given the rapid growth of the new variant of coronavirus. from monday, millions of people will be advised to work from home, whenever possible. and from this friday, face coverings will need to be worn in most public venues in england, to limit the spread of the new variant. we are now facing a viral variant that is rapidly progressing. it's got a doubling time between two and three days. and measures need to be taken to try to slow the spread of that variant. we'll have more on the measures, on a day when borisjohnson faced calls to resign, following the release of a controversial video. the number 10 aide, seen laughing with colleagues

on the video last year, apologised and resigned today. to all of you who have lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness, and who struggled with your businesses, i am truly sorry. that video, taken during lockdown last year, seemed to make fun of a downing street party, a party the prime minister still says did not happen. i apologise unreservedly - for the offence that it has caused up and down the country, and i apologise for- the impression that it gives. millions of people now think the prime minister was taking them for fools, and that they were lied to. and pfizer—biontech announce that three doses of their vaccine can neutralise the new omicron variant of the virus. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel, a stoppage time zenit st petersburg equaliser means holders chelsea finish runners up in their champions league group.

welcome to bbc news at ten, which comes to you from media city in salford tonight, which along with the rest of england is facing new covid restrictions — announced by the prime minster earlier this evening. the extra measures are being imposed because of the sharp rise in new cases of omicron, the latest variant of coronavirus. work from home from monday if possible — from next monday, employees in england should work from home wherever that is possible. from this friday, face coverings will need to be worn in most public venues in england, including theatres and cinemas, with some exceptions for eating ordrinking. and to get into nightclubs or other venues with large crowds, you'll need an nhs covid pass,

also known as a vaccine passport, or a negative lateral flow test. the need for these new measures has been questioned by some conservative mps, who accuse the prime minster of wanting to divert attention from his own political troubles. in the commons today, borisjohnson apologised for a video that showed his staffjoking about a christmas party last december, during lockdown, but repeated his claim that no party had taken place. the number ten aide who appeared on that video, allegra stratton, resigned this afternoon. our political editor laura kuennsberg reports on the day's events, there's flash photography coming up. hemmed in, borisjohnson stuck with two ugly problems matched together. what happened under his own roof, which has taken some of the public, and what he reckons needs to happen now to push back the virus. the danger tonight is the fiasco of

problem one makes problem two much harder to solve, with the variant spelling at lightning speed, he and the country's most senior scientists were back on the platform. we can't et were back on the platform. we can't yet assume — were back on the platform. we can't yet assume that _ were back on the platform. we can't yet assume that omicron _ were back on the platform. we can't yet assume that omicron is - were back on the platform. we can't yet assume that omicron is less - yet assume that omicron is less severe than previous variants. so while the picture may get better, and i sincerely hope it will, we know the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations and therefore, sadly, in deaths. that is why it is now the proportionate and responsible thing to move to plan b in england. responsible thing to move to plan b in encland. ., i. ,., responsible thing to move to plan b in encland. ., ,., ,., in england. how can you stand up at a lectern, exactly _ in england. how can you stand up at a lectern, exactly where _ in england. how can you stand up at a lectern, exactly where some - in england. how can you stand up at a lectern, exactly where some of. a lectern, exactly where some of your team laughed and joked about covid rules, to tell people they must now follow your new instructions? and are you really asking the public to believe that you had no idea what was going on under your own roof? the you had no idea what was going on under your own roof?— under your own roof? the british ublic, under your own roof? the british public, notwithstanding - under your own roof? the british public, notwithstanding the - under your own roof? the britishj public, notwithstanding the point that you make, can see the vital

importance of the medical information that we are giving. the usuall i information that we are giving. the usually icy cool professor whitty seemed angry too, but pleaded with you to separate political shenanigans from protecting health. people get very angry, including colleagues and friends, when they feel that _ colleagues and friends, when they feel that it is unfair. the prime minister— feel that it is unfair. the prime minister said that in the house of commons — minister said that in the house of commons and he has said it is today. that is_ commons and he has said it is today. that is quite — commons and he has said it is today. that is quite different from people, i think. _ that is quite different from people, i think, wanting to actually know what _ i think, wanting to actually know what is _ i think, wanting to actually know what is going on, and then make decisions — what is going on, and then make decisions. and i think those two need _ decisions. and i think those two need to— decisions. and i think those two need to be _ decisions. and i think those two need to be separated. the decisions. and i think those two need to be separated. the reason for the outrage — need to be separated. the reason for the outrage is _ need to be separated. the reason for the outrage is apparent _ need to be separated. the reason for the outrage is apparent in _ the outrage is apparent in toe curling confirmation in a press conference that there was a party in downing street last christmas, when socialising was banned for all. one of the aids that was laughing, allegra stratton, emerged from her house today. those jokes turning to tears. the party would not have been

