lam shaun i am shaun ley with the latest headlines. afghan officials say the taliban have captured their first provincial capital since 2016, zaranj in nimruz province. in another development, the militant group assassinated a close associate of the president in the capital kabul. greece is bracing for a new wave of wildfires, as strong winds whip up the flames which are thought to have been brought under control. an extreme fire warning has been issued as the flames engulf the outskirts of athens. china has reacted angrily to president biden�*s announcement that hong kong residents currently in the us will be granted temporary safe haven. it described the decision as a gross interference in china's internal affairs. it's the last few days at the tokyo olympics. among the events, italy won the men's 4x100 metres relay in a very close finish with britain. and faith kipyegon retained the women's 1,500—metre title.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are kate proctor, editor of politics home, and jonathan walker, political editor of the birmingham post and mail. warm welcome to you, jonathan. thanks forjoining us. kate, good to have you back. we will hear from both of them in a moment. let me bring you up—to—date with deep front pages they have had a look at. the guardian leads with borisjohnson facing mounting anger after he decided not to isolate despite a member of his team testing positive for covid—19 on his scotland trip. the daily mail accuses the government of more hypocricy, as it calls for alok sharma to quarantine in a hotel like everyone else, after he travelled to red list countries for work. the times leads with the headline

"no more lockdowns", as official figures show a clear fall in coronavirus cases. the daily mirror celebrates team gb's "haul of fame", after laura kenny's fifth gold medal and the relay team's bronze. the sun adds that it was a stellar day for team gb's women, as they won the most medals in a single day in what it calls a "girl power glory charge". the telegraph writes that the archbishop of york has criticised the london "metropolitan elite" for treating people who are proud to be english as "backwardly xenophobic". we will discuss all of those stories and plenty more. this began. kate, do you want to cuss off? the times confidently saying no more lockdowns. there is a slight, a little bit more caution in the quoting, but it is a good headline. yeah, this seems to be able source story, some of the biggest names we have heard of in the pandemic,

professor neil ferguson and professor neil ferguson and professorjohn edmonds, who both advised on stage will submit ferguson saying that he imagines there could be a transition quite quickly into something where coronavirus is something that the country begins to live with. he says this will be something that happens quite quickly, although there will be some rising cases in september when people return to school and to work, going back into the offices, but i think the caveat in his interview with the times is where he says there could still be shutdowns if there are new variants, al vesely this country has been taken by surprise a few times by variants and we've actually have had to change rules pre—quickly to respond to that actually, this country. neil ferguson is definitely giving a hopeful story here, but he just gives an little but of caution there and professorjohn edmonds, he is saying he thinks the nhs and find things quite awkward but ultimately they would be able to cope and

that's always been an indicator, has it not, the number of hospitalisations through covid? it is a good story! find hospitalisations through covid? it is a good story!— is a good story! and it is nice to have something _ is a good story! and it is nice to have something positive - is a good story! and it is nice to have something positive on - is a good story! and it is nice to have something positive on the| is a good story! and it is nice to - have something positive on the front pages, particular in the weekend. when we look a bit more detail at those headlines, how does it square with your spirits up in birmingham with your spirits up in birmingham with hospitalisation but also the public mood? i with hospitalisation but also the public mood?— with hospitalisation but also the ublic mood? ~ . , , public mood? i think it chimes very much with the _ public mood? i think it chimes very much with the public— public mood? i think it chimes very much with the public mood, - public mood? i think it chimes very l much with the public mood, because public mood? i think it chimes very i much with the public mood, because i think there _ much with the public mood, because i think there is a real sense of oplimism _ think there is a real sense of optimism at the moment. we have been here before, _ optimism at the moment. we have been here before, had a bit of a. last year— here before, had a bit of a. last year when — here before, had a bit of a. last year when we all thought it was going _ year when we all thought it was going to — year when we all thought it was going to be over by the end of december, and it all came back with a vengeance. i think this time, people — a vengeance. i think this time, people really believe that we are reaching — people really believe that we are reaching the end of the crisis and i think_ reaching the end of the crisis and i think that — reaching the end of the crisis and i think that doesn't happen, there's gonna _ think that doesn't happen, there's gonna be — think that doesn't happen, there's gonna be a — think that doesn't happen, there's gonna be a lot of his appointment —— if that_ gonna be a lot of his appointment —— if that doesn't happen. people are

