this is bbc news. the headlines at 7pm... victory for the liberal democrats in the north shropshire by election overnight, they call it a watershed moment as they overturned a conservative majority of 23,000. borisjohnson, the party is over. your government run on lies will be held accountable. it will be scrutinised, challenged and it will be defeated. at scrutinised, challenged and it will be defeated-— be defeated. at this the seventh bi est b be defeated. at this the seventh biggest by election _ be defeated. at this the seventh biggest by election swing - be defeated. at this the seventh biggest by election swing in - be defeated. at this the seventh - biggest by election swing in modern political history. the prey minister has accepted personal responsibility for his party's defeat. i has accepted personal responsibility for his party's defeat.— for his party's defeat. i hear what the voters _ for his party's defeat. i hear what the voters are _ for his party's defeat. i hear what the voters are saying _ for his party's defeat. i hear what the voters are saying in _ for his party's defeat. i hear what the voters are saying in north - the voters are saying in north shropshire. in all humility, i have -ot shropshire. in all humility, i have got to— shropshire. in all humility, i have got to accept that verdict. boris

johnson got to accept that verdict. boris johnson essays _ got to accept that verdict. boris johnson essays and _ got to accept that verdict. boris johnson essays and cause - got to accept that verdict. boris johnson essays and cause to . got to accept that verdict. err" 3 johnson essays and cause to remove his cabinet secretary from the top civil servant from the inquiry into downing street christmas parties. it's been alleged that parties are held in his own office. invitations to a christmas _ held in his own office. invitations to a christmas party _ held in his own office. invitations to a christmas party has - held in his own office. invitations to a christmas party has been - held in his own office. invitations i to a christmas party has been sent out its— to a christmas party has been sent out it's no— to a christmas party has been sent out. it's no longer tenable. the uk has reported _ out. it's no longer tenable. the uk has reported 93,000 _ out. it's no longer tenable. the uk has reported 93,000 covid - out. it's no longer tenable. the uk i has reported 93,000 covid infections today, the highest daily number since the pandemic began. four young boys killed in a fire in south london on thursday night. 27 has been london on thursday night. 27 u; been arrested on london on thursday night. 27 t5; been arrested on suspicion of child neglect. coming up in a half—hour neglect. comina u- in a half-hou ., coming up in a half-hour foreign correspondents _ coming up in a half-hour foreign correspondents based _ coming up in a half-hour foreign correspondents based in - coming up in a half-hour foreign correspondents based in london | coming up in a half-hour foreign - correspondents based in london give their view on the events in the uk this week, including, of course, that by election defeat and the state of the british economy. that a stateline coming up at 7:30 p:m.. stay with us. there

hello, good evening. welcome to bbc news. borisjohnson says he's taking personal responsibility for the conservative scratching defeat and that by election in north shropshire overnight. they've overturned a huge conservative majority of over 23,001 by a margin of nearly 6000. the check result file a torrid week for the pre—minister who face criticism of her downing street christmas parties last year. a rebellion by his own and he spake of it measures and now this, a humiliating defeat. 0ur political editor has more. three, two, one! they might not do subtle... it turns out that if you take the people for granted, there is a price to pay. but there was nothing subtle about the lib dems' dramatic burst of the tory bubble in this by—election. thousands upon thousands of voters switched sides.

anger with the conservatives means a new lib dem is on their way to the commons. i think this is a watershed moment, and i think we brought new hope to the whole nation, who have been so worried and fed up with borisjohnson. we have now beaten the conservatives in two of their safest seats this year. that may be ambitious, but about 4:15am, the liberal democrats smashed what had been a tory majority of over 20,000 in north shropshire stop tired butjubilant in north shropshire. tired but jubilant after weeks of claims of sleaze and misbehaviour in downing street. borisjohnson, the party is over. thank you very much. thank you. many of the prime minister's mps blame the result for the cows under his roof. does he? i am responsible for everything - the government does, and of course i take a personal responsibility. what people have been hearing is just a -