her decision, and she has paid with herjob. mt; her decision, and she has paid with her 'ob. g _, , her decision, and she has paid with her'ob. g , , her decision, and she has paid with her 'ob. g _, , , ., ., ~ herjob. my comments seemed to make liuht of herjob. my comments seemed to make li . ht of the herjob. my comments seemed to make light of the rules _ herjob. my comments seemed to make light of the rules that _ herjob. my comments seemed to make light of the rules that people _ light of the rules that people were doing everything to obey. that was never my intention. i regret those remarks for the rest of my days, and i offer my profound apologies to all of you at home, to all of you that lost loved ones, who endured intolerable loneliness and struggled with your businesses, i am truly sorry. and this afternoon i am offering my resignation to the prime minister. thanks for your time. there is simply no chance her exit will be the end of questions to borisjohnson. at lunchtime, he started with an apology and the promise of an investigation. i promise of an investigation. i understand and share the anger up and down the country at seeing number 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures. and i can understand how infuriating it must be to think that the people who have been setting the rules have not been following the rules, mr

speaker. because i was also furious to see that clip. and, mr speaker, i apologise unreservedly. i have asked the cabinet secretary to establish all of the facts. the the cabinet secretary to establish all of the facts.— all of the facts. the prime minister. _ all of the facts. the prime minister, the _ all of the facts. the prime | minister, the government, all of the facts. the prime - minister, the government, spent all of the facts. the prime _ minister, the government, spent the week telling the british public there — week telling the british public there was no party. all guidance was followed _ there was no party. all guidance was followed completely! millions of people _ followed completely! millions of people now think the prime minister was taking _ people now think the prime minister was taking them for fools, and that they were _ was taking them for fools, and that they were lied to.— they were lied to. even behind the mask, his cabinet _ they were lied to. even behind the mask, his cabinet colleagues, - mask, his cabinet colleagues, wishing they were anywhere but there. yet the mess is enough for there. yet the mess is enough for the snp to claim it is time he called it quits.— the snp to claim it is time he called it auits. ~ , called it quits. the prime minister has a duty- _ called it quits. the prime minister has a duty- the — called it quits. the prime minister has a duty. the only _ called it quits. the prime minister has a duty. the only right - called it quits. the prime minister has a duty. the only right and - called it quits. the prime minister l has a duty. the only right and moral choice left to him. it is for his resignation. when can we expect it? in a moment for mps to raise the agony of constituents who lost loved

ones. ,, , agony of constituents who lost loved ones, ,, , ., , ., agony of constituents who lost loved ones. ,, , ., ., ., , ones. she is devastated and appalled at recent revelations _ ones. she is devastated and appalled at recent revelations as _ ones. she is devastated and appalled at recent revelations as to _ ones. she is devastated and appalled at recent revelations as to what - ones. she is devastated and appalled at recent revelations as to what has l at recent revelations as to what has gone _ at recent revelations as to what has gone on _ at recent revelations as to what has gone on in — at recent revelations as to what has gone on in downing _ at recent revelations as to what has gone on in downing street. - at recent revelations as to what has gone on in downing street. it- at recent revelations as to what has gone on in downing street. [it is. gone on in downing street. it is something _ gone on in downing street. it is something i— gone on in downing street. it is something i will— gone on in downing street. something i will never gone on in downing street. iii, it something i will never get gone on in downing street.- something i will never get over. that was jane, who lost her father and her sister. that was jane, who lost her father and her sister.— and her sister. when i saw that video, it sickened _ and her sister. when i saw that video, it sickened me, - and her sister. when i saw that video, it sickened me, i- and her sister. when i saw that video, it sickened me, i was. video, it sickened me, iwas disgusted by it. thinking how can they laugh when so many people are going through so much heartache and pain? ifind it very hard to swallow, to take instruction from the government, especially after this. you know, it leaves me not trusting them. ifeel this. you know, it leaves me not trusting them. i feel that it has been lie after lie, this has been the nail in the coffin. it is been lie after lie, this has been the nail in the coffin.— the nail in the coffin. it is not just about — the nail in the coffin. it is not just about whether _ the nail in the coffin. it is not just about whether a - the nail in the coffin. it is not just about whether a few - the nail in the coffin. it is not l just about whether a few dozen the nail in the coffin. it is not - just about whether a few dozen staff had drinks in their last year, but whether the truth has been told, whether the truth has been told, whether you can put your faith whether the truth has been told, whether you can put yourfaith in what government says from day to day, or guidance, or even demands for ministers for what you have to

