hello. you're watching bbc world — hello. you're watching bbc world news. our main headlines. scores _ world news. our main headlines. scores of— world news. our main headlines. scores of people injured at a hasidic— scores of people injured at a hasidicjewish festival. tens of thousands had gathered at the foot— of thousands had gathered at the foot of mount marilyn in the foot of mount marilyn in the country's north to mark a holiday — the country's north to mark a holida . , �* . , holiday. president biden has held a rally _ holiday. president biden has held a rally on _ holiday. president biden has held a rally on his _ holiday. president biden has held a rally on his 100th - holiday. president biden has held a rally on his 100th day| held a rally on his 100th day in office. he said he wanted the very wealthy and corporations to start paying their share of tax. it's the first stop on the tour to urge americans to support his sweeping economic plans. russian opposition leader alexei navalny has opened a scathing attack on president putin during a defiant court appearance, accusing him of stealing the country does make ridges that make its the first time he's been seen since the end of his hunger strike. i

will be back in around 30 minutes for the full bulletin, but now it is time for newscast. what's your favourite? i'm a bit old — what's your favourite? i'm a bit old for— what's your favourite? i'm a bit old for that. there are some good political ones? . , ., there are some good political ones?_ what i there are some good political ones?_ what is| ones? featuring you. what is our ones? featuring you. what is your favourite _ ones? featuring you. what is your favourite meme. - ones? featuring you. what is your favourite meme. i - ones? featuring you. what is your favourite meme. i like l your favourite meme. i like that one — your favourite meme. i like that one of _ your favourite meme. i like that one of the _ your favourite meme. i like that one of the couple - your favourite meme. i like i that one of the couple walking down — that one of the couple walking down the street, the bloke. gh, down the street, the bloke. 0h, es. and down the street, the bloke. 0h, yes- and did _ down the street, the bloke. oh, yes. and did matt _ down the street, the bloke. oi yes. and did matt hancock down the street, the bloke. oi, yes. and did matt hancock have the same shirt is the guy the other day then? yeah, he did. when memes _ other day then? yeah, he did. when memes callide. - other day then? yeah, he did. when memes callide. when . other day then? yeah, he did. - when memes callide. when memes to when memes callide. when memes no bad. m when memes callide. when memes go bad. my favourite _ when memes callide. when memes go bad. my favourite one _ when memes callide. when memes go bad. my favourite one is - when memes callide. when memes go bad. my favourite one is the - go bad. my favourite one is the john go bad. my favourite one is the john curtis _ go bad. my favourite one is the john curtis on _ go bad. my favourite one is the john curtis on tv. _ go bad. my favourite one is the john curtis on tv. and - go bad. my favourite one is the john curtis on tv. and memes| john curtis on tv. and memes have collided on tv tonight on newscast. have collided on tv tonight on newscast-— have collided on tv tonight on

newscast. ., ., . ., . newscast. hello! you are not a bi fan newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of— newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of that, _ newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of that, are _ newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of that, are you? - newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of that, are you? i - newscast. hello! you are not a big fan of that, are you? i can| big fan of that, are you? i can tell. i big fan of that, are you? i can tell. ., �* ., ., , tell. i don't follow the memes. markets good _ tell. i don't follow the memes. markets good news. _ tell. i don't follow the memes. markets good news. -- - tell. i don't follow the memes. markets good news. -- it's - tell. i don't follow the memes. i markets good news. -- it's good fun. 11.900 _ markets good news. -- it's good fun. 11,900 people _ markets good news. -- it's good fun. 11,900 people follow- markets good news. -- it's good fun. 11,900 people follow it. - fun. 11,900 people follow it. good job. that's all fine. anyway. i am afraid i don't follow it. you can go and see what you think.— follow it. you can go and see what you think. and there are no trials on — what you think. and there are no trials on newscast, - what you think. and there are | no trials on newscast, because we love what you have to tell us about the incredibly complicated elections that we are going to be reporting on next week. thank goodness you are here! thank goodness, john curtis is on tv. newscast! from the bbc. curtis is on tv. newscast! from the sac. hello. _ curtis is on tv. newscast! from the sac. hello. it's _ curtis is on tv. newscast! from the sac. hello. it's adam - curtis is on tv. newscast! from the sac. hello. it's adam in - the bbc. hello. it's adam in the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio. _ the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio. law _ the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio. law in _ the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio. law in the - the bbc. hello. it's adam in the studio. law in the same | the studio. law in the same studio but two metres apart. fits studio but two metres apart. as we still have to be. and chris, 20 yards— we still have to be. and chris, 20 yards down the corridor in my little _ 20 yards down the corridor in my little solitary booth in news _ my little solitary booth in news. ~ ., ., news. one week from today the olls will news. one week from today the polls will have _ news. one week from today the polls will have closed _ news. one week from today the polls will have closed in - polls will have closed in scotland, wales and england on

