good morning. if you're looking for the biggest test of electoral opinion since 2019, and the biggest test before the next uk general election, look no further. we have a bumper crop of results coming in over the next 48 hours, from england, wales and scotland. last year's local elections were cancelled because of the pandemic, so this year we're looking at a record number of results from every part of britain. this is a key national electoral test here in scotland and in wales. members of the scottish parliament and welsh senedd are being chosen, along with thousands of local councillors across england. keir starmer was elected labour leader on the promise of being able to rebuild the red wall — but 18 months on from the disastrous

general election, the overnight results suggest there is little indication of a fightback. yesterday, the people of hartlepool choose yesterday, the people of hartlepool chose a new member of parliament in a by—election, and for the first time since the 1960s, they chose a conservative. in fact, it was a thumping win for the conservatives — by nearly 7,000 votes, a 16% swing, and a heavy blow to labour's hopes of revival in the north—east of england. the conservatives said it was because borisjohnson had delivered on brexit, while labour said it underlined the need for the party to change more to win back its former supporters. but here in scotland, the very future of the uk is at stake. will the snp — either with or without other pro—independence parties — be able to claim a mandate for a second independence referendum, one that borisjohnson insists he will oppose? from the bbc�*s headquarters

at pacific quay in glasgow, david wallace lockhart will be analysing the most important scottish election since devolution. i will follow the scottish results as they come in and keep track of which of these leaders keep smiling as accounting goes on. they will be glued to this constituency map of scotland, and this was how the results looked after the 2016 election, but that doesn't matter any more. the 2021 polls are closed and what is important is how these constituencies and the regional list seats now fill up. we'll be in cardiff for the results of the senedd elections to see if labour will hold off the challenge of the conservatives and plaid cymru and keep hold on power yet again. and we'll be keeping track of a dozen battles to be mayor of some of england's biggest cities, including london. laura kuenssberg is here to keep an eye on the political reaction in westminster.

and reeta chakrabarti is standing by to bring you each and every result. we have already had a swathe of results in from the english council elections. 0ne results in from the english council elections. one of the most eye—catching is this harlow, in essex. it's a conservative gain from labour. i will be using the giant touch—screen to look at the results in all seven of the elections taking place across britain. 0ur correspondents are in all the places that matter across england, wales and scotland. and our knight with the numbers — sirjohn curtice — will provide the sharpest analysis of the emerging electoral landscape. a few results are already in and they're more than interesting, but there are lots and lots to come. so settle down, join us for all the excitement of this year's election results on the bbc.

yes, welcome, everyone. kirsty and i are yourjoint hosts today. we are looking forward to a busy day and we are trying to make sense of what is going on. kirsty, what are you looking for today?— going on. kirsty, what are you looking for today? there may be early smiles _ looking for today? there may be early smiles on _ looking for today? there may be early smiles on the _ looking for today? there may be early smiles on the conservative i early smiles on the conservative faces in england after the hartlepool by—election, but there may be a big headache in scotland. we will probably know today the extent of how well the snp has done here in scotland, taking their main target seats. dumbarton, edinburgh centraland target seats. dumbarton, edinburgh central and ayr, if they take those, they are on their way to securing a decent majority either on their own or with the greens, and that means that boris johnson or with the greens, and that means that borisjohnson will be rejecting their call for a new independence

referendum. find their call for a new independence referendum-— their call for a new independence referendum. �* ~ ., ., referendum. and we know the rough timetable for — referendum. and we know the rough timetable for welsh _ referendum. and we know the rough timetable for welsh and _ referendum. and we know the rough timetable for welsh and scottish - timetable for welsh and scottish results coming later, but we have had a few english results already, including the hartlepool by—election. with a look at the details in a moment. first, a full round up of the news with ben brown. here's a summary of the bbc news. the conservatives have taken the parliamentary seat of hartlepool, in what's being described by labour as a "shattering" result. the new mp isjill mortimer, who's the first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake has more. i hereby declare that gillian wendy mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, is elected. fix, mortimer, commonly known as jill mortimer, is elected.— mortimer, is elected. a clear victo . mortimer, is elected. a clear

victory- the _ mortimer, is elected. a clear victory. the winning - mortimer, is elected. a clearl victory. the winning candidate mortimer, is elected. a clear- victory. the winning candidate said she was proud to break labour's long run here and argued that it was proof that her opponents had lost touch. ., ,., . proof that her opponents had lost touch. ., ., ., ~ , .,, touch. labour have taken people in hartle ool touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for _ touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted _ touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for - touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for too - touch. labour have taken people in | hartlepool for granted for too long. i heard this time and time again on the doorstep. people have had enough. and now through this result, the people have spoken and made it clear it is time for change. it proved the prime minister can command support has brexit, and living labour promising to listen and learn. for living labour promising to listen and learn. ., ., , ., ., living labour promising to listen and learn. ., ., ., ., , and learn. for me as a labour party member, absolutely _ and learn. for me as a labour party member, absolutely shattering - and learn. for me as a labour party member, absolutely shattering to l and learn. for me as a labour party i member, absolutely shattering to see a conservative mp elected in a place like hartlepool after nearly 50 years. this shows that although we have started to change since the

catechism of the last general election, that gone far enough to win back the trust of the voters and we have seen that in spades in hartlepool. we have seen that in spades in hartlepool-— we have seen that in spades in hartlepool. something else for conservatives _ hartlepool. something else for conservatives to _ hartlepool. something else for conservatives to celebrate. - hartlepool. something else for| conservatives to celebrate. the party took control of nuneaton and bedworth council in warwickshire out of 143 being contested across england. of 143 being contested across encland. ., , of 143 being contested across encland. ,, . ., england. people respect what the prime minister _ england. people respect what the prime minister has _ england. people respect what the prime minister has done - england. people respect what the prime minister has done during i england. people respect what the l prime minister has done during this pandemic. they think the vaccine roll—out is phenomenal and i think given all the challenges that we have faced, the conservative government, the prime minister has done a really good job in difficult circumstances, and many of those people on the doorsteps have been right behind him. in people on the doorsteps have been right behind him.— people on the doorsteps have been right behind him. in essex, another win for the — right behind him. in essex, another win for the conservatives, - right behind him. in essex, another win for the conservatives, taking i win for the conservatives, taking harlow council from labour. win for the conservatives, taking harlow councilfrom labour. the race to count votes early here in northumberland ended with a conservative win too, as contests

continue for counties, boroughs, districts and more. labour have held on to several councils in the north—east, including newcastle and gateshead, but saw their stronghold in sunderland eroded by the tories. in london, labour's sadiq khan is seeking a second term, one of 13 city and regional mayors to be elected. doncaster elected a labour mayor overnight. ballot boxes have been gathered from all corners of scotland, where the snp are hoping to secure a majority in the scottish parliament. and in wales, labour will continue their run in power as votes are now counted for the 60 seats in the senedd. from elections held in the shadow of a pandemic, the renewed political picture slowly emerging. as we've just heard, counting in the scottish parliamentary election has just begun. voters were choosing 129 msps to be elected to the scottish parliament — but covid restrictions meant there was no overnight

vote counting this year. the final results are expected on saturday. counting has also begun in the last few minutes in the welsh elections to the senedd. 60 seats are up for grabs and some voters reported queues outside polling stations. most results are expected this afternoon and into the early evening. results in four wales police and crime commissioner elections are due on sunday. we'll find out today how international travel will restart for england. the transport secretary grant shapps will give a press conference later to announce how the government will open it up. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect on the 17th of may — with countries classed as green, amber or red. travellers to "green" countries will not need to quarantine on their return, but they will need to take a covid test before going and coming

back. arrivals from "amber" countries will need to quarantine at home on return to the uk and as well as taking the same tests before departure and return. red—list countries have the strictest rules: only uk and ireland residents will be able to come in from those countries, and travellers will have quarantine for ten nights in a government approved hotel at their own expense — in addition to the testing regime. and we'll have full coverage of that press conference with grant shapps this evening at 5pm on the bbc news channel. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is expected to recommend that people aged under 40 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab after concerns were raised about blood clots. the policy currently applies to those under 30, but the age threshold could be raised as a precautionary measure.

the election results will keep coming in over the next few days. you can find out the latest results where you live by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. let's go back to elections 2021. yes, welcome back. we are going to start right away by looking at that result in the hartlepool by—election, because that is the crucial thing to talk about early on. it came in the last couple of hours, withjill mortimer, the first female mp for hartlepool and the first conservative since 1974, when the seat was put into its current form. it was called the hartlepools before that and for most of the time since 1945, it was labour. let's talk to reeta and ask her to get

through these figures in detail. this is what we are waking up to. hartlepool has gone conservative after, as you said, decades of it being a labour. the conservatives had been confident of taking hartlepool but we shouldn't let that expectation overshadow their achievement. jill mortimer had a thumping majority of nearly 7000. how did she do it? let's look at the figures behind that result. she got over half of the vote in hartlepool. paul williams for labour came in on 29%. what is interesting in these situations is to look at how the share of the vote has changed. the conservatives have put on 23% compared to last time this seat was up. you will see the reform party, which is the brexit party as was, their vote has plummeted and clearly, that has pretty much come

to the benefit of the conservatives. but what is interesting is that the labour vote is down by 9%. that suggests that it is not simply because of the reform party vote going to the conservatives, but it suggests that the labour party has gone back on the support it had in 2019. let's look at the swing from labour to conservatives. a massive 16% swing. look at the eu referendum result. it was 70% leave, so that clearly has been a big factor in this result, but there is probably even more to it than that. reeta, many thanrs- _ even more to it than that. reeta, many thanks. we _ even more to it than that. reeta, many thanks. we will _ even more to it than that. reeta, many thanks. we will discuss - even more to it than that. reeta, l many thanks. we will discuss some even more to it than that. reeta, - many thanks. we will discuss some of that with laura kuenssberg in a moment. now we can go straight to our political correspondent chris mason in hartlepool. so much to unpack, a shattering defeat for labour. and an

mp who is not actually of the area, jill mortimer, but she fought on local issues?— jill mortimer, but she fought on local issues? that's right. it's an extraordinary — local issues? that's right. it's an extraordinary result _ local issues? that's right. it's an extraordinary result to _ local issues? that's right. it's an extraordinary result to try - local issues? that's right. it's an extraordinary result to try and i extraordinary result to try and unpick. looking underneath some of the numbers that reeta was talking through, jill mortimer is the new mp, a councillor in north yorkshire prior to her victory a couple of hours ago. this is a seat that has had a labour mp ever since it was constituted in 1974. it has had a labour mp going back to 1964, as huw was saying, under its previous title of the hartlepools. yes, you can take half a step back and look at the result on 2019 and see how well the result on 2019 and see how well the brexit party performed, securing one in four votes then, and argue that perhaps this result isn't that surprising because without the brexit party, perhaps the

conservatives would have won this seatin conservatives would have won this seat in 2019. but put that to one side and take a step back and it's extraordinary, because hartlepool, for more than a generation, was one of those seats that on a general election night, would barely merit any attention beyond the boundaries of the town because it was seen as a rock—solid labour seat that labour would win yet again. the same goes for conservative seats that you would chalk up as rock—solid seat that they would win at any election. and yet this seat now falls in with a good number of those seats described as the red wool at the last general election that boris johnson was able to bulldoze through. and so an indicator of the remoulding of english politics, whether conservatives are able to win and win big, as the numbers show in seats that for so long were regarded as guaranteed labour territory.

of course, the recriminations have begun already. even diane abbott was out of the traps, saying that the strategy was wrong. caroline flint has said it was wrong to focus on the curtains, we should have been focusing on a new labour strategy, and that was absent. this is a constituency which keir starmer and and borisjohnson each visited three times, keir starmerto and borisjohnson each visited three times, keir starmer to absolutely no avail. ,, �* ., , times, keir starmer to absolutely no avail. ,, , ., , avail. quite. both party leaders were here _ avail. quite. both party leaders were here regularly _ avail. quite. both party leaders were here regularly which - avail. quite. both party leaders were here regularly which gave| avail. quite. both party leaders- were here regularly which gave you a sense during the campaign of the jeopardy around this context, and the recriminations undoubtedly beginning within the labour movement, and the labour leadership are openly acknowledging how wounding this defeat is, talking about the need to redouble their efforts to try to re—secure the trust of voters in places like hartlepool. if the word retreble

existed it would be worth using it, given the scale of the challenge. and the more broad argumentative labour about strategy. some on the left, mailto labour about strategy. some on the left, mail tojeremy corbyn, have been itching to criticise keir starmer and will use this result as evidence for their case that he is not sufficiently making change, they will point to the fact thatjeremy corbyn won in hartlepool in 2019 and 2017. full keir starmer, the psychological damage of this defeat is that he has long argued since becoming leader one year ago that there was a huge mountain to crime, as he described, for labour to win the next general election —— mounted to climb. but there was the hope within the leeds's office that the labour party had hit rock bottom in the 2019 general election, there was general election performance since

1935, that that was the sea bed and the only way was up. 0ver 1935, that that was the sea bed and the only way was up. over the course of the weekend there are plenty more results to come and mathematically, of course, one by—election result does not really change the numbers at westminster particularly significantly, but it will change the mood because it means that the conservatives can be buoyant as far as their westminster prospects appear, and labourface big questions with a fear that there are plenty of seats like this where labour mps this morning will be thinking, blimey, willi labour mps this morning will be thinking, blimey, will i be safe at the next general election? they will be fearful that the answer is no. thanks a lot, chris. we have had one parliamentary by—election which we can't talk about in a second with laura, we expect the scottish parliament results, the welsh senedd, the welsh parliament, local authority results across england, 143 councils, 4500 seats up for

grabs, but city and regional mayors and police and crime commissioner is. the list goes on, but it is a brilliant test, a fantastic test of public opinion before the next election. when i spoke about english local authorities, this will underline the challenge for labour, they took a very heavy blow in hartlepool, but looking at harlow in essex, the conservatives have gained that from labour, in northumberland in the north—east, where we saw chris, the conservatives have gained control of northumberland from no overall control, they had done the same in many tonight bedworth in the midlands, the same in dudley, a very important battleground in the midlands. these local authorities are very telling —— they have done the same in nuneaton and bedworth in the same in nuneaton and bedworth in the midlands. look at the difference between this and last time, you will

see the conservatives have gained 12 seats, labour down 11. can we look at those figures for a second? we will see a pattern in a lot of these seats were very big ukip vote or brexit party vote will be going back into the conservative fold, as people expect, but it did not happen by, it was from labour to the conservatives. these four councils are conservative gains, harlow from labour, the other three from no overall control. if you are a labour supporter you would be looking at that with some trepidation before the other results come in. let's bring laura in, starting with the hartlepool by—election, a 16% swing. what is the analysis? is it a brexit

thing, a covid, vaccine roll—out thing, a covid, vaccine roll—out thing, a covid, vaccine roll—out thing, a local thing? thing, a covid, vaccine roll—out thing, a localthing? i thing, a covid, vaccine roll-out thing, a localthing?— thing, a covid, vaccine roll-out thing, a localthing? i think it is a mixture _ thing, a localthing? i think it is a mixture of— thing, a localthing? i think it is a mixture of all— thing, a localthing? i think it is a mixture of all different - thing, a localthing? ithink it is. a mixture of all different factors. we could ever get into the minds of individual voters in the ballot box with a pencil hovering over their paper. i think covid has made this set of elections very strange at usual, it has been hard for the parties to campaign, voters have been very preoccupied, quite understandably. the vaccine programme, with whether or not their job will be ok, are they still on furlough? the vaccine programme, you would think it has been a stunning public policy success for this government and has created a certain amount of feel good about government performance at this stage of the pandemic. but when you talk about brexit, in those councils, and i suspect we will keep seeing, voters who went from labour to ukip to the brexit party not going back to

labour but the tories. i do not think that brexit has been playing hugely on the doorstep in terms of voters' mind, but brexit was a proxy for a change that was already happening, shifts happening in the undergrowth in terms of how voters feel about the two big main westminster parties, that has clearly been an issue.- westminster parties, that has clearly been an issue. let's think about the position _ clearly been an issue. let's think about the position for _ clearly been an issue. let's think about the position for labour, i clearly been an issue. let's think about the position for labour, a l about the position for labour, a relatively new leader, keir starmer, therefore about a year. what would be the thinking in that leader's office today? it is early days but the by—election speaks for itself in an area that is important for labour if it ever wants to gain power again. what would be the thinking behind the reasoning, is this an overhang from what labour has been through or a more permanent shift to a party which has delivered brexit and seem to be more in tune with

people? i and seem to be more in tune with --eole? ~' ., , and seem to be more in tune with eo le? «' ., , ., and seem to be more in tune with --eole? ~' ., , people? i think the hope that this is the back blast, _ people? i think the hope that this is the back blast, perhaps - people? i think the hope that this is the back blast, perhaps the i is the back blast, perhaps the bottom of the end result of everything that has happened in the last five years in british politics, whether brexit, borisjohnson's reputation confirmed again as a vote winner all the damage they believe was byjeremy corbyn's stewardship of the party. the fear is that this is more permanent and harder to peel back. they already face public criticism from the left of the party, for the shadow chancellor john mcdonnell saying the candidate in hartlepool had no argument, he was naked. they campaigning with momentum which backjeremy corbyn said this is a disaster and there needs to be a change of tack, but i think the leader michael's office will use this more aggressively to make a case for change and sticking to the centre. —— i think the leader's office. keir starmer was all about party unity his leadership

campaign, ithink all about party unity his leadership campaign, i think his office will be more aggressive in making the case for change. but it changed to what? even keir starmer�*s allies privately admit they have not done a greatjob of articulating precisely and compellingly the reason for putting a cross in the box for labour. irate a cross in the box for labour. we already had _ a cross in the box for labour. we already had some illustrations of what people are staying. senior labour mp diane abbott has just put it this quote on social media, "a crushing defeat for labour in hartlepool, not possible to blame jeremy corbyn for this result. labour won the seat twice a day his leadership. keir starmer must think again about his strategy. " people's momentum have been saying this about hartlepool. "this is a disaster, in 2017 we won over 50% of the vote in hartlepool, a transformative

hartlepool, a tra nsformative socialist hartlepool, a transformative socialist message has won in hartlepool before and would have again." so they are saying that the problem is not that mr corbyn was a problem, it is the fact you have moved away from age.- problem, it is the fact you have moved away from age. straight out of the tra s, moved away from age. straight out of the traps. but — moved away from age. straight out of the traps, but worth _ moved away from age. straight out of the traps, but worth remembering i moved away from age. straight out of the traps, but worth remembering is l the traps, but worth remembering is that it the 2019 election more than 10,000 people in hartlepool voted for the brexit party. clearly keir starmer has not given them reason to go back to labour, if they were ever there, but i think the litre's office will not think this is time to move back to the left, and we have not heard from lord mandelson this morning, the party has to talk about aspiration again, going to the left does not succeed for them. what is it about people moving to the tory party that suggests they want a more left—wing labour party? is there a logic there? but i think we can expect some dates of strife for

the labour leader. 0ne former member of the nec, the ruling body of the party, had said that keir starmer should go. i do not think that the leader's 0ffice should go. i do not think that the leader's office is expecting anything which could end up as significant as such, but they had to come out punching, they have not been able to land their arguments as they will hope and there will be coming pressure on him to do that. thank you, laura. we have been joined by labour mp alison mcgovern in the wirral. thank you forjoining us. in the wirral. thank you for “oining us. . ., in the wirral. thank you for “oining us, . ., , , ., " in the wirral. thank you for “oining us. . ., ,, ., in the wirral. thank you for “oining in the wirral. thank you forjoining us. . ., ,, ., can in the wirral. thank you forjoining us. . cani in the wirral. thank you forjoining| us-_ can i pick us. nice to speak to you. can i pick u . us. nice to speak to you. can i pick u- on us. nice to speak to you. can i pick up on laura's _ us. nice to speak to you. can i pick up on laura's point, _ us. nice to speak to you. can i pick up on laura's point, basically i us. nice to speak to you. can i pick up on laura's point, basically you l up on laura's point, basically you arejust not planting up on laura's point, basically you are just not planting your points with former voters of yours nac play hartlepool —— landing your points. what went wrong here? this hartlepool -- landing your points. what went wrong here? as everyone had said, what went wrong here? as everyone had said. we —

what went wrong here? as everyone had said, we have _ what went wrong here? as everyone had said, we have had _ what went wrong here? as everyone had said, we have had a difficult i had said, we have had a difficult time, _ had said, we have had a difficult time, a — had said, we have had a difficult time, a very bad result in 2019. i think_ time, a very bad result in 2019. i think it _ time, a very bad result in 2019. i think it is — time, a very bad result in 2019. i think it is really important we focus — think it is really important we focus on _ think it is really important we focus on the country right now, whether— focus on the country right now, whether the situation for all of our kids, _ whether the situation for all of our kids. in— whether the situation for all of our kids, in hartlepool or anywhere else, _ kids, in hartlepool or anywhere else, who — kids, in hartlepool or anywhere else, who have really struggled through— else, who have really struggled through lockdown, making sure we have a _ through lockdown, making sure we have a really good education system, those _ have a really good education system, those are _ have a really good education system, those are the issues i think we need to focus, _ those are the issues i think we need to focus, make sure we have practical. _ to focus, make sure we have practical, deliverable policies and can talk— practical, deliverable policies and can talk to — practical, deliverable policies and can talk to people about why voting labour _ can talk to people about why voting labour is _ can talk to people about why voting labour is the answer. i know lots of people _ labour is the answer. i know lots of people will— labour is the answer. i know lots of people will have voted conservative with a _ people will have voted conservative with a heavy heart, who will have wanted _ with a heavy heart, who will have wanted an — with a heavy heart, who will have wanted an alternative, and the way to do— wanted an alternative, and the way to do that — wanted an alternative, and the way to do that is to offer people a practical— to do that is to offer people a practical set of policies that give them _ practical set of policies that give them hope for the future that we do not live _ them hope for the future that we do not live in— them hope for the future that we do not live in a — them hope for the future that we do not live in a one—party tory state, that things — not live in a one—party tory state, that things can be better and different in the future. | that things can be better and different in the future. i assume ou and different in the future. i assume you and your — different in the future. i assume you and your colleagues - different in the future. i assume you and your colleagues were i different in the future. i assume i you and your colleagues were making those points in hartlepool, you were talking about those issues, so the

question obviously is whether people were receptive to that message? what were receptive to that message? what were they telling you about reasons they did not want to vote for you? it is a statement of the obvious that we — it is a statement of the obvious that we did not do well enough, obviously— that we did not do well enough, obviously that is not good, but the question— obviously that is not good, but the question is, — obviously that is not good, but the question is, what engages people in politics? _ question is, what engages people in politics? i_ question is, what engages people in politics? i think a lot of people are turned _ politics? i think a lot of people are turned off too often by politics. _ are turned off too often by politics, but i think the right thing — politics, but i think the right thing to— politics, but i think the right thing to do is focus on the practical— thing to do is focus on the practical needs of the country and be ambitious for the future. we have had a _ be ambitious for the future. we have had a terrible year with covid, it has been — had a terrible year with covid, it has been really challenging and difficult, — has been really challenging and difficult, but we know that what will give — difficult, but we know that what will give people hope is building on the best— will give people hope is building on the best of our country, whether that is— the best of our country, whether that is the — the best of our country, whether that is the nhs and public servants who have _ that is the nhs and public servants who have delivered the vaccine programme so brilliantly, or whether that is— programme so brilliantly, or whether that is making sure we are ambitious. look at the chances and opportunities for children and young people _ opportunities for children and young people in— opportunities for children and young people in too many parts of the country — people in too many parts of the country that are not good enough,