do. with the virus creeping back, and tighter restrictions, it is no time for authority to be draining away. yetjust listen to how the health secretary was heckled by some tory mps tonight. health secretary was heckled by some tory mps tonight-— health secretary was heckled by some tory mps tonight._ as - health secretary was heckled by some tory mps tonight._ as he l tory mps tonight. including... as he outlined the — tory mps tonight. including... as he outlined the rules, _ tory mps tonight. including... as he outlined the rules, one _ tory mps tonight. including... as he outlined the rules, one even - tory mps tonight. including... as he outlined the rules, one even called l outlined the rules, one even called out, resign. does this sound like a party happy about what they are being asked to do? itruth? party happy about what they are being asked to do?— party happy about what they are bein: asked to do? ~ , , ., , .,, being asked to do? why should people at home listening _ being asked to do? why should people at home listening to _ being asked to do? why should people at home listening to the _ being asked to do? why should people at home listening to the prime - at home listening to the prime minister— at home listening to the prime minister and _ at home listening to the prime minister and secretary- at home listening to the prime minister and secretary of - at home listening to the prime| minister and secretary of state at home listening to the prime . minister and secretary of state do things— minister and secretary of state do things that — minister and secretary of state do things that people _ minister and secretary of state do things that people working - minister and secretary of state do things that people working in - minister and secretary of state do - things that people working in number 10 downing _ things that people working in number 10 downing street— things that people working in number 10 downing street are _ things that people working in number 10 downing street are not _ things that people working in number 10 downing street are not prepared . 10 downing street are not prepared to do? _ 10 downing street are not prepared to do? ~ , ._ , to do? the prime minister may be -aushin to do? the prime minister may be pushing the _ to do? the prime minister may be pushing the button _ to do? the prime minister may be pushing the button on _ to do? the prime minister may be pushing the button on plan - to do? the prime minister may be pushing the button on plan b - to do? the prime minister may be pushing the button on plan b to i to do? the prime minister may be i pushing the button on plan b to cope with the pandemic, but this christmas, borisjohnson may need a plan b for his leadership, too. and laura kuenssberg is at westminster. you said very clearly that it was a dangerous moment for downing street. and it is, isn't it, a matter of trust and integrity, at the end of the day. where does borisjohnson

stand tonight? i the day. where does boris johnson stand tonight?— stand tonight? i think in a very tricky spot- — stand tonight? i think in a very tricky spot- it _ stand tonight? i think in a very tricky spot. it has _ stand tonight? i think in a very tricky spot. it has been - stand tonight? i think in a very tricky spot. it has been a - stand tonight? i think in a very| tricky spot. it has been a frenzy today, all sorts of claims swirling around. let's pause and think why this does matter. because downing street has always, throughout this pandemic, needed to muck things to try to manage the covid pandemic which, right now, is coming back with this new variant, at a lightning speed. they have needed the public cooperation, and they have needed political goodwill to try to hold off the worst of the potential consequences for our health, the economy and all the social effects that we have been living through, too. even tonight if you are watching, do you think you could not care less if they view staffers or a few dozen people had cheese and wine in downing street last year, that public faith and that political goodwill have both taken a knock. however borisjohnson is trying to address these allegations, however fulsome is trying to address these allegations, howeverfulsome his apology seems, that shaking of those two things the government needs to

try to manage the pandemic has happened, and this is a very serious political moment. and there is no obvious escape from it tonight. laura, many thanks again. laura kuenssberg, with the latest thoughts at westminster. lets talk more about plan b and the background to it. borisjohnson insisted the extra measures for england were a proportionate and reasonable response, to the new variant of coronavirus, called omicron. there's an increasing view among experts that omicron spreads more rapidy than the delta variant. the chief medical officer professor chris whitty said it had been doubling every two to three days. our health editor hugh pym has the latest. shoppers in preston today, thinking about christmas, but with many questions over what the next few weeks will bring. there is much which isn't known about the new variant. but scientific experts and modellers have become increasingly certain that omicron does pose a threat.