pulling _ if that doesn't happen. people are pulling up— if that doesn't happen. people are putting up at this for a long time and they've been happy to put up with it. _ and they've been happy to put up with it. but — and they've been happy to put up with it, but i that we average the point _ with it, but i that we average the point now— with it, but i that we average the point now when people really expect it to end _ point now when people really expect it to end i_ point now when people really expect it to end. i think in birmingham, our hospitals have really struggled to cope, _ our hospitals have really struggled to cope, enable adjuster the hopingm _ to cope, enable adjuster the hoping... their urban hospitals having — hoping... their urban hospitals having to — hoping... their urban hospitals having to cancel long—awaited cancer appointments. there are communities where _ appointments. there are communities where vaccination take—up is extremely low and the great fear is if there _ extremely low and the great fear is if there is— extremely low and the great fear is if there is a — extremely low and the great fear is if there is a major future wave of this virus— if there is a major future wave of this virus and people have not been vaccinated. — this virus and people have not been vaccinated, so if it turns out that wave _ vaccinated, so if it turns out that wave which — vaccinated, so if it turns out that wave which many people predicted, and i wave which many people predicted, and i think— wave which many people predicted, and i think professor ferguson initially, — and i think professor ferguson initially, if it turns out that would _ initially, if it turns out that would not happen, they will be huge sense _ would not happen, they will be huge sense of— would not happen, they will be huge sense of relief and i do not think it is an _ sense of relief and i do not think it is an exaggeration to say a feeling — it is an exaggeration to say a feeling ofjoy, because people been really— feeling ofjoy, because people been really scared of the implications for parts — really scared of the implications for parts of our community if this

huge _ for parts of our community if this huge wave — for parts of our community if this huge wave of infections does actually— huge wave of infections does actually happen.— huge wave of infections does actually happen. huge wave of infections does actuall hauen. , ., actually happen. absolutely, and i think the midlands _ actually happen. absolutely, and i think the midlands is _ actually happen. absolutely, and i think the midlands is one - actually happen. absolutely, and i think the midlands is one of- actually happen. absolutely, and i think the midlands is one of the i think the midlands is one of the parts of the country that suffered this proportionately, maybe not as bad as the northwest of england, but certainly pretty rough in parts of the midlands at times during the last 18 months or so. jonathan, do you want to take us onto, away from covid in terms of a direct story, but it is this suggestion that, this is the minister of hypocrisy story, and it is indirectly linked to covid, but this is the mail and it is about alok sharma._ covid, but this is the mail and it is about alok sharma. yeah, alok sharma, former _ is about alok sharma. yeah, alok sharma, former cabinet _ is about alok sharma. yeah, alok sharma, former cabinet minister, is about alok sharma. yeah, alok - sharma, former cabinet minister, now reading _ sharma, former cabinet minister, now reading the _ sharma, former cabinet minister, now reading the government on the cop26 conference, where world leaders are going _ conference, where world leaders are going to _ conference, where world leaders are going to be — conference, where world leaders are going to be gathering quite seem to discuss _ going to be gathering quite seem to discuss climate change and how we save the _ discuss climate change and how we save the planet. he has been around the world _ save the planet. he has been around the world but he has not been doing