a kind of huge, giant set of elections. can i get them all in one go, do you think? scottish parliament. english local— scottish parliament. english local authorities of various types. _ local authorities of various types, as there are many. scented. _ types, as there are many. scented, welsh parliament, police — scented, welsh parliament, police and crime commission is in england, several mayors. the by—election. in england, several mayors. the inf-election— by-election. have a missed anything? _ by-election. have a missed anything? i _ by-election. have a missed anything? ithink_ by-election. have a missed anything? i think you - by-election. have a missed anything? i think you have l by-election. have a missed i anything? i think you have got it. i thought you would miss the police commissioner is. it's my favourite! i the police commissioner is. it's my favourite!— the police commissioner is. it's my favourite! i have a lot to hold you _ it's my favourite! i have a lot to hold you to _ it's my favourite! i have a lot to hold you to account - it's my favourite! i have a lot to hold you to account for. it's my favourite! i have a lot to hold you to account for as | to hold you to account for as well — to hold you to account for as well. ~ �* . �* to hold you to account for as well. ,, well. maga thursday, super thursday- — well. maga thursday, super thursday. we _ well. maga thursday, super thursday. we don't - well. maga thursday, super thursday. we don't call - well. maga thursday, super thursday. we don't call it i thursday. we don't call it super thursday, thursday. we don't call it superthursday, i'm thursday. we don't call it super thursday, i'm waiting for a name to emerge.— a name to emerge. let's start that now- — a name to emerge. let's start that now. super— a name to emerge. let's start that now. super thursday. i a name to emerge. let's start i that now. super thursday. when it is super— that now. super thursday. when it is super thursday _ that now. super thursday. when it is super thursday with i that now. super thursday. when it is super thursday with -1 i it is super thursday with —i we, the person you want to speak to is professor sirjohn curtis. reverse —— the professor with millions of spreadsheets in his hands. good to talk to you, john.— to talk to you, john. before we

talk about the individual kinds of contests, do you have a big thought you can inject into us before we start discussing all of this? i think we can discuss what might be a good if the government and what might be a good day for the labor party. are good if the government will eight points or so leading, as factored in the results of the local elections, but would be probably net gain for the conservatives in those elections, governments rarely manage that in those elections, they hang onto most of the matter as including west midlands. maybe the by—election, that could be a bubble. and north of the border, if nicola sturgeon fails to get majority, conservatives hung on to second place, the uk government in london feels like it should try to keep the scottish constitutional issues in touch.

it should be a good session for labour? well, they're doing better in opinion polls at the moment, they seem to be doing better than jeremy corbyn moment, they seem to be doing better thanjeremy corbyn did. better than jeremy corbyn did. he better thanjeremy corbyn did. he got a lukewarm reception in 2016. and being fought over again this year, labour in wales managed to get an overall majority with 31 seats, they hang on to the by—election, yes, they managed to come back in. in scotland, is there a party that could manage all of those wins, that is what both parties would like us to see reporting, not of course on the thursday night, but rather when it is over on sunday afternoon. you have done in three minutes what will take about four days of results to achieve.- of results to achieve. super thursday. _ of results to achieve. super thursday, super— of results to achieve. super thursday, super friday, i of results to achieve. super. thursday, super friday, super saturday, _ thursday, super friday, super saturday, surge in stratford all the — saturday, surge in stratford

all the way through.- saturday, surge in stratford all the way through. john, can i ask all the way through. john, can i ask your _ all the way through. john, can i ask your question _ all the way through. john, can i ask your question about i i ask your question about scotland? _ i ask your question about scotland? i— i ask your question about scotland? ijust- i ask your question about scotland? ijust wonder. i ask your question about i scotland? ijust wonder how things— scotland? ijust wonder how things are _ scotland? ijust wonder how things are looking. - scotland? ijust wonder how things are looking. i- scotland? ijust wonder how things are looking. i guess. scotland? ijust wonder how. things are looking. i guess the crucial— things are looking. i guess the crucial question— things are looking. i guess the crucial question we _ things are looking. i guess the crucial question we owe i things are looking. i guess the crucial question we owe is i crucial question we owe is ask at this— crucial question we owe is ask at this stage _ crucial question we owe is ask at this stage in _ crucial question we owe is ask at this stage in an _ crucial question we owe is ask at this stage in an election i at this stage in an election campaign, _ at this stage in an election campaign, is— at this stage in an election campaign, is there i at this stage in an election campaign, is there any- at this stage in an election i campaign, is there any evidence that carnuaigh_ campaign, is there any evidence that campaign has— campaign, is there any evidence that campaign has made i campaign, is there any evidence that campaign has made any- that campaign has made any difference _ that campaign has made any difference to— that campaign has made any difference to the _ that campaign has made any difference to the relative i difference to the relative positions _ difference to the relative positions of _ difference to the relative positions of the - difference to the relative positions of the parties? j positions of the parties? chris. _ positions of the parties? chris. we _ positions of the parties? chris, we started i positions of the parties? chris, we started off- positions of the parties? j chris, we started off this election campaign with the snp probably up 50% orjust below. the numbers seem to have come down. and when if you had asked me at the beginning of this campaign to predict what the outcome would be, i will give you my usual answer of, well, 50% chance of the snp getting a majority in 50% not. 50% chance of the snp getting a