and having — country that are not good enough, and having practical policies to deliver— and having practical policies to deliver on— and having practical policies to deliver on that ambition is where i think— deliver on that ambition is where i think we _ deliver on that ambition is where i think we should be. we will have a lot of— think we should be. we will have a lot of results to come in, obviously it is devastating to lose hartlepool but really — it is devastating to lose hartlepool but really we have to keep going, make _ but really we have to keep going, make sure — but really we have to keep going, make sure our ambition for the country— make sure our ambition for the country is — make sure our ambition for the country is clear, and that is the way— country is clear, and that is the way to— country is clear, and that is the way to improve on our results in the future _ way to improve on our results in the future. �* ,., way to improve on our results in the future. . ,., , ., ., , future. alison, it is laura, it is interesting _ future. alison, it is laura, it is interesting you _ future. alison, it is laura, it is interesting you say _ future. alison, it is laura, it is interesting you say people i future. alison, it is laura, it is l interesting you say people voted conservative with a heavy heart, labour politicians often say that but isn't the problem that you are not trying to understand that people wanted to vote conservative, you are suggesting they voted conservative regretfully but don't you have to understand that people did so willingly and many voters in hartlepool might have only been glad to. it is like you do not want to understand that people wanted to make the choice. i understand that people wanted to make the choice.— make the choice. i had stood in a labour make the choice. i had stood in a labour tory _ make the choice. i had stood in a labour tory swing _ make the choice. i had stood in a labour tory swing seat _ make the choice. i had stood in a labour tory swing seat in - make the choice. i had stood in a labour tory swing seat in a i make the choice. i had stood in a l labour tory swing seat in a general election— labour tory swing seat in a general election several times so i do not think— election several times so i do not think it _

election several times so i do not think it would be a good characterisation of my position to say i _ characterisation of my position to say i do _ characterisation of my position to say i do not — characterisation of my position to say i do not understand the reasons people _ say i do not understand the reasons people might vote conservative. i talk to— people might vote conservative. i talk to people and listen to them and their— talk to people and listen to them and their priorities all the time. i suppose — and their priorities all the time. i suppose i— and their priorities all the time. i suppose i am saying that there are plenty _ suppose i am saying that there are plenty of _ suppose i am saying that there are plenty of people, i think, who will have _ plenty of people, i think, who will have voted — plenty of people, i think, who will have voted conservative but nonetheless one an option for the future, _ nonetheless one an option for the future, once virtually change, and i think— future, once virtually change, and i think the _ future, once virtually change, and i think the labour party has a lot to say on _ think the labour party has a lot to say on that, — think the labour party has a lot to say on that, the question for us is how do— say on that, the question for us is how do we — say on that, the question for us is how do we make sure we are heard, how do we make sure we are heard, how do— how do we make sure we are heard, how do we _ how do we make sure we are heard, how do we make sure we are heard, how do we make sure we are heard, how do we make sure our ideas are communicated practically and positively and we are able to bring people _ positively and we are able to bring people with us, which quite clearly in the _ people with us, which quite clearly in the case — people with us, which quite clearly in the case of hartlepool we have not done — in the case of hartlepool we have not done. so we need to ask ourselves— not done. so we need to ask ourselves that question. i think everybody understands the need for change _ everybody understands the need for change and that is where our focus should _ change and that is where our focus should be — change and that is where our focus should be. . ,., change and that is where our focus should be. . n , should be. alison mcgovern, it is kirsty wark _ should be. alison mcgovern, it is kirsty wark in — should be. alison mcgovern, it is kirsty wark in edinburgh. - should be. alison mcgovern, it is kirsty wark in edinburgh. a i should be. alison mcgovern, it is. kirsty wark in edinburgh. a couple of points, this was a 70% lead seat

you had, over may labour mp and you were part of the people's vote campaign that wanted a second referendum, that you were out of touch with what people in hartlepool wanted. they backed brexit and they now want jobs wanted. they backed brexit and they now wantjobs for wanted. they backed brexit and they now want jobs for hartlepool, new homes, businesses in hartlepool, thatis homes, businesses in hartlepool, that is what the conservatives were offering, a levelling up agenda. as laura said, they backed that. and the conservatives will be judged on what _ and the conservatives will be judged on what they deliver. as i mentioned, in the case ofjobs for young _ mentioned, in the case ofjobs for young people, we have got this pathetic— young people, we have got this pathetic kick start programme that has delivered very fewjobs for young — has delivered very fewjobs for young people. so the ambition is right _ young people. so the ambition is right. brexit is done now. the question— right. brexit is done now. the question is— right. brexit is done now. the question is what happens to our economy — question is what happens to our econom . �* ,., question is what happens to our econom . ~ ,., ., , economy. alison, we are 'ust watchingfi economy. alison, we are 'ust watching youri economy. alison, we are 'ust watching your party i economy. alison, we are just watching your party leader. economy. alison, we are just| watching your party leader sir economy. alison, we are just i watching your party leader sir keir starmer leaving his home in north london. sorry to interrupt you. i

don't think there were any words for the waiting reporters. he isjust leaving home. i'm sure we will be hearing from him later. alison, given that we have seen sir keir there, but will be, or what should be his message to those people who are dismayed within the party today? we are on a journey and we have got to keep _ we are on a journey and we have got to keep going. we know we need to win people's votes back. we need to win people's votes back. we need to win hartlepool and lots of places in scotland. _ win hartlepool and lots of places in scotland, in north wales. so we are on this— scotland, in north wales. so we are on thisjourney and scotland, in north wales. so we are on this journey and we have to keep going _ on this journey and we have to keep going we _ on this journey and we have to keep going. we have to be ambitious for the country— going. we have to be ambitious for the country at the same time make sure our— the country at the same time make sure our policies are practical and deliverable.— sure our policies are practical and deliverable. . n ., ,, deliverable. alison mcgovern, thank ou ve deliverable. alison mcgovern, thank you very much- _ you very much. now you can go to ben brown with the news. here's a summary of the bbc news.

the conservatives have taken the parliamentary seat of hartlepool with a resounding majority of almost 7000. the new mp isjill mortimer, who's the first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. labour has described the by—election result as "shattering". the tories have also made gains across local councils. they've taken control of four councils, gaining 57 seats compared to labour losses of 60 seats. 17 local authorities have declared their results but there are 126 which are still counting votes. counting in the scottish parliamentary election began half an hour ago. voters were choosing 129 msps to be elected to the scottish parliament, but covid restrictions meant there was no overnight vote counting this year. the final results are expected on saturday. counting has also begun in the welsh elections to the senedd. 60 seats are up for grabs and some voters reported queues outside polling stations. most results are expected this afternoon and into the early evening. the results of four wales police

and crime commissioners elections are due on sunday. meanwhile, the first result in the regional mayoral electons has been announced. labour's rosjones has secured a third term as doncaster s mayor, with a majority of over 10,000. votes are still being counted for the 12 other directly—elected mayors, but results are not expected until the weekend. we'll find out today how international travel will restart for england. the transport secretary grant shapps will give a press conference later to announce how the government will open it up. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect on 17th may — with countries classed as green, amber or red. well, julia lo bue—said is the chief executive of the advantage travel partnership, an association of independent travel agents and involved in the government's global travel taskforce. shejoins us now.

what are you expecting to hear today from the transport secretary? the first thing we _ from the transport secretary? iia: first thing we are from the transport secretary? "iia: first thing we are looking from the transport secretary? i““i2 first thing we are looking to from the transport secretary? ii2 first thing we are looking to hear is that the ban on international travel will be lifted on the 17th of may, and in place we will have the traffic light framework which has already been described and set out in the global travel taskforce, which gives consumers and travellers the ability to understand in the short term but also working towards the summer, where the countries they are looking to travel to will be sitting. are looking to travel to will be sittina. �* , ., sitting. and in the short term, which countries _ sitting. and in the short term, which countries do _ sitting. and in the short term, which countries do you - sitting. and in the short term, which countries do you expect| sitting. and in the short term, i which countries do you expect to be on the green list? there has been a lot of speculation. what is your money on? i lot of speculation. what is your money on?— lot of speculation. what is your money on? lot of speculation. what is your mone on? . ., ., ., , money on? i am not a gambler, so i won't be speculating. _ money on? i am not a gambler, so i won't be speculating. it's _ money on? i am not a gambler, so i won't be speculating. it's a - won't be speculating. it's a difficult one, because there is a huge amount of speculation as you say. what is important is how customers end up booking. how you

book is arguably more important than which countries which will be sitting on that list. how you book and when you book is going to be crucial, and making sure that when you are booking, you are booking flexible options, because there will be changes throughout the summer. countries will move through the list, so be careful about who you book with and how you book. just to underline, the _ book with and how you book. just to underline, the countries _ book with and how you book. just to underline, the countries announced | underline, the countries announced today on the various lists, that will be reviewed injune and july. what about prices? a lot of reports in today's newspapers say prices are already rocketing for countries that are potentially on the green list. that is the problem with speculation. it unfortunately creates different behaviours. but we are not seeing that yet. supply and demand will start to determine what the price point will be, but it is not something we are seeing yet. 0ur not something we are seeing yet. our members are trying to make sure they have available all the different

options. as and when traffic light settings do become available and we are clear in which countries they are clear in which countries they are available, we can advise customers on the best options for them and make sure they have access to flexible options in case of changes. 50 to flexible options in case of chances. ,, to flexible options in case of changes-— to flexible options in case of chances. . . .,, , changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight — changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for— changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for a _ changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for a day _ changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for a day or _ changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for a day or so - changes. so your advice to people is to hold tight for a day or so before i to hold tight for a day or so before rushing into books? my to hold tight for a day or so before rushing into books?— rushing into books? my advice is, don't listen _ rushing into books? my advice is, don't listen to _ rushing into books? my advice is, don't listen to speculators. i rushing into books? my advice is, don't listen to speculators. wait i don't listen to speculators. wait for the formal list to be provided. if you are thinking of travelling this summer, please think about who you book with. book through a human travel agent, they are the best place to guide you and hold your hand through the process. a lot of travellers haven't travelled post—brexit even, so travel is going to be a different experience to before. almost as important, and we forget about this, travel agents can advise you on the result. so think about who you book, how you book,

book through a human travel agent who can help you understand the best options for you. who can help you understand the best options foryou— options for you. thank you for being with us, options for you. thank you for being with us. julia _ options for you. thank you for being with us, julia lo _ options for you. thank you for being with us, julia lo bue-said _ options for you. thank you for being with us, julia lo bue-said chief- with us, julia lo bue—said chief executive of the advantage travel partnership. and we'll have full coverage of that press conference with grant shapps this evening at 5pm on the bbc news channel. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is expected to recommend that people aged under 40 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab, after concerns were raised about blood clots. the policy currently applies to those under 30, but the age threshold could be raised as a precautionary measure. police searching for the murderer of police community support officerjulia james have said they will not rest until the killer is found. a £10,000 reward is being offered for information about the murder. officers have yet to establish what weapon was used, and have not been able to identify

any suspects or establish a motive. we'll be back with elections 2021 in a moment, but first, let's have a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. for many of us, it was a chilly start to the day, but also a dry one and a bright one with just a few showers. we'll see further showers develop through the course of the day, though, and again, some of those will be heavy, particularly in eastern areas. the potentialfor some hail and some thunder. and at the same time, cloud will thicken across the south—west, heralding the arrival of an area of low pressure later on. temperatures seven to about 15 as we push further south. now, through this evening, under clear skies, temperatures will fall away quite quickly, and as this system comes in from the south—west, it will not only bring rain and gusty winds, it will also bring some milder air with it, except for across northern england and scotland, you will still have relatively clear skies, so in rural areas you are prone to a touch of frost.

through tomorrow, here is that atlantic low with all its weather fronts around it, producing some heavy rain at times, especially in the west, and windy conditions. but note the temperatures rising. still unsettled on sunday, but higher temperatures by then. welcome back to our bumper election programme with myself and huw. we can go straight around the country now in scotland and look at what is happening in some of the key counts. we have livingstone there, we are expecting that result sometime this afternoon. they started working hard at 9am and you can see a packed hall over there. actually my we are going to go to a different place in the

country now. we are going straight over to the 0rkney isles, a quieter area but they are expecting 0rkney to deliver a result at roughly three o'clock this afternoon. they are dealing with constituency and list results and the 0rkney isles are spread out, so it will take a while for them to get going as they bring those results in because with no overnight counting, some of those results were only delivered to the counting station at nine o'clock this morning. finally, we can go to aberdeen. these results will be delivered tonight by six o'clock. we are expecting big news from aberdeen west, because that is a key target for the snp and we are going to get that this afternoon. i am joined now by our political correspondent nick eardley. next, first of all, intel

from the polling stations last night, i was hearing that at ten o'clock, there were queues in ayr and glasgow. o'clock, there were queues in ayr and glasgow-— and glasgow. yeah, despite the weather and _ and glasgow. yeah, despite the weather and the _ and glasgow. yeah, despite the weather and the pandemic, i and glasgow. yeah, despite the weather and the pandemic, alli and glasgow. yeah, despite the i weather and the pandemic, all the parties seem to think that turnout is pretty strong. in terms of how they are doing individually, a big dollop of cushion at this stage of course, because nobody really knows. but the snp seem in good spirits. they think they have got their 2019 vote out, which matters because in the 2019 election, they did very well. they won back a bunch of the seats they had lost in 2017, when their vote didn't turn out. it's going to be a while before we know if they are close to that majority, but at the moment they seem in good spirits. the greens, the other pro—independence party, seen in even better spirits. pro—independence party, seen in even betterspirits. i pro—independence party, seen in even better spirits. i have spoken to a couple of senior greens who think they are on course for a record tally in the next scottish parliament.— tally in the next scottish parliament. and it is that combination _ parliament. and it is that combination that - parliament. and it is that combination that is i parliament. and it is that combination that is so i parliament. and it is that -

combination that is so important. parliament. and it is that _ combination that is so important. we are looking for early results in the snp that would indicate that they are picking up the seats they need, but we are also looking for a strong showing from the greens because together, that will be the big headache for boris johnson together, that will be the big headache for borisjohnson and the tories. what are you looking at from the tories in scotland? the tories. what are you looking at from the tories in scotland?— the tories in scotland? the tories' has largely — the tories in scotland? the tories' has largely focused _ the tories in scotland? the tories' has largely focused on _ the tories in scotland? the tories' has largely focused on the - the tories in scotland? the tories'| has largely focused on the regional vote, the one we will not know until later in the day tomorrow. but they are confident that that strategy has worked. labourare are confident that that strategy has worked. labour are sounding a bit cautious this morning, but the other thing everybody is talking about is tactical voting from the unionist parties. when it comes to the constituencies, that could be really important as to whether an increased snp turnout is enough in the key swing seats. we are talking about edinburgh central, ayr and dumbarton, where tactical voting could play a big role. thanks very much. now, do we remember dominic cummings, the prime

minister's former adviser? remember dominic cummings, the prime minister's formeradviser? he remember dominic cummings, the prime minister's former adviser? he is clearly watching, welcome, dominic, thanks for tweeting in time for us to quote something that is useful for our debate. why ami why am i quoting that? apart from the fact that it is interesting, coming from mr cummings, the former close adviser in downing street, it also tells us something about the logic for some analysts as they look at the switch from labour to conservative. why have former labour voters gone into the conservative fold? it's a realignment which dominic cummings is alluding to there, the vote leaves strategy of targeting people who might be

susceptible or vulnerable or those who can be appealed to in terms of the values that can be switched to in terms of the brexit referendum and political values more broadly. and that translates into results across england in the local elections. we have already had a few in. before i chat to laura again, i am going to ask retre to take us through some of those big results and the ones where maybe they have changed hands. here are some of the most eye—catching results. there are four conservative gains, the flashers at the site are what they were before, so grey ones were a hung council, reds were labour, if they were blue they were conservative. four conservative gains, two labour

holders and two conservative holds. there is a pattern of support from labour to conservative in leave voting areas. let me show you what is going on in greater detail, nuneaton and bedworth in warwickshire was conservative in 2008 but has been labour and hearn since then, the conservatives now have a majority of 14. it has just been a straight swap, open ten for the conservatives, dan ten for labour in an area that voted 66% to leave. —— darren ten. dudley, a conservative gain, they had been very confident of putting in a good performance in deadly and they have a majority of 20 seats, similarly a 68% leave vote in dudley,

conservatives got a westminster seat in this area in 2019. look at the 12 seat add—on for the conservatives, labour losing 11 and ukip losing one. it is a similar story in harlow in essex, which the conservatives have gained from labour and the bad newspoll labour is that even in councils they have hung on to such as sunderland, you can see a drop in the labour vote, a majority of nine seats, quite comfortable, it has been labourfor a long time, but the seat change, they have gone down by nine seats, conservatives at six and the lib dems up four. if you look at the lib dems up four. if you look at the change in the share of the vote, thatis the change in the share of the vote, that is pretty painful for labour,

down 15%, conservatives up 13% and the lib dems also doing well. it would suggest that the ukip vote has gone to the conservatives and labour has possibly lost some to the liberal democrats, although it is always a bit hard to tell how the chairman works. we have lots of election results still to come in, 143 councils, 16 have declared, you can see the conservatives have put on 57 and labour have lost 60. the lib dems have gained two and the green party have gained three. i would like to catch up on the state of play in some of these important consults. letsjoin my colleague simon in basildon in essex. i am just aware that basildon is one authority, harlow is the other that

we have been talking about. bring us up we have been talking about. bring us up to date and tell us what the party officials are telling you? i think there is nervousness from labour in basildon of what is happening here could be a repeat of harlow. there are counts for what should be four safe labour awards including the council leaders. the tories have told me they think they have a good chance of taking that and possibly some of these other wards. if that happens, it does not look good for labour, who are in coalition on the council with independents, they have a majority ofjust independents, they have a majority of just one. independents, they have a majority ofjust one. 0vernight independents, they have a majority ofjust one. overnight in harlow eight blue wave moved across the borough, labourwonjust eight blue wave moved across the borough, labour wonjust one eight blue wave moved across the borough, labour won just one of the seven seats it was defending. bar council leader gone, the former labour council leader gone, the

conservatives winning in places you would not normally expect. we talk a lot about the red wall in the north but there are places here where you would not expect to see the conservatives win, but they did. but elsewhere in essex it has not all been doom and gloom for labour. they have not made great advances that they have not made any losses in thurrock overnight, and they gained one seat in south bend, but on the county council they have not picked up county council they have not picked up any seats so far —— and they gained one seat in southend. labour hoping to win back the three seats it lost in harlow for county, but it failed. the lib dems have picked up three seats on the county and lost one and i have been some residence' parties who had gained three so far, we will not know that result until later this afternoon and we will not know the result in basildon until late in the afternoon —— and there have been some residents' parties

that have gained. i have been some residents' parties that have gained.— that have gained. i am 'oined by luke warren * that have gained. i am 'oined by luke walton in i that have gained. i am joined by luke walton in stockton - that have gained. i am joined by luke walton in stockton in i that have gained. i am joined by luke walton in stockton in the l luke walton in stockton in the north—east, no council election there, but the north—east more broadly, northumberland has gone to the conservatives, sunderland held by labour but they lost nine seats. the big story will probably be the tees valley, but what does this say about the general area which had some of the labour beasts, tony blair in sedgefield, peter mandelson in hartlepool, what is this change of party telling you about the north—east? of party telling you about the north-east?— of party telling you about the north-east? , , ., , north-east? this party had -- this reuion north-east? this party had -- this region had — north-east? this party had -- this region had half— north-east? this party had -- this region had half of— north-east? this party had -- this region had half of the _ north-east? this party had -- this region had half of the labour- region had half of the labour cabinet at one point, but no longer. i am at the counter in stockton, will expect celtic to begin for the cleveland police and crime commissioner and that the voting for the tees valley mayor the afternoon

