this is a post—conflict society. and this has been the focal point of a year of political tension. new checks on goods crossing the irish sea, the northern ireland protocol, which many businesses say they want to make work to their advantage. but it's viewed in loyalist communities as a betrayal of their place in the uk. if we do not kill this protocol, it will kill the union. - but step beyond the politics of this island and it's also been a year when people rediscovered what is on their doorstep. this was a place i came all the time when nothing else was open and a lot of people had the same idea. people needed to have a bit of a routine of some sort. this past year saw the hills over belfast become packed with walkers. after vivian lost hisjob during the pandemic, he started up his own group. i really appreciated the things that we have, rather than the things that we don't have. has the past year changed us? definitely, you see people out

walking that you would never have seen out walking before. but there's still uncertainty about the winter ahead. to say that the worst is behind us — i mean, nobody can answer that question. you can't look away from the fact that the army have been drafted in to help with the covid wards here. we might have another lockdown. but, with all this wonderful nature around us, we will get through it. northern ireland still faces an uncertain future, but has found that a year of being kept apart, in fact brought many together. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. that's all from belfast tonight. the city is looking magnificent, it must be said, but it is pretty windy. we'll be visiting glasgow, cardiff and salford in the coming weeks, to consider the challenges being faced there, as we approach the new year. but now on bbc one, it's time for the new where you are. have a good night.

hello, this is bbc news. in the past few minutes, the government has revealed some more detail on its plans for the rail network in the north of england. earlier this week, it emerged the government was planning on scrapping part of high—speed rail link — hs2 — through parts of south and west yorkshire to link the midlands and leeds. with me is our correspondent danjohnson. what more have we learned from the details revealed this evening? fix, details revealed this evening? little more detail on what's expected in this integrated braille plan which will be revealed in full tomorrow. but we've got a little bit of detail from the department for transport and the government tonight, which seems to suggest they'll scale back the plans partly for the extension of h52, this would've been the bit of h52 going from the east midlands up to

yorkshire. it looks like that'll be scaled back and ended at the east midlands, and it looks like there'll be no new line across the pen lines between leeds and manchester for people, people hoping a new powerhouse northern route, or hs three, it would be built. this plan says it won't focus on building new routes, but instead upgrade existing routes. it's been described as the biggest ever public investment in the rail network, £96 billion, but i think it will disappoint some people who were hoping they would see that investment turn into actual roots but this plan delivers journey times which are same as, similar to, or faster than the h52 proposals, while doubling or troubling capacities that consumers benefit — to point out building new roots would take a long time, you may not have seen

those trains actually carry passengers until way into the 20 405. they say pa55enger5 until way into the 20 405. they say this plan can be delivered more quickly and ten years sooner. i delivered more quickly and ten years sooner. . , , ~ . delivered more quickly and ten years sooner. ., , , . ., , delivered more quickly and ten years sooner. . , , . ., , , ., , sooner. i appreciate this is only revealed in _ sooner. i appreciate this is only revealed in the _ sooner. i appreciate this is only revealed in the past _ sooner. i appreciate this is only revealed in the past ten - sooner. i appreciate this is only l revealed in the past ten minutes. has there been and a reaction to it? the government says is a common sense approach, but there will be disappointed acro55 sense approach, but there will be disappointed across the north because there had been hopes pinned on an entirely new root5. so we have some reaction from henry morri5on, 5ome reaction from henry morri5on, the director of the northern powerhouse the director of the northern powerhou5e partnership saying this amounts to watering down northern powerhou5e rail, saying 10% of the overall budget is being 5aved. he says that is unforgettably short—sighted from the treasury, "we were promised a new line between leed5 were promised a new line between leeds and manchester which would've included a stop in bradford where productivity will be held back by willfully bad transport connections." now he says it looks like they'll only get an upgrade

