a senior health official warns that cases of the omicron variant are doubling in less than every two days in most parts of the uk. it's probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic, and i'm sure, for example, that the numbers we see on data over the next few days will be quite staggering. it comes as new rules come into force meaning adults in england must show a covid pass to get into nightclubs, big sports matches and other large events. party over for you now, prime minister? there's more pressure on borisjohnson after a backench rebellion of 100 conservative mps against the covid passes. his own mps have had enough, they

want to— his own mps have had enough, they want to defend him, they won't turn up want to defend him, they won't turn up to— want to defend him, they won't turn up to support him, and if he pmposes— up to support him, and if he proposes them, they want to vote for basic public— proposes them, they want to vote for basic public health measures. | basic public health measures. i understand illegitimate anxieties that colleagues about restrictions on their liberty, and on the liberty of people, but i believe the approach we are taking is balanced and proportionate and right for this country. mps are due to go on their christmas break, but the prime minister promised to consult them if any further restrictions are needed. also this lunchtime: the cost of living hits its highest level for a decade, inflation surging to 5.1% in the year to november. the thousands of young women who were pressurised into giving up their babies — an inquiry begins into the scandal of historical forced adoptions. sir lewis hamilton for services to motorsport. and arise, sir lewis — he may have lost the world title, but today lewis hamilton has been knighted at windsor castle. and coming up

on the bbc news channel, england bring back james anderson and stuart broad for tomorrow's second ashes test in adelaide, as they look to the level the series against australia. good afternoon and wecome to the bbc news at one. the head of the uk health security agency says the growth of the omicron variant is going to be staggering. drjenny harries described omicron as probably the "most significant threat to public health since the start of the pandemic." from today, adults in england must now show a covid pass to get into nightclubs, big sports matches and other large events. it brings england broadly into line with scotland, wales and northern ireland. the new rules were approved last night,

despite a commons rebellion by a hundred conservative mps. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes. the race to get boosters into arms continues this morning in sheffield. over—18s in england can now book a slot online to get theirjab. the number of suspected omicron infections is growing fast, but speaking to mps this morning, the head of the uk health security agency stressed we're still only at the beginning of this latest outbreak. it's probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic, and i'm sure, for example, that the numbers that we see on data over the next few days will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth that we've seen in cases for previous variants. with that in mind, new regulations requiring a covid pass to enter larger venues, like football grounds, aim to at least slow the spread of the variant. the new rules bring england closer into line with the rest of the uk, and tonight, when crystal palace

take on southampton, fans will need to show a pass to get in. it's something that we are well prepared for, it's something that, you know, we've had great support from other clubs. as you are aware, other clubs have actually implemented this and tried it for various games. for example, we've done exactly the same, we trialled it, done soft checks on supporters, supporters have been really receptive of that. the night—time economy will also feel the impact. pubs like this one in bristol have already taken a hit — 80% of christmas party bookings cancelled. constantly being stabbed in the back all the time, basically, by all these new rules and regulations. these few weeks, with all our corporate bookings, that's when we get some money in the pot and see us through january and february. without that, we're going to really struggle in the next few months. but some do find there is reassurance in knowing everyone around you is vaccinated or tested. ijust think it makes everyone feel a little bit safer when they're going out, and it makes me more comfortable when i'm out in wales, knowing that people around me have had their vaccinations. i'm not, like, fully vaccinated,

so it would probably affect me, but i think it will encourage, you know, people that haven't been fully vaccinated to get fully vaccinated. obviously, cases are going up at the moment, and ijust think anything we can do to try and stay safe and keep everyone else safe is important. today also sees the end of travellers arriving in the uk from so—called red—list countries can avoid having to isolate in hotels. with omicron now clearly spreading through the community, there's little point. it's another sign that stopping the spread of the omicron variant just isn't possible, and experts say vaccines and boosters remain the best defence against the virus. what we're very hopeful for is that the protection against severe disease which has held up really well against all the variants so far will also hold up against this variant. nevertheless, there are some data from south africa showing that the neutralisation of this virus is more difficult, and so that may mean that the vaccines, we really do need

these boosters to bring down the rate of transmission. what happens in the next few weeks is uncertain. the scottish government is already asking people to limit socialising to three households at a time in the run—up to christmas. but new advice and regulations will only slow the spread of the virus. if huge numbers of people do start getting infected, then ministers may find they have no choice but to introduce further restrictions. dominic hughes, bbc news. as we've been hearing, questions have been raised about borisjohnson�*s authority as prime minister, after the biggest revolt by conservative mps since he entered downing street. this lunchtime, he faced his final prime minister's questions before christmas. our political correspondent nick eardley reports from westminster. there isn't much christmas cheer here. downing street has faced a long list of damaging accusations in