his quarantine like everybody else. ithink— his quarantine like everybody else. i think you — his quarantine like everybody else. i think you could make an argument for alok— i think you could make an argument for alok sharma, you could say, it is his— for alok sharma, you could say, it is hisiob — for alok sharma, you could say, it is hisiob to— for alok sharma, you could say, it is his job to travel, for alok sharma, you could say, it is hisjob to travel, it is something that he has to do and maybe _ something that he has to do and maybe it — something that he has to do and maybe it makes sense for a very small— maybe it makes sense for a very small number of people to be exempt from these _ small number of people to be exempt from these rules if they really have no choice. — from these rules if they really have no choice. if— from these rules if they really have no choice, if they have to, to travel — no choice, if they have to, to travel frequently, across the road. you could — travel frequently, across the road. you could make that argument in his defence. _ you could make that argument in his defence, but the problem is that it comes— defence, but the problem is that it comes on— defence, but the problem is that it comes on top of a real sense that members — comes on top of a real sense that members of his government feel they do not _ members of his government feel they do not have _ members of his government feel they do not have to obey the rules, as we saw with— do not have to obey the rules, as we saw with pride minister boris johnson _ saw with pride minister boris johnson and the chancellor rishi sunak— johnson and the chancellor rishi sunak when they initially attempted to avoid _ sunak when they initially attempted to avoid going into isolation —— prime — to avoid going into isolation —— prime minister. they were in contact with somebody who had the virus. and people _ with somebody who had the virus. and people still— with somebody who had the virus. and people still remember dominic cummings, who was seen to have broken _ cummings, who was seen to have broken the — cummings, who was seen to have broken the rules, when he visited, he travelled with his family. i

think— he travelled with his family. i think one _ he travelled with his family. i think one thing that really upsets people. _ think one thing that really upsets people, it's this feeling of hypocrisy, the feeling that their leaders — hypocrisy, the feeling that their leaders are not willing to make the same _ leaders are not willing to make the same sacrifices that the rest of us have _ same sacrifices that the rest of us have had — same sacrifices that the rest of us have had to — same sacrifices that the rest of us have had to make, and actually quite cheerfully _ have had to make, and actually quite cheerfully in many cases. this is a story— cheerfully in many cases. this is a story which— cheerfully in many cases. this is a story which is going to hit home and it is going _ story which is going to hit home and it is going to— story which is going to hit home and it is going to do... even though i think you — it is going to do... even though i think you could make an argument, i think— think you could make an argument, i think you _ think you could make an argument, i think you can— think you could make an argument, i think you can make an argument to excuse _ think you can make an argument to excuse him. — think you can make an argument to excuse him, but i don't think many people _ excuse him, but i don't think many people are — excuse him, but i don't think many people are going to listen to that argument. people are going to listen to that an ument. , ., ., ., ., argument. they are not going to necessarily _ argument. they are not going to necessarily take _ argument. they are not going to necessarily take the _ argument. they are not going to necessarily take the most - argument. they are not going to - necessarily take the most charitable view, are they? kate, you could say ministry of hypocrisy — dr c is an easy charge to make against politicians, and people make decisions in government that they were against in opposition because things are different when you're in charge. do you think it stands up, the mail's case? i charge. do you think it stands up, the mail's case?— the mail's case? i think he is suffering _

the mail's case? i think he is suffering from _ the mail's case? i think he is suffering from the _ the mail's case? i think he is suffering from the full - the mail's case? i think he is suffering from the full glare | the mail's case? i think he is i suffering from the full glare of the mail's case? i think he is - suffering from the full glare of the mail, because there have been so many other incidents quite recently, and jonathan,, mentioned, boris and jonathan, , mentioned, boris johnson and jonathan,, mentioned, boris johnson and rishi sunak, michael gove getting out of the some of the usual rules of travels, because he was part of this pilot scheme. i think this isjust was part of this pilot scheme. i think this is just one too many examples now, but this probably is unpopular, cop26, the work that alok sharma is doing, he's try to make sure that, essentially, agreements and decent conversations can be in place before the actually all go to glasgow in november, is extremely important and glasgow in november, is extremely importantand i glasgow in november, is extremely important and i would say it is probably one of the most part and things borisjohnson has to do is prime minister. he has to pull this off and actually has to makes some meaningful commitments and actually get people to sign up to sign up two things, so i think alok sharma's work on this is really important, but obviously the mail points out poor families flying back from