which will solve nothing about the capacity problem on this key 5tretch capacity problem on this key stretch of the root. when this plan was suggested, leaked earlier in the week, the plan to scale back their proposals, even some conservative mp5 in the north 5aid proposals, even some conservative mp5 in the north said this looks like they aren't living up to the government's commitments to leveling up government's commitments to leveling up across the north. by the government says this the most cost—effective way of doing that as quickly as possible. cost-effective way of doing that as quickly as possible.— cost-effective way of doing that as quickly as possible. dan, thank you ve much quickly as possible. dan, thank you very much indeed. _ now on bbc news, it's time for the papers. hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are rachel cunliffe, deputy 0nline editor at the new statesman, and the former conservative adviser mo hu55ein. let's begin by taking a look at tomorrow's front pages.

the financial times leads with amazon plans to stop taking visa credit cards as the battle over fee5 intensifie5. the metro has a picture of the queen meeting general nick carter, as she is seen returning to her royal duties after some time off. moving on to the i, which is leading with the tory backbenchers' anger at number ten after a disastrous fortnight spilt over in scenes of open defiance at the house of commons today. an interview with security guard darren knowles, who raced to help taxi driver david perry after terrorist emad al swealmeen set off his bomb outside liverpools women's ho5pital, is the lead in the daily mirror. bori5johnson says he made a mistake, as he concedes minister broke lobbying rules over the 0wen paterson ca5e is the lead in the telegraph. the gurdian is leading with the social care cost story which could expo5e poorerhomeowners

to "catastrophic" co5ts. —— poorer homeowners. let's get into the detail of some of those, and we will start with the telegraph. what's interesting about this is that we saw the rather terse 5cene5 this is that we saw the rather terse scenes in commons, we saw the prime minister giving evidence to the committee, but with the telegraph has is the behind—the—scenes meeting that happened, the backbench committee and what bori5johnson told them. this is a real glimpse of the anger that they are feeling within the conservative party itself over the way this was all handled? definitely, the prime minister has had quite a busy and difficult day with lots of questions he's had to answer, and loads of people, he's had to look them in the eyes and try to explain the last few weeks. this is about the 1922 committee which is an influential group of conservative backbencher5 — he met them this

evening and i think he didn't have the easiest of ride5. thi5 evening and i think he didn't have the easiest of ride5. this just shows there's anger from other conservative mp5 a5 shows there's anger from other conservative mp5 as well, the red wall, the new intake mp5, but for different reasons. the mishandling of this 0wen paterson ca5e different reasons. the mishandling of this 0wen paterson case and the whipping of the mp5, marching them up whipping of the mp5, marching them up a hill to vote a certain way only for there to be a u—turn. it's turned into a much bigger debate about second job5 turned into a much bigger debate about second jobs and standards, and how mp5 are using their time. so you have the established conservative mp5 who are annoyed because of the impact this will have on their second income5, impact this will have on their second incomes, and yet you have the new intake of mp5 who are annoyed because they have to be much more visible in their constituencies to get elected again, and they think all this talk about second job5 all this talk about second jobs is completely crazy because who's got the time to do that? so on either

side, the pm is having a difficult time. ,, , side, the pm is having a difficult time. . , ., side, the pm is having a difficult time. ,, , ., ., ., side, the pm is having a difficult time. ,, , ., . . , time. seems to have angered people on all sides for _ time. seems to have angered people on all sides for different _ time. seems to have angered people on all sides for different reasons, - on all sides for different reasons, and this is quite a mea culpa from the prime minister, "i cra5hed and this is quite a mea culpa from the prime minister, "i crashed the car on an open ditch," essentially. do you think this will be enough to move on? that has dogged him for two weeks and it doesn't seem to be going away. the weeks and it doesn't seem to be going away-— weeks and it doesn't seem to be auoin awa. , ., ., , ., going away. the short answer to your auestion is going away. the short answer to your question is no. _ going away. the short answer to your question is no, it _ going away. the short answer to your question is no, it won't _ going away. the short answer to your question is no, it won't be _ going away. the short answer to your question is no, it won't be enough. . question is no, it won't be enough. it's interesting, i would've said three _ it's interesting, i would've said three weeks ago before this broke, 99% of— three weeks ago before this broke, 99% of people in this country had never_ 99% of people in this country had never heard of owen paterson as a minor_ never heard of owen paterson as a minor mp. — never heard of owen paterson as a minormp, he's never heard of owen paterson as a minor mp, he's not a household name. he is now— minor mp, he's not a household name. he is now been on the front for 16 days— he is now been on the front for 16 days as _ he is now been on the front for 16 days as a — he is now been on the front for 16 days as a result of the government trying _ days as a result of the government trying to— days as a result of the government trying to get this change into how mps conduct is policed and how they