—— we expect the county to begin for the cleveland police and crime commissioner. there are deeper things at play, clearly this was a brexit voting region and there seems to have been a break between many voters and the labour party. specifically when we come down to the contest voted here, labour has had the cleveland police and crime commissioner since 2012 that the tories are hopeful they might be able to get back today, the local police force has had a lot of problems has been a damning inspection report for cleveland police in 2019, many people held the labour commissioner responsible for some of those issues that the conservatives hope to capitalise by winning with the candidate steve turner, for the commission opposed. you have mentioned the tees valley mayor, the conservatives' ben

houchen won a slender victory last time, that he has capitalised on that and built a big profile in this part of the world, he has developed a reputation as a deal—maker, when oppositions saving the local airport and nationalising it, a controversial policy that he would say it has worked at you has created new flights and services. even bigger than that he has brought a free port to teesside, he has developed plans for the redevelopment of the old steelworks, so i think it's reputation is as a man who can get things done and has the inside track with the government, with the chancellor rishi sunak, just down the road in richmond. labourwould rishi sunak, just down the road in richmond. labour would question the substance of this and say many promises have not been developed but it has cut through with the voters, ben houchen was very evident on the campaign trail during the hartlepool by—election. privately the conservatives expect to win the tees valley mayor by a very large margin,

many of the parties did not even bother putting up candidates against ben houchen, only labour. we expect that result later in the afternoon, but the conservatives are looking potentially at winning three out of three of these contests in this part of the world. they have already turned a situation with only one conservative mp across the tees valley in 2016, were put hartlepool victory there are five out of seven, so a real transformation —— with this hartlepool victory. so a real transformation -- with this hartlepool victory.— so a real transformation -- with this hartlepool victory. let's talk to rob parsons, _ this hartlepool victory. let's talk to rob parsons, political- this hartlepool victory. let's talk to rob parsons, political editor. this hartlepool victory. let's talk| to rob parsons, political editor of the yorkshire post in leeds, and to the yorkshire post in leeds, and to the north of england editor for the gajion in manchester, helen pint. rob, what do you expect to see today? it rob, what do you expect to see toda ? , ., ., rob, what do you expect to see toda ? , ., , ., today? it is too early to tell whether the _ today? it is too early to tell whether the hartlepool i today? it is too early to tell. whether the hartlepool result today? it is too early to tell- whether the hartlepool result means we will see similarly dramatic swings across yorkshire and the north, the only concrete results so

far was the election of rosjones for doncaster mayor, re—elected for a third term with a 10,000 majority, but unlike in 2017 when she was left elected she did not get 50% of the vote in the first round, the conservative challenger got 8000 more votes this time around, so it doncaster, which like hartlepool is a strongly leave back in time, labour might lose a handful of seats to the conservatives when councillors are elected later —— is a strongly leave backing town. labour holds almost all the councils in yorkshire where elections are being held, it is a matter of holding on to what they have as best they can, i think. what i think is interesting is the town hall is they might be most at risk of losing could be sheffield and hull, where the conservatives are not really a factor and the liberal democrats are the main opposition party —— is the town halls they might be most at

risk of losing. labour is potentially being squeezed by both sides. ., ., �* ., , sides. you mentioned brexit, what is our wider sides. you mentioned brexit, what is your wider reading _ sides. you mentioned brexit, what is your wider reading of _ sides. you mentioned brexit, what is your wider reading of what _ sides. you mentioned brexit, what is your wider reading of what is - your wider reading of what is happening to the former labour vote? 0n the back of hartlepool, i think there will be a few labour mps at northern heartlands feeling a bit nervous based on this morning's results, about the prospect of holding onto their slim majorities at the next general election. brexit still seems to be a factor, and looking ahead to 2024, ed miliband it doncaster north had a majority of 2400 and the brexit party got 8300 votes in 2019, so if you consider the way that brexit party voters have gone to the conservatives and hartlepool, if that swing of traditional labour voters deserting

the party continues, you can see quite a few slender majorities being overhauled in 2024. quite a few slender ma'orities being overhauled in 2024._ overhauled in 2024. helen, can i 'ust overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come _ overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come in _ overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come in on _ overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come in on the _ overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come in on the first - overhauled in 2024. helen, can i just come in on the first point i just come in on the first point about the hartlepool by—election, as caroline flint pointed out in terms of tactical errors, it might not have made a difference but it was labour's call as to when to hold this election, if they had to literally different day when there was not the razzmatazz event ben houchen, would it have made a difference? i houchen, would it have made a difference?— houchen, would it have made a difference? ., ., ~ . ., difference? i do not think so. what we can learn _ difference? i do not think so. what we can learn from _ difference? i do not think so. what we can learn from hartlepool- difference? i do not think so. what we can learn from hartlepool is i difference? i do not think so. what j we can learn from hartlepool is the labour _ we can learn from hartlepool is the labour tactic of calling the tories evil sleazebag has not struck at all, evil sleazebag has not struck at all. it _ evil sleazebag has not struck at all, it does not work. the fact that former— all, it does not work. the fact that former labour voters are staying at home _ former labour voters are staying at home or— former labour voters are staying at home or do — former labour voters are staying at home or do not see a positive reason to vote _

home or do not see a positive reason to vote for— home or do not see a positive reason to vote for labour is a massive problem — to vote for labour is a massive problem for the party. ben houchen is incredibly popular and i will be astonished if he has not returned with a _ astonished if he has not returned with a bigger majority later today, but i with a bigger majority later today, but i do _ with a bigger majority later today, but i do not think holding it on a different— but i do not think holding it on a different day would have made a difference. just different day would have made a difference. , , ., . different day would have made a difference, , ., ., , ., different day would have made a difference-— difference. just on what you are sa in: difference. just on what you are saying about — difference. just on what you are saying about positive _ difference. just on what you are saying about positive reasons i difference. just on what you are | saying about positive reasons to vote labour, is what is happening to labour and the red bull similar to what was happening in scotland with the snp when people did not think there was a positive reason to vote labour and the snp had guns on their territory? i labour and the snp had guns on their territo ? ~' ,., territory? ithink so. either thinkin: territory? ithink so. either thinking about _ territory? ithink so. either thinking about keir- territory? i think so. either i thinking about keir starmer's first year as— thinking about keir starmer's first year as labour leader and i struggle to think— year as labour leader and i struggle to think of— year as labour leader and i struggle to think of any policy or any eye—catching thing he has said. i know— eye—catching thing he has said. i know he — eye—catching thing he has said. i know he has had a very difficult 'ob, know he has had a very difficult job, but— know he has had a very difficult job, but what is his vision? saying, "at least— job, but what is his vision? saying, "at least i— job, but what is his vision? saying, "at least i am notjeremy job, but what is his vision? saying, "at least i am not jeremy corbyn," that is— "at least i am not jeremy corbyn," that isjust — "at least i am not jeremy corbyn," that isjust not good enough. that is 'ust not good enough. thank ou that isjust not good enough. thank ou ve that isjust not good enough. thank

you very much- _ that isjust not good enough. thank you very much. thank— that isjust not good enough. thank you very much. thank you - that isjust not good enough. thank you very much. thank you to i that isjust not good enough. thank you very much. thank you to rob i you very much. thank you to rob parsons in leeds too. really grateful to you. laura, some interesting thoughts, not least about where labour goes if this date pans out in the way it looks at the moment. let's not take everything for granted, but there are much greater science labour so far. what response could we expect from keir starmer —— there are not many great signs for labour. in starmer -- there are not many great signs for labour.— signs for labour. in the early -hases signs for labour. in the early phases this _ signs for labour. in the early phases this is _ signs for labour. in the early phases this is a _ signs for labour. in the early phases this is a big - signs for labour. in the early phases this is a big drubbing | signs for labour. in the early i phases this is a big drubbing for them. but no doubt they will come under pressure from the left, the socialist campaign group of mps, people loyal to jeremy socialist campaign group of mps, people loyal tojeremy corbyn are likely to meet, talk about what to do, put forward their own ideas and perhaps even suggest a federal labour party, a change in structures. the top team might be reshuffled, he might move his front bench to try to have a researcher at

westminster. but i think his choice will be to double down on what he has been trying to do, but as helen was suggesting, his allies know that they have not perhaps manage to distill what he really wants to say. it is one thing talking about historic shifts, the terrible travails of the party underjeremy corbyn, but it is another to change the conversation to what he would want to do. he can'tjust be not jeremy corbyn and a critic of boris johnson, there is a gap they will need to fill. brute johnson, there is a gap they will need to fill-— johnson, there is a gap they will need to fill. ~ . , , ., , need to fill. we have spent the last few weeks talking _ need to fill. we have spent the last few weeks talking about _ need to fill. we have spent the last| few weeks talking about allegations of tory sleaze, allegations of giving contracts to mates and all the rest. does not seem to have impacted, on this basis? it the rest. does not seem to have impacted, on this basis?- impacted, on this basis? it does not, and impacted, on this basis? it does not. and the _ impacted, on this basis? it does not, and the conservatives i impacted, on this basis? it does not, and the conservatives were saying, we are sure nothing has really gone wrong, we will investigate and there are a lot of investigations that have been preoccupied westminster, but there has been a clear view from the tory

party that this is not something cutting through to voters now. it seems like that calculation has been bond at —— borne out by these early results. and it is an indication of borisjohnson's reputation as a vote winner, so even though there are plenty in the tory party who do not necessarily have any personal loyalty to him and do not necessarily back him, plenty of them have been raising their eyebrows about some of the things he has done in office, but at the edge of the day he is there because he can win campaigns, and timing to get it appears he has been vindicated, which is what drives his critics wild. they may not like it's behaviour, his personal style, wild. they may not like it's behaviour, his personalstyle, but time and again, and it appears the set of elections confirms that, he can turn out punters and win votes. very briefly, that tweet from dominic cummings you mentioned, obviously there is gallons of bad

blood between those two men but it is a reminder that this political strategy was deliberate, politics is about a choice and seizing opportunities, whether those are demographic changes, economic changes, geographic differences in the political patterns, and we are seeing at this early stage that about strategy seems again to be bearing a lot of fruit for boris johnson. —— that that strategy. talking about strategy in scotland, this tactical voting, who is the best party to save the union? we haven't heard very much about any labour strategy to deal with the possibility of an independence referendum, so in key marginals it may be that the conservative vote goes up because, tactically labour poachers see the tories as the best party to defend the union? that's right, the conservatives have been able to prosper to a degree in

scotland in the last few years because they have been the ones who have been able to identify with the unionist side of the argument. they have been ten as more relevant in terms of being able to take that fight to the scottish national party because labour's vote has rotted away in the party in scotland was in away in the party in scotland was in a battle for relevance. the new leader in scotland for scottish labour, anas sarwar, seems to have been able to get some kind of zeitgeist. during the campaign, he was suddenly very visible. but labour insiders don't believe they have been able to turn things around very dramatically, if at all. it is the conservatives who have been able to be the most prominent on the unionist side of the debate, even though when you think of their overall political support, they are very much small players, but there are big players on the unionist side. it will be interesting to see whether tactical voting, which it is very hard to find evidence of, is a

big factor. but if turnouts on both sides is high, as nick suggested, that may be something that has come together. that may be something that has come touether. ., that may be something that has come touether. . ., ., . together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a little - together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a little later. talk to laura again a little later in the day. there should be some results coming on as we approach lunchtime, so let's explain what we are expecting and we will talk to some more guests, including john mcdonnell, the former shadow chancellor. he willjoin us from labour in a few minutes. we will ask him for his perspective on hartlepool and some of these local authority results as well. in the meantime, let's head the news. here's a summary of the bbc news. the conservatives have taken the parliamentary seat of hartlepool in what's being described by labour as a shattering result. the new mp isjill mortimer,

who's the first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. 0ur political correspondent helen catt has more. i do hereby declare that jillian wendy mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, is duly elected. congratulations. after decades of voting labour, today hartlepool has a conservative mp, and it wasn't close. jill mortimer won by nearly 7000 votes. she said her opponents had lost touch with voters.— she said her opponents had lost touch with voters. labour have taken eo - le touch with voters. labour have taken --eole in touch with voters. labour have taken people in hartlepool— touch with voters. labour have taken people in hartlepool for— touch with voters. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted i touch with voters. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for. people in hartlepool for granted for too long. i heard this time and time again on the doorstep. people have had enough and now, through this result, the people have spoken and they have made it clear it's time for change. they have made it clear it's time for change-— they have made it clear it's time for chance. ., , ., , for change. the conservatives called it an historic— for change. the conservatives called it an historic result. _ for change. the conservatives called it an historic result. 18 _ for change. the conservatives called it an historic result. 18 months i it an historic result. 18 months after they took seat after seat in northern england from labour in the general election, another has turned blue. a blow—up borisjohnson appeared on hartlepool to mark the

tories' expected victory, the results showing that the prime minister is to command support after brexit. the labour leader, not speaking yet, but his party says it will listen and learn.— will listen and learn. absolutely shatterina will listen and learn. absolutely shattering to — will listen and learn. absolutely shattering to see _ will listen and learn. absolutely shattering to see a _ will listen and learn. absolutely| shattering to see a conservative will listen and learn. absolutely i shattering to see a conservative mp elected in a place like hartlepool after nearly 50 years. this shows that although we have started to change since the catechism of the last general election, that change has clearly not gone far enough to win back the trust of the voters, and we have seen that in spades in hartlepool. for and we have seen that in spades in hartle ool. ., and we have seen that in spades in hartlepool-— hartlepool. for the conservatives, more celebrations _ hartlepool. for the conservatives, more celebrations as _ hartlepool. for the conservatives, more celebrations as they - hartlepool. for the conservatives, more celebrations as they took i more celebrations as they took control of several councils. in nuneaton and bedworth counselling warwickshire. nuneaton and bedworth counselling warwickshire-— warwickshire. people respect what the prime minister _ warwickshire. people respect what the prime minister has _ warwickshire. people respect what the prime minister has done i warwickshire. people respect what| the prime minister has done during this pandemic. they think the vaccine roll—out is phenomenal and i think given all the challenges that we have faced, the conservative

government, the prime minister, has done a really good job in difficult circumstances. and many of those people on the doorsteps have been behind him. abs, people on the doorsteps have been behind him-— behind him. a win too in dudley in the west midlands. _ behind him. a win too in dudley in the west midlands. in _ behind him. a win too in dudley in the west midlands. in harlow- behind him. a win too in dudley in the west midlands. in harlow in i the west midlands. in harlow in essex, where they took the council from labour. the race to count votes early here in northumberland ended with a conservative win too. better news for labour elsewhere in the north—east, where they held onto several councils including newcastle and gateshead and their stronghold of sunderland, although the tories made inroads there too. in london, labour's sadiq khan is seeking a second term. there are 13 city and regional mayors to be elected. doncaster was the first result, a labour mayor elected overnight. ballot boxes have been gathered from all corners of scotland, where the snp are hoping to secure a majority in the scottish parliament. in wales, labourwill look in the scottish parliament. in wales, labour will look to continue their run in power as votes are now counted for the 60 seats in the senedd. the pandemic has already made these elections unusual, with much more counting still to be done,

it will be some time before the full picture of results is clear. we'll find out today how international travel will restart for england. the transport secretary grant shapps will give a press conference later to announce how the government will open it up. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect on the 17th of may — travellers to "green" countries will not need to quarantine on their return, but they will need to take a covid test before going and coming back. arrivals from "amber" countries will need to quarantine at home on return to the uk and as well as taking the same tests before departure and return. red—list countries have the strictest rules: only uk and ireland residents will be able to come in from those countries, and travellers will have to quarantine for ten nights in a government approved hotel at their own expense — in addition to the testing regime. and we'll have full coverage of that press conference with grant shapps

this evening at 5pm on the bbc news channel. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is expected to recommend that people aged under 40 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab, after concerns about blood clots. the policy currently applies to those under 30, but the age threshold could be raised as a precautionary measure. public health officials say a version of the indian variant of coronavirus found in the uk should be designated a "variant of concern". more than 500 cases have been detected across england with the highest levels in london and the north west. it appears to have been spreading more quickly than other variants, but there's no evidence that it's vaccine—resistant. the election results will keep coming in over the next few days. for live coverage of the results as they come in,

and expert analysis of what they mean for you, visit our website or the bbc news app. now back to elections 2021. welcome back wherever you are joining us from to our great big election show. indeed, kirsty. whati election show. indeed, kirsty. what i want to do now is bringing a familiar and experienced figure, the former shadow chancellor, labour'sjohn mcdonnell. can i share with you what i havejust mcdonnell. can i share with you what i have just had from john curtice, our guru here, which i think will give us something to talk about. he says the results so far from the key wards in the bbc study show that leave and working class areas are moving more strongly to the

conservatives than our remain and more middle—class places. in the mostly voting areas where the last elections were in 2016, the swing from labour to the choice is averaging 12 points. in contrast in most remain voting areas, there is currently hardly any swing to the conservatives at all. does that tally with your understanding? yes. tally with your understanding? yes, it does. in the _ tally with your understanding? yes, it does. in the brexit _ tally with your understanding? i2: it does. in the brexit voting areas like hartlepool, the brexit carry—over still exists, there is no doubt about that. you have to take that into account. you shouldn't take that is just the main reason, there is a range of factors that need to be taken into account. john curtice�*s analysis demonstrated the brexit effect. there is the covid effect, which is not so much about congratulating borisjohnson on the roll—out of the vaccination due to the critical errors he made in the pandemic. but in a crisis like this,

people generally do rally around the government in power. but there is a third issue as well which is more important for the labour party, and i am hoping we have a proper discussion about this in the labour party. in this election, helenjones made the point earlier, you cannot go into an election without any policy programme, without explaining what sort of society you want. you can't send cantors out there naked without policy to advocate. —— you can't send candidates out there. in the mayoral elections, something is different is happening, and i think that's because the individual mayors are able to set out their local policy programme, and they are getting rewarded for it, whereas the labour party nationally has traded off for quite a while with the slogan, we are under new management. but if you're saying that, you have also got to say what that means in policy terms, and you have got to explain to people what sort of

society you want to create, and that hasn't happened. that policy vacuum is what has to be addressed. 50 iii is what has to be addressed. 50 if ou were is what has to be addressed. 50 if you were to _ is what has to be addressed. 50 if you were to spell _ is what has to be addressed. 50 if you were to spell out _ is what has to be addressed. so if you were to spell out to _ is what has to be addressed. so if you were to spell out to viewers where that policy vacuum is at its most acute, where is it? i where that policy vacuum is at its most acute, where is it?- most acute, where is it? i think it's tackling _ most acute, where is it? i think it's tackling the _ most acute, where is it? i think it's tackling the real— most acute, where is it? i think it's tackling the real issues - most acute, where is it? i think it's tackling the real issues that j it's tackling the real issues that people are facing. take hartlepool, for example. we have high levels of poverty, low wages, still unemployment, insecure work. i would like to see a labour leadership that says, we are going to end child poverty. we are going to end child poverty. we are going to end child poverty and we were doing in the lifetime of one parliament. we are going to make sure everyone has a minimum income guarantee with decent wages. we are going to make sure there is a jobs guarantee and when people go to work, they are protected with trade union rights. oomph, you lay out a policy programme which demonstrates the society you want to create. we didn't have that, so there was a real vacuum there. that is one of the key lessons to learn from this. brexit overhang, people voted the

way they did in the election of december 2019. way they did in the election of december2019. respect way they did in the election of december 2019. respect that, way they did in the election of december2019. respect that, i accept that, move on and then start talking about the society we want, which is a more equal society in which is a more equal society in which no one lives in poverty, a society where there is a proper social care service, the nhs is properly funded, you don't insult nhs workers with al% pay rise. all of those issues should be at the forefront of a policy programme we develop. and of course, the investment in areas like that is about the green new deal and making sure we get the jobs people need and decent wages and proper trade union rights, and tackling climate change. a real vision for the future that will excite people again. you know there will be _ will excite people again. you know there will be people _ will excite people again. you know there will be people watching - will excite people again. you know there will be people watching in i there will be people watching in your party and elsewhere who will be thinking, hang on, mr mcdonnell was part of the labour leadership at the

election in 2019 which did extremely badly. they will be wondering why you are offering this advice to keir starmer? you are clearly not a big fan of his. i wonder whether this kind of approach that you have is actually saying you are not giving him a chance. i would never attack keir and i have turn everything i can to ensure that what happens is not what happens to jeremy. whenjeremy became leader, there were large numbers of mps attacking him and there were even coups. i said that would never come from me when it comes to keir, he was elected democratically and i have supported him throughout, but you need to consult —— constructive criticism. after the last general election i said that if you want to blame anyone, blame me, the lessons

were that we did not develop a real narrative, we had a good policy programme but no overall narrative demonstrating the type of society we wanted to create. we lost it by 2019, ben brexit dominated the whole election. as we move on from brexit we need to fill the political vacuum by saying that this is the society we are going to create this is how we are going to create this is how we will achieve it. much of the policies were advocated came from places like hartlepool, i used to tour every other saturday and held seminars in towns, i would listen to people and our manifesto was constructed on that basis. ironically the tories say they will implement some of those policies such as the move of the treasury out of london to places like darlington, but the problem is i do not believe they will roll it out on the scale thatis they will roll it out on the scale

that is needed. now we need to be more radical than we were in december 2019, more radical than we were in december2019, because more radical than we were in december 2019, because the problems faced by people also much more severe. , , , severe. kirsty in edinburgh here, ou talk severe. kirsty in edinburgh here, you talk about — severe. kirsty in edinburgh here, you talk about being _ severe. kirsty in edinburgh here, you talk about being more - severe. kirsty in edinburgh here, | you talk about being more radical and not necessarily criticising keir starmer, but what about his leadership style? very early in his leadership style? very early in his leadership it was clear that the left was going to be frozen out and now labour chit—chat is about an early reshuffle, perhaps removing anneliese dodds. i would say you were probably brittle —— pretty loyal to people you did not necessarily agree with, is an early reshuffled the answer to this? i get reshuffled the answer to this? i get on well with — reshuffled the answer to this? i get on well with keir— reshuffled the answer to this? i get on well with keir on _ reshuffled the answer to this? i get on well with keir on a _ reshuffled the answer to this? i g2t on well with keir on a personal basis, we work together for a number of years, but his style and the people around his office, as far as i understand, the whole nature of the campaigning, shadow cabinet

members cannot make a statement without the approval of the leader's office or go on the media without the approval of the leader's office, so to play in the shadow cabinet and do a reshuffle, i think, so to play in the shadow cabinet and do a reshuffle, ithink, would be unfair and a do a reshuffle, ithink, would be unfairand a real do a reshuffle, ithink, would be unfair and a real mistake —— so to blame the shadow cabinet. keir was elected on the basis of saying that our policies from the last couple of elections where what he would build on and he would unite the party, he should fulfil that promise. you should fulfil that promise. you should not be blaming people you have appointed two shadow cabinet when you have so sensually controlled the campaign. and learn the lessons of history, from prime ministers like harold wilson, he built cabinet of the left, right and centre, as a rebel —— as a result of that debate you got better policy decisions. we always say the labour

party is a broad church, but should be reflected through the party right up be reflected through the party right up to the shadow cabinet, sol be reflected through the party right up to the shadow cabinet, so i think a reshuffle would be a mistake, or trying to blame others for what is really tactical or strategic decisions made sensually and which i think have caused this problem. find think have caused this problem. and on the question of the curtains, i think we should raise the curtains, as it were, it looks like the people of hartlepool really did not care much about who paid for what, they had other, more pressing concerns. as a leader of the labour party, was it the right thing to do or a cheap trick to make the joke injohn it the right thing to do or a cheap trick to make thejoke injohn lewis about curtains when trick to make the joke injohn lewis about curtains when people trick to make thejoke injohn lewis about curtains when people in hartlepool want to know about their own standard of living?— own standard of living? you're askin: own standard of living? you're asking somebody _ own standard of living? you're asking somebody whose - own standard of living? you're asking somebody whose jokes | own standard of living? you're - asking somebody whose jokes have fallen flat on every occasion i had ever tried to make one! but what

that did, it allowed borisjohnson to turn what i think it's quite a significant issue of corruption in government to something of a joke and quite insignificant. i do not think one of these issues will penetrate in by—elections or anything but i think over this coming period, and this is across all political parties, we need another discussion about standards of behaviour in government. i do not like the word sleaze, let's call it what it is, corruption, i do not like a prime minister who lives and i think we should have an honest discussion, most probably on a cross—party basis —— i do not like a prime minister who lies. if your prime minister who lies. if your prime minister who lies. if your prime minister cannot tell the truth between —— cannot tell the difference between truth and lies... we should never allow our standards to slip in that way in the future so i think there needs to be a real

cross—party discussion about standards in government in the future and i think in that way people will make theirjudgments about politicians in the future and the standards they should adhere to, but i do not think it would be a central issue. the most important issues in places like hartlepool is whether you have a decent roof over your head, can you —— can you feed your head, can you —— can you feed your children and do you have a job? those are the issues we should concentrate on. just those are the issues we should concentrate on.— those are the issues we should concentrate on. just a question on behalf of the — concentrate on. just a question on behalf of the team, _ concentrate on. just a question on behalf of the team, how _ concentrate on. just a question on behalf of the team, how are - concentrate on. just a question on behalf of the team, how are yourl behalf of the team, how are your trombone lessons going? it is behalf of the team, how are your trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen _ trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen to _ trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen to me _ trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen to me for _ trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen to me for the - trombone lessons going? it is best not to listen to me for the time - not to listen to me for the time being. my wife bought me some lessons, i have a weekly lesson with a wonderful young man and i have noticed that the neighbours seem to leave their homes when i am practising. leave their homes when i am practising-— leave their homes when i am ractisina. , , , ., practising. they say he is blowing his own trumpet _ practising. they say he is blowing his own trumpet again! _ practising. they say he is blowing his own trumpet again! thank- practising. they say he is blowing | his own trumpet again! thank you very much, john! see you again. now we arejoined by

