best deal. it was really regrettable

that that deal is not of fable to us now and that the uk government has pushed us over this hard basically fetch. but the deal brought forward today was absolutely not something that we could support because we know as do all the other parties i am sure that it would cause significant damage to scotland, it will cause economic and social damage to scotland and the rest of the uk. it's inconceivable that we could support something that we know is going to do that. during the referendum campaign, our membership of the eu, the case is made that the fishing industry would do better out of this and borisjohnson still insists that a very good start has been made. but that'sjust simple enough the case, of course, is it? we can see very clear and the fishers can see clearly that this deal actually puts them in a worse position than they were in when we we re position than they were in when we were members of the eu. so rather

than this cf opportunity that has been promised to the fishing communities by boris johnson, scottish fishermen are facing significant downturns in terms of what they're actually able to do. and the feedback from the fishing industry has been absolutely scathing and rightly so. you are pushing for another vote on scottish independence but wouldn't that make you even more isolated? you would not be within the eu or the uk. we are certainly very enthusiastic about europe and scotland and in the snp so we will be very keen to find a path back to the eu as soon as possible. but if you think about what you have just put to me, that there is an acceptance that this is put into uk into a more isolated position, and that's deeply troubling. that's not what scotland should be about. in the snp, we want scotla nd should be about. in the snp, we want scotland to be an upward looking opera and country playing a full pa rt opera and country playing a full part with our european neighbours as

pa rt part with our european neighbours as part of members of the eu. it is time for us to look at independence again and we have seen 17 polls in a role reasoning that have indicated people and scotland are supportive of the notion that scotland should be an independent country. this choice between that open outward cooking independent future within europe and this race to the bottom brexit couldn't be clearer, it couldn't be a starker decision. i look forward to that campaign. couldn't be a starker decision. i look forward to that campaignlj wa nted look forward to that campaign.” wanted to hear your thoughts on the second vaccine, we heard from matt hancock at westminster today that this is a cause for british pride, not one but two. it's great news. i think that everybody is absolutely in the same place on this. the prospect of vaccines being available and making that difference that eve ryo ne and making that difference that everyone is so desperate to see, this is such a difficult time for people. the sooner we can have people. the sooner we can have people vaccinated, the better, and i am sure it gave everyone a boost to

see that this morning. kirsten oswald, thank you very much for your time. let's just oswald, thank you very much for your time. let'sjust remind ourselves oswald, thank you very much for your time. let's just remind ourselves of some of the main points from the prime minister's coronavirus briefing at downing street a little earlier. referring to the new tier changes announced by health secretary matt hancock earlier this afternoon, borisjohnson said... the prime minister also talked of a revised plan for vaccination roll—out when using the newly approved oxford/astrazeneca vaccine. doses will be given up to 12 weeks apart, allowing more people to be vaccinated as soon as possible. this is because of the high level of protection the oxford vaccine provides from just one dose. mrjohnson also discussed a change in the return to schools. in most of england, primary schools will go back as planned next week, but there will be delay in the opening of secondary schools and colleges until the 18th of january. that's unless students are in their exam years. and the prime minister also said that every child attending school will be tested

regularly going forward. let's speak to the shadow education secretary kate greene. we heard you speaking to the house of commons about the decision over schools. borisjohnson has always said we have got to follow the path of the pandemic, wejust have got to follow the path of the pandemic, we just have to have got to follow the path of the pandemic, wejust have to react have got to follow the path of the pandemic, we just have to react to what it throws at us. i think it would be better if they could try to get ahead of what was very obviously a really worrying situation for many pa rents a really worrying situation for many parents and school staff over many months. we for example have been calling for mass testing in schools asa calling for mass testing in schools as a means of getting ahead in the pandemic going right back into september. so it was really u nfortu nate september. so it was really unfortunate that with just days to go before the start of the new term, pa rents a re go before the start of the new term, parents are being told at the last minute that their children will be at home. school staff warned at the end of term that there wasn't going to be enough time over the christmas holidays to put testing arrangements in place. how regrettably we were

proved right and so now they're going to have to go into school and ta ke going to have to go into school and take the extra time that they need to put testing in places but that means children will not be in class and are not learning for the next few weeks. earlier in the pandemic, labour was arguing against children being in schools on safety grounds and your party changed its mind. why can't the government do the same?” and keir starmer have always said that the best place for children for their learning and socio— well—being and safety and the wider safeguarding is in school. but i recognise that there are some children who cannot be in school and i also recognise that this is a very unpredictable pandemic. what i would say though is that the government had plenty of warning for the need of mass testing for schools, plenty of mass testing for schools, plenty of warning for the need to provide digital resources to children who might have to learn at home for a time. plenty of warning that schools would need extra support to put in

place covid secure measures, take on additional staff. all of this has come out very late in the day and that means that children's learning is being compromised. if it is a party for this government, then i have to say they are failing and they have lost control of the virus and are losing control of children prospect education. kate green today in the comments your party voted with the government to implement the brexit deal. do you think you might come to regret that winding up with the conservatives here? we have reached the end of the road in terms of votes on the and abrasive. we left in january, of votes on the and abrasive. we left injanuary, we left with a choice between the deal the government to go shaded on christmas eve or no deal at all and we always said that no deal would be absolutely disastrous for the country. i recognise this is a thin deal that labour may never return to government would want to take as a starting point and not a finishing