england's chief medical officer pointed to the rapid increase in case numbers. the aim of the measures announced by the prime minister is to slow things down. but it's doubling currently between two and three every two and three days. that is an extraordinarily fast rate. and you therefore can get, with very small numbers, to very large numbers really quite quickly. minutes of a meeting of the expert sage committee yesterday, say that with the speed of growth seen, decision—makers will need to consider response measures urgently to reduce transmission if the aim is to reduce the likelihood of unsustainable pressure on the nhs. this referring to any possible new measures, the minutes say adherence is likely to be higher if messaging and policy have clear rationales and are consistent. covid numbers in hospital are much lower than injanuary, but any increase will add to the intense strain being felt now on the front line. the health and care system

is already facing a winter emergency and it is really very, very difficult to see how we can cope with that increase in covid patients so the government is right and the public is right to want to do everything it can to minimise the risk of this virus spreading more quickly. a central part of the plan has been accelerating the booster vaccine programme. maria has just become eligible and she booked up for herjab at this centre in preston this morning. it's not just about yourself, . it's about everybody, isn't it? yeah, really important, _ and i kind of can't understand why people don't have it. i i think it is our duty to protect. each other that we have it, yeah. the time between second and booster doses for those aged a0 and over has been halved to three months in england from today. there is already a similar policy in scotland. that means more staff will be required at this centre and others. i am concerned about the staff, and the levels of staff.

it is not that we cannot recruit, can't go out and recruit staff, it is finding those staff that are available to come and help support the programme. so, for example, we did have community pharmacy in over the weekend, helping support and give some vaccinations. more data and more evidence about the spread and impact of omicron is still required but officials clearly now feel that the booster roll—out isn't enough and further preventative measures are needed. hugh pym, bbc news. pfizer—biontech say three doses of their covid vaccine have been able to neutralise the new omicron variant of coronavirus, following initial tests. but they said two doses may not be sufficient to protect against infection from the new variant. as our medical editor fergus walsh reports, pfizer and biontech are the first manufacturers to provide data on the efficacy of their vaccine, against omicron. they say it underlines the importance of getting fully vaccinated. morning.

there are many remarkable stories of survival against the odds on covid wards. this patient was admitted to university hospital coventry six weeks ago, pregnant and unvaccinated. she was put on a ventilator and her baby, now in special care, was delivered at 26 weeks. i nearly died. and i wish i had that vaccine, i wish i knew how bad a pregnant woman can get by not being vaccinated, and the risks of covid. this covid has ruined my life. so you didn't see your daughterfor a month? no, i didn't see her because i was in a coma, and that is a parent's worst nightmare. there are many who are admitted who wish they could turn back the clock and have had their covid jab. four out of five patients on the covid wards here are

unvaccinated and although it is much less busy than back injanuary, there is real concern about what the coming weeks may bring. a small laboratory study by pfizer biontech has suggested three doses of their covid vaccine produce sufficient antibodies to neutralise the omicron variant, with two doses likely to stop severe disease. it is not real—world evidence but it underlines the vital nature of boosting immunity. we are turbo—charging the programme again. we have almost 3000 centres open, more vaccine centres than we have ever had. we are recruiting 42,000 extra volunteers and of course we freed up gps so they can spend more time vaccinating. it is a year to the day since margaret keenan became the first person in the world to get the pfizer vaccine outside of a trial. reunited with the nurse who gave her thejob, 92 next week, she urged those still unvaccinated to come forward.

please, please do, do have the jab. because it does save your life and the life of your friends i and family and the nhs as well, of course. - you are a global icon now. lam! people meet me in the street and they say, "thank god - for you because i wasn't going to have thisjab." i and it's lovely to - hear that, you know. since then, more than 51 million people in the uk have been vaccinated, but the pandemic is still far from over. fergus walsh, bbc news, coventry. the latest coronavirus figures for the uk show there were 51,310 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period . on average, there were over 48,500 new cases reported per day in the seven days. the latest figures show there were over 7,000 people in hospital being treated

for coronavirus as of yesterday. 161 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. on average in the past week, 121 covid—related deaths were recorded every day. on vaccinations, over 21 million people have now had a boosterjab. the advice in england to work from home again, will have a major impact on businesses and employees. the guidance was lifted in mid—july , along with most covid restrictions. there are currently no formal rules to work from home in wales and northern ireland, though it is encouraged, but in scotland the government advises working from home wherever possible. our business editor simonjack reports. christmas is supposed to add a little fizz to the economy