very much, john! see you again. now we are joined by richard very much, john! see you again. now we arejoined by richard holden, the conservative mp for north west durham, very firmly in the red wall, he won the seat laura pidcock of labour. on trust, we know the issues in hartlepool were what people needed for their own standards of living and for their children, but in scotland, douglas ross, the leader of the conservative party said, if the question of who paid what from whom went was found that borisjohnson broke the ministerial code, he should resign. this may have been set to one side but it is not gone as an issue and we heard john mcdonnell say that issues of standards that behaviour will have to be addressed. you can be a vote winner but still have problems with your personal property? it winner but still have problems with your personal property?— your personal property? it has not come u- your personal property? it has not come up very _ your personal property? it has not come up very much _ your personal property? it has not come up very much in _ your personal property? it has not come up very much in the - your personal property? it has not l come up very much in the doorsteps of county durham, but trust came up in hartlepool when i was

campaigning, and it is trust about whether keir starmer means what he says. it is a real issue with labour, the issue around brexit. they said in 2017 that they would go with it and they did not, keir starmer was the forfeit of that in 2019, now he is the leader. —— was at the forefront of that. people here do not trust keir starmer to fulfil what he says he is going to do, i think that is one of the issues faced by labour here, so if you do not trust the decision of the people in brexit, why should they trust you with their mp? irate people in brexit, why should they trust you with their mp?- trust you with their mp? we were talkin: to trust you with their mp? we were talking to john — trust you with their mp? we were talking to john mcdonnell- trust you with their mp? we were talking to john mcdonnell about | trust you with their mp? we were i talking to john mcdonnell about the centralisation of what goes on within labour, whereas actually ben houchen has gone out on his own way, if you want, the nationalisation of the local airport, putting money into businesses, acting in local democratic way which we did not

hitherto seen with previous conservative administrations. ben houchen has _ conservative administrations. e21 houchen has been a fantastic mayor, he came to power a field zabell in a very tight vote and i hope we will see him really succeed again this year. it is notjust the airport, it is about the freeports, a major part of government agenda, getting jobs and investment into the area and creating, and i think this is what you are seeing in northumbria today and here in county durham, people want a proactive local government who is really interested in it worked investment, not fighting historic battles of the past. ben has absolutely energised the tees valley, he is working with me and other mp5 across the region on transport infrastructure schemes. i don't quite understand the idea that ben should not be doing this. he is doing this because he is very good,

andy street in the west midlands is doing the same, proper civic community leadership, notjust what community leadership, not just what we community leadership, notjust what we had seen with far too many labour councils for far too long. you cannot ignore _ councils for far too long. you cannot ignore that _ councils for far too long. you cannot ignore that we - councils for far too long. you cannot ignore that we are in most awkward times, we have had a massive pandemic, i wonder whether the vaccine roll—out gave borisjohnson eight votes were otherwise people would not have been so sympathetic? —— gave borisjohnson a bounce. i —— gave borisjohnson a bounce. i think what has given the conservative party a bounce in the north—east of england in places like harlow, going to majority concerted micro—control, places in the midlands, the fact is we are delivering the levelling agenda. of course the government with the vaccine tax. we have so far ahead the rest of europe, that will have some impact —— of course the government, with the vaccine task force, we are so far ahead. some of

my words are right 55% turnout in local elections this year, they are going out and voting for conservative candidates for the first time in many of these areas. i went into these elections with no conservative candidates, but i can tell you now that we will have conservative candidates coming out of these counts, the doorsteps have been phenomenal.— of these counts, the doorsteps have been phenomenal. thank you, richard. i was very impressed _ been phenomenal. thank you, richard. i was very impressed with _ been phenomenal. thank you, richard. i was very impressed with richard - i was very impressed with richard because my camera work, can i say? i think he was actually on his iphone or whatever phone he has on a selke stick, or maybe his arm, that it was very impressive and pretty stable, lots of my camera colleagues would be rather envious of that skill, so well done to richard holden. we have been talking about local authorities in england that some of the important trends, we have been talking about scotland and what is

at stake there, not least for the future of the union, the united kingdom. there are 60 seats up for the welsh parliament, the senedd, and that again is interesting because it is a labour administration that has been there in cardiff, in correlation or not, for the last 22 years, and they face a tough challenge —— in coalition or not. their challenge comes partly from the conservatives and partly from the conservatives and partly from plaid cymru. we can go to the vale of glamorgan, not far from cardiff, a lovely part of the world, this is the current going on in barry, the famous four dock in barry which is part of the vale of glamorgan, in westminster terms this has been a labour conservative seat, it is conservative at the moment, but in senedd terms in cardiff bay it has been labour all along. a very

well—known member of the senedd, a formerfinance minister well—known member of the senedd, a former finance minister in the welsh government, she is standing again and the conservatives have been making very confident noises about this seat, as they have about others in wales, not least in the north—east of wales. there is a big challenge for labour, let's see how that works out. we have a correspondent in cardiff. what can we exoect? _ correspondent in cardiff. what can we exoect? this — correspondent in cardiff. what can we expect? this is _ correspondent in cardiff. what can we expect? this is a _ correspondent in cardiff. what can we expect? this is a defensive - we expect? this is a defensive election for labour, they have been in power since devolution began here in power since devolution began here in wales for more than two decades, so the big question is how many of their seats might the opposition parties chip away at? the big threat is from the conservatives, particularly in the north—east of wales, the so—called gradual area where labour lost a number of seats to the conservatives at the 2019

general election on a uk level —— the so—called red wall area. the vale of glamorgan are somewhere the tories have their eyes on and a number of people i have spoken to are pretty confident they have increased support. it is telling thatjustice increased support. it is telling that justice week the increased support. it is telling thatjustice week the prime minister was wheeled out to go campaigning in barry in the vale of glamorgan, they are pretty confident that they might be able to make gains as well. a couple of seats to watch out for well labour and plaid cymru are indirect competition with one another, particularly llanelli, the most marginal seat in wales, plaid cymru are really keen to get from the labour party, rhondda is currently held by plaid that labour would really like to win it back. that was a surprise win for plaid cymru in the last election. when it

comes to senedd elections, no party has ever won a majority here. labour have been in palaces devolution began but with the support of other parties. if by this evening witnessing the numbers go that way again, parties might start having to look at what deals they may be able to put on the table —— labour have beenin to put on the table —— labour have been in power since devolution began. been in power since devolution bean. ., , ' , began. two very different campaigns began. two very different campaigns b boris began. two very different campaigns by itoris johnson _ began. two very different campaigns by boris johnson in _ began. two very different campaigns by boris johnson in wales _ began. two very different campaigns by boris johnson in wales and - by borisjohnson in wales and scotland. he was in barry on tuesday but has not set foot in scotland throughout the whole campaign, what my that calculation be? that's right, i have spoken to a number of sources in the conservative party and they acknowledge that borisjohnson is not particularly popular in scotland, but the picture is different in wales. sources on both the conservative side and the labour party here in wales have

characterised this campaign is a bit of a contest between borisjohnson and the welsh labour leader mark drakeford. interestingly, the uk labour leader keir starmer is not playing as big a role in this campaign in wales. we have heard a lot this morning about hartlepool and how on a uk—wide level, these results are attached to keir starmer. that is not really the case here. we have to remember how much of a spot the last year and a half has given to the labour leader, mark drakeford. he has been on tv giving covid press conferences all the time. he is somebody who polls suggest more people in wales have an opinion on than on the uk labour leader keir starmer. i even heard from one labour mp the other day that they were out campaigning in a pub that had a mixed demographic but certainly quite a brexit supporting area, and mark drakeford walked in and people got in and started applauding. he has almost been a bit

of a celebrity on this campaign trail and that is something which labour certainly have in their favour in this campaign. so it was very much a race between him as a leader and borisjohnson, who led the conservatives on a uk level to a successful result here in 2019, winning six seats overall in wales. lone, there was fascinating themes we will pick up later. what are you expecting first as a result? we haven't got — expecting first as a result? - haven't got set times in terms of exact results, but some to watch out for early are going to be, then eight, the seat held by the plaid cymru leader adam price. —— carmarthen east. another is the vale of clwyd. this one will be interesting to watch because this is one of those north—east red wall seats which the conservatives really want to win from labour and it's going to be fought on very tight

margins. going to be fought on very tight mar ins. ,., ., going to be fought on very tight mar. ins, ,., ., ., going to be fought on very tight mar ins. _, ., ., ., ~ going to be fought on very tight marins. ., ., ~ ., ,, going to be fought on very tight marins. ., ., ~ ., ., margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can — margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can have _ margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can have the _ margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can have the news - margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can have the news and - margins. good to talk to you, lone. now we can have the news and the| now we can have the news and the weather, because it is very changeable here in edinburgh. here's a summary of the bbc news. labour has described the loss of its parliamentary seat of hartlepool to the conservatives in a by—election as "absolutely shattering". the new mp isjill mortimer, who's the first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. she has a resounding majority of 6,940. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, was asked about the loss of the hartlepool constituency this morning as he left home, but he has yet to comment. the tories have also made gains across local councils. they've taken control of four councils, gaining 57 seats compared to labour losses of 60 seats. 17 local authorities have declared

their results, but there are 126 which are still counting votes. as we've just heard, counting in the scottish parliamentary election began this morning. voters were choosing 129 msps to be elected to the scottish parliament — but covid restrictions meant there was no overnight vote counting this year. the final results are expected on saturday. counting has also begun in the welsh elections to the senedd. 60 seats are up for grabs and some voters reported queues outside polling stations. most results are expected this afternoon and into the early evening. results in four wales police and crime commissioner elections are due on sunday. meanwhile, the first result in the regional mayoral elections has been announced. labour's rosjones has secured a third term as doncaster s mayor, with a majority of over 10,000. votes are still being counted for the 12 other directly—elected mayors, but results are not expected until the weekend.

thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is expected to recommend that people aged under a0 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab, after concerns about blood clots. the policy currently applies to those under 30, but the age threshold could be raised as a precautionary measure. dozens of firefighters are tackling a blaze at a i9—storey block of flats in poplar in east london. parts of the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the building near the blackwall tunnel are alight. there are now over 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines at the scene. we'll bring you more on this as we get it. we'll find out today how international travel will restart for england. to announce how the government will open it up. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect

on the 17th of may — with countries classed as green, amber or red. joining me now is axel hefer, the chief executive of trivago. what are you hoping to hear today? overall, it is important for travellers to have some certainty of a safe return. i would hope there will be some clarity on which countries are making it onto the green list, so where can you go safely without any problems coming back through self—isolation. also, clear visibility on how more countries will be added to that list with progress of the vaccination roll—out, particularly in southern europe over the weeks to come. roll-out, particularly in southern europe over the weeks to come. which countries do — europe over the weeks to come. which countries do you _ europe over the weeks to come. which countries do you think _ europe over the weeks to come. which countries do you think will _ europe over the weeks to come. which countries do you think will be - europe over the weeks to come. which countries do you think will be on the green list? to countries do you think will be on the green list?— the green list? to be honest, i don't know- — the green list? to be honest, i don't know. it's _ the green list? to be honest, i don't know. it's very _ the green list? to be honest, i don't know. it's very difficult . the green list? to be honest, i | don't know. it's very difficult to judge from the outside. for the

summer, it will matter a lot that the top destinations for uk travellers, like spain and portugal, will at some point make it onto the list. that is where people want to travel. and there is progress in these countries and i expect them to have sufficient progress that safe travel will be possible for the summer. �* ., travel will be possible for the summer. ~ ., ., travel will be possible for the summer-— travel will be possible for the summer. . ., , ., summer. and what are you seeing at triva u o in summer. and what are you seeing at trivago in terms _ summer. and what are you seeing at trivago in terms of _ summer. and what are you seeing at trivago in terms of bookings - summer. and what are you seeing at trivago in terms of bookings for - summer. and what are you seeing at trivago in terms of bookings for the l trivago in terms of bookings for the summer? we trivago in terms of bookings for the summer? ~ , , , , ., summer? we see consistently that once there is _ summer? we see consistently that once there is certainty _ summer? we see consistently that once there is certainty that - summer? we see consistently that once there is certainty that you - summer? we see consistently thatj once there is certainty that you can return without self—isolation and quarantine requirements, there is an immediate wave of bookings. so after the very difficult times and the long lockdowns that we all have gone through, there is a huge desire to travel. but unless this is clear, there are some hesitancy to book. so it will be all about the countries that make it to the list and for those countries, we expect an immediate surge of bookings. so you

are probable — immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going _ immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going to _ immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going to get _ immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going to get a _ immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going to get a rush - immediate surge of bookings. so you are probable going to get a rush of. are probable going to get a rush of bookings after today's announcement. we are also reading that prices are expected to skyrocket to places that people are potentially hoping to go to? , . , ., people are potentially hoping to go to? , ., ., people are potentially hoping to go to? , ., . ., , people are potentially hoping to go to? , ., ., ., to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries _ to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries on _ to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries on the _ to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries on the list, _ to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries on the list, that - to? yes, as long as there are only a few countries on the list, that is - few countries on the list, that is very likely. it will be important to offer all the popular destinations at some point later in the summer, once infections have come down in those regions. if that is happening too late, it is likely that the countries that make it on the green list will see a surge in demand that surpasses the offering, and that will lead to an increase in prices. axel hefer, chief executive of trivago, thanks for your time. and we'll have full coverage of that press conference with grant shapps this evening at 5pm on the bbc news channel. we'll be back with elections 2021 in a moment but first, let's have a look at the weather

with carol kirkwood. hello again. for many of us, it was a chilly start to the day, but also a dry one and a bright one with just a few showers. we'll see further showers develop through the course of the day, though, and again, some of those will be heavy, particularly in eastern areas. with the potential for some hail and some thunder. and at the same time, cloud will thicken across the south—west, heralding the arrival of an area of low pressure later on. temperatures seven to about 15 as we push further south. now, through this evening, under clear skies, temperatures will fall away quite quickly, and as this system comes in from the south—west, it will not only bring rain and gusty winds, it will also bring some milder air with it, except for across northern england and scotland, you will still have relatively clear skies, so in rural areas you are prone to a touch of frost. through tomorrow, here is that atlantic low with all its weather fronts around it, producing some heavy rain at times, especially in the west, and windy conditions.

but note the temperatures rising. still unsettled on sunday, but higher temperatures by then. welcome back from casty and from me at the bbc�*s election studios in london and in edinburgh. we have been talking about the importance of the elections in scotland. we mentioned wales before we went to the news. let's have another look at the news. let's have another look at the elections in england. 143 local authorities, plus mayoral contests plus police and crime commissioners coming later. the interesting thing here is that we have been talking all along about what will be the effect of the pandemic. is this going to be a covert election, will turn out be down? campaigning has been hampered, people haven't been able to knock on doors as they wanted to. so clearly, the effect of

the pandemic was in many people's view going to lead to a lower turnout. according to sirjohn curtice, who we will talk to later, the turnout in the english local elections at this stage, if anything, is not down, but slightly up. john says there is little sign that the pandemic has had a negative impact on turnout in the local council elections in england. it is currently running slightly above the position in 2016—17, and this suggests that in the end, the turnout will be 35%, which is typical of the position for english local elections. so that is a very interesting note from john and the context for us as we see more results coming in. so let's update on whether local results are. there have been some notable conservative gains. the story so far is not a good one for labour and it's a very encouraging one for the conservatives. reeta, tell us more. as you say, an encouraging picture for the conservatives. here are some

of the latest results we have had overnight and in the early hours of the morning. they suggest that particularly in leave—voting areas, the conservatives have advanced. in dudley, harlow, nuneaton and northampton, these are all conservative gains. redditch and thurrock, they have hung onto and the two labour holes here are oldham and sunderland. but what we are also looking at here as well as the leave/ remain divide is that we have two sets of elections being fought in a sense. last year's elections were delayed because of covid. that might make a difference in the way we interpret the results and i want to show you how. redditch, for example just south of birmingham. this result came in in the small hours, to 2.30 in the morning, is a

conservative hold. these seats were last contested in 2016. back then, both labour and the conservatives were roughly level pegging in terms of their share of the vote whereas now, the opinion polls suggest that the conservatives are doing considerably better than labour. that is important because we would then expect to see the conservatives going ahead in a seat in a council like redditch. if we look at the figures, labour has lost seven seats in the conservatives have gained those seats. the share of the vote the conservatives are getting is over half of the vote. and look at the share change since the last time the share change since the last time the seats were up, the conservatives up the seats were up, the conservatives up 27%, benefiting massively from the drop in the ukip vote. i wanted to contrast redditch, with a really strong performance by the conservatives, with their gain in

northumberland. northumberland was last up for election in 2017. that is important because in 2017 the conservatives performed very well. they were ten percentage points ahead of labour. it was a high water mark. they were further ahead of labour than the opinion polls suggest they are now, so we would expect the advance by the conservatives to be less here. you might ask why i'm saying that because it is a conservative gain, and it is. they now have a majority of one. labour have lost three seats. but it is the change in the share of the vote that is so interesting. labour has actually put on a bit of support in northumberland, so although this is a good result for the conservatives, there are nuances behind the overall result. let me show you where we are in terms of overall figures. we have only had 16 of the councils, as of

143. that is the scoreboard in terms of where we are.— of where we are. thank you very much. earlier, _ of where we are. thank you very much. earlier, we _ of where we are. thank you very much. earlier, we were - of where we are. thank you very much. earlier, we were talking l of where we are. thank you very | much. earlier, we were talking to the former shadow chancellorjohn mcdonnell, who is of course the key member injeremy corbyn's member in jeremy corbyn's leadership. member injeremy corbyn's leadership. he was saying, one of our problems is that we are simply not talking the kind of language that voters want to hear. we are not talking in the language that people want. and there has been lots of interesting labour reaction, some of it on the record, some of it off the record, along the lines of whatjohn was telling us. have a look at this from a labour nec member.

now, i think this is a theme that we will hear more about as the day goes on and the results can in. our deputy political editor vicki young is keeping me company in the studio. can we start with that quote from luke akehurst, does that tally with what you are hearing from labour? brute what you are hearing from labour? we will what you are hearing from labour? - will hear a lot of that from labour mps all over the country who are deeply alarmed, actually, i think because we have heard keir starmer talk about the huge mansion labour has to climb, they have had devastating general election results —— the huge mountain labour has to climb. they think some of these results show they are still falling down the mountain. part of it is understanding why people vote conservative, a basic point but one they fear the labour party has not

grasped. there has been a lot of analysis of what went wrong in the 2019, many people blamejeremy corbyn and his leadership, saying it fractured the relationship with many traditional seats, fractured the relationship with many traditionalseats, but fractured the relationship with many traditional seats, but now it is how you rebuild that, one labour source saying we had to change or else we are on the precipice of never being relevant again. relevant or irrelevant has come up a lot, many labour mps say they do not have anything to say to the electorate. they understand that sir keir starmer's first year was really to talk about being under different management, now it is what happens next when it comes to policy and there is a fear among some labour mps that you will have to upset some party members and say things they will not like. they need to understand why people vote for boris johnson, many of them cannot understand that and until they do they cannot come up with the

policies that will lead to clawing back. the fear is that they had seen what has happened to labour in scotland and they worry it is happening in the north—east of england and the midlands, and then when —— where will they get votes from? so when -- where will they get votes from? ., , ., ., when -- where will they get votes from? . , ., ., ., ,, from? so what year into the lake that -- into _ from? so what year into the lake that -- into the _ from? so what year into the lake that -- into the leadership - from? so what year into the lake that -- into the leadership of- from? so what year into the lake that -- into the leadership of sir| that —— into the leadership of sir keir starmer, do you think more colleagues are losing faith in his ability to deliver or is it too early to say? i ability to deliver or is it too early to say?— ability to deliver or is it too earl to sa ? ., ., ~' early to say? i do not think there is a sense _ early to say? i do not think there is a sense that _ early to say? i do not think there is a sense that they _ early to say? i do not think there is a sense that they will - early to say? i do not think there is a sense that they will move i is a sense that they will move against him but there is a sense that something much more radical has to be done in terms of policy, it is notjust to be done in terms of policy, it is not just about tacking a little to be done in terms of policy, it is notjust about tacking a little bit one way or the other, it has to be a complete shift in direction. not worrying so much about unity. you can see right sir keir starmer's team would say the party had been riven by internal fighting team would say the party had been riven by internalfighting because of the corbyn leadership and the reaction of the labour party in

parliament, he had to talk about unity. of course it has been difficult, there has been a pandemic, being a constructive opposition has been difficult too, people want to pull behind a government in a way when you are in a national crisis, but! government in a way when you are in a national crisis, but i think from now he will have to show that he has the policy ideas that are relevant to people, they would say notjust in metropolitan areas, university areas, notjust among the well—educated bet in those places where labour have had huge support over the years which seems to have shifted away from them. we over the years which seems to have shifted away from them.— over the years which seems to have shifted away from them. we will talk about that as — shifted away from them. we will talk about that as more _ shifted away from them. we will talk about that as more results _ shifted away from them. we will talk about that as more results come - shifted away from them. we will talk about that as more results come in, | about that as more results come in, some results might present different patterns that we will talk about the other parties, but thank you for now. now we are joined by a journalist from the new statesman and one from the spectator. so much to undertake. katie, after all the

noise and bluster over the last two or three weeks about sleaze and borisjohnson, or three weeks about sleaze and boris johnson, sleaze or three weeks about sleaze and borisjohnson, sleaze is now ebbing away quickly? ali i think we can see when we are looking the results coming in, that as it has come to be known, wallpapergate has not dented the tories in the way labour would have hoped. i think if you are looking at the allegations of sleaze, there will be an electoral commission inquiry, but in terms of borisjohnson's stock, it is incredibly high. he has a transactional relationship with his party. pay packet because they think he is a winner, i think these results will confirm that among his mps —— they back him because he is a winner. studio: iwonderwhetheryou

think that the whole downing street situation will settle down, people will consolidate their position and there will be a calming of the waters? i there will be a calming of the waters? ~ ,., ., , there will be a calming of the waters? ~' ,., . , ~' waters? ithink potentially, ithink the other thing _ waters? ithink potentially, ithink the other thing that _ waters? ithink potentially, ithink the other thing that might - waters? ithink potentially, ithink the other thing that might happen j waters? i think potentially, i think. the other thing that might happen is mps the other thing that might happen is mstust accept the other thing that might happen is mps just accept that downing street can be quite chaotic and perhaps thatis can be quite chaotic and perhaps that is not such a problem to them if you are getting results like this. ultimately the factional infighting at number ten i think is about more thanjust infighting at number ten i think is about more than just results. tory mps mind a lot less about that as long as they do not think it is affecting them in terms of seats. stephen, what do you make of the elements of the debate, they are early elements, i admit, aboutwhat labour's response should be? we have had some voices already but given what is going on in hartlepool and the trend we have seen elsewhere,