constant litany of. stuff about politics and politicians, and stuff that— isn't about them. yet there is more. it emerged that this man's team, simon case, the most senior civil servant in the country, had a virtual quiz in the office called a christmas party in lockdown. he is the one investigating the whitehall parties. that seems unlikely to last. 232. jeering. the mess began when the government tried to change the rules on mps' behaviour when a tory was found to have broken them. forgive my absence by some of the morning... unleashing a torrent of claims about big money for second jobs. then the cringeworthy footage of number ten staff joking about their christmas party. then on tuesday, the biggest rebellion of this government so far. borisjohnson is no stranger to drama, to epic highs and chaotic lows. but the political danger to him right now is real and intense, being pounded by voters in what should be the safest of tory seats

is the finale of a terrible month brought about in part by a series of mistakes and misjudgments in number ten itself. there are strong, public and fierce private calls to change how he does business, and warnings tonight of what might happen if he does not or cannot. the prime minister is now in last orders time. two strikes already, one earlier this week in the vote in the commons, now this. one more strike and he's out. the prime minister has always had enemies inside, but a former leader who backs him warns that he has to change. he is our leader and he will lead us to the next election. he will? are you sure of that? as long as he wishes to do it, he has the right to do it. the party has to get behind him, and he has to deliver on the basis that downing street and the departments are _ themselves structured and disciplined. that will be the litmus test.

you are essentially saying he has to change, and he has to make sure the way his government operates has to change or else? well, that is always the signal sent by the public when they feel that things have gone wrong, and the answer to that is very simple. it's not more of the same. number ten may take some comfort from the fact that this by—election was a lib dem, not a labour breakthrough. but the cold reality — it's the prime minister who is being put on notice. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, downing street. it's the modern birth date that british parliamentary democracy with the passing of the great formats, shropshire now has a conservative mp. 0ur political correspondent has been out speaking to voters they are finding out what made —— what may have changed many minds. as the sun came up, north shropshire awoke to a new political landscape.

liberal democrats, 17,957. cheering. this solid tory turf had been shaken. north shropshire! by mid—morning, the lib dem victor had arrived in 0wsworth street to much fanfare. as they celebrated, onlookers contemplated what had happened and why. i'm not a big fan of borisjohnson. he's disappointed all of us. not everyone was thrilled the conservatives had lost. it's very sad when you think they've held it for 200 years, nearly. but for others, it was a moment to mark. i am happy because it has smacked borisjohnson in the face. why did you vote for them? i had to get boris out. why? just everything, all the parties and everything that they've been having, because i lost a sister to covid. there is clear anger here at recent events in westminster, and that fuelled the lib dem campaign. but for some, it runs deeper. saffron's grandfather was a conservative mp for north shropshire. he says he understands why people turned away from the party.

it's part of a national mood, but i think also, it's this mood that is here as well. taken for granted that we'd always be conservative. for this councillor and long—standing tory member, it was a combination — recent events and the broader approach. what's coming out of number ten is beyond the control— of north shropshire. what do hope the national party takes away from this? that they can't take i anything for granted. maybe they forgot - their heartlands a bit. just two years ago, borisjohnson won a landslide at the general election, charging through old labour areas in the midlands and the north of england. the question is, can he deliver for those new tory voters without leaving more traditional supporters in places like this feeling overlooked? paul certainly feels that way. a local dairy farmer, he backed the lib dems for the first time, having voted conservative all his life. they want to look at themselves hard and long and say, "look, we need to get our act together

and support businesses more and farming as well," from my own personal point of view, but i feel they really have let us down. of course, this was a victory in a single election in particular circumstances, but it is a sign for the conservatives that something is broken. how they respond could determine how long the damage lasts. that was alex parasites reporting. charles walker, conservative mp for blocks born in harper chair, he is vice chair of the 1922 committee which represents and organises on behalf of the party's backbenchers. he is with us now. charles, thank you very much forjoining us from this evening. i'm sure your party is feeling very bruised after last night, but it's been a breezing week. what message has the prime