but today's announcement felt a little flat for some workers in manchester. i think it's fair for us to be in the workplace with our colleagues i think it's better for us to be in the workplace with our colleagues supporting each other, working from home is really isolating, so for me it is just not an option. while others felt better prepared this time around. when we did the first lockdown, when we had to work from home, we didn't know what we were up against, but i feel like we are in a better place now, and we are better equipped to deal with it. so i feel like it's a bit of an overreaction, if i'm honest. but are business has prepared for another setback? in our big cities, commuters and office workers are the lifeblood for businesses like this family owned cafe who suffered last time workers were told to stay at home. we already lost one shop because everyone was working from home, so we lost one shop. if we start again, working from home, ithink... i don't know what we are going to do. it's going to be very sad. for some customers, the office is more than just a place of work.

mentally, it's awful, like, you know, my early 30s, stuck in my bedroom in london, like, you know, no family around. i have a housemate. you are just getting up, going two metres to a desk, working, and then you are stuck in your house, like, it's... what's the point, like? the uk economy is primarily a service —based economy. sandwich places like this, over the road a pub, a convenience store here, shoe repairs there, and all of these businesses rely on people coming to work, and things were going back to normal, estimates were that 60% of office workers were spending at least some of the week in the office, and footfall on streets like this were 70% of pre—pandemic levels, which is why this news has been described by business organisations here in london as a crushing blow. and it could lead to some perhaps unexpected but certainly unwelcome effects on the cost of living. if we aren't able to go out

and take full advantage of the reopening of the economy then we are staying at home. we are not buying services, we are not going out, we are buying goods instead, that increases demand for physical goods and that, potentially, could add to already quite acute inflationary pressures. fans at old trafford tonight will need more than a ticket from next week. covid passes for large venues will be needed in england, something already required elsewhere in the uk. we've experienced the implementation of covid passports in scotland and wales. we've seen a 30% drop in trade initially. additional costs of up to £600 per week. at a time when businesses are relying heavily on building their cash reserves to survive quarter one in 2022, so it is a devastating blow to business. tonight, despite business and union pleas, the government said there would be no new financial support package in the post this christmas. simon jack, bbc news. our health editor

hugh pym is with me. can we talk about these measures today, what do you make of them? when people say how effective will they be, how would you answer? these they be, how would you answer? these new restrictions _ they be, how would you answer? these new restrictions for _ they be, how would you answer? these new restrictions for england _ they be, how would you answer? tire new restrictions for england which brings england in line with the other nations are being phased in. one of the key ones is that working from home guidance, which experts on the sage committee have said before is one of the most effective ways of controlling the spread of the virus. fewer people going into urban areas on public transport and then into crowded offices. it doesn't take effect until next week to give employers and staff time to work out how it will be operating in practice. as we've been hearing, omicron cases are doubling every couple of days. there is already quite widespread community transmission, which will result in some more hospital cases, though we don't know yet how serious this variant is in terms of making people ill enough to be in hospital compared with other variants. people

are askin: , compared with other variants. people are asking. you _ compared with other variants. people are asking, you know, _ compared with other variants. people are asking, you know, can _ compared with other variants. people are asking, you know, can we - compared with other variants. people are asking, you know, can we hold i are asking, you know, can we hold some kind of christmas party in these circumstances? what is the guidance on that? the these circumstances? what is the guidance on that?— these circumstances? what is the guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed — guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed on _ guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed on this _ guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed on this at _ guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed on this at the _ guidance on that? the prime minister was pressed on this at the media - was pressed on this at the media briefing and he said people shouldn't cancel their christmas parties, they should go ahead with their plans in line with other guidance, and yet people are saying how can we have a christmas party but not go into the office if we don't have too for work. another issue tonight, there has been a lot of demand for the nhs covid pass needed to get into nightclubs and other venues in england from the end of next week, and get the app has been under pressure and hasn't been operating at times this evening. thanks very much. you can find out more about the new measures for england — and the restrictions in place for elsewhere in the uk over on the bbc website. that's bbc.co.uk/news.