where will that labour debate? ilirui’ith where will that labour debate? with a massive disclaimer that i think it is very— a massive disclaimer that i think it is very difficult to say when we do not have — is very difficult to say when we do not have results from two very important _ not have results from two very important labour battlegrounds, wales _ important labour battlegrounds, wales and london. let's imagine a situation _ wales and london. let's imagine a situation where mark drakeford, a hugely— situation where mark drakeford, a hugely popular politician, surprised a lot of— hugely popular politician, surprised a lot of people who thought that welsh _ a lot of people who thought that welsh labour might struggle after carwyn— welsh labour might struggle after carwynjones stepped welsh labour might struggle after carwyn jones stepped down, welsh labour might struggle after carwynjones stepped down, if he can -et carwynjones stepped down, if he can get seats— carwynjones stepped down, if he can get seats back in the north of wales that they— get seats back in the north of wales that they lost in 2019, that could be an— that they lost in 2019, that could be an argument that this is how we can win _ be an argument that this is how we can win again. if it blunted the liberal— can win again. if it blunted the liberal democrats and the greens enjoy— liberal democrats and the greens enjoy a _ liberal democrats and the greens enjoy a revival and labour goes backwards, that might go towards people _ backwards, that might go towards people saying they have not taken a bite out _ people saying they have not taken a bite out of— people saying they have not taken a bite out of the votes we have been losing _ bite out of the votes we have been losing to _ bite out of the votes we have been losing to the conservatives and we have created a problem in our heartland _ have created a problem in our heartland —— if, in london, the

liberal— heartland —— if, in london, the liberal democrats and the greens enjoyed _ liberal democrats and the greens enjoyed a — liberal democrats and the greens enjoyed a revival. it is hard to predict — enjoyed a revival. it is hard to predict without those results. we have labour people saying, we need to understand why people vote tory, and neither— to understand why people vote tory, and neither of them seem willing to entertain— and neither of them seem willing to entertain is— and neither of them seem willing to entertain is that people can go outside. — entertain is that people can go outside, enjoy a meal cooked by someone — outside, enjoy a meal cooked by someone else outside of their homes, in a couple _ someone else outside of their homes, in a couple of— someone else outside of their homes, in a couple of weeks' time they will be able _ in a couple of weeks' time they will be able to— in a couple of weeks' time they will be able to hug their mothers and siblings— be able to hug their mothers and siblings added seem strange that the labour— siblings added seem strange that the labour party have decided that what these _ labour party have decided that what these results are really about is thern _ these results are really about is them. ,, , ., , ., these results are really about is them. . , ., , ., .,~ them. stephen, the tories have taken basildon, them. stephen, the tories have taken basildon. we — them. stephen, the tories have taken basildon, we are _ them. stephen, the tories have taken basildon, we are talking _ them. stephen, the tories have taken basildon, we are talking about - basildon, we are talking about basildon, we are talking about basildon, the north—east and be red wall. this is not geographically constrained, the conservatives are doing pretty well all over, which must be a major worry for labour? the difficulty is that at the moment we do _ the difficulty is that at the moment we do not _ the difficulty is that at the moment we do not have quite a large chunk

of results. — we do not have quite a large chunk of results, not least that basildon is another— of results, not least that basildon is another one of the 2016 result when _ is another one of the 2016 result when ukip — is another one of the 2016 result when ukip and the lib dems were doing— when ukip and the lib dems were doing well— when ukip and the lib dems were doing well and before the big successes of the greens in 2017, 18 and particularly 19. there was no ukip _ and particularly 19. there was no ukip vote — and particularly 19. there was no ukip vote in 2017 to speak of, two bil ukip vote in 2017 to speak of, two big parties— ukip vote in 2017 to speak of, two big parties fighting it out. in some ways— big parties fighting it out. in some ways the _ big parties fighting it out. in some ways the worries are easier because theyiust _ ways the worries are easier because theyjust have a problem with everywhere where there are not loads of graduates and everywhere outside of graduates and everywhere outside of the _ of graduates and everywhere outside of the core _ of graduates and everywhere outside of the core cities. that is at the engine — of the core cities. that is at the engine of— of the core cities. that is at the engine of the day labour mps in cities _ engine of the day labour mps in cities are — engine of the day labour mps in cities are saying, this has created a problem — cities are saying, this has created a problem for me because the greens are a strong _ a problem for me because the greens are a strong second order lib dems, who i_ are a strong second order lib dems, who i won _ are a strong second order lib dems, who i won this from in 2010 or 2015 look like _ who i won this from in 2010 or 2015 look like they are coming back, that is when _ look like they are coming back, that is when the — look like they are coming back, that is when the debate becomes faulty. at the _ is when the debate becomes faulty. at the moment labour's problem is

everywhere — at the moment labour's problem is everywhere but only in one direction. not great for winning an election— direction. not great for winning an election but a better place for their— election but a better place for their internal health.- election but a better place for their internal health. thank you for 'oinin us, their internal health. thank you for joining us, stephen _ their internal health. thank you for joining us, stephen and _ their internal health. thank you for joining us, stephen and katie. - their internal health. thank you for joining us, stephen and katie. so l joining us, stephen and katie. so things are shaking down early on, to say the consolidation of the conservative vote may actually be replicated in scotland, as they are seen as the main party to save the union, which is bad news for labour in scotland? studio: i union, which is bad news for labour in scotland? studio:— in scotland? studio: ithought stehen in scotland? studio: ithought stephen made _ in scotland? studio: ithought stephen made a _ in scotland? studio: ithought stephen made a very _ in scotland? studio: | thought| stephen made a very interesting point about the situation in parts of wales, because if you want to test —— a test which parallels some of those in scotland, if you want a test of the conservatives against labour in traditional labour areas, north—east wales provides that, the areas around wrexham, clwyd south,

the vale of clwyd, alyn and deeside, delyn, these seats where heavy brexit areas, most of which went to the conservatives in the last general election and they have been areas where labour has been putting areas where labour has been putting a lot of work in this time, so if we want a barometer of where labour can show it can do well, and stephen are suggesting that might comfort keir starmer, that is one of the areas we need to focus on today, because i think it provides us with a really good example of labour under pressure from the conservatives. it was so interesting hearing ione was so interesting hearing lone saying that the big personalities in wales latterly have been mark drakeford and borisjohnson, there is no tell that mark drakeford has come through at a personal level through the pandemic and show people what he can do with the pavard

evolution. i what he can do with the pavard evolution-— evolution. i think some of it is artl to evolution. i think some of it is partly to do — evolution. i think some of it is partly to do with _ evolution. i think some of it is partly to do with the - evolution. i think some of it is partly to do with the obvious, | partly to do with the obvious, kirsty. borisjohnson chairing those press conferences almost daily, millions of people watching them after day, so apart from the fact he is prime minister, he has had even more visibility in that sense. mark drakeford is very interesting, he was seen before is a decent, quiet man, not very exciting. i don't mean any offence at all if you are watching, but not somebody who will set the world alight. but actually those qualities seem to have come into themselves. yes, he has done his daily press conferences, yes, his daily press conferences, yes, his visibility has gone up, but actually when i go back to wales people are telling me, and people in the polls, they are saying they rather like the quality of steady, safe, slightly academic, measured approach, all of its carefully

stated. people have been reassured by that. there are different forms of celebrity, you can have the boris johnson show celebrity, have a bit of fun, and you can have the celebrity of somebody like mark drakeford who takes a completely different approach, but this is all politics and to suggest that people forfor politics and to suggest that people for for one style because it is a bit more, i don't know, showbiz, is completely wrong. voters will focus on who is delivering, no question, which is why i think mark drakeford with the vaccine roll—out has seen his popularity go up. i with the vaccine roll-out has seen his popularity go up-_ his popularity go up. i am now 'oined his popularity go up. i am now joined by _ his popularity go up. i am now joined by our _ his popularity go up. i am now joined by our correspondent i his popularity go up. i am now joined by our correspondent in walsall. this is andy street coming up, the conservatives have put on votes, they help the council but increase their vote. what is the atmosphere like that? —— they held that the council.

atmosphere like that? -- they held that the council.— that the council. following from labour disasters _ that the council. following from labour disasters in _ that the council. following from labour disasters in hartlepool l that the council. following from i labour disasters in hartlepool and elsewhere, the same in the midlands, the conservatives winning nuneaton and edgeworth, picking up 11 seats, taking control of deadly and gaining 12 seats in the process, holding on to redditch and winning all nine seats that were up for election. hunting will get under way in walsall in a couple of hours but conservatives have a real spring in their step aboutwhat by might expect over the next day and half also —— counting will get under way. expecting to make gains in walsall, places like wolverhampton, sandwell, which until recently 70 to one of the seats were held by 72 labour councillors —— until recently, 72 of the seats. big concern for labour about what this means for the west midlands mayor election and whether liam byrne can topple andy street. i

was in a sports hall into a tree at about 7am and one conservative councillor said usually i go to bed and get some sleep, he said, i and definitely staying at this time. tiara definitely staying at this time. two weeks a . o definitely staying at this time. two weeks ago liam — definitely staying at this time. two weeks ago liam byrne was full of bravado that he would win in the west midlands, do you think that is unlikely? it west midlands, do you think that is unlikel ? , ~ , , unlikely? it feels like he is up auainst unlikely? it feels like he is up against it. — unlikely? it feels like he is up against it, labour— unlikely? it feels like he is up against it, labour half-turn i against it, labour half—turn terribly in places like deadly overnight, labour councillors are not sure the campaign has gone well enough and liam byrne has not spent enough and liam byrne has not spent enough time perhaps in places like the black country. he is relying on a big labour vote the black country. he is relying on a big labourvote in birmingham but there are no local elections in birmingham, no local council elections, so they are worried about the turnout and whether it will be enough for liam byrne to get past andy street. andy street seems to have a spring in his step over the

last couple of days, he has been stressing it was very close, just 1% difference last time, so we will find out mid—afternoon on saturday but labour supporters here i really worried about what it is to climb over the next 2a hours. worried about what it is to climb over the next 24 hours.- worried about what it is to climb over the next 24 hours. we will have the news in a moment, but we are getting more reaction from within the labour party to some of the results we have had. basildon in essex, we talked about it earlier. gavin callaghan, the council leader, says this. the problem, of course, for labour and lots of people and are fighting,

is that there is this surge of conservative support that we are seeing in many parts of england and we will see if that continues as the day goes on. let's catch up with the news. here's a summary of the bbc news. the conservatives have taken the parliamentary seat of hartlepool in what's being described by labour as a "shattering" result. the new mp isjill mortimer, who's the first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. our political correspondent helen catt has more. i do hereby declare that jillian wendy mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, is duly elected. congratulations. after decades of voting labour, today hartlepool has a conservative mp, and it wasn't close. jill mortimer won by nearly 7,000 votes. she said her opponents had lost touch with voters. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for too long. i heard this time and time

again on the doorstep. people have had enough and now, through this result, the people have spoken and they have made it clear it's time for change. the conservatives called it an historic result. 18 months after they took seat after seat in northern england from labour in the general election, another has turned blue. a blow—up borisjohnson appeared in hartlepool to mark the tories' expected victory, the results showing that the prime minister still commands support after brexit. the labour leader, not speaking yet, but his party says it will listen and learn. the question for us is, how do we make _ the question for us is, how do we make sure — the question for us is, how do we make sure we get hurt? how do we make _ make sure we get hurt? how do we make sure — make sure we get hurt? how do we make sure that our ideas are communicated in a positive, practical— communicated in a positive, practical way and that we are able to bring _ practical way and that we are able to bring people with us, which clearly— to bring people with us, which clearly in _ to bring people with us, which clearly in the case of hartlepool, we haven't— clearly in the case of hartlepool, we haven't done? so yes, we have to ask ourselves — we haven't done? so yes, we have to ask ourselves that question. i think everybody— ask ourselves that question. i think everybody understands the need for

change. _ everybody understands the need for change, and that is where our focus should _ change, and that is where our focus should be — for the conservatives, more celebrations as they took control of several councils, in nuneaton and bedworth council in warwickshire... people respect what the prime minister has done during this pandemic. they think the vaccine roll—out is phenomenal and i think given they think the vaccine roll—out is phenomenal and they think that given all the challenges that we've faced, the conservative government, the prime minister, has done a really good job in difficult circumstances and many of those people on the doorsteps have been right behind him. a win too in dudley in the west midlands, in harlow in essex, where they took the council from labour. the race to count votes early here in northumberland ended with a conservative win too. better news for labour elsewhere in the north—east, where they held onto several councils including newcastle and gateshead and their stronghold of sunderland, although the tories made inroads there too. in london, labour's sadiq khan is seeking a second term. there are 13 city and regional mayors to be elected.

doncaster was the first result, a labour mayor elected overnight. ballot boxes have been gathered from all corners of scotland, where the snp are hoping to secure a majority in the scottish parliament. in wales, labour will look to continue their run in power but those who are pro—independence and against keeping a close eye on how the results are stacking up. and in wales, labour will look to continue their run in power as votes are now counted for the 60 seats in the senedd. the pandemic has already made these elections unusual. with much more counting still to be done, it will be some time before the full picture of results is clear. thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation is expected to recommend that people aged under a0 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab, after concerns about blood clots. the policy currently applies to those under 30, but the age threshold could be raised as a precautionary measure. viewers on the bbc news channel can see that live in the next hour.

we'll find out today how international travel will restart for england. the transport secretary grant shapps will give a press conference later to announce how the government will open it up. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect on the 17th of may — with countries classed as green, amber or red. travellers to "green" countries will not need to quarantine on their return, but they will need to take a covid test before going and coming back. arrivals from "amber" countries will need to quarantine at home on return to the uk and as well as taking the same tests before departure and return. red—list countries have the strictest rules: only uk and ireland residents will be able to come in from those countries, and travellers will have to quarantine for ten nights in a government approved hotel at their own expense — in addition to the testing regime.

and we'll have full coverage of that press conference with grant shapps this evening at 5pm on the bbc news channel. firefighters are tackling a blaze at a 19—storey block of flats in poplar in east london. parts of the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the building near the blackwall tunnel were alight. there are now over 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines at the scene. we'll bring you more on this as we get it. the election results will keep coming in over the next few days. you can find out the latest results where you live, by entering your postcode into our search tool, on our website, or the bbc news app. let's go back to elections 2021.

it has just turned 11 o'clock. thanks to ben for the news. welcome from kirsty and for me. we are just waiting for the flood of results to come in across england, scotland and wales. we have had a few significant ones already, haven't we, kirsty? brute ones already, haven't we, kirsty? we have ones already, haven't we, kirsty? - have indeed, and very significant is basildon. we can bejoined now by our correspondent, simon davenant. the tories have done extreme llewellyn basildon, take us through it? ~ , llewellyn basildon, take us through it? . , ., �* llewellyn basildon, take us through it? ~ , ., �* ., it? we still haven't had the flood of results. _ it? we still haven't had the flood of results, but _ it? we still haven't had the flood of results, but we _ it? we still haven't had the flood of results, but we had _ it? we still haven't had the flood of results, but we had a - it? we still haven't had the flood of results, but we had a very - of results, but we had a very important _ of results, but we had a very important trickle. we had four wards which _ important trickle. we had four wards which labour should have held. they have lost— which labour should have held. they have lost three of them. last time we spoke. — have lost three of them. last time we spoke, the labour party had a majority— we spoke, the labour party had a majority of— we spoke, the labour party had a majority of one with independents. it majority of one with independents. it means— majority of one with independents. it means if— majority of one with independents. it means if the conservatives hold everything they already have, they have got _ everything they already have, they have got a — everything they already have, they have got a majority. in the last hour, _ have got a majority. in the last hour, as — have got a majority. in the last hour, as huw was mentioning before the news, _ hour, as huw was mentioning before the news, gavin callaghan, the labour— the news, gavin callaghan, the labour leader of basildon, has already— labour leader of basildon, has

already quit. he has changed his status— already quit. he has changed his status on— already quit. he has changed his status on twitter to former leader of basildon council and he is standing _ of basildon council and he is standing down as the labour group leader~ _ standing down as the labour group leader. the conservatives walking around _ leader. the conservatives walking around here has smiles on their faces _ around here has smiles on their faces they— around here has smiles on their faces. they have been cheering when the results _ faces. they have been cheering when the results come in. labour also tell me — the results come in. labour also tell me they expect to lose at least one other— tell me they expect to lose at least one other ward. so it is looking like the — one other ward. so it is looking like the conservatives are on course to take _ like the conservatives are on course to take this— like the conservatives are on course to take this council, as they did with— to take this council, as they did with harlow in the early hours. meanwhile, on the county council, the conservatives are still a net four down _ the conservatives are still a net four down. that doesn't mean they won't _ four down. that doesn't mean they won't keep— four down. that doesn't mean they won't keep their majority but so far, won't keep their majority but so far. it _ won't keep their majority but so far. it has — won't keep their majority but so far, it has been hit. the lib dems have _ far, it has been hit. the lib dems have made — far, it has been hit. the lib dems have made one net gain and i have also been — have made one net gain and i have also been three gains for residents' parties _ also been three gains for residents' arties. ., ~' , ., also been three gains for residents' parties._ interesting - also been three gains for residents' parties._ interesting in l parties. thank you. interesting in basildon. we _ parties. thank you. interesting in basildon. we that _ parties. thank you. interesting in basildon. we that the _ parties. thank you. interesting in basildon. we that the former - parties. thank you. interesting in i basildon. we that the former labour leader of the council has already said, game over, even though the

results aren't in yet. let's talk about hartlepool again, where labour had a very bad result and the conservatives had a very good result in a parliamentary by—election. just one by—election taking place overnight. let's talk to my colleague, meghan patterson, who is there. we have talked a lot here, and kirsty has as well, about the factors. i'mjust wondering, do and kirsty has as well, about the factors. i'm just wondering, do you put this down to some kind of feel good factor around the vaccine role at, about acknowledging that brexit has happened, or what our local people telling you is behind this result? , ., , ., , result? this morning, people here in hartlepool. — result? this morning, people here in hartlepool. at _ result? this morning, people here in hartlepool, at least _ result? this morning, people here in hartlepool, at least the _ result? this morning, people here in hartlepool, at least the ones - result? this morning, people here in hartlepool, at least the ones we i hartlepool, at least the ones we have spoken to, seem to be in a jubilant mood. lots of people have said it's time for a change, let's push forward and see what happens now. there does seem to be that sense of looking forward positively. it's been a difficult 18 months for many people across the country. this by—election for some, many people across the country. this by—election forsome, might many people across the country. this by—election for some, might have been a chance to look forward to the

future. many people say they feel boris johnson's party future. many people say they feel borisjohnson's party has done a good job dealing with the pandemic. the course, there are people on the other side, the course, there are people on the otherside, labour the course, there are people on the other side, labour campaigners who felt this area has been neglected for too long. so there has been a mixture of emotions but certainly a degree of surprise if not shock at this substantial victory forjill mortimer, notjust a victory for the conservatives, but almost a 7000 vote majority is quite a shock in this area, which was of course once considered a labour heartland. peter mandelson used to have a majority here. that feels like a very long time ago now. people in hartlepool are keen for a fresh start and today is about elevations for the conservatives. it's about labour looking at what they do now. this should be a place where they can win but for people in hartlepool, from tomorrow they will be asking, what happens now? there are pockets of deprivation that need to be tackled. unemployment is a big issue. there needs to bejobs

unemployment is a big issue. there needs to be jobs and investment. such a day, yes, positivity, but from tomorrow, what happens and how do we make it happen? thank from tomorrow, what happens and how do we make it happen?— do we make it happen? thank you very much, do we make it happen? thank you very much. good — do we make it happen? thank you very much. good to — do we make it happen? thank you very much, good to hear— do we make it happen? thank you very much, good to hear that. _ do we make it happen? thank you very much, good to hear that. staying i much, good to hear that. staying with the north—east of england, let's bring in the former labour mp of county durham, laura pidcock. thank you forjoining us. you know this part of the world like the back of your hand. when you see the hartlepool result, did you expect a defeat for labour on that scale? i am not shocked that there was a defeat in hartlepool. it is obviously devastating that there is a conservative mp representing hartlepool, with results coming from former coal—mining communities where they are returning tory councillors. it is staggering. there used to be

strong connections to the labour movement tied to industry, and what happened in hartlepool, i think, movement tied to industry, and what happened in hartlepool, ithink, is the result of lots of different things. but i would start by saying the staggering cuts that have been given by government to local authorities and every constituency feeling that pain, it isn't a victory for the people of hartlepool to have a tory mp. they might disassociate themselves with those national government cuts, but it is squarely with the government. poverty pay, cuts to services, all of that has harmed our communities and that is on this government. but i do think the labour party failed to communicate effectively in the last year about what we believe in, and that is of course with the leadership of the labour party. there was far too much introspection, far too many attacks on labour members, the activist base and the people who go out and

communicate the message about why people should vote for labour. that was a massive wasted amount of time. coming out of the crisis, people are worried about the future, with a lingering sense of coronavirus and restrictions. what we need is a bold opposition who are speaking up for working class communities in all of their diversity, speaking for the whole of the uk and taking on this terrible government.— terrible government. laura, there are lots of— terrible government. laura, there are lots of elements _ terrible government. laura, there are lots of elements there - terrible government. laura, there are lots of elements there and i terrible government. laura, there are lots of elements there and we could talk for two hours. i are lots of elements there and we could talk for two hours.— could talk for two hours. i could sta on could talk for two hours. i could stay on for _ could talk for two hours. i could stay on for two _ could talk for two hours. i could stay on for two hours! - could talk for two hours. i could stay on for two hours! some i could talk for two hours. i could i stay on for two hours! some other time! but stay on for two hours! some other time! itut i — stay on for two hours! some other time! but i want _ stay on for two hours! some other time! but i want to _ stay on for two hours! some other time! but i want to make - stay on for two hours! some other time! but i want to make a - stay on for two hours! some other time! but i want to make a point. time! but i want to make a point that has come up several times. the suggestion that somehow, people in hartlepool were voting conservative with a heavy heart, that they were doing it reluctantly, there has been a lot of pushback on that, with

people saying, hang on, we voted conservative because we wanted to, because actually, the conservatives are speaking a language that we relate to and labour isn't doing that. are you in a position to say yes, there is a lot of wisdom in that, and the kind of bold policy platform that you are talking about needs to be in tune with what people find attractive, that is to say, investing in regions and bringing jobs in, which lots of people say the conservatives are now managing to do in the north—east of england? what is the response to that? we have no material evidence of that. there is a lot of superficial rhetoric about levelling up, it is hollow and will deliver nothing because the problems are structural. if we are talking about endemic poverty pay, the decimation of the welfare system which loads of people in work and out of work interact