the past fortnight. and with the prime minister's position already damaged, he is now dealing with the aftermath of the biggest rebellion of his premiership. figs aftermath of the biggest rebellion of his premiership.— of his premiership. as the party over for you _ of his premiership. as the party over for you now _ of his premiership. as the party over for you now prime - of his premiership. as the party i over for you now prime minister? of his premiership. as the party - over for you now prime minister? the a es to over for you now prime minister? the ayes to the — over for you now prime minister? the ayes to the right, 369. the noes to the left, _ ayes to the right, 369. the noes to the left, 126. | ayes to the right, 369. the noes to the left. 126-— ayes to the right, 369. the noes to the left, 126.- this - ayes to the right, 369. the noes to the left, 126.- this was - the left, 126. i watch! this was last night _ the left, 126. i watch! this was last night in — the left, 126. i watch! this was last night in the _ the left, 126. i watch! this was last night in the house - the left, 126. i watch! this was last night in the house of- the left, 126. i watch! this was - last night in the house of commons, almost 100 tory mps voting against the government on covid certification. fast forward to this afternoon. we certification. fast forward to this afternoon. ~ ., certification. fast forward to this afternoon-— certification. fast forward to this afternoon. ~ ., ., ., afternoon. we now come to the leader ofthe afternoon. we now come to the leader of the opposition. _ afternoon. we now come to the leader of the opposition, keir _ afternoon. we now come to the leader of the opposition, keir starmer. - of the opposition, keir starmer. krisztian — of the opposition, keir starmer. krisztian szabo_ of the opposition, keir starmer. krisztian szabo boris _ of the opposition, keir starmer. krisztian szabo boris johnson's i krisztian szabo borisjohnson�*s authority and the possibility of further restrictions. == authority and the possibility of further restrictions. -- questions over. if further _ further restrictions. -- questions over. if further regulations - further restrictions. -- questions over. if further regulations are i over. if further regulations are required, labour mps will follow my leadership, and we will always put the national interest first. can i ask the prime minister to get his house in order so he can say the

same? , ~ ,,, ., ~ same? yes, mr speaker, if further measures are _ same? yes, mr speaker, if further measures are needed, _ same? yes, mr speaker, if further measures are needed, if _ same? yes, mr speaker, if further measures are needed, if further i measures are needed, if further regulation — measures are needed, if further regulation is needed, of course this house _ regulation is needed, of course this house wiii— regulation is needed, of course this house will have a further say. as for following his leadership, mr speaker, — for following his leadership, mr speaker, they wobbled over plan b and quarantine, and if we listened to him. _ and quarantine, and if we listened to him. we — and quarantine, and if we listened to him, we wouldn't have had a vaccine — to him, we wouldn't have had a vaccine roll—out, because we would have _ vaccine roll—out, because we would have remained in the european medicines agency. we have remained in the european medicines agency.— have remained in the european medicines agency. we cannot go on with a prime minister who - medicines agency. we cannot go on with a prime minister who was - medicines agency. we cannot go on with a prime minister who was too i with a prime minister who was too weak to lead, so will he take time this christmas to look in the mirror and ask himself whether he has the trust and authority to lead this country. i trust and authority to lead this count . , , . , country. i respect the feelings... i resect country. i respect the feelings... i resnect the _ country. i respect the feelings... i respect the anxieties _ country. i respect the feelings... i respect the anxieties that - respect the anxieties that colleagues have, of course i do, i respect and understand the legitimate anxieties that colleagues have about restrictions on their liberty, — have about restrictions on their liberty, and on the liberty of pennie. _ liberty, and on the liberty of people, but i believe that the approach we are taking is balanced

