no. in a fortnight, voters in england head to the polls in 143 councils to decide who they want in charge of crucial local services, such as social care. in swindon, the conservatives have controlled the council for more than 15 years, but labour is trying to win it back. here's our political correspondent alex forsyth. these allotments have been a haven this past year, but even here there's no total escape from the pandemic. these residents will soon be asked to vote in council elections, and covid, it seems, could play a part. there are lots of lovely green open spaces... for sue, having to stay home has made her aware of what's on the doorstep. it's made me start to think, well, where does our council tax money go? is it going to the right people, at the right places? local elections are local things. but ann thinks the national picture will determine votes, though she doesn't think it should.

it's the only way you're going to change local government, for people to understand how it works and how important it is to actually vote on local issues and not on party lines. in swindon, there are factors which will resonate across the country — how to help struggling high streets, how councils, many cash—strapped, provide leisure and community services. we're going to deliver to all- the postal voters in grange drive... here, labour's pushing these issues, criticising the conservative council's record, hoping to gain ground. you three can start - on the right hand side. the tories want to consolidate theirsupport, pointing to investment and plans for improvements — echoes of the national fight. on the doorstep, local issues will be important, but the pandemic�*s been so dominant the past year, it will inevitably factor in how people vote. so, while councils have played a key part in the covid response, these elections will also be seen as a test of how the public thinks the national parties have responded to the pandemic.

the lib dems are trying to get their message to cut through. i'll leave you a calling card... here, it'sjobs and regeneration. after campaigning was curtailed, there is now a push. the greens are focused on an eco—friendly recovery and a host of independent candidates are standing here too — an alternative, they say, to the main parties. for voters like mums kat and vicky, the local messages do matter, but it's hard to ignore the practical and political impact of the pandemic. the only thing that affects me is anything that's going to be open or not open in swindon, which i can take my little boy to. for me, it isjust that national picture of what's going on next, how people, you know, the parties, have dealt with things, in my opinion, and i think that is kind of where my vote will take me. so, as we try to resume life as usual, these elections will be the first real sign of how this most unusual year shifts the political landscape. alex forsyth, bbc news, swindon.

that's it. goodnight. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the deputy political editor of the guardian, jessica elgot, and the former trade minister, lord jones. welcome to you both. let's start with the metro — it leads with us presidentjoe biden's call to global leaders at a virtual climate summit, telling them it was time to "step up". the daily mail says campaigners

are criticising the government's refusal to raise the 30—person cap on attendees at funerals. the guardian leads with emails which reveal david cameron's lobbying of the bank of england, on behalf of greensill capital. the same story makes the front page of the i. the newspaper adds that mr cameron also called and texted the treasury's top civil servant, on behalf of the finance firm. and, a different story in the times. it says the prime minister believes his former adviser, dominic cummings, is behind leaks including the disclosure of his text messages. quite a few of varying stories across the papers. as always, good to have you both with us. i hope you are both well. we have to admit to our viewers, we got the papers and quite late, so we have been rattling through them, butjessica, seeing as you wrote quite a few of the

guardian's mean stories, it is good to have you on. so let's start with the metro. this is the virtual climate summits, jessica, let's start with you that we have been hearing about today. it's a bold call from president biden. well, just goes to show that everybody is doing everything virtually, but what he wants to see, it's a big ask, and it shows america leading the way in terms of climate change.— it shows america leading the way in terms of climate change. yeah, he is certainly trying _ terms of climate change. yeah, he is certainly trying to — terms of climate change. yeah, he is certainly trying to draw— terms of climate change. yeah, he is certainly trying to draw a _ terms of climate change. yeah, he is certainly trying to draw a divided - certainly trying to draw a divided line with his predecessor, the speech i particularly remember trump talking about clean and beautiful coal. this is quite a departure from that. this is six months to go until those un climate talks here, and this is about those big pressers ahead of that. restaurants and also made some big pledges on behalf of the uk, although, gave a bit of a rambling speech where he said we shouldn't do politically correct green acts of bonnie hugging.

there's nothing wrong with bonnie hugging and then set you know, actually, the uk wants to have its cake and eat it, one of his favourite phrases, by which he means that you can significantly reduce your carbon emissions and also grow the economy. your carbon emissions and also grow the economy-— the economy. what do you make of this when you _ the economy. what do you make of this when you were _ the economy. what do you make of this when you were watching - the economy. what do you make of this when you were watching the i this when you were watching the coverage of this virtual event? what is your gut instinct? is the international community going to followjoe biden's call? because it is in a big ask, and it's asking for big behavioural changes, notjust big behavioural changes, not just individuals, big behavioural changes, notjust individuals, but companies have to lead the way as well, governments have to leave the way. it depends what you mean by the inclusive — it depends what you mean by the inclusive nature of this. i was that the president of the biggest and greatest economy was really challenging everybody and saying they were going to do it themselves. i they were going to do it themselves.