with, if we are talking about severe cuts to services, but all still exists. jeremy county council will force to make £180 million worth of cuts with 64 million on top of that by 2020, that is county durham people's money that they had taken from us. fire people's money that they had taken from us. �* , ., people's money that they had taken from us. �* i. _ people's money that they had taken fromus.�* , ., from us. are you saying people do not understand _ from us. are you saying people do not understand why _ from us. are you saying people do not understand why those - from us. are you saying people do not understand why those cuts i from us. are you saying people do not understand why those cuts are coming from all they are putting plane in the wrong place? i was 'ust auoin to plane in the wrong place? i was 'ust going to take — plane in the wrong place? i was 'ust going to take on fl plane in the wrong place? i was 'ust going to take on your i plane in the wrong place? i was 'ust going to take on your point i plane in the wrong place? i wasjust going to take on your point about i going to take on your point about the heavy hearts, ifeel like it might be a bit patronising. i don't know why there is this a long history of such pain inflicted by successive conservative government, why they would turn to them, i

outpouring of grief. it is clear to me that we do not need to be more like the tories, we need to be more

socialist, in my view. speak to the concerns of working—class people whether you are in consett in county durham or a london borough, the experience of working people complex and scary in 2021, and there is no time for timidity around that, no time for timidity around that, no time for timidity around that, no time for some of that constructive narrative. we had to go at this government for what they are doing to our communities and, of course, regrettably, i think the leadership had spent far too much time attacking its base, the activists, the people who are so loyal and were out yesterday trying to return labour councillors and a labour mp. laura, kirsty in edinburgh. you don't want to be like the tories, you need to be less like the tories. let's talk about the possible cabinet reshuffle, john mcdonnell said we need to return the party to bring a broad church, presumably

bringing in the left. would you be happy with bringing back people like richard burgon, john mcdonnell, john barclay, do you need a change of direction in the shadow cabinet? brute direction in the shadow cabinet? - need more socialists, not less. i am need more socialists, not less. lam a socialist inside the labour party and i think a swing to the right would be disastrous. we will never out—right the tories, they are conservatives, all of the economic decisions are rooted in conservatism. we are opposed to that. i do not want to see markets prioritised over health, i want to see the nhs were made in public hands, not to be privatised. we need to be really confident about those principles, and having more people in the shadow cabinet with those views would be very helpful. laura, the came views would be very helpful. laura, they came for _ views would be very helpful. laura, they came for corbyn _ views would be very helpful. laura, they came for corbyn after - views would be very helpful. laura, they came for corbyn after 16 i they came for corbyn after 16 months, how do you give keir starmer if you cannot change the weather for

labour in terms of strategy? what if you cannot change the weather for labour in terms of strategy?- labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather _ labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather focus _ labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather focus on _ labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather focus on is _ labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather focus on is how- labour in terms of strategy? what i would rather focus on is how we i labour in terms of strategy? what i i would rather focus on is how we make would ratherfocus on is how we make sure we are countering this government, i am sure we are countering this government, lam not sure we are countering this government, i am not one for getting involved in the drama of when and where and who will be next leader, should he stay or not? i don't want to get into that, ijust care about taking on this government. i don't think people realise how much in pain people are in our communities, how scared they are about the poverty bay face coming out of the coronavirus crisis, all of the people with addiction notices thinking, who is representing me? who in parliament would be my voice? that is what i care about and the labour party need to be the voice of all of the people who have been harmed so deeply by this government. laura, thank you so much. we are against the clock, sorry, but you make lots of points that we will talk about, thank you forjoining in. talk about, thank you for 'oining in. ., ~' , ., talk about, thank you for 'oining

in. . ~' i., talk about, thank you forjoining in. ., ~ david talk about, thank you forjoining i in._ david wallace in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will _ in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will now _ in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will now look _ in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will now look at - in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will now look at the i in. thank you both. david wallace lockhart will now look at the key | lockhart will now look at the key seats to watch in scotland. let's look at some of the key constituencies in the scottish election, starting with the most marginal seat, election, starting with the most marginalseat, dumbarton, election, starting with the most marginal seat, dumbarton, found on the way the clyde in the west of scotland. it is a mix of urban and rural hills, glens and —— ad lochs, but it is also the site of the fast lane nuclear base. it is snp policy to get rid of nuclear from scotland. in recent years the snp has been gaining ground and jackie baillie held her c+ time byjust 109 gaining ground and jackie baillie held her c+ time byjust109 votes, so it is really hotly contested. toni giugliano hopes to take it for the snp. every vote counted here could carry huge implications. now

edinburgh central, famous for its festival, edinburgh castle and the scottish parliament. no matter who comes on top there will be a new msp, former scottish conservatives leader ruth davidson is standing down, she will be taking up a seat in the house of lords, she understood the snp at the last election, before that it was a labour stronghold. election, before that it was a labourstronghold. her election, before that it was a labour stronghold. her maturity in 2016 was thin, just over 600 votes —— her majority was. the snp candidate is angus robertson, the former westminster party leader, taking on scott douglas for the tories. brexit could be an issue here, the seat voted 69% to remain, will voters here like the snp policy of taking the seat back into the eu? this is the type of sleep they would like to win two achieve a majority. let's head north to whisky country, moray, but there was also farming,

forestry and fishing and fishing could be an important factor. many do not feel that deal ultimately reflected the future they were promised. richard lochhead of the snp is looking to hold the seat, he is a scottish government minister, in 2016 it was douglas ross, now leader of the scottish conservatives, who made gains for the tories here. he was then elected to holyrood lochs the regional list before resigning when he went to westminster in 2017. former police officer tim eagle is tasked with trying to win this seat. east lothian to the east of edinburgh has been a labour hotline since the first scottish election in 1999, it is a big rural constituency —— has been a labour heartland. at the last election iain gray won, a former scottish labour leader. he is standing transylvania msp will be

coming. in 2016 the snp came close to winning, the labour majority is just over 1100 votes and martin whitfield is the candidate, a former mp for the corresponding westminster seat. he looks to be an battle with paul mclennan of the snp. the current mp, kenny macaskill, has defected from the snp to alex salmond's new alba party. on paper that has nothing to do with this election, but could there be a backlash from snp supporters angry that their westminster representative has changed parties without a by—election? on a good day this is the kind of seat labour will hold, but snp could take it where they missed out last time, or could they missed out last time, or could the conservatives take advantage? last but not least, let's look at glasgow southside. unlike the others, this is not marginal that it will see two party leaders go

head—to—head, nicola sturgeon iv snp and anas sarwar of scottish labour are both running here. the seat was created in 2011 and nicola sturgeon has held it since. anas sarwar is very unlikely to win, he is standing in his home constituency to try to make progress in a city that was once a labour heartland that is firmly snp. a welcome sign of progress for him would be eating into snp dominance. the scottish labour leader is among his party's list candidates regardless of what happened he should be returned to holyrood. there are certain of the key seats to watch and any changing hands could have significant consequences —— those are some of the key seats. studio: thank you, david. david was talking about dumbarton early on, a majority for labourjust109 votes, snp are hurrying them, but hope webber in clydebank is at the dumbarton

account, the first but we can go to. —— bert hope webb in clydebank. what are we on four, early afternoon? elli are we on four, early afternoon? all e es are we on four, early afternoon? fill eyes are on the dumbarton constituency but it is not the first one we will hear declared, we expect a declaration atjust afternoon one we will hear declared, we expect a declaration at just afternoon for the clydebank and milngavie v constituency. the snp are hoping to replace ian paterson with mary mcnair. second party last mr farage in 2016 was labour but it is expected to be held by the snp, but all eyes are run dumbarton, jackie baillie has held back seat since 1999, the year of the creation of the scottish parliament, but it is the scottish parliament, but it is the most marginal seat in scotland. she howled down byjust109 votes in 2016 -- she howled down byjust109 votes in 2016 —— she held it byjust109

votes. so time will tell whether the progress made by the snp will turn it yellow. brute progress made by the snp will turn it ellow. ~ , ., ., it yellow. we spoke to nick earlier and he said _ it yellow. we spoke to nick earlier and he said the _ it yellow. we spoke to nick earlier and he said the issue _ it yellow. we spoke to nick earlier and he said the issue and - it yellow. we spoke to nick earlier i and he said the issue and dumbarton might be the consolidation of the unionist vote, which might help jackie baillie, if the consolidation is about the conservatives? yes. is about the conservatives? yes, lots of local— is about the conservatives? yes, lots of local issues _ is about the conservatives? yes, lots of local issues around i is about the conservatives? i2: lots of local issues around here, obviously the dumbarton constituency is home to fast lane, the royal navy submarine service and nuclear deterrent. —— is home to faslane. the snp are against the renewal of trident, jackie baillie has supported that. will this be an indication as to what we might see for the picture across the country? we had to wait to see what will happen. we had to wait to see what will ha en. ., ~' ,,

we had to wait to see what will hauen. ., ~' , we had to wait to see what will hauen. ., ~ , . happen. thank you very much, nick eardley now— happen. thank you very much, nick eardley now joins _ happen. thank you very much, nick eardley now joins me _ happen. thank you very much, nick eardley nowjoins me in _ happen. thank you very much, nick eardley nowjoins me in the - happen. thank you very much, nick eardley now joins me in the studio. | eardley nowjoins me in the studio. dumbarton first? it will be very tight, may be as tight as last time. the talk on the ground in dumbarton is that tactical voting is big, that would work in the faith of jackie baillie. postalvote would work in the faith of jackie baillie. postal vote seem to be high, people wedded to a party who truly believe in what they are doing. paternalacross truly believe in what they are doing. paternal across the country seems to be up on 2016. normally that would favour the snp, typically their vote is seen as the softest. if they get it out like they did in 2015, 2019, the general elections, they do very well. it is more complicated this time because everybody is talking about tactical unionist voting. when it comes to first past the post, that could be really crucial as to whether the snp is get the extras they need to get a

majority. edinburgh central is a good example, i think the tories are slightly less confident of the tactical voting that than in some areas. , ., ., ., areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? — areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it _ areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems - areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems to i areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems to be i areas. news on postal vote in i edinburgh? it seems to be huge, areas. news on postal vote in - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 — edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of — edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9094. of postal— edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of postal vote - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of postal vote is - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk| of 8096, 9096 of postal vote is coming of 80%, 90% of postal vote is coming back. the number of people who applied for a postal vote for this election because of the pandemic is higher than ever, about a quarter of the electorate, 1 million people. in some parts of the country, if it is really high, it suggests lots of people are thinking about what is going on, thinking about the constitution and who they want to support. constitution and who they want to su ort. . ., , ., constitution and who they want to su--ort. , ., , support. the constitution has been front and centre, _ support. the constitution has been front and centre, despite - support. the constitution has been front and centre, despite the i support. the constitution has been front and centre, despite the part. front and centre, despite the part that anas sarwar of labour might pushit that anas sarwar of labour might push it onto recovery issues, poverty and so forth. you are hearing that things might be happening faster than we thought with results?— with results? there is some talk that they might _ with results? there is some talk that they might come _ with results? there is some talk

that they might come in - with results? there is some talk that they might come in earlierl with results? there is some talk- that they might come in earlier than we thought, we thought it might be five or six o'clock, it might be slightly earlier. there are some that afternoon that will give a decent indication of where things are going, seats like dumbarton, edinburgh central, east lothian, edinburgh central, east lothian, edinburgh southern, we can tell if tactical voting is happening all the snp are getting new voters and their extended bass out, which gives them a fighting hope of getting the majority —— and their extended base. we might be on target to show whether the snp are picking up the seats to form an outright majority or not? it seats to form an outright ma'ority or not? , seats to form an outright ma'ority ornot? , ,, or not? it is complicated because if ou win a or not? it is complicated because if you win a constituency _ or not? it is complicated because if you win a constituency that - or not? it is complicated because if you win a constituency that has i or not? it is complicated because if you win a constituency that has a i you win a constituency that has a knock—on for the regional list, so we will tell later how well the snp are doing picking up the constituencies, but i think it would be tomorrow before we know if there is a majority. be tomorrow before we know if there is a majority-—

it's interesting that nick was talking about turnout, because although it i'm joined today on my left of the chief executive officer of the nhra and i am joined chief executive officer of the nhra and i amjoined by chief executive officer of the nhra and i am joined by the professor on my right who is chair of thejc vi joint committee of immunisation subcommittee and is responsible for covid—19 vaccines. we are now going to begin the briefing. the running order will be that doctor raine will say a few words first on behalf of our regulator the nhra, then professor of words from the jc vi perspective and then i will take some questions from members of the press who are online and i will then

conclude with some closing remarks. thank you. without further adieu i will pass over. good morning. as the independent regulator for all medicines and vaccines in the uk, the nhra has been continuously and rigorously monitoring the safety of the approved covid—19 vaccines being deployed here. figs the approved covid-19 vaccines being deployed here-— deployed here. as part of a thorough monitorin: deployed here. as part of a thorough monitoring of— deployed here. as part of a thorough monitoring of the _ deployed here. as part of a thorough monitoring of the safety _ deployed here. as part of a thorough monitoring of the safety of— deployed here. as part of a thorough monitoring of the safety of covid-19| monitoring of the safety of covid—19 vaccines, _ monitoring of the safety of covid—19 vaccines, we have been reviewing reports _ vaccines, we have been reviewing reports since february of extremely rare and _ reports since february of extremely rare and specific blood clots with low platelet plans —— my the cells that help — low platelet plans —— my the cells that help the blood to count plot, known _ that help the blood to count plot, known as — that help the blood to count plot, known as from the blood to count plot, _ known as from the blood to count plot, known as humberside. and this is with— plot, known as humberside. and this is with the _ plot, known as humberside. and this is with the astrazeneca vaccine. we have reviewed every case with low platelets — have reviewed every case with low platelets as soon as we have received _ platelets as soon as we have received them. following with reporters for any missing data to

help confirm the diagnosis and this is done _ help confirm the diagnosis and this is done by— help confirm the diagnosis and this is done by our teams of safety experts, — is done by our teams of safety experts, scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, who are investigating and reviewing and evaluating around the clock all safety — evaluating around the clock all safety reports together with all other _ safety reports together with all other sources of evidence. and then in addition, — other sources of evidence. and then in addition, the independent scientific advisory committee, the commission on human medicines rigorously— commission on human medicines rigorously reviews these analyses. up rigorously reviews these analyses. up to _ rigorously reviews these analyses. up to the — rigorously reviews these analyses. up to the 28th of april, there have been _ up to the 28th of april, there have been 242 _ up to the 28th of april, there have been 242 cases of these specific kinds _ been 242 cases of these specific kinds of— been 242 cases of these specific kinds of blood clots with low blight —— platelet counts and with over 28 million _ —— platelet counts and with over 28 million doses delivered by that that is an incidence of 10.5 per million. in is an incidence of 10.5 per million. in terms— is an incidence of 10.5 per million. in terms of— is an incidence of 10.5 per million. in terms of second doses, we know that there — in terms of second doses, we know that there have been six reports under— that there have been six reports under evaluation and with around 6 million _ under evaluation and with around 6

million doses given at that date, that is— million doses given at that date, that is an — million doses given at that date, that is an incidence of one in a million — that is an incidence of one in a million. what this show is over all is million. what this show is overall is that— million. what this show is over all is that with — million. what this show is over all is that with support from the public and from _ is that with support from the public and from health care professionals our safety — and from health care professionals our safety monitoring systems are working _ our safety monitoring systems are working and working effectively. these _ working and working effectively. these extremely rare side effects have been identified and analysed by the best— have been identified and analysed by the best of scientific minds and enabled — the best of scientific minds and enabled us to provide scientifically based _ enabled us to provide scientifically based up—to—date information and advice _ based up—to—date information and advice to— based up—to—date information and advice to enable judgments on the use of— advice to enable judgments on the use of the — advice to enable judgments on the use of the covid—19 vaccine astrazeneca. i can confirm today that the — astrazeneca. i can confirm today that the position of the medicines and health care products regulatory agency— and health care products regulatory agency remains unchanged that the benefits— agency remains unchanged that the benefits of the astrazeneca vaccine against _ benefits of the astrazeneca vaccine against covid—19, with the associated risk of hospitalisation and death continue to outweigh the risks of— and death continue to outweigh the risks of the vaccine for the vast

majority— risks of the vaccine for the vast majority of— risks of the vaccine for the vast majority of people. there is therefore no change to the approval. the balance to benefits and risks of the vaccine — the balance to benefits and risks of the vaccine is very favourable for older— the vaccine is very favourable for older age — the vaccine is very favourable for older age groups, the vaccine is very favourable for olderage groups, but the vaccine is very favourable for older age groups, but it is more finely— older age groups, but it is more finely balanced for younger people and so _ finely balanced for younger people and so we — finely balanced for younger people and so we advise that this evidence should _ and so we advise that this evidence should be _ and so we advise that this evidence should be taken into account when considering the use of the vaccine. i'd considering the use of the vaccine. i'd like _ considering the use of the vaccine. i'd like to— considering the use of the vaccine. i'd like to take this opportunity to thank— i'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reported there _ thank everyone who has reported there are — thank everyone who has reported there are suspicions about side effects— there are suspicions about side effects to — there are suspicions about side effects to us through our tried and tested _ effects to us through our tried and tested yellow card scheme. every report _ tested yellow card scheme. every report counts and by doing this, you have helped keep this vaccine safe. so please _ have helped keep this vaccine safe. so please continue to report through our coronavirus yellow card reporting _ our coronavirus yellow card reporting portal and as with all medicines and vaccines, we will continue — medicines and vaccines, we will continue to— medicines and vaccines, we will continue to monitor, we will be monitoring 24—7 and the public can

be confident in that covid—19 approved vaccines. safety is our watchword and patient safety is our number _ watchword and patient safety is our number one priority.— number one priority. thank you. thank you- _ number one priority. thank you. thank you- i _ number one priority. thank you. thank you. i am _ number one priority. thank you. thank you. i am confident i number one priority. thank you. thank you. i am confident that l number one priority. thank you. i thank you. i am confident that the professor has explained the position of the nhra to you and there is no change in advice today. the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation has a different role, that role is not connected with authorisation of medicines or licences. it is connected with advising the government on how vaccines should be used as part of our public vaccination programme. and thejc vi does have an update for us and the representative will talk to us about that.— talk to us about that. thank you. the 'oint talk to us about that. thank you. the joint committee _ talk to us about that. thank you. the joint committee on - talk to us about that. thank you. i the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation _ the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is _ the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is also _ the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is also an - and immunisation is also an independent _

and immunisation is also an independent body. - and immunisation is also an independent body. we i and immunisation is also an i independent body. we conduct and immunisation is also an _ independent body. we conduct regular reviews _ independent body. we conduct regular reviews and _ independent body. we conduct regular reviews and our— independent body. we conduct regular reviews and our advice _ independent body. we conduct regular reviews and our advice in _ independent body. we conduct regular reviews and our advice in covid—19's i reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines _ reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines in— reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines in the _ reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines. in the last _ reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines. in the last few— reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines. in the last few weeks, i reviews and our advice in covid—19's vaccines. in the last few weeks, we| vaccines. in the last few weeks, we have _ vaccines. in the last few weeks, we have reviewed _ vaccines. in the last few weeks, we have reviewed new— vaccines. in the last few weeks, we have reviewed new data _ vaccines. in the last few weeks, we have reviewed new data which i - vaccines. in the last few weeks, we. have reviewed new data which i want to share _ have reviewed new data which i want to share with — have reviewed new data which i want to share with you. _ have reviewed new data which i want to share with you. can _ have reviewed new data which i want to share with you. can i _ have reviewed new data which i want to share with you. can i have - have reviewed new data which i want to share with you. can i have the - to share with you. can i have the first_ to share with you. can i have the first flight — to share with you. can i have the first flight please? _ to share with you. can i have the first flight please? we _ to share with you. can i have the first flight please? we have - to share with you. can i have thei first flight please? we have tried our best — first flight please? we have tried our best to — first flight please? we have tried our best to understand _ first flight please? we have tried our best to understand the - first flight please? we have triedi our best to understand the latest evidence — our best to understand the latest evidence from _ our best to understand the latest evidence from nhra _ our best to understand the latest evidence from nhra regarding . our best to understand the latest i evidence from nhra regarding the risk arising — evidence from nhra regarding the risk arising from _ evidence from nhra regarding the risk arising from extremely- evidence from nhra regarding the risk arising from extremely rare i evidence from nhra regarding thei risk arising from extremely rare —— nhra _ risk arising from extremely rare —— nhra from — risk arising from extremely rare —— nhra from the _ risk arising from extremely rare —— nhra. from the astrazeneca - risk arising from extremely rare —— i nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have _ nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have also— nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have also looked _ nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have also looked at _ nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have also looked at data - nhra. from the astrazeneca vaccine. we have also looked at data related . we have also looked at data related to the _ we have also looked at data related to the controt— we have also looked at data related to the control of _ we have also looked at data related to the control of a _ we have also looked at data related to the control of a covid—19 - to the control of a covid—19 infections _ to the control of a covid—19 infections in _ to the control of a covid—19 infections in the _ to the control of a covid—19 infections in the uk - to the control of a covid—19 infections in the uk and - infections in the uk and mathematical— infections in the uk and mathematical models. infections in the uk and | mathematical models of infections in the uk and - mathematical models of any infections in the uk and _ mathematical models of any further wave of— mathematical models of any further wave of infection _ mathematical models of any further wave of infection that _ mathematical models of any further wave of infection that might - mathematical models of any further wave of infection that might occur. wave of infection that might occur later wave of infection that might occur tater on— wave of infection that might occur tater on this — wave of infection that might occur later on this year. _ wave of infection that might occur later on this year. we _ wave of infection that might occur later on this year. we have - wave of infection that might occur. later on this year. we have assessed vaccine _ later on this year. we have assessed vaccine sopptv— later on this year. we have assessed vaccine supply forecasts _ later on this year. we have assessed vaccine supply forecasts and - later on this year. we have assessed vaccine supply forecasts and the - vaccine supply forecasts and the level— vaccine supply forecasts and the level of— vaccine supply forecasts and the level of vaccine _ vaccine supply forecasts and the level of vaccine uptake - vaccine supply forecasts and the level of vaccine uptake with - vaccine supply forecasts and the level of vaccine uptake with the i level of vaccine uptake with the vaccine — level of vaccine uptake with the vaccine programme _ level of vaccine uptake with the vaccine programme at - level of vaccine uptake with the vaccine programme at the - level of vaccine uptake with the - vaccine programme at the moment. we have also— vaccine programme at the moment. we have also looked — vaccine programme at the moment. we have also looked at _ vaccine programme at the moment. we have also looked at the _ vaccine programme at the moment. we have also looked at the speed - vaccine programme at the moment. we have also looked at the speed of - have also looked at the speed of vaccine — have also looked at the speed of vaccine deployment. _ have also looked at the speed of vaccine deployment. we - have also looked at the speed of

