president biden has told vladimir putin of his deep concern about russia's build—up of forces near ukraine and warned of strong economic sanctions in the event of military escalation. during a two—hour virtual summit, mr biden reiterated his support for ukraine's sovereignty. it's emerged that senior number ten staffjoked about holding a christmas party in breach of covid restrictions. it comes just four days after a controversial drinks party is alleged to have taken place in downing street last december. a saudi man suspected of involvement in the murder of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi has been arrested at a paris airport. he faces extradition to turkey. donald trump's longtime former adviser steve bannon is to go on trial injuly. he's facing criminal charges over his defiance of congressional inquiry into the deadly attacks on the us capitol injanuary.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are chief executive of the think tank new economics foundation and former labour adviser, miatta fahnbulleh and whitehall editor at the financial times sebastian payne. i suspect you've had a busy evening and it's not over yet. tomorrow's front pages, starting with... let's start with the guardian — it says boris johnson is facing accusations of lying, after leaked footage, obtained by itv, showed number ten staffjoking about holding a christmas party, amid the lockdown restrictions last year. the same story makes the front page of the daily mail, which calls it "a sickjoke" according to the mirror,

the former education secretary, gavin williamson, also held a christmas party last year for staff, despite covid rules. it's beginning to look a lot like last christmas. that's the headline in the i — which reports on a predicted 80,000 cases of 0micron and delta daily, towards the end of december. according to the telegraph, the government is drawing up plans for working from home around christmas, to slow the spread of the 0micron variant. the times reports that cabinet ministers are split on the potential use of vaccine passports, as they weigh up the possible need to move to the government's plan b a different story on the front page of the financial times. it says the us is putting pressure on germany to block russia's nord stream two gas pipeline, in the event that moscow invades ukraine. of course that pipeline is already held up by regulation in germany. we will hear more from him on that story. johnston under fire as number ten video fuels anger over christmas party. ten video fuels anger over christmas .a . ., ten video fuels anger over christmas .a _ ., ,

ten video fuels anger over christmas -a . . , ., ten video fuels anger over christmas party. yeah, up to this point there's been _ party. yeah, up to this point there's been allegation - party. yeah, up to this point there's been allegation that| party. yeah, up to this pointl there's been allegation that a christmas party was held in number ten at a time when we were all under restrictions for the length was in tier 3d, there was no social interaction, certainly no parties was up and the prime minister up to this point has held the line that there was no such a party. we now have this clip which is pretty damning. and it shows what was then the prime minister is spokesperson joking with one of the prime ministers advisers about this party. and if you read between the lines is clear that it went ahead. it was clear that it went ahead. it was clear that it went ahead. it was clear that there was no social distance and put them i think things that will really stick in people stomach firstly, we were all following those rules and the people who are at the heart of setting those rules could flagrantly ignore them. tojoke those rules could flagrantly ignore them. to joke about it when so many people made sacrifices, families that could be together when members of their families were in hospital or diane at the same time as the government made a big joke of

theirs. and the final bit is a prime minister line. i think that's what it is, lying. i think it goes back to trust, goes back to the culture in this number ten which goes to the guy at the top. in this number ten which goes to the guy at the tap-— guy at the top. what about the arc ument guy at the top. what about the argument that _ guy at the top. what about the argument that the _ guy at the top. what about the argument that the kind - guy at the top. what about the argument that the kind of - guy at the top. what about the i argument that the kind of people under pressure and that would include people who have worked in newsrooms, people work in police stations, people who work in high—pressurejobs stations, people who work in high—pressure jobs sometimes as a way of releasing they make jokes of things with colleagues. it kind of is a sharing thing. it wasn't for broadcast of it was an avid meant to be seen publicly, it was a private thing that's been leaked. do we have to put that into the context you talked about? do we have to put in an element of that? i talked about? do we have to put in an element of that?— talked about? do we have to put in an element of that? i think we can. but it doesn't _ an element of that? i think we can. but it doesn't take _ an element of that? i think we can. but it doesn't take away _ an element of that? i think we can. but it doesn't take away the - an element of that? i think we can. but it doesn't take away the fact i but it doesn't take away the fact that they have the party when it was against the rules, it was illegal at the time. the rest of us were being told to follow the rules. and we did and they weren't. it doesn't take