majority in 5096 not.— 5096 chance of the snp getting a majority in 5096 not.- i i majority in 5096 not. really? i would say _ majority in 5096 not. really? i would say the _ majority in 5096 not. really? i would say the odds _ majority in 5096 not. really? i would say the odds of i majority in 5096 not. really? i would say the odds of the i majority in 5096 not. really? i | would say the odds of the snp getting majority, that's probably late for. and asada, a relatively new scottish leader got in the press, and he has more people in scotland thinking favourably of him than unfavourably. labour is making progress in the polls, but crucially for them, they still trailed the conservatives on their list of vote, the other vote, and it's that vote that is probably going to be crucial for determining which party is the second—largest party in the the second-largest party in the holyrood parliament. thank you! with his quilt. — holyrood parliament. thank you! with his quilt. laura, _ holyrood parliament. thank you! with his quilt. laura, i _ holyrood parliament. thank you! with his quilt. laura, i was i with his guilt. laura, i was thinking _ with his guilt. laura, i was thinking today is like, why are we not talking about the scottish parliament and what that might mean? it could be completely seismic, but not completely seismic, but not completely seismic, but not completely seismic rate there and then. . v completely seismic rate there and then-— and then. that's right. and it depends. _ and then. that's right. and it depends. as _ and then. that's right. and it depends, as john _ and then. that's right. and it depends, as john has i and then. that's right. and it depends, as john has been i depends, asjohn has been explaining exactly how it folds

down. if the snp does get what they want, and the majority on their own, there will then be an almighty row about whether thatis an almighty row about whether that is given a mandate to hold another independence referendum. certainly they will have the right to ask for one. remember, the legislation is there to the uk government does have the power to say yes or no to having another referendum. it's not in technically the scottish parliament's decision scottish pa rliament�*s decision making, scottish parliament's decision making, right? so if you think about it, i know there has been huge attention on this, if they get that majority on their own, that doesn't mean there's going to be an independence referendum. there is going to be an almighty battle about whether or not there is going to be an independence referendum, even the snp themselves disagree about when themselves disagree about when the right time to have one would be. so you could say it would be. so you could say it would be. so you could say it would be seismic, especially because holyrood is set up almost specifically to make it really hard for anyone party to a majority, but one doesn't automatically lead to the other, despite what the narrative sometimes has been.

and reportedly the snp had been slipping back in the last few weeks. so that was a very long answer, but i suppose in westminster people were starting to assume, this is kind of an unstoppable drift towards an independent scotland. that's actually not the case. scotland. that's actually not the case-— scotland. that's actually not thecase. ., , , ., the case. to use my geography metaphor _ the case. to use my geography metaphor about _ the case. to use my geography metaphor about it _ the case. to use my geography metaphor about it being i metaphor about it being seismic, is like the san andreas fault is there. everyone is worried about it, we are all talking about it, we're all excited about it if you a seismologist, ——if you are a seismologist, but the big one hasn't necessarily happened yet. one hasn't necessarily happened et. �* , ., , ., one hasn't necessarily happened et. �* , ., ., yet. and people are waiting for. talking _ yet. and people are waiting for. talking about - yet. and people are waiting for. talking about political. for. talking about political seismology, in one of those sort — seismology, in one of those sort of— seismology, in one of those sort of attempts at a neat segway, shall we talk about england and the picture in england? we have a little graphic. we can show you how seats — graphic. we can show you how seats changed hands. and b elsewhere, but focusing on england _ elsewhere, but focusing on england in the 2019 general election. the whole business of this new— election. the whole business of this new addition to the