and proportionate and right for this country _ and proportionate and right for this country. the and proportionate and right for this count . . , and proportionate and right for this count . ., , ., country. the last few weeks have undoubtedly _ country. the last few weeks have undoubtedly been _ country. the last few weeks have undoubtedly been perusing - country. the last few weeks have undoubtedly been perusing for i country. the last few weeks have i undoubtedly been perusing for boris johnson, and last night's vote calls into question his authority, his ability to persuade his party to back his plans. but while all the political drama plays out here, there is significant concern in government and in parliament about the spread of omicron, and what it might mean forfurther the spread of omicron, and what it might mean for further restrictions or guidance in the next few weeks. parliament breaks for christmas tomorrow — a relief for some in government, but there remain big questions about how the prime minister can rebuild his leadership and what further actions might be needed soon to tackle covid. nickjoins us from westminster now. how damaged do you think the prime minister is by this huge tory rebellion last night?- minister is by this huge tory rebellion last night? well, i don't think there _ rebellion last night? well, i don't think there is _ rebellion last night? well, i don't think there is any _ rebellion last night? well, i don't think there is any doubt, - rebellion last night? well, i don't think there is any doubt, ben, i rebellion last night? well, i don't. think there is any doubt, ben, that borisjohnson will feel battered and

bruised by what happened in parliament last night. that rebellion was really significant. yes, because of the vast numbers of his own mps who didn't agree with him on covid certification, also because of the breadth of the opposition within his party. this wasn'tjust opposition within his party. this wasn't just the opposition within his party. this wasn'tjust the normal people who are often sceptical about covid restrictions, there is talk in different wings of the party, including many who are normally loyal to the prime minister. but that does mean that it's not necessarily the case that they would all vote against further restrictions. there are many who voted against

restrictions. there are many who younger, in the 19705, they used to call it 5tagflation. a5 younger, in the 19705, they used to call it 5tagflation. as the economy slows almost to a stop, the cost of 5low5 almost to a stop, the cost of living is rising faster than a decade. goods price5, everything from saucepans to cookers, rose by 6%, the fastest in 30 years. electricity bill5 6%, the fastest in 30 years. electricity bills are up 19%, and bills for gas up by 28%. when a previous supplier went bu5t bills for gas up by 28%. when a previous supplier went bust and she switched to british gas, her bill almost doubled. irate switched to british gas, her bill almost doubled.— almost doubled. we can't plan an hinu almost doubled. we can't plan anything for — almost doubled. we can't plan anything for the _ almost doubled. we can't plan anything for the future, - almost doubled. we can't plan anything for the future, we i almost doubled. we can't plan - anything for the future, we probably

won't have a holiday this coming year. and we were going to rescue another dog, which we had been planning to do, but i don't think that would be fair on the dog, it wouldn't be fair on our purse. the aradual wouldn't be fair on our purse. the gradual reopening of the global economy this year has led to a surge in activity, meaning much higher demand for commodities like petrol. the supply has not kept up with demand, forcing up the average price of a litre of unleaded to a record £1.45, of a litre of unleaded to a record £1.16, compared to £1 £13 of a litre of unleaded to a record £1.16, compared to £1£13 a year ago. with manufacturers unable to make as many new cars owing to a shortage of microchips, the cost of second—hand cars has risen by 31% since april, as commuters sought to avoid public transport. on the financial markets, they are betting the bank of england will have to raise the official interest rate from a record low of 0.1%, but maybe not straightaway.— not straightaway. normally i think that would be _ not straightaway. normally i think that would be a _ not straightaway. normally i think that would be a green _ not straightaway. normally i think that would be a green light - not straightaway. normally i think that would be a green light to - not straightaway. normally i think that would be a green light to go. that would be a green light to go

ahead and raise interest rates now, but we have all this uncertainty around the omicron variant, we don't know what is going to happen to the economy. and that is why, on balance, we think they will wait at least until february, assuming that hopefully the worst of the omicron situation is behind us by then. there is more upward inflationary pressure in the pipeline. the prices paid by manufacturers for raw materials were up by an average of 14.3%, the fastest rise since 2008. after the worst decade in two centuries for improvements in living standards, they are now once again falling. andyjoins me now. a big decision for the bank of england tomorrow on interest rates. that's right, and if you remember, we have had emergency low snout for around 13 years. they started to edge up just before the pandemic, and then they dropped to a record low of 0.1%. but as we were hearing there, it is quite unlikely they will raise them tomorrow, and the