vaccine deployment. we note i vaccine deployment. we note particularly _ vaccine deployment. we note particularly the _ vaccine deployment. we note particularly the following - vaccine deployment. we note i particularly the following things. we note — particularly the following things. we note that _ particularly the following things. we note that there _ particularly the following things. we note that there is _ particularly the following things. we note that there is new- particularly the following things. i we note that there is new evidence i particularly the following things. i we note that there is new evidence regarding _ we note that there is new evidence regarding the — we note that there is new evidence regarding the efficacy— we note that there is new evidence regarding the efficacy or _ regarding the efficacy or effectiveness _ regarding the efficacy or effectiveness of - regarding the efficacy or. effectiveness of vaccines, particularly _ effectiveness of vaccines, particularly in _ particularly in protecting people from _ particularly in protecting people from severe _ particularly in protecting people from severe disease. _ particularly in protecting people from severe disease. there - particularly in protecting people from severe disease. there is. particularly in protecting people i from severe disease. there is also new public— from severe disease. there is also new public evidence _ from severe disease. there is also new public evidence to _ from severe disease. there is also new public evidence to say- from severe disease. there is also new public evidence to say that i new public evidence to say that vaccines — new public evidence to say that vaccines also _ new public evidence to say that vaccines also offer— new public evidence to say that vaccines also offer some - new public evidence to say that - vaccines also offer some protection against _ vaccines also offer some protection against transmission. _ it's the strength of the vaccine programme _ it's the strength of the vaccine programme over— it's the strength of the vaccine programme over the _ it's the strength of the vaccine programme over the last - it's the strength of the vaccine programme over the last few. it's the strength of the vaccine - programme over the last few weeks and hopefully— programme over the last few weeks and hopefully in— programme over the last few weeks and hopefully in the _ programme over the last few weeks and hopefully in the next _ programme over the last few weeks and hopefully in the next few - programme over the last few weeksi and hopefully in the next few weeks that witi— and hopefully in the next few weeks that will protect _ and hopefully in the next few weeks that will protect us _ and hopefully in the next few weeks that will protect us in _ and hopefully in the next few weeks that will protect us in the _ and hopefully in the next few weeks that will protect us in the longer - that will protect us in the longer term _ that will protect us in the longer term if— that will protect us in the longer term if the _ that will protect us in the longer term. if the vaccine _ that will protect us in the longer term. if the vaccine programme| term. if the vaccine programme continues— term. if the vaccine programme continues from _ term. if the vaccine programme continues from strength - term. if the vaccine programme continues from strength to - term. if the vaccine programme - continues from strength to strength, then a _ continues from strength to strength, then a future — continues from strength to strength, then a future wave _ continues from strength to strength, then a future wave of _ continues from strength to strength, then a future wave of infection - continues from strength to strength, then a future wave of infection is - then a future wave of infection is likely— then a future wave of infection is likely to — then a future wave of infection is likely to be — then a future wave of infection is likely to be smaller— then a future wave of infection is likely to be smaller than - then a future wave of infection is . likely to be smaller than previously anticipated — likely to be smaller than previously anticipated and _ likely to be smaller than previously anticipated and given— likely to be smaller than previously anticipated and given that - likely to be smaller than previously anticipated and given that we - likely to be smaller than previously anticipated and given that we now. anticipated and given that we now

know _ anticipated and given that we now know about — anticipated and given that we now know about the _ anticipated and given that we now know about the vaccines. - anticipated and given that we now know about the vaccines. this - anticipated and given that we now know about the vaccines. this is l know about the vaccines. this is good _ know about the vaccines. this is good news — know about the vaccines. this is good news for— know about the vaccines. this is good news for all— know about the vaccines. this is good news for all of _ know about the vaccines. this is good news for all of us. - know about the vaccines. this is good news for all of us. to - know about the vaccines. this is i good news for all of us. to reflect these _ good news for all of us. to reflect these changing _ good news for all of us. to reflect these changing situations, - good news for all of us. to reflect these changing situations, we - good news for all of us. to reflect. these changing situations, we have agreed _ these changing situations, we have agreed to— these changing situations, we have agreed to update _ these changing situations, we have agreed to update our— these changing situations, we have agreed to update our advice. - these changing situations, we have agreed to update our advice. can. these changing situations, we have agreed to update our advice. can ii agreed to update our advice. can i the next _ agreed to update our advice. can i the next tight— agreed to update our advice. can i the next light please? _ agreed to update our advice. can i the next light please? building. agreed to update our advice. can i the next light please? building oni the next light please? building on our previous — the next light please? building on our previous advice _ the next light please? building on our previous advice related - the next light please? building on our previous advice related to - the next light please? building on i our previous advice related to those a-ed our previous advice related to those aged 30 _ our previous advice related to those aged 30 years — our previous advice related to those aged 30 years and _ our previous advice related to those aged 30 years and under, _ our previous advice related to those aged 30 years and under, we - our previous advice related to those aged 30 years and under, we now. aged 30 years and under, we now advised _ aged 30 years and under, we now advised that — aged 30 years and under, we now advised that unvaccinated - aged 30 years and under, we now advised that unvaccinated adultsi advised that unvaccinated adults a-ed advised that unvaccinated adults aged 30-39 _ advised that unvaccinated adults aged 30-39 years _ advised that unvaccinated adults aged 30—39 years who _ advised that unvaccinated adults aged 30—39 years who do - advised that unvaccinated adults aged 30—39 years who do not i advised that unvaccinated adults . aged 30—39 years who do not have advised that unvaccinated adults - aged 30—39 years who do not have an underlying _ aged 30—39 years who do not have an underlying health— aged 30—39 years who do not have an underlying health condition _ aged 30—39 years who do not have an underlying health condition that - underlying health condition that puts them — underlying health condition that puts them at— underlying health condition that puts them at higher— underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk - underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk of - underlying health condition that . puts them at higher risk of severe covid-19 — puts them at higher risk of severe covid—19 should _ puts them at higher risk of severe covid—19 should be _ puts them at higher risk of severe covid—19 should be preferentiallyi covid—19 should be preferentially offered _ covid—19 should be preferentially offered an— covid—19 should be preferentially offered an alternative _ covid—19 should be preferentially offered an alternative to - covid—19 should be preferentially offered an alternative to the - offered an alternative to the astrazeneca _ offered an alternative to the astrazeneca vaccine. - offered an alternative to the astrazeneca vaccine. and i offered an alternative to the i astrazeneca vaccine. and this offered an alternative to the - astrazeneca vaccine. and this is where _ astrazeneca vaccine. and this is where possible _ astrazeneca vaccine. and this is where possible and _ astrazeneca vaccine. and this is where possible and only - astrazeneca vaccine. and this is where possible and only were i astrazeneca vaccine. and this is| where possible and only were no substantial — where possible and only were no substantial delay— where possible and only were no substantial delay or _ where possible and only were no substantial delay or barrier- where possible and only were no substantial delay or barrier and i substantial delay or barrier and access— substantial delay or barrier and access to — substantial delay or barrier and access to the _ substantial delay or barrier and access to the vaccination - substantial delay or barrier andi access to the vaccination would arise _ access to the vaccination would arise the _ access to the vaccination would arise. the astrazeneca - access to the vaccination would arise. the astrazeneca vaccine| access to the vaccination would i arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very— arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very helpful _ arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very helpful in _ arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very helpful in that _ arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very helpful in that it _ arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is very helpful in that it requires i very helpful in that it requires less— very helpful in that it requires less stringent— very helpful in that it requires less stringent transport - very helpful in that it requires less stringent transport and l very helpful in that it requires - less stringent transport and storage conditions _ less stringent transport and storage conditions compared _ less stringent transport and storage conditions compared to _ less stringent transport and storage conditions compared to some - less stringent transport and storage conditions compared to some other| conditions compared to some other vaccines _ conditions compared to some other vaccines that—

conditions compared to some other vaccines. that means _ conditions compared to some other vaccines. that means that - conditions compared to some other vaccines. that means that in- conditions compared to some other| vaccines. that means that in certain settings, _ vaccines. that means that in certain settings, the — vaccines. that means that in certain settings, the astrazeneca _ vaccines. that means that in certain settings, the astrazeneca vaccine . settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be _ settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the — settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the only— settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the only vaccine - settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the only vaccine that - settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the only vaccine that is i may be the only vaccine that is practical— may be the only vaccine that is practical to— may be the only vaccine that is practical to offer— may be the only vaccine that is practical to offer and _ may be the only vaccine that is practical to offer and in- may be the only vaccine that is practical to offer and in those i practical to offer and in those circumstances, _ practical to offer and in those circumstances, the _ practical to offer and in those . circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine — circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine should _ circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine should indeed _ circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine should indeed be - circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine should indeed be the i vaccine should indeed be the preferred _ vaccine should indeed be the preferred vaccine. _ vaccine should indeed be the preferred vaccine. next - vaccine should indeed be the preferred vaccine. next slide please — preferred vaccine. next slide please. importantly, - preferred vaccine. next slide please. importantly, i- preferred vaccine. next slide please. importantly, i want. preferred vaccine. next slidei please. importantly, i want to preferred vaccine. next slide - please. importantly, i want to say that this _ please. importantly, i want to say that this update _ please. importantly, i want to say that this update advises _ please. importantly, i want to say that this update advises specific . please. importantly, i want to say| that this update advises specific to the current— that this update advises specific to the current uk_ that this update advises specific to the current uk context. _ the size of any future wave of covid-19 _ the size of any future wave of covid-19 is _ the size of any future wave of covid—19 is greatly— the size of any future wave of covid—19 is greatly influenced| the size of any future wave of. covid—19 is greatly influenced by how well — covid—19 is greatly influenced by how well the _ covid—19 is greatly influenced by how well the vaccine _ covid—19 is greatly influenced by| how well the vaccine programme covid—19 is greatly influenced by. how well the vaccine programme is going _ how well the vaccine programme is going. reductions _

how well the vaccine programme is going. reductions in _ how well the vaccine programme is going. reductions in the _ how well the vaccine programme is going. reductions in the vaccine i going. reductions in the vaccine uptake _ going. reductions in the vaccine uptake or— going. reductions in the vaccine uptake or the _ going. reductions in the vaccine uptake or the speed _ going. reductions in the vaccine uptake or the speed of- going. reductions in the vaccine i uptake or the speed of deployment going. reductions in the vaccine - uptake or the speed of deployment in the coming _ uptake or the speed of deployment in the coming weeks _ uptake or the speed of deployment in the coming weeks will— uptake or the speed of deployment in the coming weeks will increase - uptake or the speed of deployment in the coming weeks will increase the i the coming weeks will increase the size of— the coming weeks will increase the size of any— the coming weeks will increase the size of any future _ the coming weeks will increase the size of any future wave _ the coming weeks will increase the size of any future wave and - the coming weeks will increase the size of any future wave and in - the coming weeks will increase the size of any future wave and in that| size of any future wave and in that scenario _ size of any future wave and in that scenario any— size of any future wave and in that scenario any vaccine _ size of any future wave and in that scenario any vaccine offered - size of any future wave and in that scenario any vaccine offered early| scenario any vaccine offered early is preferred — scenario any vaccine offered early is preferred to— scenario any vaccine offered early is preferred to a _ scenario any vaccine offered early is preferred to a vaccine - scenario any vaccine offered early is preferred to a vaccine offered l is preferred to a vaccine offered too late — is preferred to a vaccine offered too late we _ is preferred to a vaccine offered too late. we can _ is preferred to a vaccine offered too late. we can take _ is preferred to a vaccine offered too late. we can take the - is preferred to a vaccine offered too late. we can take the slide i is preferred to a vaccine offered - too late. we can take the slide down thank— too late. we can take the slide down thank you _ too late. we can take the slide down thank you our— too late. we can take the slide down thank you. our other— too late. we can take the slide down thank you. our other advice - too late. we can take the slide down thank you. our otheradvice remains| thank you. our otheradvice remains unchanged — thank you. our otheradvice remains unchanged. there _ thank you. our otheradvice remains unchanged. there are _ thank you. our otheradvice remains unchanged. there are no _ thank you. our otheradvice remains unchanged. there are no safety - unchanged. there are no safety concerns — unchanged. there are no safety concerns in _ unchanged. there are no safety concerns in relation— unchanged. there are no safety concerns in relation to - unchanged. there are no safety concerns in relation to the - unchanged. there are no safety . concerns in relation to the second dose _ concerns in relation to the second dose of— concerns in relation to the second dose of the — concerns in relation to the second dose of the astrazeneca - concerns in relation to the second dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, i concerns in relation to the second . dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you _ dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have — dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have had _ dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have had the _ dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have had the first _ dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have had the first dose - dose of the astrazeneca vaccine, so if you have had the first dose of- if you have had the first dose of the astrazeneca _ if you have had the first dose of the astrazeneca vaccine - if you have had the first dose of the astrazeneca vaccine and - if you have had the first dose of. the astrazeneca vaccine and have if you have had the first dose of- the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems — the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems from _ the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems from it, _ the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems from it, then— the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems from it, then please - the astrazeneca vaccine and have had no problems from it, then please go. no problems from it, then please go ahead _ no problems from it, then please go ahead and _ no problems from it, then please go ahead and have _ no problems from it, then please go ahead and have the _ no problems from it, then please go ahead and have the second - no problems from it, then please go ahead and have the second dose - no problems from it, then please go ahead and have the second dose of. ahead and have the second dose of the astrazeneca _ ahead and have the second dose of the astrazeneca vaccine. _ ahead and have the second dose of the astrazeneca vaccine. we - ahead and have the second dose of the astrazeneca vaccine. we also i the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise _ the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise that — the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise that all _ the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise that all people _ the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise that all people who - the astrazeneca vaccine. we also advise that all people who are - advise that all people who are offered — advise that all people who are offered a _ advise that all people who are offered a covid—19 _ advise that all people who are offered a covid—19 vaccine - advise that all people who are i offered a covid—19 vaccine should have _ offered a covid—19 vaccine should have access — offered a covid—19 vaccine should have access to _ offered a covid—19 vaccine should have access to information - offered a covid—19 vaccine should have access to information about| offered a covid—19 vaccine should - have access to information about the benefits _ have access to information about the benefits and — have access to information about the benefits and risks _ have access to information about the benefits and risks of _ have access to information about the benefits and risks of vaccination. - benefits and risks of vaccination. we offer — benefits and risks of vaccination. we offer this— benefits and risks of vaccination. we offer this advice _ benefits and risks of vaccination. we offer this advice which - benefits and risks of vaccination. i we offer this advice which places benefits and risks of vaccination. l we offer this advice which places a hi-h we offer this advice which places a high priority— we offer this advice which places a high priority on— we offer this advice which places a high priority on safety— we offer this advice which places a high priority on safety in _ we offer this advice which places a high priority on safety in the - we offer this advice which places a high priority on safety in the hopei high priority on safety in the hope that it _ high priority on safety in the hope that it wiii— high priority on safety in the hope that it will further— high priority on safety in the hope

that it will further increase - that it will further increase vaccine _ that it will further increase vaccine confidence - that it will further increase vaccine confidence so - that it will further increase vaccine confidence so that| that it will further increase - vaccine confidence so that those that it will further increase _ vaccine confidence so that those who are being _ vaccine confidence so that those who are being offered _ vaccine confidence so that those who are being offered the _ vaccine confidence so that those who are being offered the vaccine - vaccine confidence so that those who are being offered the vaccine in - vaccine confidence so that those who are being offered the vaccine in the i are being offered the vaccine in the coming _ are being offered the vaccine in the coming weeks _ are being offered the vaccine in the coming weeks can— are being offered the vaccine in the coming weeks can feel— are being offered the vaccine in the coming weeks can feel more - are being offered the vaccine in the i coming weeks can feel more confident and feet— coming weeks can feel more confident and feet more — coming weeks can feel more confident and feel more able _ coming weeks can feel more confident and feel more able to _ coming weeks can feel more confident and feel more able to step— coming weeks can feel more confident and feel more able to step forward - and feel more able to step forward accept _ and feel more able to step forward accept the — and feel more able to step forward accept the offer— and feel more able to step forward accept the offer of _ and feel more able to step forward accept the offer of vaccine - and feel more able to step forward accept the offer of vaccine and - and feel more able to step forward accept the offer of vaccine and be i accept the offer of vaccine and be vaccinated — accept the offer of vaccine and be vaccinated by— accept the offer of vaccine and be vaccinated. by being _ accept the offer of vaccine and be vaccinated. by being vaccinated, i accept the offer of vaccine and be . vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect _ vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect ourselves _ vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect ourselves and _ vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect ourselves and we _ vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect ourselves and we now- vaccinated. by being vaccinated, we protect ourselves and we now know| protect ourselves and we now know that we _ protect ourselves and we now know that we also — protect ourselves and we now know that we also protect _ protect ourselves and we now know that we also protect those - protect ourselves and we now know that we also protect those around l that we also protect those around us. that we also protect those around us~ thank— that we also protect those around us thank you _ that we also protect those around us- thank you-— that we also protect those around us. thank ou. . ,, i. .,, i. us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident _ us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident that _ us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident that the _ us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident that the nhra - us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident that the nhra and - us. thank you. thank you. i hope you feel confident that the nhra and 1c l feel confident that the nhra and jc vi are really watching this programme extremely carefully and very closely. —— mrha. the point has been emphasised several times already this morning about maintaining the pace and volume of the vaccine roll—out in order to control the disease in our country long—term and to minimise the impact of any upsurge in cases, potentially associated with a third wave. i

can't over emphasise that enough. i can't over emphasise that enough. i can say to you on top that on current plans, our vaccine supply schedule will support the change offered by the jc vi without limiting the speed and scale of the vaccine roll—out. i do expect that we are still on target to offer a first dose to all adults by the end ofjuly. we will now pause the narrative and take questions from the media after which i will offer some closing remarks. the first question is from fergus walsh from the bbc. ., , ., ~ question is from fergus walsh from the sac. ., , ., ~ , ., the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much- — the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much- can — the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much- can i— the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much. can i ask— the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much. can i ask you - the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much. can i ask you what - the bbc. hello, fergus. thank you very much. can i ask you what you i very much. can i ask you what you would _ very much. can i ask you what you would say— very much. can i ask you what you would say to— very much. can i ask you what you would say to a 40—year—old who is about _ would say to a 40—year—old who is about to _ would say to a 40—year—old who is about to receive the astrazeneca vaccine _ about to receive the astrazeneca vaccine and is worried?— about to receive the astrazeneca vaccine and is worried? thanks for the question- _ vaccine and is worried? thanks for the question. would _ vaccine and is worried? thanks for the question. would you _ vaccine and is worried? thanks for the question. would you like - vaccine and is worried? thanks for the question. would you like to i the question. would you like to serve that _ the question. would you like to serve that one? _

the question. would you like to serve that one? a _ the question. would you like to serve that one? a 40-year-old| the question. would you like to - serve that one? a 40-year-old who is serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming _ serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming out _ serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming out for — serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming out for vaccination, _ serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming out for vaccination, i- serve that one? a 40—year—old who is coming out for vaccination, i would i coming out for vaccination, i would encourage — coming out for vaccination, i would encourage them _ coming out for vaccination, i would encourage them to _ coming out for vaccination, i would encourage them to be _ coming out for vaccination, i would encourage them to be vaccinated. i coming out for vaccination, i would i encourage them to be vaccinated. the benefits _ encourage them to be vaccinated. the benefits and _ encourage them to be vaccinated. the benefits and risks _ encourage them to be vaccinated. the benefits and risks of _ encourage them to be vaccinated. the benefits and risks of vaccination - benefits and risks of vaccination far outweigh _ benefits and risks of vaccination far outweigh~ '— benefits and risks of vaccination far outweigh. i would _ benefits and risks of vaccinationi far outweigh. i would encourage benefits and risks of vaccination - far outweigh. i would encourage that person— far outweigh. i would encourage that person to _ far outweigh. i would encourage that person to accept _ far outweigh. i would encourage that person to accept the _ far outweigh. i would encourage that person to accept the purse _ far outweigh. i would encourage that person to accept the purse —— - far outweigh. i would encourage that person to accept the purse —— offer i person to accept the purse —— offer of vaccination _ person to accept the purse -- offer of vaccination.— of vaccination. does that answer our of vaccination. does that answer your question? _ of vaccination. does that answer your question? it _ of vaccination. does that answer your question? it does - of vaccination. does that answer your question? it does but - of vaccination. does that answer your question? it does but you l of vaccination. does that answer i your question? it does but you said that i your question? it does but you said that i think — your question? it does but you said that l think the — your question? it does but you said that i think the incidence _ your question? it does but you said that i think the incidence is - that i think the incidence is something like one in 60,000 for those _ something like one in 60,000 for those in _ something like one in 60,000 for those in their 30s. also, you have to have _ those in their 30s. also, you have to have a — those in their 30s. also, you have to have a cut _ those in their 30s. also, you have to have a cut off somewhere. the incidence — to have a cut off somewhere. the incidence in— to have a cut off somewhere. the incidence in a 40—year—old or the likelihood — incidence in a 40—year—old or the likelihood of having one of these rare side — likelihood of having one of these rare side effects would be higher than a _ rare side effects would be higher than a 50 — rare side effects would be higher than a 50 or 60—year—old. so, there would _ than a 50 or 60—year—old. so, there would be _ than a 50 or 60—year—old. so, there would be concerned about you the draw _ would be concerned about you the draw this— would be concerned about you the draw this cut off line. as