mexico now face a realist hotel and thatis mexico now face a realist hotel and that is going to cost a family over £2000, £2000 for a red list hotel is so much money and that is such a terrible way to end your holiday. indeed. i am still struck by the interview with the surprisingly philosophical gentleman yesterday on the radio who discovered the rules changed as he landed, along with his life had to fly back again, because they could not afford the cost or they could not afford the cost or the loss of work, and he said he is, in a very dry way, he said it it is very expensive day trip. not his fault the rules changed while they were in air, and you can understand that, but what do you make? tickets onto the guardian, kate, because the guardian, from a different political slant nonetheless, is putting some focus on borisjohnson himself. this focus on boris johnson himself. this is a really good _ focus on borisjohnson himself. t'i 3 is a really good bit of digging by the reporter, he has spoken to some

but who said that the prime minister was actually side by side with the junior civil servant on his recent trip to scotland and this junior civil servant tested positive for covid, so the official line from downing street is that they were not close contacts, whereas aubrey has gone and spoken to people and said, no, that is not the case, they worked side by side, inferred that were close enough for there to be some contact. downing street is a fusing to say apparently this evening whether borisjohnson has been tested since then, so essentially borisjohnson has been potentially near someone relatively closely with covid, but he is not isolating, so is going to chequers to the weekend to work from there and, again, this all comes down to the interpretation of how close they were in terms of how many metres apart they were, so it is all getting quite messy now, but i do

think this guardian story is interesting and i think it definitely poses more questions that it would be helpful if downing street cleared up. it it would be helpful if downing street cleared up.— it would be helpful if downing street cleared up. it is, you can imaaine street cleared up. it is, you can imagine what — street cleared up. it is, you can imagine what would _ street cleared up. it is, you can imagine what would happen - street cleared up. it is, you can imagine what would happen if l street cleared up. it is, you can imagine what would happen if a photograph were to emerge. either way, it may one way or the other conclusively revealed. we know government photographs do conveniently and up on the front pages of newspaper sometimes. jonathan, is a gotcha moment? we do not know. sometimes _ jonathan, is a gotcha moment? we do not know. sometimes it _ jonathan, is a gotcha moment? we do not know. sometimes it is _ jonathan, is a gotcha moment? we do not know. sometimes it is impossible to prove _ not know. sometimes it is impossible to prove. people say they were close together, _ to prove. people say they were close together, devin street unofficially assaying, no, were not. you make a very good _ assaying, no, were not. you make a very good point about a photograph -- downing— very good point about a photograph —— downing street unofficially saving — —— downing street unofficially saying i_ —— downing street unofficially saying. i suppose this is going to be one _ saying. i suppose this is going to be one of— saying. i suppose this is going to be one of those stories where it is one person's ward against another person's— one person's ward against another person's word, and people will choose — person's word, and people will choose who they want to believe based _ choose who they want to believe based on — choose who they want to believe based on what they think of boris johnson — based on what they think of boris johnson. there is one light in this,