political lexicon, the redwall of those _ political lexicon, the redwall of those gains the conservatives made in the english midlands and north of england, and of course we have the hartlepool by—election into the hartlepool by—election into the nlik— the hartlepool by—election into the mix as well. and i wonder, john, _ the mix as well. and i wonder, john, as — the mix as well. and i wonder, john, as far— the mix as well. and i wonder, john, as far as polling is concerned, as far as national polling — concerned, as far as national polling rather than local or regional— polling rather than local or regional polling, but what the evidence looks like as far as the polls— evidence looks like as far as the polls are concerned as far as there — the polls are concerned as far as there is _ the polls are concerned as far as there is this battle for this— as there is this battle for this territory that for so long was — this territory that for so long was labour and now the conservatives feel they have -ot conservatives feel they have got a — conservatives feel they have got a hit _ conservatives feel they have got a bit of purchase on? 0h, conservatives feel they have got a bit of purchase on? oh, i think the _ got a bit of purchase on? oh, i think the answer _ got a bit of purchase on? oh, i think the answer to _ got a bit of purchase on? oh, i think the answer to you, i got a bit of purchase on? oh, i j think the answer to you, chris, is, think the answer to you, chris, is that— think the answer to you, chris, is that the _ think the answer to you, chris, is, that the labour— think the answer to you, chris, is, that the labour party- think the answer to you, chris, is, that the labour party is- is, that the labour party is hiding _ is, that the labour party is hiding to— is, that the labour party is hiding to nothing - is, that the labour party is hiding to nothing in- is, that the labour party is hiding to nothing in the i hiding to nothing in the so-called _ hiding to nothing in the so—called red _ hiding to nothing in the so—called red while. i hiding to nothing in thel so—called red while. but hiding to nothing in the i so—called red while. but by that— so—called red while. but by that i— so—called red while. but by that i don't— so—called red while. but by that i don't necessarily- so—called red while. but by. that i don't necessarily mean that— that i don't necessarily mean that the _ that i don't necessarily mean that the labour— that i don't necessarily mean that the labour party i that i don't necessarily mean that the labour party is - that the labour party is going to do significantly worse - that the labour party is going to do significantly worse in i to do significantly worse in those _ to do significantly worse in those places— to do significantly worse in those places than - to do significantly worse in those places than they - to do significantly worse in those places than they did| to do significantly worse in l those places than they did in 2019 — those places than they did in 2019 the _ those places than they did in 2019. the crucial— those places than they did in 2019. the crucial thing - those places than they did in 2019. the crucial thing we i those places than they did in l 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear— 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in— 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in mind _ 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in mind here _ 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in mind here is- 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in mind here is half- 2019. the crucial thing we have to bear in mind here is half of. to bear in mind here is half of the english _ to bear in mind here is half of the english local— to bear in mind here is half of the english local elections - the english local elections that— the english local elections that were _ the english local elections that were last _ the english local elections that were last contested l the english local elections| that were last contested in 2016. _ that were last contested in 2016. that _

that were last contested in 2016, that is _ that were last contested in 2016, that is now- that were last contested in l 2016, that is now prehistory. it's before _ 2016, that is now prehistory. it's before the _ 2016, that is now prehistory. it's before the brexit - it's before the brexit referendum, - it's before the brexit referendum, and- it's before the brexit referendum, and it'si it's before the brexit - referendum, and it's before it's before the brexit _ referendum, and it's before the way in — referendum, and it's before the way in which _ referendum, and it's before the way in which the _ referendum, and it's before the way in which the brexit - referendum, and it's before the way in which the brexit process| way in which the brexit process completely— way in which the brexit process completely reconstructed - way in which the brexit process completely reconstructed the l completely reconstructed the coalition _ completely reconstructed the coalition that _ completely reconstructed the coalition that now— completely reconstructed the coalition that now is - completely reconstructed the coalition that now is behind l coalition that now is behind the conservative _ coalition that now is behind the conservative party. - coalition that now is behind the conservative party. it l coalition that now is behind i the conservative party. it was predominantly— the conservative party. it was predominantly a _ the conservative party. it was predominantly a leave - the conservative party. it was predominantly a leave one, l predominantly a leave one, whereas— predominantly a leave one, whereas 2014 _ predominantly a leave one, whereas 2014 it _ predominantly a leave one, whereas 2014 it was - predominantly a leave one, whereas 2014 it was only i whereas 2014 it was only moderately. _ whereas 2014 it was only moderately. and - whereas 2014 it was only| moderately. and equally, whereas 2014 it was only - moderately. and equally, the labour— moderately. and equally, the labour party. _ moderately. and equally, the labour party, despite - moderately. and equally, the labour party, despite the - labour party, despite the party's _ labour party, despite the party's trest— labour party, despite the party's best endeavours i labour party, despite the| party's best endeavours is labour party, despite the - party's best endeavours is more concentrated among the - party's best endeavours is more| concentrated among the remain vote and — concentrated among the remain vote and less _ concentrated among the remain vote and less concentrated - concentrated among the remain vote and less concentrated on i vote and less concentrated on the leave _ vote and less concentrated on the leave vote. _ vote and less concentrated on the leave vote. when - the leave vote. when people were saying brexit— the leave vote. when people were saying brexit doesn't. were saying brexit doesn't matter. _ were saying brexit doesn't matter, people _ were saying brexit doesn't matter, people tracking i were saying brexit doesn't. matter, people tracking the level— matter, people tracking the tevet of— matter, people tracking the level of support _ matter, people tracking the level of support for- matter, people tracking the level of support for the - matter, people tracking thei level of support for the party separately, _ level of support for the party separately, they _ level of support for the party separately, they are - level of support for the party separately, they are very - level of support for the party . separately, they are very much leave — separately, they are very much leave and _ separately, they are very much leave and remain _ separately, they are very much leave and remain rotors. - separately, they are very much leave and remain rotors. as . separately, they are very muchl leave and remain rotors. as far as the _ leave and remain rotors. as far as the labour— leave and remain rotors. as far as the labour party _ leave and remain rotors. as far as the labour party is _ as the labour party is concerned, _ as the labour party is concerned, that- as the labour party isi concerned, that there as the labour party is - concerned, that there hasn't been — concerned, that there hasn't been any— concerned, that there hasn't been any evidence _ concerned, that there hasn't been any evidence in - concerned, that there hasn't been any evidence in the - concerned, that there hasn'tl been any evidence in the last 12 mohths_ been any evidence in the last 12 months that _ been any evidence in the last 12 months that all _ been any evidence in the last 12 months that all this - been any evidence in the last 12 months that all this about| 12 months that all this about brexit— 12 months that all this about brexit has— 12 months that all this about brexit has in— 12 months that all this about brexit has in any— 12 months that all this about brexit has in any way- 12 months that all this about brexit has in any way been l brexit has in any way been effective _ brexit has in any way been effective in— brexit has in any way been effective in persuading - brexit has in any way been . effective in persuading leave voters — effective in persuading leave voters in _ effective in persuading leave voters in particular— effective in persuading leave voters in particular to - effective in persuading leave voters in particular to come i voters in particular to come back— voters in particular to come back to _ voters in particular to come back to the _ voters in particular to come back to the labour -