away the fact that when confronted with the fact that this party happened the government, the prime minister and all his mps who had to rally around him have been telling in untruth. so whether they were using it as a bit of camaraderie, letting off steam, it doesn't matter. the two fundamental points are that they did something against the rules, one of them another rule for the rest of us. secondly, when confronted with this the government is chosen to live.— is chosen to live. your name is on the to is chosen to live. your name is on the tap byline _ is chosen to live. your name is on the top byline on _ is chosen to live. your name is on the top byline on the _ is chosen to live. your name is on the top byline on the front - is chosen to live. your name is on the top byline on the front of the | the top byline on the front of the ft. since you filed is because you would've had to file this particular version of the paper a little while ago. give us a sense of what the momentum is with the story. most of the front pages, not all of them but most of them seem to have this story for tomorrow morning.— for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten — for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten is _ for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten is lying. _ for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten is lying. which - for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten is lying. which is- for tomorrow morning. well, i think number ten is lying. which is the i number ten is lying. which is the same _ number ten is lying. which is the same line — number ten is lying. which is the same line they've kept throughout this with _ same line they've kept throughout this with is theirs were no parties and covert— this with is theirs were no parties and covert rules have been followed throughout that the my down the street_ throughout that the my down the street putting out this evening. i

don't _ street putting out this evening. i don't think that's it all when you look_ don't think that's it all when you look at — don't think that's it all when you took at the — don't think that's it all when you look at the anchor i think it's a front— look at the anchor i think it's a front page _ look at the anchor i think it's a front page of the daily mail tomorrow describes it as a sick joke _ tomorrow describes it as a sick joke. people talk about through in politics. _ joke. people talk about through in politics. is— joke. people talk about through in politics, is clearly cut through on the front— politics, is clearly cut through on the front pages but much more importantly for the government is a clip of— importantly for the government is a clip of a _ importantly for the government is a clip of a discussion of this story, and a _ clip of a discussion of this story, and a celebrity get me out of here on a different channel tonight. i think— on a different channel tonight. i think what you got that level of public— think what you got that level of public deception about a political story, _ public deception about a political story, it — public deception about a political story, it really does spell a digital— story, it really does spell a digital issue here i think among conservative mps is why the anchor is actually — conservative mps is why the anchor is actually vast tonight was up there — is actually vast tonight was up there is— is actually vast tonight was up there is only for letter words that have _ there is only for letter words that have dropped into my whatsapp conversations and set story... canl conversations and set story... can i interru -t conversations and set story... can i interrunt you? _ conversations and set story... can i interrupt you? we _ conversations and set story... can i interrupt you? we expect _ conversations and set story... can i interrupt you? we expect the - interrupt you? we expect the opposition parties to be angry about this. that's not to diminish the genuine angerfor that this. that's not to diminish the genuine anger for that that's what positions other to do. there they are to hold government to account for that but you're saying this is the attraction within the conservative party as well because not even for all the missteps number

ten is made, misstates the prime minister is made in a certain amount of tolerance for his perhaps rather chaotic style of management, even allowing for all of that, you say tory mps as you understand are quite angry about this?— angry about this? hugely angry. and it's very widespread _ angry about this? hugely angry. and it's very widespread across _ angry about this? hugely angry. and it's very widespread across all - it's very widespread across all winds— it's very widespread across all winds of— it's very widespread across all winds of the party. don't get many conservative mps went along with these _ conservative mps went along with these coronavirus restrictions not because — these coronavirus restrictions not because they thought they were the film because they thought they were the right thing to do but because of out of loyaity— right thing to do but because of out of loyalty the prime minister. i think— of loyalty the prime minister. i think it — of loyalty the prime minister. i think it would you look at the votes from _ think it would you look at the votes from the _ think it would you look at the votes from the end of 2020 there were increasing numbers of tori mps that voted _ increasing numbers of tori mps that voted against them on civil liberties _ voted against them on civil liberties grounds and also general concerns— liberties grounds and also general concerns about what's right for the economy— concerns about what's right for the economy and the wider health implications of covid restrictions here _ implications of covid restrictions here i_ implications of covid restrictions here. i think something snapped within— here. i think something snapped within the — here. i think something snapped within the conservative party with the owen — within the conservative party with the owen patterson of fehr, you remember— the owen patterson of fehr, you remember last month, the lobbing scandal— remember last month, the lobbing scandal involving the former cabinet minister— scandal involving the former cabinet minister who is now reside. and a by election— minister who is now reside. and a by election in_ minister who is now reside. and a by election in ii — minister who is now reside. and a by election in 11 day time where voters will be _ election in 11 day time where voters will be able to cast the judgement