iwas _ they were going to do it themselves. i was thrilled to bits, actually, and i— i was thrilled to bits, actually, and i really think that the uk government has turned around and said, _ government has turned around and said. well, — government has turned around and said, well, you know, we will actually— said, well, you know, we will actually match you and raise some, which _ actually match you and raise some, which is _ actually match you and raise some, which is also — actually match you and raise some, which is also excellent. my concern is two _ which is also excellent. my concern is two fold — which is also excellent. my concern is two fold the one is that you might— is two fold the one is that you might hit— is two fold the one is that you might hit some nice platitudes from china _ might hit some nice platitudes from china and _ might hit some nice platitudes from china and india, but i have my doubts— china and india, but i have my doubts whether they are going to actually— doubts whether they are going to actually make the strides others can _ actually make the strides others can when — actually make the strides others can. when i heard in this conference a that_ can. when i heard in this conference a that the _ can. when i heard in this conference a that the greater effort should be made _ a that the greater effort should be made by— a that the greater effort should be made by the developed world, the developing world should be cut some slack _ developing world should be cut some slack. welcome is a calling himself a member— slack. welcome is a calling himself a member of the map developing world? _ a member of the map developing world? the greatest polluter on the planet? _ world? the greatest polluter on the planet? the second—largest economy? and is— planet? the second—largest economy? and is he _ planet? the second—largest economy? and is he calling a developing country. _ and is he calling a developing country, if he is, there are 800 million — country, if he is, there are 800 million chinese that still live in poverty— million chinese that still live in poverty in— million chinese that still live in poverty in the west of china, so mayhe — poverty in the west of china, so mayhe he — poverty in the west of china, so maybe he is right, but that is an enormous — maybe he is right, but that is an enormous issue, nothing that biden does her_

enormous issue, nothing that biden does herjohnson does or the eu does, _ does herjohnson does or the eu does, nothing will stop the real serious — does, nothing will stop the real serious problem if india and china do not _ serious problem if india and china do not really buy into this. and then— do not really buy into this. and then the — do not really buy into this. and then the second issue is that ijust want _ then the second issue is that ijust want to— then the second issue is that ijust want to know whether the individuals in the _ want to know whether the individuals in the democracies in america and britain, _ in the democracies in america and britain, in — in the democracies in america and britain, in the european union, and japan, _ britain, in the european union, and japan, and— britain, in the european union, and japan, and australia, in canada, will the — japan, and australia, in canada, will the individuals actually buy into this? — will the individuals actually buy into this? it's one thing to go into a demonstration from it's another thing _ a demonstration from it's another thing to— a demonstration from it's another thing to listen to greta thunberg, but when — thing to listen to greta thunberg, but when you see emma thompson getting _ but when you see emma thompson getting on— but when you see emma thompson getting on a plane and flying into london _ getting on a plane and flying into london america just to protest about climate _ london america just to protest about climate change as she sits on an aeroplane — climate change as she sits on an aeroplane for seven hours? please! and if— aeroplane for seven hours? please! and if you _ aeroplane for seven hours? please! and if you get all these people who are saying — and if you get all these people who are saying i think this is a great thing. — are saying i think this is a great thing. but — are saying i think this is a great thing, but not in my backyard, i'm not going — thing, but not in my backyard, i'm not going to — thing, but not in my backyard, i'm not going to do it myself, because it will— not going to do it myself, because it will mean that all of us, you, me, _ it will mean that all of us, you, me. all— it will mean that all of us, you, me. all of— it will mean that all of us, you, me, all of us have to make an extra effort _ me, all of us have to make an extra effort to— me, all of us have to make an extra effort to just — me, all of us have to make an extra effort tojust do me, all of us have to make an extra effort to just do our little bit, and i— effort to just do our little bit, and i wonder sometimes as to whether we can— and i wonder sometimes as to whether we can hope _ and i wonder sometimes as to whether we can hope that vicariously we can live this _