voters in particular to come back to the labour party. . voters in particular to come i back to the labour party. even though— back to the labour party. even though the _ back to the labour party. even though the labour— back to the labour party. even though the labour party - back to the labour party. even though the labour party was . though the labour party was doing — though the labour party was doing realty— though the labour party was doing really well— though the labour party was doing really well does - though the labour party was doing really well does make| doing really well does make relatively— doing really well does make relatively well— doing really well does make relatively well in _ doing really well does make relatively well in the - doing really well does make| relatively well in the autumn of tast— relatively well in the autumn of last year. _ relatively well in the autumn of last year, yes _ relatively well in the autumn of last year, yes —— - relatively well in the autumn of last year, yes —— was - relatively well in the autumn i of last year, yes —— was doing relatively— of last year, yes —— was doing relatively well— of last year, yes —— was doing relatively well in _ of last year, yes —— was doing relatively well in the - of last year, yes —— was doing relatively well in the autumn i relatively well in the autumn of tast— relatively well in the autumn of last year. _ relatively well in the autumn of last year, the _ relatively well in the autumn of last year, the upside - relatively well in the autumn of last year, the upside to i of last year, the upside to this— of last year, the upside to this is— of last year, the upside to this is irr— of last year, the upside to this is in a _ of last year, the upside to this is in a way— of last year, the upside to this is in a way that - of last year, the upside to this is in a way that was . this is in a way that was inconceivable _ this is in a way that was inconceivable just - this is in a way that was inconceivable just a - this is in a way that was . inconceivable just a dozen years _ inconceivable just a dozen years ago. _ inconceivable just a dozen years ago, london - inconceivable just a dozen years ago, london is - inconceivable just a dozen years ago, london is now| inconceivable just a dozen i years ago, london is now a i-partv_ years ago, london is now a 1—party council. _ years ago, london is now a 1—party council. sadiq - years ago, london is now a 1—party council. sadiq khanj years ago, london is now a . 1—party council. sadiq khan is going — 1—party council. sadiq khan is going to _ 1—party council. sadiq khan is going to walk— 1—party council. sadiq khan is going to walk in. _ 1—party council. sadiq khan is going to walk in. ways - 1—party council. sadiq khan is going to walk in. ways you i going to walk in. ways you going _ going to walk in. ways you going to _ going to walk in. ways you going to walk in? - going to walk in. ways you going to walk in? because | going to walk in. ways you . going to walk in? because of brexit — going to walk in? because of brexit. because _ going to walk in? because of brexit. because london- going to walk in? because of brexit. because london is. going to walk in? because ofl brexit. because london is the remain — remain part of england. you took at — remain part of england. you took at the _ remain part of england. you look at the people _ remain part of england. you look at the people on - remain part of england. you look at the people on the - remain part of england. you i look at the people on the card, it is those _ look at the people on the card, it is those young _ look at the people on the card, it is those young graduate - it is those young graduate professionals _ it is those young graduate professionals who - it is those young graduate professionals who don't i it is those young graduate - professionals who don't like... john — professionals who don't like... john. 0he _ professionals who don't like... john. one of— professionals who don't like... john. one of the _ professionals who don't like... john. one of the things - professionals who don't like... john. one of the things that i professionals who don't like... john. one of the things that is| john. one of the things that is fascinating about selection when you talk to the top brass of both the big political parties and indeed the smaller ones is, this is coming off the back of such a fluid, weird period. it's notjust the two tribes of leave and remain and what happened to that, it's