on this— will be able to cast the judgement on this particular issue here. and the phrase — on this particular issue here. and the phrase many people are using it was one _ the phrase many people are using it was one of— the phrase many people are using it was one of ernest hemingway which is gradually— was one of ernest hemingway which is gradually then subtly. gradually, this frustration in the conservative party— this frustration in the conservative party building up and then suddenly with the _ party building up and then suddenly with the owen patterson it's not. it -et with the owen patterson it's not. it get this— with the owen patterson it's not. it get this particular incident tonight, i think there is some sympathy the fact that we had was talking _ sympathy the fact that we had was talking about you got people in downing — talking about you got people in downing street in a very high pressure _ downing street in a very high pressure environment. this was a work— pressure environment. this was a work thing — pressure environment. this was a work thing. we should say the fat that this — work thing. we should say the fat that this has leaked is totally extraordinary. there is internal downing — extraordinary. there is internal downing street footage of a private moch— downing street footage of a private mock press conference was that we never _ mock press conference was that we never seen — mock press conference was that we never seen anything like this in british— never seen anything like this in british politics in the public domain _ british politics in the public domain before. much more secondary issue but— domain before. much more secondary issue but i'm — domain before. much more secondary issue but i'm sure there's going to be an— issue but i'm sure there's going to be an investigation is this was late — be an investigation is this was late. . . be an investigation is this was late. ., ., , ., ., be an investigation is this was late. ., ., , ., , late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz — late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz at _ late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz at the _ late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz at the metro _ late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz at the metro front - late. the damage is done in a sense is in a quiz at the metro front page i is in a quiz at the metro front page of a number ten party clown. as of photograph who is doing this mock who one point said became his spokesperson on cop 26 it's all good for her in terms of her profile. is

it awkward for all the people who are in that video? the prime minister can legitimately say and he has said that i was not there on the 18th, i was in at any gathering, i am not personally the person who was conducting this event. iantigen am not personally the person who was conducting this event.— conducting this event. when you look at all the reporting _ conducting this event. when you look at all the reporting about _ conducting this event. when you look at all the reporting about these - at all the reporting about these downing — at all the reporting about these downing street parties and the financial— downing street parties and the financial times as well as the bbc and many— financial times as well as the bbc and many other outlets are spoken to people _ and many other outlets are spoken to people in_ and many other outlets are spoken to people in downing street who admitted that there were parties and that there _ admitted that there were parties and that there were social gatherings throughout the covid restrictions and this— throughout the covid restrictions and this was not necessarily a one-off— and this was not necessarily a one—off thing for them i think many viewers _ one—off thing for them i think many viewers will — one—off thing for them i think many viewers will look at these front pages, — viewers will look at these front pages, look at the reporting and come _ pages, look at the reporting and come to— pages, look at the reporting and come to their own conclusions on what _ come to their own conclusions on what did — come to their own conclusions on what did or— come to their own conclusions on what did or didn't happen here. i think— what did or didn't happen here. i think the — what did or didn't happen here. i think the fact downing streetjust flat refusing to deny that can't stand — flat refusing to deny that can't stand up— flat refusing to deny that can't stand up in the face of this video. it's obviously embarrassing for everybody involved because this was a mock— everybody involved because this was a mock press conference at which downing — a mock press conference at which downing street was trying to do these _ downing street was trying to do these every single day. and some people _ these every single day. and some people i_ these every single day. and some people i spoke to a government this evening _ people i spoke to a government this evening and said that this video that's— evening and said that this video that's been leaked actually played a