we can hope that vicariously we can live this through our political leaders _ live this through our political leaders through business and looking at other— leaders through business and looking at other countries, and yet, when it actually— at other countries, and yet, when it actually hits — at other countries, and yet, when it actually hits home and when prices of electricity go up, prices of flights— of electricity go up, prices of flights go up, prices of carbon fuel goes _ flights go up, prices of carbon fuel goes up _ flights go up, prices of carbon fuel goes up. all of it, really important and good — goes up. all of it, really important and good stuff, but it will the voter— and good stuff, but it will the voter actually buy that bit of the equation? and i hope i'm wrong, but i've equation? and i hope i'm wrong, but i've got— equation? and i hope i'm wrong, but i've got my— equation? and i hope i'm wrong, but i've got my doubts. i�*m equation? and i hope i'm wrong, but i've got my doubts.— i've got my doubts. i'm sure you are never wrong. _ i've got my doubts. i'm sure you are never wrong, surely, _ i've got my doubts. i'm sure you are never wrong, surely, digby. - i've got my doubts. i'm sure you are never wrong, surely, digby. i- i've got my doubts. i'm sure you are never wrong, surely, digby. ijust. neverwrong, surely, digby. ijust want to say if emma is watching, feel free to get in touch and let us know your thoughts, because that was rather unfair of digby to pinpoint you there. there are plenty of other a—list celebrities doing that as well. yes, hashtag bbc papers if emma thompson wants to get in touch and share her views. all the papers covering this in some way or another, but ijust want covering this in some way or another, but i just want to covering this in some way or another, but ijust want to look covering this in some way or another, but i just want to look at another, but i just want to look at a different story in the times, jessica, and this resorts to, we just literally got this paper intimacy will have to talk me through it, dominic cummings in the

headline, it speaks for itself. talk us through what he is accused of. dominic cummings, obviously your viewers will remember, the pm was quite controversial, chief of staff who departed before december, lots of classes of personalities inside that number ten. he is now being accused of other people inside number ten, accused of other people inside numberten, and accused of other people inside number ten, and remember, accused of other people inside numberten, and remember, he left under a bit of a cloud, so people have an incentive to do this, of leaking some of the texts that we have seen and also some of the other damaging e—mails that we have seen about the prime minister's redecoration of his flats, of his correspondence over the takeover of newcastle football club with the saudi leader, and now that bbc got these texts between the pm and james dyson where he promises to fix a tax issue because james dyson was worried about that when he was pitching to build ventilators at the height of the pandemic. you can see, apparently, these texts did have reasonably wide distribution within

the treasury and within the cabinets office because apparently officials from dyson sent them in. you know, as to say, look, this is evidence that the pm wants this to happen. you would expect it to still be a reasonably close number of people with the pm things has both access to these things and have motivation to these things and have motivation to damage him and also repeatedly as well, no love lost between dominic cummings and the prime minister's girlfriends, carrie simmons, fiance, i should say, because they are going to get married next year, and so these stories as well, particularly about the flats, might be seen to damage her as well. so you can see why people within number ten might have made that deduction. there is going to be an investigation into this internal one. i don't know whether we will ever see the results of that being publicly announced. but they seem from, you know, the sources of the time says here that

the pm himself thinks that is who did it. ,, ., ~ the pm himself thinks that is who didit. ,, ., ~ the pm himself thinks that is who didit. ., �*, did it. jessica, thank you, let's ret our did it. jessica, thank you, let's get your perspective, - did it. jessica, thank you, let's get your perspective, digby, i did it. jessica, thank you, let's - get your perspective, digby, because it does describe that it supports johnson describing its political editor, he does believe it's dominic cummings behind this and that dominic cummings is bitter about what has been happening since he left. what is your reading of this potential that it is him behind these leaks?— potential that it is him behind these leaks? ~ ~ . these leaks? well, i think dominic cumminrs these leaks? well, i think dominic cummings is— these leaks? well, i think dominic cummings is having _ these leaks? well, i think dominic cummings is having his _ these leaks? well, i think dominic cummings is having his revenge i cummings is having his revenge served — cummings is having his revenge served cold. you know, don't get mad, _ served cold. you know, don't get mad. get— served cold. you know, don't get mad, get even. and i'm not too sure he left _ mad, get even. and i'm not too sure he left under— mad, get even. and i'm not too sure he left under a cloud, but he certainly _ he left under a cloud, but he certainly would be in business asked to go. _ certainly would be in business asked to go. and _ certainly would be in business asked to go, and whether it's true or not, i to go, and whether it's true or not, i mean. _ to go, and whether it's true or not, i mean. it— to go, and whether it's true or not, i mean. it is— to go, and whether it's true or not, i mean, it is alleged, it is not factually— i mean, it is alleged, it is not factually proven, that if he has been _ factually proven, that if he has been leaking, this will be the petty prophetic— been leaking, this will be the petty prophetic side of politics, want to? is prophetic side of politics, want to? is getting _ prophetic side of politics, want to?