also you are having elections everywhere, after a pandemic. we've also got this geographical shift that happened in 2019 with the first big test, whether or not that is going to stay. and you also have whales looking at constitutional questions. john, do you think actually, not wanting to do ourselves out of a job over the next week and's friday, saturday, sunday, monday news bulletins, will it be possible to read anything coherent from the results of these elections?— coherent from the results of these elections? the answer to that, if you _ these elections? the answer to that, if you won't _ these elections? the answer to that, if you won't be _ these elections? the answer to that, if you won't be able - these elections? the answer to that, if you won't be able to - that, if you won't be able to read anything coherent out of the headlines, but i think in truth, the elections next week will be a spinners paradise. thejob that you will be a spinners paradise. the job that you are diane chris and adam will have his actually to explain to people how to make sense of these results, given the complexities. are actually, i would say ourjob will be even more important than it is in a general election when frankly... general election when frankly. . ._

general election when frankl , ., frankly... where it is harder? when you _ frankly... where it is harder? when you have _ frankly... where it is harder? when you have to _ frankly. .. where it is harder? when you have to work- frankly... where it is harder? when you have to work out i frankly... where it is harder? i when you have to work out what is going on. when you have to work out what is going om— is going on. that's the spirit, john! but _ is going on. that's the spirit, john! but the _ is going on. that's the spirit, john! but the big _ is going on. that's the spirit, john! but the big picture, - john! but the big picture, though, by any normal historical comparison should be, should it not, adam, is 11 years into one party being in charge of the government. but given what we have been covering this week, the sort of frenzy over sleaze, ijust wonder if we can think about what might have been cutting through? yeah, john, it will be interesting to hear from you with your scientific analysis of public opinion whether we can scientifically analyse whether public opinion has absorbed the stories we have been talking about — whether its former prime ministers texting the chancellor, whether it is the prime minister's mobile phone habits, whether it's the prime minister's interior decorating habits — does that stuff — can you tell if that stuff is in the public�*s mind. crucially, above all, -

i think what we have to bear in mind is when these kind of stories come out is that| people will evaluate - them through very much their prior partisan lens. so if we take the polling that opinion did for the observer| last weekend in which they - asking people about the cameron intervention- and the dyson texts, and they then asked people, "what do you think? - think he is corrupt?" and tory voters said _ he was honest and labour voters said that he was corrupt and then, on that, i will give you one other point. - when yougov asked people "who do you believe — - borisjohnson _ or dominic cummings?" well actually, the most popular answer was neither. _ but amongst conservative voters, only 7% said - they believed - dominic cummings. well, he was never a member of the tory party — proudly always said he was never a member. but the point is the story has i got to break through the veneer

of prior partisanship. now the one reason why i can see why the flat story might l cause more trouble is that very often, the way in which — - you know, bending the rules can be justified, you say— well, the end - justifies the means. well, this is clearly- the argument that the uk government's been using about various aspects - of its handling i of the pandemic. the difficulty perhaps - is is what the broad public policy objective that is - justified by spending rather a lot of money on apparently i relatively expensive wallpaper? so that is why perhaps the defence of, well, i "look, you may not like how we did it, i but it was all for the good" mightjust not be ready- for the government in the way that it has been| on other issues. now i think laura knows much more about this than i do, - so she may have a take - on this, but at the moment, my perspective, at least as far as as what is in the public - what a briefing! thanks, john! was professor sirjohn curtice on television? yes, he was!

extensively! now, now, laura, parliament prorogued today. yes, say that when you haven't got your teeth in! which is the posh world for "stopping" because there's going to be a queen's speech in a couple of weeks when sort of it starts again, when it un—prorogues! or re—rogues? i don't know what it is! there are rogues anyway. so there was a bit of a dash to get some legislation through in time and one of of the pieces of legislation is one that is very controversial for all sorts of reasons and it's the fire safety bill, which was basically the government's attempt to make sure there is never another grenfell. that's right. where they have ended up with is that if you live in a very tall building, there is a fund that can be spent on removing the cladding from your building so that you're safe and there's all sorts of other things in there about whether you have to pay for wardens and patrol the corridors at night but some people are very angry that they have been left out of legislation. that is right. so the fire safety bill was aimed at making homes safer

after that awful, awful tragedy in 2017 when more than 70 people lost their lives. but some mps — a few tory mps a lot of labour mps and also a very strong feeling in the house of lords — were trying to extend the financial protection for leaseholders who have basically got stuck in flats that they might not be in the tallest of buildings with the cladding, but since then, all sorts all sort of defects and safety concerns have been discovered. the government would say they are putting $5 billion, i think they are saying, to fix things in the worst situations and they also have to think about taxpayers. i think the figure is, to try and fix the situation in the worst situations and they have also got to think about taxpayers. but there is an awful lot of people, some people would say a generation of people, just trying to get on the housing ladder who have really suffered here. so that's a lot of homes that's been in the news, but then there's one home that has been in the news a lot

