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. at this cafe in market drayton, manager louise is open to more regulations for the sake of safety but is angered by the idea that others haven't stuck to the rules. i'm wondering why it has taken so long for them to announce that they had a party, or cheese and biscuits and a gathering. would that affect how you might vote in this by—election in north shropshire? no, i don't think it would. i think i will stick to who i think will do the bestjob for shropshire. there is a lot riding on this increasingly heated race, which hasn't escaped those at this festive wreath making. what are the issues on your mind? probably education, the health service as well. and basic morals of the person who is actually going to be standing in parliament for us as well. i have been a conservative voter all my life and i will not be - voting conservative. what is the reason? parties in downing street and downright lies. - i don't think it does them any favours, i think

we have to wait and see. i am sick to death of people going on about the party, though. it is when the polls open next week that we will know whether the ghosts of christmases past have effected the political present. alex forsyth, bbc news, north shropshire. and you can find a full list of all candidates standing in the north shropshire by—election, on thursday december 16th, on the bbc website, that's bbc.co.uk/news. that's it from me here at media city in salford — on the day extra covid restrictions were announced for england — starting in a few days. more on newsnight on bbc two — but now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night.

hello again store bare of course has been dominating out where the picture of the last couple days with strong winds, heavy rain and some upland snow. look at these big rocks, theses been checking onto the coastline of west wales for the disease are pretty angry when they throw brick size lumps of rocket there is power it feeling less intense. we do have a window is slightly clear when that set to come in during thursday. that means the showers that we got at the moment fading away over the next few hours but it's can be quite chilly for those heading out to cross northern and a good scholar. temperatures will modest or —3 c as you perhaps have outside the door first thing in the morning. for many a fine start to the day for that in fact for some of you it should be a lovely sunrise look the early rising sun illuminating the slump of cloud. the next weather system not taking wanted move ray back to west cullen, west england wales was also eventually bring a milder air into the southwest, temperatures reach

around 11 of the afternoon. silver most of us it's another fairly chilly when the six or 7 c, more typical temperatures was up as we get into friday, that area of rain perhaps with a little bit of mountain smokers out of the way i will be left with these northwesterly winds. those winds bringing a lot of sunshine, sparkling visibility but also a number of showers. the showers always be most frequent across the north west but they will be some that reach across the midlands perhaps thrown towards parts of southern england. temperatures similar to recent days, still quite chilly around six or 7 c. but the weather is set to change as we head into the weekend. another area of low pressure responsible for the change bringing south—westerly winds in particularly across parts of england and wales for that could be mist and fog patches first thing in the morning. for some it could be a murky start. it's not entirely drive, outbreaks of rain piling in particularly to western areas a country although probably not a huge amount of rain across eastern most areas. temperatures rising to the

day, 12 toward southwest england and heading into something that milder air will continue to push its way eastwards and northwards. but until we get to sunday afternoon most of you will see temperatures into double figures. and the mildest spots on sunday you could see temperatures as high as 14 then it looks like it was a quite mild into next week.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are geri scott, political correspondent at the press association and olivia utley, assistant comment editor at the telegraph. tomorrow's front pages, starting with... welcome starting with. .. to welcome starting with... to you both. let's start off

with welcome to you both. let's start off with a quick look at the front pages. the ft leads with boris johnson's move to plan b as more restrictions come into place in england. the i describes the move as you turn by the prime minister as he urges the nation to work from home where possible and announces mandatory mask wearing an all indoor venues. it also features the follow from the downing street christmas party video is the adviser to the prime minister allegra stratton resigns. the metro also leads with that same story, headline, pm taking the public for fools. that same story, headline, pm taking the public forfools. as he faces more calls to quit over the alleged rule breaking christmas party at number ten. the backlash features on the front page of the telegraph. tonight the prime minister told millions of people he must work from home but that they can still go to christmas parties. and a festive feature on the sun as they describe borisjohnson as the grinch as the coronavirus mass. let's start off

with the guardian. prime minister triggers covid plan b as party scandal and calls number two tying the two stories together. the christmas party and the plan b announcement for the one conservative mp says is accused the prime minister of a diversionary tactic. in other words, and announcing plan b as a way of pushing the christmas party so i got down the news agenda. yes. pushing the christmas party so i got down the news agenda.— down the news agenda. yes, that is what he's been _ down the news agenda. yes, that is what he's been accused _ down the news agenda. yes, that is what he's been accused offered - down the news agenda. yes, that is what he's been accused offered up. what he's been accused offered up the prime minister denied it was the case at the press conference we saw earlier on today. but what a day it's been. it started with the government not putting any cabinet minister or the broadcast round of interviews this morning and ended with an apology press conference, an inquiry launched and a resignation of the prime minister is former press secretary. it's been a busy one. it has been a big day and it's