minister taken now that he has had not just the minister taken now that he has had notjust the media going it over parties but parliamentary colleagues saying we will not accept your leadership on this question of regulations for coal bed. now the boat is in such a normally safe part of the country saying we are so unhappy we are not voting tory this time. ., . ., ., unhappy we are not voting tory this time. ., _, ., ., time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman. _ time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman, i _ time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman, i stop _ time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman, i stop after— time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman, i stop after 11 - time. for the record, i am no longer vice chairman, i stop after 11 years l vice chairman, i stop after 11 years injuly. i vice chairman, i stop after 11 years injul. .. vice chairman, i stop after 11 years injul. . in july. i appreciate you tearing it u - , in july. i appreciate you tearing it no. otherwise — in july. i appreciate you tearing it up, otherwise we _ in july. i appreciate you tearing it up, otherwise we will— in july. i appreciate you tearing it up, otherwise we will keep - in july. i appreciate you tearing it | up, otherwise we will keep saying in july. i appreciate you tearing it i up, otherwise we will keep saying it stapley the up, otherwise we will keep saying it sta - le j ., , up, otherwise we will keep saying it sta - le j . , ., ' stapley the last eight to 12 weeks have been extremely _ stapley the last eight to 12 weeks have been extremely difficult - stapley the last eight to 12 weeks have been extremely difficult for| have been extremely difficult for the prime minister, and i am pleased he accepted responsibly for that. i thought that he would come and has done. and the important things is that he cannot have another eight to 12 weeks like apps, because there is a lot going on at the moment, and it is clearfrom that a lot going on at the moment, and it is clear from that by election result in shropshire that that

people are feeling very stressed out, very cross and they want the prime minister to get back on the front foot, because otherwise we may have another one of these results if there was another by election. 12 weeks from now camille beginning to having begun now, beginning to campaign for local elections and local elections can be a countrywide chance to get the government a bit of a blood he knows. the map that point on the b a year or so out from the need to hold a general election not because you have to have one, but because the political forces may be moving the party towards a general election in 2023. who be moving the party towards a general election in 2023. who now is? all of that — general election in 2023. who now is? all of that considered, - general election in 2023. who now is? all of that considered, you - is? all of that considered, you know, we are two years into this prime minister's period since he won that dramatic election victory. what does he have to do now? i heard ruth davidson, the former tory leader of scotland saying a bit of blood he gripped was how she put it, and she said it with quite a lot of passion, and i wonder if that kind of echoes you are feeling on this. it’s

and i wonder if that kind of echoes you are feeling on this.— you are feeling on this. it's been an extraordinarily _ you are feeling on this. it's been an extraordinarily difficult - you are feeling on this. it's been an extraordinarily difficult 20 - an extraordinarily difficult 20 months, 21 months with the covid pandemic, and that isjust months, 21 months with the covid pandemic, and that is just new territory, notjust for our prime territory, not just for our prime minister, territory, notjust for our prime minister, but for every person across europe and the world. we have to accept that this is uncharted territory. he has got many of the big decisions rights, the vaccine roll—out was a huge success, the boosters are going well, the timing of coming out of lockdown in the summer was widely regarded as a success, but a lot of that is been overshadowed by recent missteps. the stories about alleged priorities at number ten and other things around on number ten and other things around 0n patterson, my former colleague, so —— 0wen paterson. prime minister is always hit choppy water. you cannot run a country with 2a hour media and scrutiny without hitting some really rough seas. he's got to reassert himself now. yes, mistakes

have been made, but it's important not to make those again. but there are those who are saying that mistakes are a consequence of the style of leadership, that in other words, these mistakes— style of leadership, that in other words, these mistakes come about because there _ words, these mistakes come about because there is _ words, these mistakes come about because there is a _ words, these mistakes come about because there is a lack _ words, these mistakes come about because there is a lack of - words, these mistakes come about because there is a lack of attention to detail, a kind of sense of impunity, the idea, love, iam to detail, a kind of sense of impunity, the idea, love, i am the great communicator, all of that stuff to him as he put it today, just stuff in the headlines, but actually the stuff in the headlines is there for a reason for my presumably, and as the voters have suggested, however much they might have liked him when he won in 2019, are they not saying that actually the style of leadership has to change? the style of leadership has to change, and then if not, may be the leader has to change as well. that is a really good point. the job of being prime minister always catches up at the prime minister, if that makes sense. this is going to be my style and the way i'm going to do it, and ultimately the pressures of the job catches up at the prime