in the last few days, the prime minister's flat above n01! downing street, which we have been talking a lot about since friday when dominic cummings, his former advisor, wrote that blog saying there'd been some kind of things going on behind the scenes about the funding of it. i was going to say where have we got to on it? but actually, it's all going out in all sorts of directions now. well, it is. investigations left, right and centre. yes, it's become a very sprawling and potentially a very serious issue for no 10, because the electoral commission, which is a legal, independent body with the power to sanction political organisations, is now conducting its own investigation. and the short version is the prime minister and his fiancee had a lot of very, very expensive renovation done on the flat above 12 downing street, actually, where they live with their son. oh, not 11? well it's sort of kind ofjust on the corner. i think some of it's above 11. 11.5 downing street? yeah, 11.5 downing street! but the prime minister refuses to say who first picked up the bill for that renovation. now in the simplest of terms, as with any story, if he has nothing to hide, why doesn't hejust say? and there are all sorts of fingers of suspicion and suggestions that tory donors paid, but there's no record of that happening. and if you wonder why you should give a monkey's

about that, i mean who cares what kind of cushions they have got, who cares what kind of wallpaper they have got — actually, quite a lot of people are interested! — but the point is politicians are meant to declare any cash or loans or anything they get, so we know what they get up to, right? politicians aren't meant to be beholden to any funders. so in this country, we have got a really clear system. if they get any cash, they have to tell us who they get it from and he hasn't done that in this case, so far. and what are we at now? three confirmed investigations going on. so the electoral commission, laura, as you mentioned, we have got simon case, the most senior civil servant in the country doing his thing as well. and then there is the guy, lord geidt brought in to oversee ministerial interests. andjob number one in the in tray is looking into this. and then the possibility of the parliamentary commissioner for standards getting involved because labour have asked them to have a look at it. but what i was struck by today was that the prime minister, on a visit to a school, asked about it and was kind of repeatedly dismissive, really, in his language about the whole thing. "a farrago of nonsense," he reckoned. let's take a listen.

i don't think that this is number one issue| for the people of our country — indeed by several — _ by several orders of magnitude. by several orders of magnitude, i would say what the people - want the government to focus on now which is exactly- what we are doing is i on education and crime and all the other issues that really matter. - but labour are still banging on about it, aren't they? keir starmer in manchester today and, well, having some fun with it as well. all he has got to do is answer a very simple question, - which is who paid, initially, for the redecoration- of your flat? now, i'm think of people who are watching this, . i think most people would say, "if i had my flat redecorated, l i'd be able to answer that question". - so the prime minister- could actually end this now, tell us who paid for it - in the first place, answer the question, it would takel about one minute, and then he can get back- on with the dayjob. where do you go, laura and adam, and there is a row about interior decor, where do

you go for your photo op? well, you go where there is allegedly a quote by somebody who has been has allegedly been to the prime minister's flat and said they wanted to replace the "john lewis furniture nightmare" they'd been left by theresa may. 0h! so, you go to? john lewis! and you pose for a picture. oh, look — just casually looking at a roll of wallpaper! as you do! and i have to say, having been lucky enough to have a glimpse of the downing street flat when theresa may was there — because we did part of her farewell interview there and it meant that we got a little bit of a look around — whatever your taste is, it was immaculate and really quite plush and pretty comfy and i didn't, well, anyway, people have different tastes, but it was really quite lavish and fancy, but perhaps not to boris johnson's taste. well, we are nowjoined on newscast by an actual professional taste maker. it is celia sawyer, the interior designer, who you will have seen on four rooms on channel 4 and your home in

their hands on bbc one. hello, celia! hello! help out our newscaster. who hears the numbers being thrown around and we know that prime ministers can spend up to £30,000 of a year of taxpayers' money on the flat and think, blimey, how on earth do you end up ratcheting up tens of thousands of expense for a bit of wall paper and a new sofa? well, it's notjust a bit - of wallpaper and a new sofa. we don't actually know, | do we — or do we know? — exactly how i much was spent. do we know? no, we don't know. i mean, figures of up to £200,000 have been bandied around, but we don't know if that really is true. i think we know it was sort of more than £50,000. but we do know that they hired somebody called lulu lyttle from soane — if i'm pronouncing that correctly. so, could you tell us and our viewers and listeners a bit about that kind of, her designs and the sort of cachet that she has.