point and build on and improve, but it really would have been unforgivable to have left the country with no deal at all. that would have been disastrous for our exporters and importers, disasters for arbor security, disastrous for oui’ for arbor security, disastrous for our standing for arbor security, disastrous for ourstanding in the for arbor security, disastrous for our standing in the world. and i think we were right to make sure that deal is properly on the statute book and that we had the supporting legislation necessary to implemented. one of the issues that really matter to students was the scheme and ability to move around europe and study. not that government says there is going be a replacement or a british variant. —— now the government. what do you think this is feasible now even though i know you are sad this is going, but what do you think is feasible? i am sad, it was a two-way exchange arrangement. not just feasible? i am sad, it was a two-way exchange arrangement. notjust that stu d e nts exchange arrangement. notjust that students from this country could study in of the european union universities but also their students could come to our country and i think we benefit hugely as a country

from those relationships being formed between students from different parts of the european union. that really helps us in our international relations and our friendships with those countries in the future. so you will know that we hoped that the government would negotiate for us to continue as members of erasmus and the european union were willing for that to happen, keen for that to happen. you know we also suggested that the very least that the scottish and welsh governments if they wanted them to continue in erasmus, they should at least have the chance to do so. i am glad the government is announcing a scheme for at least our students to continue to travel to other universities and other countries, but i want to see the detail of that to make sure that not only does it really give good opportunities and enough resources for those students to ta ke enough resources for those students to take that chance but also that it will reach the more disadvantaged students. erasmus was good at that, taking students who perhaps never travelled but among study and given that opportunity. and one more

thought which is about research in the uk, so many british universities lead in so many fields and yet it's going to be harderfor european stu d e nts to going to be harderfor european students to calm here and to join that effort. are you confident that universities can hold their global rankings? i am pleased that we are still in the european horizon project programme for research, we are waiting to see the details, but that destroy important that our universities can continue to participate in that. —— that is very important. you are right to highlight uncertainties about european union students coming to study and undertake postgraduate studies to help with research and with teaching that we are losing that opportunity. and this will have real downsides for our universities andi real downsides for our universities and i were students as well as for those european students. i think it isa those european students. i think it is a real matter of regret and concern that that relationship may have been weakened. we have to leave it there, kate green, think you very

much. here is your weather. hello there. hasn't been too bad a day for many of us after a very cold start. we've seen quite a bit of sunshine around. northern scotland has seen a lot of very heavy snowfall. we're likely to see more rain, sleet and snow over the next few days. that combined with overnight ice likely to cause some disruption. so, stay tuned to the forecast for all the details. but in the short term, we've still got this cold pool of air across the country. these weather fronts enhancing shower activity. now, this front is passing to the south of england and should take any rain, sleet, snow showers with it. and then we focus in on this new front pushing in to northern scotland, bringing another round of rain, sleet and snow. mainly rain to the coast but some heavy snow inland. certainly over the high ground with some significant accumulations. there will be further wintry showers dotted around western coast, central and eastern parts of england will see the best of the drier weather with the clear skies. so here, it will be really cold overnight with a risk of frost and ice.

so into tomorrow for new year's eve, it's going to be a dry, very cold, frosty start for central and eastern areas. plenty of sunshine around, heavy snow continues across much of scotland, certainly over the higher ground. this will be pushing southward through the day into northern england. i think mainly rain to the coasts, snow inland. there will be further wintry showers across some western areas. the best of the dry and brighter weather, central and eastern england — but here, we could see a little bit of mist and fog around. it's going to be a very cold day. now, through thursday night, it stays very wintry across the north. further showers here, and the mix of rain, sleet and snow pushes southwards into england and wales first thing on new year's day whereas further north, start to see some clear spells developing. a very cold night to come. again, risk of ice and some frost. so, we've got low pressure to the east of the country, higher pressure to the west for new year's day. and this weather front straddling parts of england and wales and it will bring quite a lot of cloud around, i think, for new year's day. with spits and spots of light rain on it. could see some light snow over the higher grounds. it still will be cold.

scotland, northern ireland, and then later northern england should see the best of any brightness through new year's day but further wintry showers will be pushing to northern coasts. and those temperatures, maybe not quite as cold as it has been — 4—7 celsius. still, that is cold. and then for the first weekend of january 2021, it remains cold, some sunshine around, some wintry showers affecting north sea coasts.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is approved for use in the uk. 100 million doses are on order. it will be rolled out from next week. on the plus side, we have got two valid vaccines and we are racing, as i say, to get them out. on the downside, there is a new strain of the virus which is spreading much faster and searching across the country. but the news on the vaccine comes as the number of deaths reported in last 2a hours in the ukjumps to 981, and with covid infections surging — three quarters of england's population now face the toughest level of restrictions.

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