minister, annie prime minister, and they have to look at the way they are doing things. i don't buy the narrative that number ten has got underperforming staff, but what i do buy is that there are not enough people in number ten to meet the demands being placed on them. i've met, and i'm sure you have, some really good people in number ten who work really, really hard. ijust think they don't have the management and power that they need at the moment, that it needs at the moment. we heard some fairly direct warnings. 0ne we heard some fairly direct warnings. one of the most affable and arguably low—profile conservative backbenchers didn't go rushing into the media every five minutes to denounce this or that, but he was moved by the native parliamentary vote this week to say the prime minister could face a leadership change or at least a part of no confidence unless something

changes. do you agree with him? i think it's unlikely, to be honest any time soon. we've got an incredibly difficult six months ahead of us with the omicron virus and the response to that. i was the acting chair of the recent leadership, but getting up to that point, it was a six—month process of blood—letting. it is not here today gone tomorrow. you blood-letting. it is not here today gone tomorrow.— blood-letting. it is not here today gone tomorrow. you don't want that auain, do gone tomorrow. you don't want that again. do you? _ gone tomorrow. you don't want that again, do you? know, _ gone tomorrow. you don't want that again, do you? know, and _ gone tomorrow. you don't want that again, do you? know, and we - gone tomorrow. you don't want that l again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do — again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do it- — again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do it. the _ again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do it. the nation, _ again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do it. the nation, if- again, do you? know, and we couldn't afford to do it. the nation, if they - afford to do it. the nation, if they are cross with us now, would be even cross her at the end of that process. could you imagine say the secretary of state sajid javid and having to tier himself away from the chamber to go to an internal party, does that make sense? it is just not... it's not tenable now for the party to do anything like that. having said that, the prime minister

has really got to have a very strong six months, then he will settle nervous and more importantly, i think, begin to bring the nation back on site again.— think, begin to bring the nation back on site again. charles walker, thank ou back on site again. charles walker, thank you so _ back on site again. charles walker, thank you so much _ back on site again. charles walker, thank you so much for— back on site again. charles walker, thank you so much for being - back on site again. charles walker, thank you so much for being with i back on site again. charles walker, | thank you so much for being with us this evening. thank you so much for being with us this evening-— thank you so much for being with us this evening._ we - thank you so much for being with us this evening._ we will. this evening. thank you. we will find out how— this evening. thank you. we will find out how the _ this evening. thank you. we will find out how the latest - this evening. thank you. we will find out how the latest bad - find out how the latest bad headlines are reported on tomorrow's from pages and what they make of that by election and the challenges the prime minister faces in reasserting his leadership at 10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening. i will bejoined by 10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening. i will be joined by susie and allie mirage. now, the uk has signalled that it would accept a role for the european court ofjustice and the administration of the northern ireland protocol. uk negotiators are also said to be willing to adopt a staged approach to settling issues arising from the protocol rather than reaching one comprehensive deal. the talks of the european union finished today for christmas and resume in the new year. let me bring you a bit of breaking news.

this is coming out of police in writing. this is a charge who has been charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life after a fire in writing which left one person dead and two others missing. this is an arson attack, in fact, i'm just trying to come i'm just confirming that this is the same story that we have, as i say, we have got a charge and a report from i think there is some background noise, this is a fire ablaze at a building and drove courts on wednesday morning, when prison was confirmed that following the blaze, two people were missing afterwards, so there has not been a charge of murder placed on that and the man concerned will appear before magistrates in due course. now, the bbc has been told that the position