i don't actually know her at all and i don't... - burn! ..i don't know her at all. and i don't know her work. and i have seen some - pictures obviously recently, because she has been — - this has been all in the news — and it's not the sort. of style that i would, that, you know, i do for somebody. however, everyone's got different styles l and that is the whole point of having your own interior designer, so that you bring in whatever, you know, - your style — is to someone's property. what's in at the moment? i don't follow trends - because the reason i don't... you're your own trend! well, the thing is i'm more classical because i think. to myself if you follow a trend, then you're . going to have _ to pay to change it again when it's not in fashion and not in trend. - ah! good call. so you know a lot of very, - very over—the—top wallpapers, a lot of over—the—top bright colours that probably - you would never normally put together, but that's very- fashionable at the moment| and i don't put those things together. when you look at the pictures of what is rumoured to be in the downing street flat, because all the pictures that

are out there are actuallyjust from lulu lytle�*s website, rather than actual candid snaps of the downing street flat, and you see the wallpaper and the sofa and the lamps and stuff, does that seem to match what we think we know of borisjohnson�*s personality? can you imagine that being the sort of stuff that he'd like, that he'd go for? i don't know if he'd even know| what he likes that he would go for, to be honest. i would think that probably the female in his life - is probably in charge i of that side of things because he's got otherl things to think about it. to me, it looks quite sort of chaotic, that sort - of interior, but perhaps that's what they like. . i mean, he is quite a sort of chaotic man, isn't he? | he's always got crazy hair and all the rest of it. - one way of putting it. quite a lot of people would say that downing street quite often likes having a bit of chaos around, so maybe that was the design theme?

celia, i'm glad you're here because i've got a bit of interiors question at the moment, because ijust bought a new armchair a few weeks ago which i've mentioned a few times on this podcast and i love itand... 0h, on a sunny day, just sitting there all curled up with a coffee and a paper, it's brilliant. but i need a magazine rack and i just cannot find a nice magazine rack. celia, just before we go, doing my due diligence as a journalist, on your website you say, clients include, pop stars, politicians, actors, actresses, sporting personalities, high net worth business people in the public eye. did borisjohnson approach you to come and do the refurb? unfortunately not. 0k. if he had, it would have looked very smart. - well, he gets 30 grand a year, so maybe he will call next year? after seeing you on newscast and seeing your beautiful flat behind you! let's hope so, eh? thanks, celia. thank you. thank you celia. my goodness, i always learn a lot on newscast, but this week i feel like i've learned more than most. i wonder if, you know, i mean this studio's looking better than it did a couple of years ago, but maybe we need a refresh.

maybe that's how we make ourselves feel good is have a refresh every now and again. looking very brexit era actually in here, isn't it? definitely yes. when we started doing this. this feels awful. it's changed a lot since then, you know. it's all very 2020 in here, tell you. i suppose if we have a priority it would have to be chris's little cupboard, wouldn't it? yeah, definitely. well it's been a joy being part of broadcasting furniture on the bbc this evening. thank you very much for watching and listening, we'll be back very soon. bye! bye everyone. bye. newscast from the bbc. hello. april will continue to try to make amends with a bit more rain before the month is done during friday in the form of showers that will continue into the first weekend of may and it will stay on the cool side with a risk of frost at night. and then for the bank holiday, look at this area of low pressure — a long way away but it's coming for us on monday. until then, we find ourselves in the wake of low pressure. unstable air, meaning showers and the flow of air coming in from the north—east. some cool direction temperatures, below average for the time of year, and another frost out there for many as we start the day for friday morning. rather patchy in nature, more likely in the countryside than in the town and city

centres, but it will be chilly. there'll be plenty of sunshine. already a few showers running in towards the north sea coastal areas. but after the early sunshine elsewhere, some cloud is going to build and the showers break out more widely, some heavy, perhaps with hail and thunder. not everybody will catch them, though, and as for temperatures, it is quite cool, particularly along north sea coasts — many of us just in the range of 9—12 celsius. perhaps fewer showers in northern ireland compared with thursday, so more in the way of dry, sunny weather. as ever, the showers — not everybody�*s going to catch them — they will tend to fade away after dark overnight and into saturday morning and with another chilly start, with another patchy frost, a lot of sunshine to start the weekend, to start saturday. but wait for it, it all happens again. the shower clouds build, the showers break out, some heavy with hail and thunder. they will be wintry, too, over the higher hills and mountains, particularly in scotland. maybe temperatures a degree or so higher on saturday and the winds are light, so if you are in some sunshine, it will feel reasonable, as it will again on sunday after a chilly start, but the showers will get going once again.

more cloud gathering out to our west — that's the area of low pressure i showed you coming in for the bank holiday. now, there's still something to play for in the timing of the arrival of this wet and windy weather moving in from the atlantic on monday. it may well be that the far north of scotland, the far south—east of england stay dry for a large part of the day before the rain gets in. but if you think rain is coming on the bank holiday, the winds are going to be picking up as well and it is going to still be on the cool side for the time of year, you won't go far wrong.

this is bbc news. i'm kasia madera. our top stories: in israel, dozens of people are killed in a stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra—orthodox jews. my husband, the president of the united states, joe biden! president biden holds a rally in georgia, the first stop on a tour to encourage americans to support his sweeping economic plans. gaunt and visibly diminished, alexei navalny in court via videolink for his first appearance since his hunger strike, accusing president putin of stealing the country's riches. and astonishment as a new gene therapy improves the vision