city is betting 2—1 against that possibility because the bank of england doesn't yet know what effect omicron has had on the labour market. at the markets are betting that rates will rise in the new year, getting up to about one percentage point, so ten times what they are at the moment by the end of they are at the moment by the end of the air. but there is a limited amount they can do anyway to curb inflation, which is mostly driven by global commodity prices, as i said in the report. if you have surging demand from a reopening global economy and supply doesn't keep up, thatis economy and supply doesn't keep up, that is why prices rise. the bank of england's hope is that that is transitory and supply will catch up and prices will come down, but the key thing to watch is whether or not wages start to take off. if they do, interest rates might have to rise faster. �* , . ~ interest rates might have to rise faster. �* , ., ,, , ., interest rates might have to rise faster. �* , . ~' , ., , interest rates might have to rise faster. �* , ., ,, , . a woman who killed 16—month—old star hobson after inflicting "utterly catastrophic" injuries on the toddler will be sentenced this afternoon. bouncer and amateur boxer savannah brockhill, who was found

guilty yesterday of murdering star, has been described by the little girl's family as "pure evil". star's mother, frankie smith, was cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the toddler's death. in afghanistan, one million children under the age of five are at risk of starvation this winter, according to the world health organization. charities have warned that the humanitarian crisis facing the country after 20 years of war means a further 2.2 million people will suffer acute malnutrition. our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani reports from the western province of ghor. a nation struggling to survive. a hospital struggling to cope. the war is over in afghanistan, but hunger is the new threat. these mothers desperately waiting for nutrition packs for their malnourished babies.

"it's like this every day," he says. "it's been like this for four or five months." translation: we have | nothing, we have no food, my children are sick, we don't have money for medicine. a million children are at risk of starvation. with internationalfunding cut off following the taliban takeover, afghanistan's aid—dependent economy is collapsing. life for many here has always been hard, but with food prices and unemployment rising more families than ever recorded are going hungry. translation: right now - there are two patients in a bed. sometimes there are even three. when this child first arrived, the family did not have a single penny to buy medicine. the doctors and staff collected money for medicine to help them. we have come to the remote province of ghor. it's a ten—hour drive to the nearest big city. the snow here picturesque,

but there's less than usual. drought is adding to the crisis. we're visiting the province's only hospital. staff are being paid for the first time in five months after the international committee of the red cross stepped in. but most patients have to buy their own medicines as supplies are so low. we don't have anything now. no medicines? no medicines. how difficult is it for you as the doctor? we are suffering, sometimes crying.

parents forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 19505, �*605 and �*705 will be among those giving evidence to an inquiry which gets under way today. thejoint parliamentary committee on human rights is looking into the forced adoption of babies of unmarried mothers during those years. duncan kennedy reports. it is nearly 50 years since pat king was forced to give up her newborn baby.

pat became pregnant aged 15 in 1973. she wasn't married and, almost immediately, a social worker arrived to confront her. i was the wicked girl and i had sinned and i needed to put this right and the way i could put this right was to help some family who really needed this baby. did she call you wicked? she did call me wicked, yes. it is thought around 400,000 unmarried women in england and wales were pressured to give up their babies for adoption in the 30 years after the second world war. even as they gave birth, some nurses treated them cruelly. you weren't allowed to scream, you were told to shut up and stop making a noise and stop being silly, it was your own fault. you have got yourself into this mess. in the delivery room, a nurse or midwife is telling you to shut up screaming? yes. there was even more anguish when pat came to hand over her baby son.

the social workerjust walked towards us, held out her arms, took the baby, well... i tried to fight her to get the baby off me but that didn't work and she took the baby and that was it, just a thank you and went, that was it. today's parliamentary inquiry follows a series of reports on bbc news with dozens of the birth mothers. the government says it was society to blame for forced adoptions, but the birth mothers say that's wrong. it wasn't society that took my baby away, it was the state and all the employees of the state, they were all in cahoots with this practice. which was just wrong. and, therefore, the state should apologise? yes, therefore the state should apologise. pat king has never been reunited with her son. she hopes the new inquiry will help bring comfort to thousands of women like her who had their babies taken. duncan kennedy, bbc news.

an increasing number of care companies supporting people who are older and disabled in their own homes say they're turning away new clients because of staff shortages. nearly 340 care providers in the uk responded to questions from the homecare association. most worry the requirement for all home care staff to have covid vaccines will add to their recruitment problems. our social affairs editor, alison holt, has been speaking to one family—run care company. marion is three hours into what is going to be a very long day. morning, christine. she and her husband run their own home care company... how are you? ..but staff shortages mean both are also out providing support for people like christine. not good? no. the three visits christine gets a day provide the personal care she needs but also allow her to maintain her independence. she's previously been stuck

in hospital waiting for home care and knows how miserable it can be. it's hard when you are in hospital and you are bed blocking. what they were doing for me, i can do at home, i can take my own pills, or get my pills, without them coming around me four times a dayjust to give me a pill and i was sitting there doing nothing. you have a good morning and i'll see you later. 0k, thank you. but to provide support at home takes staff. and a survey of nearly 340 care providers by the home care association found nearly all those who responded were facing real difficulties recruiting. for marion and her husband, tim, that means constantjuggling to ensure their existing clients get the support they need. effectively, i'm doing a 16—hour day and last week was like that — pretty much every day was seven till 11. it'sjust exhausting. how sustainable is that? it's not.