of the cabinet secretary signing cases and mandating an investigation into downing street christmas parties last year now under consideration. it's understood the invites where sent out for what was described as a christmas party on the 17th of december for people of the 17th of december for people of the sign in case's private office, the other officials who were directly to him. ian blackford has written to the prime minister after reports of a party at signing case's office. he believes signing case has to go. —— simon case. office. he believes signing case has to go. -- simon case.— to go. -- simon case. people are shocked when _ to go. -- simon case. people are shocked when you see _ to go. -- simon case. people are shocked when you see that - to go. -- simon case. people are shocked when you see that the i shocked when you see that the cabinet — shocked when you see that the cabinet secretary, the man who has put in _ cabinet secretary, the man who has put in place — cabinet secretary, the man who has put in place to carry out an investigation as to whether or not parties _ investigation as to whether or not parties to— investigation as to whether or not parties to place, whether or not covid _ parties to place, whether or not covid rules_ parties to place, whether or not covid rules were broken in number ten, we _ covid rules were broken in number ten, we now— covid rules were broken in number ten, we now know that under his watch _ ten, we now know that under his watch and — ten, we now know that under his watch and his name, his staff are invited _ watch and his name, his staff are invited to— watch and his name, his staff are invited to a — watch and his name, his staff are invited to a christmas party. this is quite _ invited to a christmas party. this is quite extraordinary, and you would — is quite extraordinary, and you would a — is quite extraordinary, and you would a fight that signing case would've — would a fight that signing case would've put his hand up at the start— would've put his hand up at the start of— would've put his hand up at the start of this process and said he cannot— start of this process and said he cannot carry out this investigation. it is unacceptable, and i think when

everyone _ it is unacceptable, and i think when everyone is— it is unacceptable, and i think when everyone is being told to behave and follow the _ everyone is being told to behave and follow the rules, another christmas approaching where there is real concern — approaching where there is real concern about the strain of the omicron — concern about the strain of the omicron variant that when people see there is— omicron variant that when people see there is one _ omicron variant that when people see there is one row per thousand number ten, one _ there is one row per thousand number ten, one rute— there is one row per thousand number ten, one rule for boris and his cohorts. — ten, one rule for boris and his cohorts. i_ ten, one rule for boris and his cohorts, i think people are rightfully angry. the straight first broke _ rightfully angry. the straight first broke a _ rightfully angry. the straight first broke a couple of hours ago, we have a party— broke a couple of hours ago, we have a party taking place, what we didn't know _ a party taking place, what we didn't know where that the invitations to a christmas _ know where that the invitations to a christmas party had been sent out. the position of the cabinet secretary is no longer tenable. let's _ secretary is no longer tenable. let's get — secretary is no longer tenable. let's get mine out from our political correspondent, nick hurriedly. nick, if nothing else, this is hugely embarrassing for the cabinet secretary, and it puts, we would stop talking about this for a few days and get an a definitive answer, and here we are talking about it again. we answer, and here we are talking about it again.— about it again. we been talking about it again. we been talking about it again. we been talking about it for _ about it again. we been talking about it for a _ about it again. we been talking about it for a couple _ about it again. we been talking about it for a couple of - about it again. we been talking about it for a couple of days - about it again. we been talking i about it for a couple of days now, having? it feels like semi—things are coming out of the woodwork in terms of gatherings in the downing

street garden in terms of gatherings in the department for education now, gatherings for some in the private office of the cabinet secretary. i would be amazed if he is still head of this inquiry by the close of play two nights, because as you say, it undermines the work that he's got to do. remember, he is in charge of looking at all the parties that were alleged to have taken place in government. he was supposed to decide whether any roles had been broken. he was the man that boris johnson said would give us that independent verdict. here we are talking tonight about a gathering that took place at the staff. to bring you up—to—date on the details, what happened a year ago today, the 17th of december, 2020 when there were restrictions in place in london, there was a quiz, the invites to that call that a christmas party, the story we have heard from some in government is that basically some people who were in the office took part in the christmas quiz from their desks and

that some people took part from home. simon case wasn't involved but popped into the office at one point, so no suggestion that he himself was part of that quiz and that he himself broke any rules. i would expect to hear from himself broke any rules. i would expect to hearfrom downing street in the next while about the feature of that inquiry, and as i say, givhan the extent to which that undermines simon case's position as an independent voice looking at these parties, i would be amazed if he is still ahead of that inquiry tonight. he is still ahead of that inquiry toniaht. ~ . , he is still ahead of that inquiry toniaht. . , ., he is still ahead of that inquiry toniaht. . , tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be. _ tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be. i— tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be, i know _ tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be, i know you _ tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be, i know you will- tonight. when he ceases to be, if he ceases to be, i know you will bring l ceases to be, i know you will bring it to us here on this channel. thank you very much, nick. nick hurriedly there at westminster. for the third day in a row, a record number of coronavirus infections. a rise of almost 40% in a week. in scotland, omicron is now the dominant strain of covid. the first minister said that tsunami of cases she predicted