are held _ mps conduct is policed and how they are held accountable. we've now also been talking about something that would've _ been talking about something that would've actually been a minor issue of parliamentary procedure, he would've — of parliamentary procedure, he would've gotten a 30 day suspension and not _ would've gotten a 30 day suspension and not heard anything more about it. and not heard anything more about it now— and not heard anything more about it now we — and not heard anything more about it. now we got all kinds of questions, questions about second jobs. _ questions, questions about second jobs, lobbying, jeffrey cox who was advising _ jobs, lobbying, jeffrey cox who was advising a _ jobs, lobbying, jeffrey cox who was advising a caribbean government in the virgin— advising a caribbean government in the virgin islands against the british— the virgin islands against the british government while in his mp's office _ british government while in his mp's office. we've got the education secretary— office. we've got the education secretary who managed to get around a rule _ secretary who managed to get around a rule about having to disclose his outside _ a rule about having to disclose his outside interests by registering the company— outside interests by registering the company and his wife's name. we've -ot company and his wife's name. we've got all_ company and his wife's name. we've got all kinds — company and his wife's name. we've got all kinds of mps, most of whom it should _ got all kinds of mps, most of whom it should be say democrats that have been acting thoroughly within the rules— been acting thoroughly within the rules as _ been acting thoroughly within the rules as they currently stand, and thais— rules as they currently stand, and that's why— rules as they currently stand, and that's why there is much anger because a _ that's why there is much anger because a lot of them are thinking, hang _ because a lot of them are thinking, hang on. _ because a lot of them are thinking, hang on. i— because a lot of them are thinking, hang on, i was doing this happily and earning all this money under the radar— and earning all this money under the radar before the prime minister decided — radar before the prime minister decided to bring this case into the

public— decided to bring this case into the public spotlight, and now the spotlight is on me and it's not fain _ spotlight is on me and it's not fain but— spotlight is on me and it's not fain but i_ spotlight is on me and it's not fair. but i don't thinkjust boris johnson — fair. but i don't thinkjust boris johnson saying two weeks later maybe that was _ johnson saying two weeks later maybe that was an _ johnson saying two weeks later maybe that was an ideal will be enough to halt _ that was an ideal will be enough to halt. there's repercussions to come not least _ halt. there's repercussions to come not least because of the new rules the prime — not least because of the new rules the prime minister has said he'll bring _ the prime minister has said he'll bring in — the prime minister has said he'll bring in on — the prime minister has said he'll bring in on mps's second jobs is not due to _ bring in on mps's second jobs is not due to he _ bring in on mps's second jobs is not due to be debated or properly be scrutinised untiljanuary. so at the very least— scrutinised untiljanuary. so at the very least will be discussing until then _ very least will be discussing until then. a, ., ., very least will be discussing until then. ., ., ., then. moving to the front page of then. moving to the front page of the e e, then. moving to the front page of the eve. you _ then. moving to the front page of the eve. you a — then. moving to the front page of the eye, you a former— then. moving to the front page of. the eye, you a former conservative adviser — when we see a headline, p.m. under5iege, the prime adviser — when we see a headline, p.m. under 5iege, the prime minister angers p.m. under 5iege, the prime minister anger5 backbencher5, people within the prime minister's own party turning on him or her. you think this is any previous ones? it does ha en a this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot. _ this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot, but _ this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot, but i _ this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot, but i think- this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot, but i think the - this is any previous ones? it does happen a lot, but i think the fact | happen a lot, but i think the fact that we've been talking about this for so long does make it a bit