like many other home care providers, they are turning away new clients, even though councils and the nhs are desperate for them to take on people who are ready to leave hospital. there is a high demand. we get an e—mail through every day from the council. i've got four on my e—mail at the moment that ijust noticed, but i can't take the clients on because i haven't got the staff and it's a never—ending circle. to try to ease some of the immediate staffing pressures, the government has announced an extra £300 million to provide bonuses, overtime and pay rises for care staff. that money runs until march. ok, thank you, bye. alison holt, bbc news. the singer billie eilish has described how she suffered nightmares after being exposed to "abusive" pornography from the age of 11. in a radio interview, the 19—year—old said she is now "devastated" to reflect on her exposure to the content. eilish said the experience

led her to "not say no to things that were not good" when she began having sexual relationships. a5 nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and her husband and daughter prepare to spend a sixth christmas apart, a new song has been released today to keep the family in the public eye. it's by the eighties pop band the christians. they've reworked a single first released in 1991 to draw attention to the plight of the british journalistjohn mccarthy, then being held hostage by militants in beirut. our correspondent, caroline hawley, reports. # times like these, i sit and wonder # lord, it really can't be right... # it is three decades since the christians last recorded this for a british hostage, then as man don't cry. now it is for another british citizen being held in the middle east. gabriella has only had one christmas, herfirst, with both her parents. this was the moment nazanin was arrested in 2016 at tehran

airport as she prepared to fly home after visiting her parents. she was accused of working against the iranian state and thrown into solitary confinement. herfirst sentence ended earlier this year, and almost immediately came a second. her husband richard has campaigned tirelessly for her release. he wants britain to pay a long—standing debt it owes iran, which he believes is key to getting her home. last christmas, we were close to the end of the sentence, it felt like we really were counting down the days. now that is less clear the case, now we are in some kind of limbo of open water. we are awaiting that call to prison, there has been a second case raised on other families, so it feels a lot more uncertain. there is clearly games being played still. he went on hunger strike this autumn to put pressure on the government, which says it is doing all it can. but it was seeing richard starve himself in whitehall for three weeks that inspired the christians to rerelease their song.

we're just trying to do something, anything, to help. it is uppermost in my mind most days, really, that this injustice is happening. # so, naz, don't cry #. nazanin was able to join the recording session over facetime. richard says she is deeply moved. but behind the smiles, also sad and anxious, as another celebration approaches, another family milestone to be missed. caroline hawley, bbc news. he may have missed out on a record—breaking eighth world championship at the weekend, but formula 1 star sir lewis hamilton has been picking up a title of a different sort this morning. to receive the honour of knighthood, sir lewis hamilton, for services to motorsport. the 36—year—old was knighted by the prince

of wales at windsor castle. our sports correspondent, joe wilson, is there. joe. what we should say from the outset is these are essentially private events. they are further recipients of the owner and their families so sir lewis hamilton and his mum came out and posed for some pictures for us but declined the opportunity to actually do any interviews. that is his right. it is normal. i have been to many of these ceremonies with stars who decide they do not really want them to become media events but of course we are all desperately interested about what might be going through lewis hamilton's mind at the moment. does he feel contentment or resentment about what happened on the final lap of the abu dhabi grand prix? at least the potential of this appeal from the mercedes team about the whole outcome of this year's formula 1 world championship. we

should remember that sir lewis is already the most successful driver in formula 1 history but he has won more races than anybody else in f1 history. his knighthood was for services to motor racing but of course he is involved and interested in so many different aspects of british society from the guinness to education, politics and fashion and i do not see that changing. —— from veganism. and we know back on the track we have at least two more seasons of hamilton versus verstappen and all the drama that entails. time for a look at the weather. we have mixed fortunes of weather today with some areas gloomy across the south and further north a bit more sunshine around and there is some rain thanks to a fairly weak weather front some rain thanks to a fairly weak weatherfront and most some rain thanks to a fairly weak weather front and most places mild. high pressure continuing to build

across