at the weekend is beginning. nightclubs will close in wells from boxing day and social distancing laws of be reintroduced in shops and workplaces there. the press minister also said more decisions on covid restrictions will be made on monday in particular regarding sporting events. covid cases are searching. ireland has ordered bars and restaurants to close at eight o'clock from sunday to reduce the spread of the variance. france is also dealing with the rapid rise in cases at 11 o'clock tonight british time, france will close its borders to most british travellers to try to slow the spread of the new variant. now, a 27—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of child neglect after four children died in a house fire in south london last night. london fire brigade confirmed that two sets of twin boys aged three and four years old where the only people in the house when they arrived. the investigation is under way to find out how the fire began.

at half past seven i will be back with the dateline london panel, first, a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here tonight is lizzie greene hughes. hello, how are you? i am very well, thank you. i hope you are well as well. that evening. the current covid situation is intensifying with the ball particularly affected by postponements. the primary guide you to meet on monday to discuss how they can react to the number of games off and deal with fixture congestion as it stands. four of tomorrow's six permitted matches including manchester united against brighton have been postponed, leaving on the leads versus our son aston villa against burnley. is leaving on the leads versus our son aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the _ aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the efi _ aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the efi with _ aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the efi with 19 _ aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the efi with 19 games - aston villa against burnley. is even worse in the efi with 19 games offi worse in the efi with 19 games off over the weekend. the reason is mainly due to outbreaks in playing squads but manchester city manager — pep guardiola had to cancel his press conference today whilst he waits for the results of a pcr test. plenty of other premier league managers have been speaking though. in terms of the competition, two

things, one, we need much more clarity why does games are getting not played, and what do you need not to play again? we are playing in the same league, at the end, the most important thing is that we are able to maintain within the context of fairness of the competition, and for me, this is a big thing now. in me, this is a big thing now. in terms of being in my shoes and what i terms of being in my shoes and what i have to _ terms of being in my shoes and what i have to do — terms of being in my shoes and what i have to do is i have to prepare the team and the best way i can for the team and the best way i can for the game to game situation. if we are told _ the game to game situation. if we are told anything different, we will follow _ are told anything different, we will follow those instructions. we have had some — follow those instructions. we have had some cases on the plane staff, we have _ had some cases on the plane staff, we have had suitcases on the staff. we are _ we have had suitcases on the staff. we are certainly feeling it to a certain— we are certainly feeling it to a certain extent. in my position now, i certain extent. in my position now, i am _ certain extent. in my position now, i am hoping — certain extent. in my position now, i am hoping that we have a good 24 hours _ i am hoping that we have a good 24 hours in _ i am hoping that we have a good 24 hours in terms of test results return — hours in terms of test results return and _ hours in terms of test results return and otherwise we could have a situation _ return and otherwise we could have a situation that grows and gets worse here _ situation that grows and gets worse here at— situation that grows and gets worse here. at the moment, we are ready to go and _ here. at the moment, we are ready to go and we _ here. at the moment, we are ready to go and we are — here. at the moment, we are ready to go and we are going to play. meanwhile in the last few minutes,

chelsea's wsl match against west ham has been postponed due to a covid outbreak — it follows manchester city's game being called off for the same reason. also, next week's �*battle of the brits' — tennis exhibition has been postponed due to the pandemic and the weekend's european rugby union matches have been hit hard by new travel restrictions in france. seven games due to be played between french and british teams this weekend have been postponed. it's after france opted to restrict people coming in from the uk amid concerns over the 0micron variant and two games were also affected by player outbreaks. now only 8 matches from the champions cup and the second tier challenge cup will go ahead. tournament organisers hope the games can be played at a later date. inter milan have announced christian eriksen's contract has been terminated by mutual consent. erikesen hasn't played since he collapsed during denmark's euros match against finland injune. it was recently revealed that he'd started training again on his own, at a local club in denmark, but there's been no confirmation over whether or where eriksen will resume his career. hejoined interfrom tottenham