different. in one scenario, owen paterson would've been halfway to his suspension by now and we'd all be talking about other things. so i think that makes a difference. you also have to remember there is a selection of by elections coming up as well, which will be worrying because initially people thought perhaps this would be an msw one westminster bubble story and it won't cut through. but it has cut through and, if this impacts on the conservative party's electoral chance5, that'll be a problem because most mp5 have a very transactional relationship with the prime minister. they see him as electoral goldust, he wins elections and therefore there might be a few things that they don't like or agree with but hold their nose and go along with it. the minute that changes, that relationship will shift as well. so i do think the more this is debated and the more there are revelations around covert contracts and things like that, this

could be quite damaging.- contracts and things like that, this could be quite damaging. rachel, you mentioned the _ could be quite damaging. rachel, you mentioned the new _ could be quite damaging. rachel, you mentioned the new rules, _ could be quite damaging. rachel, you mentioned the new rules, and - mentioned the new rules, and that's one of the stories on the front page of the guardian. their analysis suggests fewer than ten mp5 will be affected by these new rules. what are they basing that on? the guardian says _ are they basing that on? the guardian says they _ are they basing that on? the guardian says they are 99 mps who hold a _ guardian says they are 99 mps who hold a second jobs, and surprises not more — hold a second jobs, and surprises not more than that — but the new rutes— not more than that — but the new rules that — not more than that — but the new rules that borisjohnson not more than that — but the new rules that boris johnson suggested 'ust rules that boris johnson suggested just as _ rules that boris johnson suggested just as labour were bringing a vote on much _ just as labour were bringing a vote on much harsher restrictions, he sort _ on much harsher restrictions, he sort of— on much harsher restrictions, he sort of watered them down and the band sort of watered them down and the hand that _ sort of watered them down and the band that he is proposed is a ban on mps acting — band that he is proposed is a ban on mps acting as parliamentary consultants, so the idea that you can't _ consultants, so the idea that you can't use — consultants, so the idea that you can't use your position in parliament to provide advice or consultancy that is surrounding that specific _ consultancy that is surrounding that specific work. now that's quite specific. — specific work. now that's quite specific, you can imagine lots of mps _ specific, you can imagine lots of mps who— specific, you can imagine lots of mps who have other advisory roles as

directors _ mps who have other advisory roles as directors. it's not delicate about something else, it has nothing to do with my— something else, it has nothing to do with my expertise of being an mp. the other— with my expertise of being an mp. the other suggestion he made is that they can't— the other suggestion he made is that they can't do so much work, whether paid or— they can't do so much work, whether paid or unpaid, that would interfere with their— paid or unpaid, that would interfere with their duties — which again is quite _ with their duties — which again is quite interesting because they have lots of _ quite interesting because they have lots of mps who do work in addition to their— lots of mps who do work in addition to their constituency were, we call the ministers, or shadow ministers, or people _ the ministers, or shadow ministers, or people who sit on various select committees. so there is a sense already— committees. so there is a sense already that constituency mp work can he _ already that constituency mp work can be something that you do alongside something else. we all obviously— alongside something else. we all obviously want ministers, that's fine, _ obviously want ministers, that's fine, but — obviously want ministers, that's fine, but putting time limits on that and — fine, but putting time limits on that and wondering how much time you should _ that and wondering how much time you should he _ that and wondering how much time you should be spending holding constituency surgeries are doing casework- — constituency surgeries are doing

casework— that's quite tricky when you get _ casework— that's quite tricky when you get down to the detail