would be concerned about you the draw this cut off line.— draw this cut off line. as we earpiained — draw this cut off line. as we explained before, _ draw this cut off line. as we explained before, the - draw this cut off line. as we explained before, the risk. draw this cut off line. as we . explained before, the risk from covid-19 — explained before, the risk from covid-19 is _ explained before, the risk from covid—i9 is very— explained before, the risk from covid—i9 is very tightly- explained before, the risk from . covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age — covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age and _ covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age and it _ covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age and it rises _ covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age and it rises very- covid—i9 is very tightly associated with age and it rises very steeplyi with age and it rises very steeply with age and it rises very steeply with age — with age and it rises very steeply with age it — with age and it rises very steeply with age it is— with age and it rises very steeply with age. it is perhaps— with age and it rises very steeply with age. it is perhaps best - with age. it is perhaps best pictured _ with age. it is perhaps best pictured as _ with age. it is perhaps best pictured as the _ with age. it is perhaps best pictured as the upward - with age. it is perhaps best pictured as the upward curl| with age. it is perhaps best . pictured as the upward curl of with age. it is perhaps best - pictured as the upward curl of an oncoming — pictured as the upward curl of an oncoming wave~ _ pictured as the upward curl of an oncoming wave. 0n _ pictured as the upward curl of an oncoming wave. 0n the - pictured as the upward curl of an oncoming wave. 0n the other. pictured as the upward curl of an i oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, the risk— oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, the risk from — oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, the risk from one _ oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, the risk from one of— oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, the risk from one of these _ oncoming wave. 0n the other hand, i the risk from one of these extremely rare side _ the risk from one of these extremely rare side effects _ the risk from one of these extremely rare side effects is _ the risk from one of these extremely rare side effects is very— the risk from one of these extremely rare side effects is very low, - rare side effects is very low, personable, _ rare side effects is very low, personable, and _ rare side effects is very low, personable, and any- rare side effects is very low, l personable, and any gradient rare side effects is very low, - personable, and any gradient with a-e personable, and any gradient with age is _ personable, and any gradient with age is very— personable, and any gradient with age is very shallow— personable, and any gradient with age is very shallow and _ personable, and any gradient with age is very shallow and perhaps . personable, and any gradient withi age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture — age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture that _ age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture that is _ age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture that is a _ age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture that is a gently- age is very shallow and perhaps he can picture that is a gently sloping| can picture that is a gently sloping beach— can picture that is a gently sloping beach with — can picture that is a gently sloping beach with an _ can picture that is a gently sloping beach with an oncoming _ can picture that is a gently sloping beach with an oncoming wave, - can picture that is a gently sloping| beach with an oncoming wave, and william _ beach with an oncoming wave, and william kohler_ beach with an oncoming wave, and william kohler occurs _ beach with an oncoming wave, and william kohler occurs is— beach with an oncoming wave, and william kohler occurs is roughly. william kohler occurs is roughly around — william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 — william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 years _ william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 years of— william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 years of age - william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 years of age —— - william kohler occurs is roughly around 40 years of age —— and i william kohler occurs is roughly- around 40 years of age —— and where the curi— around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs. — around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs, so _ around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs, so it— around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs, so it is— around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs, so it is not— around 40 years of age —— and where the curl occurs, so it is not so- the curl occurs, so it is not so easy— the curl occurs, so it is not so easy to — the curl occurs, so it is not so easy to compare _ the curl occurs, so it is not so

easy to compare the - the curl occurs, so it is not so. easy to compare the risk— benefit betow _ easy to compare the risk— benefit below and — easy to compare the risk— benefit below and above, _ easy to compare the risk— benefit below and above, but _ easy to compare the risk— benefit below and above, but around - easy to compare the risk—benefitl below and above, but around 40, easy to compare the risk—benefit - below and above, but around 40, we see this _ below and above, but around 40, we see this very— below and above, but around 40, we see this very steep _ below and above, but around 40, we see this very steep rise _ below and above, but around 40, we see this very steep rise in _ below and above, but around 40, we see this very steep rise in the - below and above, but around 40, we see this very steep rise in the risk i see this very steep rise in the risk of covid-19. — see this very steep rise in the risk of covid-19. so _ see this very steep rise in the risk of covid—i9, so the _ see this very steep rise in the risk of covid—i9, so the benefit - see this very steep rise in the risk of covid—i9, so the benefit of i see this very steep rise in the risk of covid—i9, so the benefit of the | of covid—i9, so the benefit of the vaccine _ of covid—i9, so the benefit of the vaccine certainly _ of covid—i9, so the benefit of the vaccine certainly rises _ of covid—i9, so the benefit of the vaccine certainly rises much i of covid—i9, so the benefit of the i vaccine certainly rises much higher than the _ vaccine certainly rises much higher than the risk— vaccine certainly rises much higher than the risk from _ vaccine certainly rises much higher than the risk from this _ vaccine certainly rises much higher than the risk from this extremely. than the risk from this extremely rare adverse _ than the risk from this extremely rare adverse event. _ than the risk from this extremely rare adverse event.— than the risk from this extremely rare adverse event. thank you. would ou like to rare adverse event. thank you. would you like to add _ rare adverse event. thank you. would you like to add anything? _ rare adverse event. thank you. would you like to add anything? certainly, . you like to add anything? certainly, i think the analogy _ you like to add anything? certainly, i think the analogy with _ you like to add anything? certainly, i think the analogy with the - you like to add anything? certainly, i think the analogy with the beach l i think the analogy with the beach and the _ i think the analogy with the beach and the wave is a very helpful one, but perhaps— and the wave is a very helpful one, but perhaps to add some figures that may also— but perhaps to add some figures that may also illustrate what we are talking — may also illustrate what we are talking about. i have already mentioned that overall, the incidence of these very rare cases per million — incidence of these very rare cases per million is 10.5, and if i look at the — per million is 10.5, and if i look at the age _ per million is 10.5, and if i look at the age band from 40 and up, it is actually— at the age band from 40 and up, it is actually 10.1. follow—up cases because — is actually 10.i. follow—up cases because of— is actually 10.1. follow—up cases because of many factors influence reporting. — because of many factors influence reporting, and we try our very best

to get— reporting, and we try our very best to get the — reporting, and we try our very best to get the value that we need, but the figures that we are giving today help to _ the figures that we are giving today help to illustrate whyjcvi has given— help to illustrate whyjcvi has given the advice taking into account not only— given the advice taking into account not only our— given the advice taking into account not only our data from yellow card, but a _ not only our data from yellow card, but a range — not only our data from yellow card, but a range of other important strands — but a range of other important strands of— but a range of other important strands of information.- but a range of other important strands of information. thank you very much- _ strands of information. thank you very much- i _ strands of information. thank you very much. ithink— strands of information. thank you very much. i think i _ strands of information. thank you very much. i think i would - strands of information. thank you very much. i think i wouldjust i very much. i think i would just conclude by saying, i am not a member ofjcvi, but i sit behind the scenes and i see everything that they do. i am with them every time they do. i am with them every time they meet and i think some very fine minds and some very good epidemiologists and ducks and knowledges —— and vaccine scientists put their very best efforts into calling this the right way. the next question is from tom clark at itv. thank you for taking my question,

firstty. _ thank you for taking my question, firstiy, can— thank you for taking my question, firstty. can i— thank you for taking my question, firstly, can i ask how concerned his committee — firstly, can i ask how concerned his committee that this news could undermine confidence in the vaccine in younger— undermine confidence in the vaccine in younger age undermine confidence in the vaccine in youngerage groups, undermine confidence in the vaccine in younger age groups, as we know from _ in younger age groups, as we know from the _ in younger age groups, as we know from the epidemic so far, that those a-e from the epidemic so far, that those age groups— from the epidemic so far, that those age groups are so important in transmission of the virus? and what the indications would be if that was undermined? and secondly, could i ask about _ undermined? and secondly, could i ask about the alternatives to vaccines~ _ ask about the alternatives to vaccines. you say that the schedule iooks _ vaccines. you say that the schedule looks like _ vaccines. you say that the schedule looks like we can do this and vaccinate _ looks like we can do this and vaccinate by the end ofjuly, however. _ vaccinate by the end ofjuly, however, will we be using the johnson — however, will we be using the johnson &johnson comedy however, will we be using the johnson & johnson comedyjansen johnson & johnson comedy jansen vaccine _ johnson & johnson comedy jansen vaccine as— johnson & johnson comedyjansen vaccine as an alternative to astrazeneca, given other european countries _ astrazeneca, given other european countries have decided not to and nearly— countries have decided not to and nearly indications showed that it could _ nearly indications showed that it could share a risk with the astrazeneca.— could share a risk with the astrazeneca. ~ ., , ., ,, ., astrazeneca. would you like to answer the _ astrazeneca. would you like to answer the first _ astrazeneca. would you like to answer the first part _ astrazeneca. would you like to answer the first part of - astrazeneca. would you like to answer the first part of that i answer the first part of that question and i will answer that in the company with doctor brent in the second part? i do

the company with doctor brent in the second part?— the company with doctor brent in the second part? i do want to personable note that vaccine _ second part? i do want to personable note that vaccine uptake _ second part? i do want to personable note that vaccine uptake has - second part? i do want to personable note that vaccine uptake has been i note that vaccine uptake has been very high— note that vaccine uptake has been very high so— note that vaccine uptake has been very high so far. _ note that vaccine uptake has been very high so far, and _ note that vaccine uptake has been very high so far, and that- note that vaccine uptake has been very high so far, and that followsi very high so far, and that follows with the — very high so far, and that follows with the speed _ very high so far, and that follows with the speed of _ very high so far, and that follows with the speed of vaccine - with the speed of vaccine deployment, _ with the speed of vaccine deployment, and - with the speed of vaccine deployment, and both i with the speed of vaccine deployment, and both of| with the speed of vaccine i deployment, and both of those with the speed of vaccine _ deployment, and both of those things are excellent— deployment, and both of those things are excellent we _ deployment, and both of those things are excellent we also _ deployment, and both of those things are excellent we also won _ deployment, and both of those things are excellent we also won both - deployment, and both of those things are excellent we also won both of- are excellent we also won both of those _ are excellent we also won both of those to — are excellent we also won both of those to continue _ are excellent we also won both of those to continue through - are excellent we also won both of those to continue through the i are excellent we also won both of. those to continue through the next few weeks. — those to continue through the next few weeks, because _ those to continue through the next few weeks, because that _ those to continue through the next few weeks, because that will- those to continue through the next i few weeks, because that will protect us from _ few weeks, because that will protect us from a _ few weeks, because that will protect us from a large — few weeks, because that will protect us from a large increase _ few weeks, because that will protect us from a large increase in— few weeks, because that will protect us from a large increase in any- us from a large increase in any future — us from a large increase in any future wave~ _ us from a large increase in any future wave. the _ us from a large increase in any future wave. the purpose i us from a large increase in any future wave. the purpose of. us from a large increase in any. future wave. the purpose of the advice _ future wave. the purpose of the advice is — future wave. the purpose of the advice is really— future wave. the purpose of the advice is really to _ future wave. the purpose of the advice is really to improve i future wave. the purpose of the l advice is really to improve vaccine confidence, — advice is really to improve vaccine confidence, if_ advice is really to improve vaccine confidence, if anything. _ advice is really to improve vaccine confidence, if anything. because i advice is really to improve vaccine . confidence, if anything. because the advice _ confidence, if anything. because the advice puts— confidence, if anything. because the advice puts a — confidence, if anything. because the advice puts a high _ confidence, if anything. because the advice puts a high priority— confidence, if anything. because the advice puts a high priority on - advice puts a high priority on safety, — advice puts a high priority on safety, and _ advice puts a high priority on safety, and we _ advice puts a high priority on safety, and we are _ advice puts a high priority on safety, and we are trying - advice puts a high priority on safety, and we are trying toi safety, and we are trying to demonstrate _ safety, and we are trying to demonstrate that _ safety, and we are trying to demonstrate that we - safety, and we are trying to demonstrate that we are i safety, and we are trying to - demonstrate that we are rigorously assessing _ demonstrate that we are rigorously assessing the — demonstrate that we are rigorously assessing the situation. _ demonstrate that we are rigorously assessing the situation. and - demonstrate that we are rigorously assessing the situation. and wherei assessing the situation. and where appmpriate, — assessing the situation. and where appmpriate. we _ assessing the situation. and where appropriate, we will— assessing the situation. and where appropriate, we will advise - appropriate, we will advise accordingly— appropriate, we will advise accordingly for— appropriate, we will advise accordingly for the - appropriate, we will advise accordingly for the benefit | appropriate, we will advise l accordingly for the benefit of individuals— accordingly for the benefit of individuals and _ accordingly for the benefit of individuals and the _ accordingly for the benefit of individuals and the public. i accordingly for the benefit of| individuals and the public. so accordingly for the benefit of - individuals and the public. so we hope _ individuals and the public. so we hope that— individuals and the public. so we hape that this _ individuals and the public. so we hope that this advice _ individuals and the public. so we hope that this advice will - individuals and the public. so we hope that this advice will serve l individuals and the public. so we i hope that this advice will serve to boost _ hope that this advice will serve to boost confidence _ hope that this advice will serve to boost confidence and _ hope that this advice will serve to boost confidence and allow - hope that this advice will serve toi boost confidence and allow people who are _ boost confidence and allow people who are being— boost confidence and allow people who are being called _ boost confidence and allow people who are being called up— boost confidence and allow people who are being called up for- who are being called up for vaccination _ who are being called up for vaccination now— who are being called up for vaccination now and - who are being called up for vaccination now and in - who are being called up for vaccination now and in the i who are being called up for- vaccination now and in the next few weeks. _ vaccination now and in the next few weeks. mainly— vaccination now and in the next few weeks, mainly younger— vaccination now and in the next few weeks, mainly younger people, - vaccination now and in the next few weeks, mainly younger people, to. weeks, mainly younger people, to

feel weeks, mainly younger people, to feet abte _ weeks, mainly younger people, to feet able to — weeks, mainly younger people, to feel able to step _ weeks, mainly younger people, to feel able to step up, _ weeks, mainly younger people, to feel able to step up, except - weeks, mainly younger people, to feel able to step up, except the l feel able to step up, except the vaccine — feel able to step up, except the vaccine and _ feel able to step up, except the vaccine and be _ feel able to step up, except the vaccine and be vaccinated. - feel able to step up, except the vaccine and be vaccinated. —— l feel able to step up, except the | vaccine and be vaccinated. —— to accept _ vaccine and be vaccinated. —— to accept the — vaccine and be vaccinated. —— to accept the vaccine. _ vaccine and be vaccinated. —— to accept the vaccine. [— vaccine and be vaccinated. -- to accept the vaccine.— vaccine and be vaccinated. -- to accept the vaccine. i would say that all of the opinion _ accept the vaccine. i would say that all of the opinion polls _ accept the vaccine. i would say that all of the opinion polls that - accept the vaccine. i would say that all of the opinion polls that i - accept the vaccine. i would say that all of the opinion polls that i read i all of the opinion polls that i read it very clearly show that the british public has very high competence in the vaccine programme in the uk —— hi confidence, they can already see what it is doing in terms of changing our future, and the data gets better and stronger in terms of the layers of protection, notjust terms of the layers of protection, not just the aversion terms of the layers of protection, notjust the aversion of deaths, serious illnesses and infections, but now the prevention of transmission on top. for young adults, in particular, we know they have higher mixing patterns, they are young and sociable, basically, and therefore, they have a higher propensity for transmission.

and therefore, they have a higher propensity fortransmission. so propensity for transmission. so continuation of propensity fortransmission. so continuation of the vaccine programme and maintaining confidence through the measures thatjcvi have announced today is really important, not only in terms of the potential impact of continuing vaccination on keeping any third wave or resurgence smaller than it would've been, but because although we are in a good epidemiological situation now compared with a couple of months ago, we don't retain control of this disease and less we continue the roll—out of the vaccination programme. it is critically important. i will now ask to doctor rein to begin some remarks about your other question, thejohnson & your other question, the johnson & johnson your other question, thejohnson & johnson orjansen vaccine. your other question, the johnson & johnson orjansen vaccine.- johnson orjansen vaccine. turning to those vaccines, _ johnson orjansen vaccine. turning to those vaccines, as _ johnson orjansen vaccine. turning to those vaccines, as he _ johnson orjansen vaccine. turning to those vaccines, as he said, - johnson orjansen vaccine. turning l to those vaccines, as he said, there are pointers— to those vaccines, as he said, there are pointers that may indicate a similar— are pointers that may indicate a

similar safety profile. what we're is working — similar safety profile. what we're is working internationally with the jurisdictions where the vaccine is being _ jurisdictions where the vaccine is being used to learn as much as possible — being used to learn as much as possible while her own approval process — possible while her own approval process moves forward. and as you are hinting. — process moves forward. and as you are hinting, it is really important that we — are hinting, it is really important that we have choices, but are... studio: — that we have choices, but are... studio: we _ that we have choices, but are... studio: we believe that news conference where we were hearing that allender 40s are to be offered an alternative to the oxford astrazeneca covid vaccine. it is a precautionary move because the statistics we were just tearing there about the blood clots and the relationship between those and the astrazeneca vaccine. let's talk now to professor adam finn, he sits on thejoint committee of to professor adam finn, he sits on the joint committee of vaccination and immunisation. the worry about this is that it may undermine confidence in the astrazeneca vaccine. {lit

confidence in the astrazeneca vaccine. , . , vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry. _ vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry. not — vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry, notjust _ vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry, notjust for _ vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry, notjust for the - vaccine. of course, that is indeed the worry, notjust for the uk, i vaccine. of course, that is indeed | the worry, notjust for the uk, but also for the rest of the world because this is an extraordinary important vaccine for control of the pandemic worldwide. it has been very widely manufacture, and is easy to handle, and it is very inexpensive. so i think we do need to weigh that to the balance here, but nevertheless, this opportunity has arisen for the uk for the next phase of the programme that there is sufficient vaccines at the other vaccines that we are using to enable us to keep going without prioritising astrazeneca for younger people, and i think on balance, the feeling was that was the right thing to do under the circumstances. taste to do under the circumstances. we were hearing there from your colleague that people under the age of a0 will be preferentially offered alternative vaccines, so explain to somebody who is in that age category what they can expect to be offered when the time comes for theirjab.

so i think the way this will work from what i understand from the people organising the logistics of this is that in almost all cases, people coming forward will find themselves being offered pfizer or moderna rather than astrazeneca because there are supplies coming through, orat least because there are supplies coming through, or at least expected to be coming through over the next two months to enable that to happen without causing any delays, or very minimal delays. so in practice, i think that is what will happen. so there may be circumstances where for one reason or another, that cannot be organised, and in that situation, people may find themselves being offered astrazeneca vaccine and we would advise them to accept it. as you will know, all of these vaccines are entirely voluntary, no one is compelled to take a vaccine. the ori . inal compelled to take a vaccine. the original alternative would be offered to people under 30, now it's under a0, offered to people under 30, now it's underao, is offered to people under 30, now it's under a0, is that because there is more concern about blood clots, low

platelet blood clots and the link with astrazeneca than there had previously been? mat with astrazeneca than there had previously been?— with astrazeneca than there had previously been? not really, the fiuures previously been? not really, the figures have _ previously been? not really, the figures have stayed _ previously been? not really, the figures have stayed the - previously been? not really, the figures have stayed the same, . previously been? not really, the - figures have stayed the same, there are two different sliding scales here. one is the risk that covid actually presents to you, which physically rapidly goes up as he got older. and so that influence is the balance and risk of benefit. and the other is a data coming in on the side effects and i think we are now stable. we can pretty much stay what the rates of those are, and they have not changed very much at all. there is a slight apparent increase in the likelihood of these side effects as you get younger, and fact. but there is much difference between people in their 20s and 30s in that regard. it is still a very low risk. so it is more to do really with the fact that there is other

vaccines available so that we can make this offer, then there has been a big change in the apparent risk—benefit balance. and a big change in the apparent risk-benefit balance. and one last cuestion, risk-benefit balance. and one last question. it _ risk-benefit balance. and one last question, it was _ risk-benefit balance. and one last question, it was the _ risk-benefit balance. and one last question, it was the press - question, it was the press conference, what if you're on the cusp of this cutoff point, which is a0, so say you are a0 are a0 or a1 or a2 a0, so say you are a0 are a0 or a1 ora2 and he a0, so say you are a0 are a0 or a1 or a2 and he were not offered the alternative, you might be worried. i think it's important for people not to pay too much attention to this cutoff, and a sense where we are balancing this very much in favour of safety, and to be honest with you, if i was in my early 30s and was being offered astrazeneca now, because that is what was in the clinic where i showed up, i would take it. i don't think i would be concerned about that because i think thatis concerned about that because i think that is the right risk—benefit decision. but what we are doing here is taking the opportunity to drive down the risk even further because

of these alternative vaccines. so i don't think people who are a0 or in their late 30s should somehow see that they are being put in jeopardy by this, i think it is really about getting everybody immunise as fast as possible and using vaccines we have available to do that with the minimum risk.— have available to do that with the minimum risk. thank you so much, professor adam _ minimum risk. thank you so much, professor adam finn _ minimum risk. thank you so much, professor adam finn who _ minimum risk. thank you so much, professor adam finn who sits - minimum risk. thank you so much, professor adam finn who sits on i minimum risk. thank you so much, | professor adam finn who sits on the jcvi. thank you for your time. well we're joined now by our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. i suppose a concern for the regulators and thejcvi is that they want to get this absolutely right and they have been monitoring these cases a blood clots very closely, but at the same time, there is this question of competence in the astrazeneca vaccine that they have to consider —— of confidence in the astrazeneca vaccine. i to consider -- of confidence in the astrazeneca vaccine.— astrazeneca vaccine. i think as a professor _ astrazeneca vaccine. i think as a professor fain _ astrazeneca vaccine. i think as a professor fain said, _ astrazeneca vaccine. i think as a professor fain said, the - astrazeneca vaccine. i think as a professor fain said, the changel professor fain said, the change happened because of not because of

bad news, there is no extra evidence at this rare condition that is affected 2a2 people after 28 and a half million doses, there is no evidence that it is any worse and that, this change has happened for two reasons. they found out the vaccines reduce transmission and they have also feel confident about supplies of the pfizer and moderna jabs. they can expand the option to the under a0s and over 30s to give them the option, just out of an abundance of precaution so that they do not have to face this very small risk. , . do not have to face this very small risk. , , ., , do not have to face this very small risk. , , .,, . . ., do not have to face this very small risk. , .,, . . ., . do not have to face this very small risk. , .,, . ., .,., ., risk. just to be clear to anyone who is 'ust risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning _ risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning in. — risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning in, if _ risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning in, if you _ risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning in, if you are - risk. just to be clear to anyone who isjust tuning in, if you are under i isjust tuning in, if you are under the age of a0, so anything up to 39, you will be offered preferentially, thatis you will be offered preferentially, that is the key word, another vaccine. in other words,

that is the key word, another vaccine. in otherwords, pfizer or moderna rather than oxford astrazeneca. if moderna rather than oxford astrazeneca.— moderna rather than oxford astrazeneca. , . , ,, , astrazeneca. if they have supplies of pfizer and _ astrazeneca. if they have supplies of pfizer and moderna, _ astrazeneca. if they have supplies of pfizer and moderna, you - astrazeneca. if they have supplies of pfizer and moderna, you will. astrazeneca. if they have supplies of pfizer and moderna, you will bej of pfizer and moderna, you will be offered that, but what is really important is that astrazeneca vaccine is absolutely safe for the vast majority of people. if people are offered the astrazeneca vaccine, they should accept it because having that vaccine is far safer than running the risk of covid, even though infection rates are falling. 0k, thank you very much. 0ur science correspondent there. let's recap for you what we are hearing. what we were hearing from thejcvi and from the medicine regulatory agency as well, which is under a0s are to be offered preferentially an alternative to the oxford astrazeneca covid vaccine, was maxing there is an extremely small risk that people would suffer blood

clots after having that astrazeneca jab. at the risk of serious illness with covid also drops for younger people as infection rates fall across the country. you're watching bbc news, back now to elections 2021. last yea r�*s last year's local elections which we were covering were cancelled because of the covid pandemic, so this year, we have a bumper crop of results. new parliaments being elected in scotland and wales and thousands of council seats being contested across england. and of course, the hartlepool by—election which ended with a big victory come for the conservatives which was won by nearly 7000 votes and that was a big loss for labour and their leader keir starmer. it is a seat they have held since the 1960s. but the result