major— that's been leaked actually played a major role _ that's been leaked actually played a major role in borisjohnson's decision— major role in borisjohnson's decision to candy press conferences. because _ decision to candy press conferences. because he — decision to candy press conferences. because he could see these kind of questions _ because he could see these kind of questions coming giving this kind of awkward _ questions coming giving this kind of awkward footage. obviously not such 'ovial awkward footage. obviously not such jovial terms you seem leaked for them _ jovial terms you seem leaked for them and — jovial terms you seem leaked for them and not be very problematic for them and not be very problematic for the government. do them and not be very problematic for the government.— the government. do you want to look at front of the — the government. do you want to look at front of the garden _ the government. do you want to look at front of the garden pm _ the government. do you want to look at front of the garden pm cues - at front of the garden pm cues joking about party. it has one of those photographs on the front page that editors love because it's the unfortunate combination of the words on a side and the people. we have closed gates locked in dominic raab in borisjohnson coming out. not quite the exit sign which i known many time politicians being moved by their advises to avoid a cameraman getting that picture. is there a dangerfor getting that picture. is there a danger for that government in all of this that we are a bit like sleaze in the '90s, it becomes a self—fulfilling prophecy, it becomes a narrative that is locked in and then a government really struggles to escape from a? i

then a government really struggles to escape from a?— to escape from a? i think there's a hue to escape from a? i think there's a huge danger- _ to escape from a? i think there's a huge danger- it — to escape from a? i think there's a huge danger. it comes _ to escape from a? i think there's a huge danger. it comes off- to escape from a? i think there's a huge danger. it comes off the - to escape from a? i think there's a| huge danger. it comes off the back of months now where the government has been under scrutiny. i think if we didn'tjust have the owen patterson scandal and a whole host of things where the prime minister has been under pressure, i think questions about his honesty and his integrity, i think it would have been front and centre. and this comes off the back of it. i come back to the fact that i think you could excuse a whole load of staff. because a resident room, he did know about the party, he wasn't appalled at the party at the time, there is no way in the world that he subsequently didn't know about it. and the fact that he's held the line and number ten available line and then marched all the mps and ministers to hold that line, that is the problem. and it comes back to honesty and comes back to integrity and it comes back to trust. i think those three things have been hugely eroded over the few weeks and that is a real dangers for the prime

minister. . �* , is a real dangers for the prime minister. ., �* , ., ., minister. that's another point, there are _ minister. that's another point, there are other— minister. that's another point, there are other members - minister. that's another point, there are other members of. minister. that's another point, | there are other members of the government who have given public assurances based on what the police minister saying i was asked for assurances in our been given assurances in our been given assurances that no rules were broke. now it awkward for them because they may feel that they were defending a line that now looks rather soft and mushy when you look in more detail. indeed. if we think back to the old patterson — indeed. if we think back to the old patterson scandal that's when it proved — patterson scandal that's when it proved unsustainable. when mps are marched _ proved unsustainable. when mps are marched up— proved unsustainable. when mps are marched up the hill to vote for this new regulatory system for parliamentary standards then found it was _ parliamentary standards then found it was unsustainable with the public with their— it was unsustainable with the public with their own conscience, they had to get— with their own conscience, they had to get most— with their own conscience, they had to get most marched out mail again when _ to get most marched out mail again when these things are scrapped. i think— when these things are scrapped. i think will— when these things are scrapped. i think will be interesting to see when — think will be interesting to see when on — think will be interesting to see when on the morning broadcast programme and bbc breakfast and everything tomorrow what they have to say— everything tomorrow what they have to say about this. because downing street— to say about this. because downing street tine — to say about this. because downing street line has been very clear and it's not— street line has been very clear and it's not shifted it all senses video came _ it's not shifted it all senses video came out, — it's not shifted it all senses video came out, simply saying there were no parties. — came out, simply saying there were no parties, covid regulations were followed _ no parties, covid regulations were followed at every time. but i think that flies— followed at every time. but i think that flies in the face of the fact