let's look at some of the day's other stories. germany's new chancellor, olaf scholz, leader of the social democrats, has been sworn in, closing the long chapter of angela merkel�*s 16 years as the head of government. he's just the fourth chancellor of germany in nearly a0 years, as our correspondentjenny hill reports from berlin. in the powerful heart of europe, a new political era has begun. no pomp, little ceremony... olaf scholz isn't known for his charisma or stirring speeches, but the social democrat and former finance minister's style, his manner, his politics, remind many germans of angela merkel, and they like him for it. mr scholz had promised the country a new government for christmas. his other pledges, to create a fairer, more liberal society, and a climate friendly country,

may be harder to keep. angela merkel has done a greatjob but i think now it was a time for something new, something more green. translation: now we have something different but they have _ to prove themselves. that mr scholz managed to form a government at all is seen by some as nothing short of a miracle. he will have to hold to get an unusual coalition. the social democrats, the greens, and the business friendly free democrats are not natural bedfellows. this is an historic day for germany and there is a real sense of excitement at the political changes unfolding here. what the rest of the world wants to know is what does this mark what the rest of the world wants to know is does this mark a significant shift in germany's wider positions and policies? for now, it seems the answer is no. olaf scholz championed the eu, likes a multilateral approach. his government plans to spend more

on defence and will stick to nato commitments. you might see some shift on russia and china, in tone at least, if not in substance. this man was once angela merkel�*s foreign policy adviser. the outside world will be surprised that there will be much more continuity and change. there are many people who like to have this type of stability in germany. after 16 years, the merkel era is over. earlier, she wished mr scholz luck. he will need it. germany is experiencing its worst covid wave to date. the chancellor's first task — to develop, like his predecessor, a reputation for managing a crisis. jenny hill, bbc news, berlin. the uk government has become the latest to announce a diplomatic boycott of next yea r�*s winter olympics in beijing. the prime minister says there are no plans for any ministers to attend the games, which are due to begin in february, because of allegations of human

rights abuses in china. the us and australia made similar announcements earlier this week. prosecutors in ghislaine maxwell's trial have presented previously unseen photos they say link the socialite, to paedophile jeffrey epstein. prosecutors have called ms maxwell and epstein, her former boyfriend and business associate, "partners in crime". ms maxwell is accused of grooming underage girls, for abuse, between 1994 and 2004. she has pleaded not guilty, to sex trafficking, and seven other charges. the mercedes formula one team has ended its controversial sponsorship deal with a firm that made insulation boards used on grenfell tower. kingspan's logo appeared on mercedes cars at last weekend's saudi arabian grand prix. survivors of the grenfell tower fire, in which 72 people died injune 2017, objected to mercedes involvement with kingspan after concerns were raised

about its insulation boards at the public inquiry into the disaster. kingspan says its material made up 5% of the insulation in the high rise block and that it was used without its recommendation. to football now... and in fact, right behind me at old trafford — manchester united have drawn 1—1 against swiss side young boys, but have still topped their group in the champion's league. joining them in the knockout stages will be chelsea — who drew 3—3 against zenit st petersburg this evening on the final day of group games. but tottenham's europa league match tomorrow night has been called off — following a number of positive covid—i9 at the club. —— covid—i9 cases at the club. so, with tighter covid restrictions in england on the way,

and an apology from the prime minister for that downing street video, how is all this being viewed beyond the confines of westminster, here in greater manchester and other parts of the uk? in the constituency of north shropshire, people will get the chance to voice an opinion next week, in a parliamentary by—election. the vacancy was caused by the resignation of the conservative mp owen paterson, who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying. our political correpsonent alex forsyth has spent the day there. the livestock sale in market drayton might feel a far cry from westminster but the political noise does resonate among the pens, the talk of a downing street party and whether here it could come with a price. former farmer dennis and local minister mark differ on how much it will matter. if lies have been told, that is... it affects people's decisions. we want to vote for people whose word means something. 12 months ago doesn't count any more, it is what is happening

today which counts. do you think that will affect how you vote here in a by—election? no. this rural seat has been solid conservative for decades but the party is facing a fight from labour and the lib dems who are pushing hard, with a host of other parties standing as well. this contest is a crucial measure of the national mood. the result will have ramifications that stretch beyond shropshire. for mums cathy and claire, though, it is local issues that really count. services provided for families and children. they have been such big cuts in this area recently, in recent years. we are not really connected, we're a bit in the middle of nowhere in shropshire when it comes to public transport. while public services matter most to them, they are frustrated at the idea of a party having happened, particularly with the prospect of new covid restrictions coming down the track. it makes me think, if they are so blase about the rules, why should we be that concerned about the rules? it feels like a betrayal really, if that has happened.

covid is still on people's minds here.