a very strange day to have done this, introduce plan b measures because a lot of tory mps are angry about those was up they were also angry about this video about these alleged christmas parties it hasn't gone down well on the back benches. the borisjohnson said this afternoon is that if he had delayed and waited a couple of days to do this when he needed to he would have been in trouble for that as well. it's a lose, lose situation for the of the time it does look a bit more than slightly suspicious, i would say. than slightly suspicious, i would sa . . �* , than slightly suspicious, i would sa. ., �*, ., say. olivia, let's look at the i. pms 24 hour— say. olivia, let's look at the i. pms 24 hour u-turns - say. olivia, let's look at the i. pms 24 hour u-turns on - say. olivia, let's look at the i. pms 24 hour u-turns on covid say. olivia, let's look at the i. - pms 24 hour u-turns on covid plan b. pms 24 hour u—turns on covid plan b. is it a u turn? they are talking the prime minister and the sciences at the briefing about how potentially exponentially the new variant of coronavirus is going to increase. to be honest i think you turn is a bit of a strange _ be honest i think you turn is a bit of a strange phrase. we have been warned _ of a strange phrase. we have been warned that there are these ready to

id warned that there are these ready to -o at warned that there are these ready to go at any— warned that there are these ready to go at any time. we did think it was going _ go at any time. we did think it was going to _ go at any time. we did think it was going to be — go at any time. we did think it was going to be a bit later but that's before _ going to be a bit later but that's before we knew of omicron and what it's doing _ before we knew of omicron and what it's doing in this country. sol don't — it's doing in this country. sol don't think_ it's doing in this country. sol don't think it will come as a shock and i_ don't think it will come as a shock and i don't — don't think it will come as a shock and i don't think it's a u turn. i also am — and i don't think it's a u turn. i also am quite confused by this whole dead cat_ also am quite confused by this whole dead cat strategy idea. as far as i'm concerned, the whole point of a dead _ i'm concerned, the whole point of a dead cat_ i'm concerned, the whole point of a dead cat strategy is to talk about something completely different to try and _ something completely different to try and distract the public. but talking — try and distract the public. but talking about restrictions that were broken _ talking about restrictions that were broken last year for christmas while bringing _ broken last year for christmas while bringing in— broken last year for christmas while bringing in new restrictions for christmas _ bringing in new restrictions for christmas is not really get to work to distract — christmas is not really get to work to distract people. after all the front— to distract people. after all the front pages of pointing out the hypocrisy of it. it's not a particular good defence of the prime minister. _ particular good defence of the prime minister, really. ido particular good defence of the prime minister, really. i do see what he means— minister, really. i do see what he means when he implied that actually he's means when he implied that actually has quite _ means when he implied that actually he's quite brave to have decided to do it today, — he's quite brave to have decided to do it today, to go out there on a day when — do it today, to go out there on a day when he is under such heavy fire for the _ day when he is under such heavy fire for the party— day when he is under such heavy fire for the party last year. and to take questions from hostile journalists with him — questions from hostile journalists with him if it's a dead cat strategy is not _ with him if it's a dead cat strategy is not a _ with him if it's a dead cat strategy is not a particularly good one.

let's — is not a particularly good one. let's look— is not a particularly good one. let's look at the telegraph was up the front—page headline is don't go to work but do go to parties. the advice from the government, of course a hand there are about the christmas party at downing street story as well. christmas party at downing street story as well-— story as well. slightly but it kind of encapsulates _ story as well. slightly but it kind of encapsulates the _ story as well. slightly but it kind of encapsulates the slightly - of encapsulates the slightly confusing nature of the values we heard today for the work from home if you can as can be recommended again from next week. but the pm was asked, what about christmas parties? as christmas parties have been a range can they go ahead? nativity parties have been the other one. we don't really see a reason why they shouldn't. and people will be a bit confused and there have been people making a joke of say well, i got to present up going to a party to the office now. it's all a bit strange. it does again link it back to these parties that we've been hearing about. and there are revelations on the front pages tonight about how many there may not been.-