that flies in the face of the fact that you — that flies in the face of the fact that you got is video video of not but multiple very senior downing street— but multiple very senior downing street aides who are making jokes about— street aides who are making jokes about the — street aides who are making jokes about the fact that they were parties — about the fact that they were parties and that covid rules were followed — parties and that covid rules were followed at all ties yes, it's embarrassing but it's pretty serious _ embarrassing but it's pretty serious. of course all of this is about— serious. of course all of this is about the _ serious. of course all of this is about the downing street operation, about— about the downing street operation, about why— about the downing street operation, about why were these things, why what have — about why were these things, why what have been adopted this particular position? also the prime ministers _ particular position? also the prime ministers position as well. also make _ ministers position as well. also make it — ministers position as well. also make it all— ministers position as well. also make it all does come back to him. i think— make it all does come back to him. i think there _ make it all does come back to him. i think there are some very questions at the _ think there are some very questions at the moment. pm cues tomorrow and ithink— at the moment. pm cues tomorrow and i think that's _ at the moment. pm cues tomorrow and i think that's going to be a real tinderbox _ i think that's going to be a real tinderbox moment. if the labour body doin- tinderbox moment. if the labour body doing that _ tinderbox moment. if the labour body doing that party you can see they've -ot doing that party you can see they've got an— doing that party you can see they've got an opportunity to attack boris johnson _ got an opportunity to attack boris johnson for all the things being set over the _ johnson for all the things being set over the past couple weeks of the parties in — over the past couple weeks of the parties in the place he lives. howl ruess parties in the place he lives. howl guess we'd — parties in the place he lives. howl guess we'd may — parties in the place he lives. howl guess we'd may yet _ parties in the place he lives. howl guess we'd may yet get _ parties in the place he lives. howl guess we'd may yet get another i guess we'd may yet get another iteration of keir starmer is lying he was practising tonight about the prime minister socially distancing with the truth. i understand the bbc breakfast editor has tweeted there is no minister tomorrow because none is no minister tomorrow because none is available. it may be that they

need a bit more thinking. tell us about the story on the front of the guardian. letter linksjohnson to guardian. letter links johnson to air leaks guardian. letter linksjohnson to air leaks of animals. this guardian. letter links johnson to air leaks of animals.— air leaks of animals. this is the evacuation _ air leaks of animals. this is the evacuation of _ air leaks of animals. this is the evacuation of afghanistan. - air leaks of animals. this is the i evacuation of afghanistan. again, another— evacuation of afghanistan. again, another explosive story that happened today that there was a foreign _ happened today that there was a foreign affairs select committee had a hearing. _ foreign affairs select committee had a hearing, evidence of a whistle—blower from the foreign whistle— blower from the foreign office _ whistle—blower from the foreign office talking about this. there was this whole — office talking about this. there was this whole debate about the evacuation of animals from afghanistan pulled downing street has said _ afghanistan pulled downing street has said very clearly the prime minister— has said very clearly the prime minister and those around him were not involved in the evacuation of antic— not involved in the evacuation of antic moulds from afghanistan for the its— antic moulds from afghanistan for the it's obviously been reports from the it's obviously been reports from the animal— the it's obviously been reports from the animal rights campaigner that he had contacted ministers and people in downing street to argue for those animals— in downing street to argue for those animals to _ in downing street to argue for those animals to be evacuated. so it ten said at— animals to be evacuated. so it ten said at lunch time that the prime minister— said at lunch time that the prime minister was not involved in a couple — minister was not involved in a couple of— minister was not involved in a couple of hours later this letter

emerges— couple of hours later this letter emerges from trudy harrison who is boris _ emerges from trudy harrison who is borisjohnson's parliamentary boris johnson's parliamentary private — boris johnson's parliamentary private secretary, borisjohnson's parliamentary private secretary, that's a very close _ private secretary, that's a very close aide _ private secretary, that's a very close aide to the prime minister. and it _ close aide to the prime minister. and it essentially seemed to say that this — and it essentially seemed to say that this thing is happening and this is— that this thing is happening and this is official reassurance. since then— this is official reassurance. since then downing street have said that ms. harrison was writing in a personal— ms. harrison was writing in a personal capacity not representing boris _ personal capacity not representing borisjohnson in this personal capacity not representing boris johnson in this letter. personal capacity not representing borisjohnson in this letter. it does — borisjohnson in this letter. it does seem to rather go against the official— does seem to rather go against the official line that there was no official— official line that there was no official involvement in the evacuation of animals which suggested a right—hand aid to the pm said there _ suggested a right—hand aid to the pm said there was. let�*s suggested a right-hand aid to the pm said there was.— said there was. let's move on for that we can _ said there was. let's move on for that we can talk _ said there was. let's move on for that we can talk about _ said there was. let's move on for that we can talk about this - said there was. let's move on for that we can talk about this is a i that we can talk about this is a whole plate burger review. despite a lot of other worth reporting for the bayfront of i its own beginning to look a lot like last christmas with the to see other parts of the story. i think all our hearts are sinking out little bed. i think the two things they are particularly pointing to is the decision in

scotland to move towards staying