injanuary last year. ben stokes says england are not beaten yet. that despite another dominant performance by australia on day 2 of the second ashes test. the aussies shrugged off the england attack, eventually declaring on 473 for 9 — marnus labuchangne top scoring on 103. in reply, a weary england lost two early wickets — both openers going cheaply as they struggled under the flood lights. they were saved any potential further wickets by a lightning storm which forced them to close early on 17—2. so england face a huge battle to avoid going 2—nil down in the best of 5 series. let's hear from both sides ahead of tomorrow. let's clinic it's been a tough two days, we spent a lot, excuse me, a lot of time out in the field, put some overs into our legs, but it was nice to get off the field there at the end and watch the guys go out and back, obviously we came up a pretty strange circumstance, not sure i've been involved in a game

called off because of lightning, but we get to turn up tomorrow under the natural light, which i think as you guys would probably agree is not the easiest time to be a batter around the middle. the easiest time to be a batter around the middle-— the middle. the ma'ority of the settinus i the middle. the ma'ority of the settings i thought _ the middle. the ma'ority of the settings i thought i_ the middle. the majority of the settings i thought i left - the middle. the majority of the settings i thought i left the - the middle. the majority of thej settings i thought i left the ball quite well. never really felt and in it— quite well. never really felt and in it was— quite well. never really felt and in. it was sort of one of those wickets — in. it was sort of one of those wickets. you always feel like you are grinding away. he never felt like any— are grinding away. he never felt like any of— are grinding away. he never felt like any of the runs you are making out there _ like any of the runs you are making out there was easy. the tale about it than at _ out there was easy. the tale about it than at the end there is great, you know. — it than at the end there is great, you know, there are three runs. at the board — you know, there are three runs. at the board and the two wickets tonight — meanwhile, england have named a 17—player squad for their bid to regain the women's ashes in australia. they will be captained by heather knight who says they will have to "fight fire with fire" as australia have held the ashes since 2015. the multi—format series begins in canberra on the 27th of january and for the first time england

are also travelling with a 12—strong �*a' squad, with the possibility of players being promoted if they impress. that's all the sport for now. we'll have more for you on the bbc news channel later on. next fortunes. 0ther next fortunes. other areas have been next fortunes. 0ther areas have been really— next fortunes. 0ther areas have been really grey— next fortunes. other areas have been really grey and gloomy, some spots of drizzle _ this high—pressure isn't going anywhere _ this high—pressure isn't going anywhere fast. it's sticking around to the _ anywhere fast. it's sticking around to the beacon, bringing a lot of dry but cloudy— to the beacon, bringing a lot of dry but cloudy weather.— but cloudy weather. there will be some sunshine around, _ but cloudy weather. there will be some sunshine around, dense . but cloudy weather. there will be | some sunshine around, dense fog but cloudy weather. there will be i some sunshine around, dense fog to watch out for, also training a bit cooler, you will notice that during a crisis and across more northern and eastern areas. tonight we will start to see a return to the stands fog across parts of northern and eastern england in particular. skies will be clear for the north, chilly here with a touch of frost for south. that thickest of cloud means temperatures won't be quite as low. we saturday off on a relatively mild note across the south, a lot of cloud, gloomy weather here. dense

mist and sunshine here, same across scotland. potentially another bright day here, albeit cool further south, it will be mailed but grey.

hello and welcome to the programme which brings together some of the best known columnists on uk newspapers, bbc specialists, and the foreign correspondents who write, blog and broadcast to audiences back home from the dateline: london. this week, record breaking daily increases in covid daily increases in covid infection hit the uk. pleas, not lockdown, are the order of the day, though the public are already voting with their feet. borisjohnson's pleas are ignored by 100 of his own mp,— by 100 of his own mps, and by voters in a previously loyal part of england.

is he now leader only in name?