the front pages tonight about how many there may not been. we've been focused on the — many there may not been. we've been focused on the one _ many there may not been. we've been focused on the one alleged _ many there may not been. we've been focused on the one alleged party - many there may not been. we've been focused on the one alleged party but i focused on the one alleged party but as it was raised during the prime minister is briefing potentially perhaps three others. is that your information, jerry? perhaps three others. is that your information, jerry?_ information, jerry? yes. there's vafious information, jerry? yes. there's various dates _ information, jerry? yes. there's various dates being _ information, jerry? yes. there's various dates being thrown - information, jerry? yes. there's l various dates being thrown around the prime ministers former adviser dominic cummings has made allegations as well. and under pressure of questioning early of the prime minister did say that the cabinet could investigate those as well if he wanted despite earlier the terms of reference this inquiry seeming to focus on the one december of that. we will have to see if the investigation i imagine he'll be under quite a lot of pressure to do so. ., under quite a lot of pressure to do so. ., ., ., ., under quite a lot of pressure to do so. ., ., ., ., i. under quite a lot of pressure to do so. ., ., ., ., ,, ~ ., so. how damaged do you think all this is to the _ so. how damaged do you think all this is to the prime _ so. how damaged do you think all this is to the prime minister - so. how damaged do you think all this is to the prime minister and l this is to the prime minister and the government? clearly makes it harder for the government? clearly makes it harderfor them the government? clearly makes it harder for them to sell their message to people, to obey these new plan restrictions. i message to people, to obey these new plan restrictions.— plan restrictions. i think it definitely _ plan restrictions. i think it definitely does. _ plan restrictions. i think it definitely does. i- plan restrictions. i think it definitely does. i think - plan restrictions. i think it - definitely does. i think there's going — definitely does. i think there's going to — definitely does. i think there's going to be a sense in the country

not only— going to be a sense in the country not only of— going to be a sense in the country not only of anger of his head and follow— not only of anger of his head and follow them, the washrag was mad also do _ follow them, the washrag was mad also do they really take it that seriously? when you see them breaking — seriously? when you see them breaking these rules you think well, you cant— breaking these rules you think well, you can't be — breaking these rules you think well, you can't be too worried about the virus _ you can't be too worried about the virus yourself. therefore why should i be particularly worried about it? that's_ i be particularly worried about it? that's can — i be particularly worried about it? that's can really damage the governments reelection prospects was that we _ governments reelection prospects was that we really do have to wait and see _ that we really do have to wait and see up— that we really do have to wait and see. up until now borisjohnson's office _ see. up until now borisjohnson's office really have defied all expectations and maintain an incredibly high level of popularity incredibly high level of popularity in the _ incredibly high level of popularity in the country. we seen some tory mps getting frustrated with restrictions about wanting to get rid of— restrictions about wanting to get rid of him — restrictions about wanting to get rid of him. when he gets down to it they all— rid of him. when he gets down to it they all shuttle until around two line as _ they all shuttle until around two line as soon as he becomes in front of the _ line as soon as he becomes in front of the electorate. they know he's very popular. conveniently we've got this by— very popular. conveniently we've got this by election with the tories should — this by election with the tories should just walk with the majority of 22,000, owen patterson seat and it looks _ of 22,000, owen patterson seat and it looks quite possible that they will lose — it looks quite possible that they will lose it. ithink it looks quite possible that they will lose it. i think if that happens then we are going to see a lot more _ happens then we are going to see a lot more anger coming to the floor

on the _ lot more anger coming to the floor on the conservative back benches. that's _ on the conservative back benches. that's a _ on the conservative back benches. that's a real — on the conservative back benches. that's a real problem for boris johnson. because he is a lonely figure _ johnson. because he is a lonely figure west minister, he doesn't have _ figure west minister, he doesn't have a _ figure west minister, he doesn't have a lot — figure west minister, he doesn't have a lot of friends or the way he's _ have a lot of friends or the way he's always maintained his grasp on the party— he's always maintained his grasp on the party is he's got this presidential charisma and appeal. it only works — presidential charisma and appeal. it only works if he personally is popular — only works if he personally is popular which he doesn't seem to be. ithink— popular which he doesn't seem to be. i think the proof will be in the putting — i think the proof will be in the putting next week.— i think the proof will be in the putting next week. let's look at another telegraph _ putting next week. let's look at another telegraph front-page . putting next week. let's look at - another telegraph front-page story. another telegraph front—page story. really interesting, prime minister calling for an national debate about mandatory jabs to fight covid debate. they started at austria, the thinking about it in germany. interesting quote from boris johnson, "i don't believe we can keep going with restrictions just because a substantial number of people have not got vaccinated. that is in interesting comment from him and kick—starting a debate whether to have compulsory vaccines. it was a really interesting comment. we've heard over and over again the way to keep restrictions at bay, the

way to keep restrictions at bay, the way to keep restrictions at bay, the way to get through this is for people to get their double jabs and their boosters. we've heard suggestions that we might need the job every year. of course there are those who can't have the job for medical reasons but there are also a proportion of people who vote for more ideological reasons. nj vax people and so on. i didn't interpret his comments this afternoon as talking about mandatory vaccination but potentially restricting people that aren't fully vaccinated from something. so i don't know what they might be but we have seen that elsewhere. that is not quite the same as mandatory vaccination. i don't know if that's a more comfortable route for the prime minister who is traditionally a freedom loving conservative. we will have to see. i think will have to get through this before we can think about discussing that. he get through this before we can think about discussing that.— about discussing that. he did say he thinks they should be _ about discussing that. he did say he thinks they should be a national - thinks they should be a national conversation about this. let's go to the sun. dave god do is i say, not