is getting even, and who suffers because — is getting even, and who suffers because mike basically the country's reputation _ because mike basically the country's reputation from a government's reputation. lobbying has always gone on, reputation. lobbying has always gone on. and _ reputation. lobbying has always gone on. and the _ reputation. lobbying has always gone on, and the more transparent it can be, on, and the more transparent it can he, the _ on, and the more transparent it can be, the better. iapplaud, and we are going — be, the better. iapplaud, and we are going to get on to other stories in minutes, — are going to get on to other stories in minutes, but i applaud journalists and newspapers that really _ journalists and newspapers that really do — journalists and newspapers that really do investigate all the lobbying that goes on because it's essential— lobbying that goes on because it's essential that's politicians, those that make — essential that's politicians, those that make the rules are aware of stuff _ that make the rules are aware of stuff that's going on which can be improved — stuff that's going on which can be improved for the good of everybody, if only— improved for the good of everybody, if only they _ improved for the good of everybody, if only they know about it, but it's also essential that it is done transparently without fear or favour~ — transparently without fear or favour~ i_ transparently without fear or favour. i come as you know, was director— favour. i come as you know, was director general of cbi, that is, if anything. — director general of cbi, that is, if anything, lobbying organisation. that's_ anything, lobbying organisation. that's what it's paid by its members to do. _ that's what it's paid by its members to do, hopefully, on the basis of facts _ to do, hopefully, on the basis of facts and — to do, hopefully, on the basis of facts and research, but nevertheless, that is what it's meant — nevertheless, that is what it's meant to— nevertheless, that is what it's meant to do, and if you look at unions, — meant to do, and if you look at unions, trade unions, you wouldn't believe _ unions, trade unions, you wouldn't believe it. — unions, trade unions, you wouldn't believe it, lobbying has always gone

on. i believe it, lobbying has always gone on ithink— believe it, lobbying has always gone on. i think the problem believe it, lobbying has always gone on. ithink the problem is believe it, lobbying has always gone on. i think the problem is when you do one _ on. i think the problem is when you do one or— on. i think the problem is when you do one or two things, you either get people _ do one or two things, you either get people apparently getting special treatment as opposed to that treatment as opposed to that treatment being available to all, and the — treatment being available to all, and the other point of course is that who — and the other point of course is that who should do the lobbying? should _ that who should do the lobbying? should former prime minister... and maybe _ should former prime minister... and maybe not — should former prime minister... and maybe not. should cabinet ministers ever do— maybe not. should cabinet ministers ever do a? _ maybe not. should cabinet ministers ever do a? if— maybe not. should cabinet ministers ever do a? if we are entering an era where— ever do a? if we are entering an era where you— ever do a? if we are entering an era where you have younger prime ministers _ where you have younger prime ministers and younger cabinet ministers, then when they finish their— ministers, then when they finish their term — ministers, then when they finish their term of office, what do they do with— their term of office, what do they do with their lives? what do they know? _ do with their lives? what do they know? they know the way of government. therefore, they are usually— government. therefore, they are usually not — government. therefore, they are usually not the richest people on earth, _ usually not the richest people on earth, and — usually not the richest people on earth, and what's wrong with earning a living _ earth, and what's wrong with earning a living 's_ earth, and what's wrong with earning a living 's the — earth, and what's wrong with earning a living '5 the problem is transparency, the problem is how it is done _ transparency, the problem is how it is done so _ transparency, the problem is how it is done so it— transparency, the problem is how it is done so it doesn't harm the nation — is done so it doesn't harm the nation and _ is done so it doesn't harm the nation and doesn't harm the reputation of the country. digby, we will ret reputation of the country. digby, we will get him — reputation of the country. digby, we will get him to _ reputation of the country. digby, we will get him to former _ reputation of the country. digby, we will get him to former prime - will get him to former prime ministers injust a moment, but i just need to stress that the times

is also saying that dominic cummings did not respond to requests for comment for last night. the paper did approach him. let's go onto the guardian. jessica, this is we were talking lobbying and access, and as digby pointed outcome up former prime ministers. let's go through the article that you have co—authored on the front page of the guardian. more bad embarrassing exposes of david cameron, this time—released foi requests made byjournalist investigating this were released by the bank of england. and then very, very late about half past eight, very late about half past eight, very conveniently for all of us, the treasury also released its correspondence between its top officials and david cameron as well. the story as many of your readers and listeners will probably be familiar with by now is that david cameron lobbied for access to taxpayers cash. we learned that it

was about 20 billion potentially in