which _ johnson. there is one light in this, which is _ johnson. there is one light in this, which is he — johnson. there is one light in this, which is he would be going back to joseph isolation having only fairly richly— joseph isolation having only fairly richly come out of it, and there might— richly come out of it, and there might be — richly come out of it, and there might be one or two people who quietly— might be one or two people who quietly maybe have a little bit of sympathy for him, who may be think that you _ sympathy for him, who may be think that you cannotjust keep on going to self— that you cannotjust keep on going to self isolation every time you get vaguely— to self isolation every time you get vaguely near somebody who has this virus. _ vaguely near somebody who has this virus, especially if you are the prime — virus, especially if you are the prime minister travelling around a lot, so— prime minister travelling around a lot, so there will be other people who have — lot, so there will be other people who have broken the rules of little bit, who have broken the rules of little bit. even — who have broken the rules of little bit. even if — who have broken the rules of little bit, even if they do not like to boast— bit, even if they do not like to boast about it, so he will not be alone in— boast about it, so he will not be alone in this. 35m boast about it, so he will not be alone in this.— boast about it, so he will not be alone in this. an interesting point, that. we alone in this. an interesting point, that- we have _ alone in this. an interesting point, that. we have to _ alone in this. an interesting point, that. we have to look _ alone in this. an interesting point, that. we have to look to _ alone in this. an interesting point, that. we have to look to ourselves sometimes, do we not, even as we are chortling over our breakfast cup of tea and the serial reading about somebody�*s failures to meet the rules? a bit of schadenfreude sometimes. talking of a group who sometimes. talking of a group who sometimes get it in the neck from

newspapers, this is a rare occasion, a rare occasion i say, an occasion where you have a bishop weighing in, he is made... he has made not on the front page but he has made the top story on the telegraph. why, jonathan? it story on the telegraph. why, jonathan?— story on the telegraph. why, jonathan? ., . , jonathan? it is a fantastic daily tele . ra - h jonathan? it is a fantastic daily telegraph story. _ jonathan? it is a fantastic daily telegraph story. this - jonathan? it is a fantastic daily telegraph story. this would . jonathan? it is a fantastic daily i telegraph story. this would be... archbishop — telegraph story. this would be... archbishop of york says the london method _ archbishop of york says the london method from an elite says it is... we are _ method from an elite says it is... we are not— method from an elite says it is... we are not allowed to be pedro to -et we are not allowed to be pedro to get a _ we are not allowed to be pedro to get a more — we are not allowed to be pedro to get a more full depay do nothing and straddle _ get a more full depay do nothing and straddle. we see lots of patriotism, we've _ straddle. we see lots of patriotism, we've seen— straddle. we see lots of patriotism, we've seen it in the olympic coverage, _ we've seen it in the olympic coverage, we've ended in coverage of the euros _ coverage, we've ended in coverage of the euros -- — coverage, we've ended in coverage of the euros —— seen it. it is interesting, the prime minister now, when _ interesting, the prime minister now, when he _ interesting, the prime minister now, when he does his press conferences and other— when he does his press conferences and other members of the cabinet and the scientists, they have this very expensive — the scientists, they have this very expensive tv studio which was built by

them, the union flags portrayed prominently for stub nobody's stopping us being patriotic for us to obviously, people would say we should _ to obviously, people would say we should respect other countries and all the _ should respect other countries and all the rest — should respect other countries and all the rest of it. even the astrazeneca vaccine, i think there has been — astrazeneca vaccine, i think there has been some pride in the fact that this is— has been some pride in the fact that this is the _ has been some pride in the fact that this is the oxford vaccine, the british— this is the oxford vaccine, the british vaccine, the best vaccine, although— british vaccine, the best vaccine, although other countries have not always _ although other countries have not always seen it that way, but here in the uk _ always seen it that way, but here in the uk we _ always seen it that way, but here in the uk we talk about it that way. there _ the uk we talk about it that way. there is— the uk we talk about it that way. there is a — the uk we talk about it that way. there is a lot of pride in great britain — there is a lot of pride in great britain here in great britain, and we are— britain here in great britain, and we are are— britain here in great britain, and we are are allowed to be patriotic. the archbishop's view is interesting, a point of view allowed people _ interesting, a point of view allowed people like to believe, we are not like to _ people like to believe, we are not like to love — people like to believe, we are not like to love this country any more, and i_ like to love this country any more, and i think— like to love this country any more, and i think they are wrong, i think we are, _ and i think they are wrong, i think we are, and — and i think they are wrong, i think we are, and i_ and i think they are wrong, i think we are, and i think we do love this country _ we are, and i think we do love this count . . , we are, and i think we do love this count . ., , , country. kate, it is interesting

timinu.