for a third successive day, the number of coronavirus infections in the uk has reached a new record high. just over 93—thousand cases were confirmed — that's nearly sixty percent more than a week ago. covid cases have also been rising across europe. denmark, ireland and france are all introducing new measures to try to stop the spread. russia has called on nato to guarantee it will not expand its membership. the us has rejected an offer of direct talks — saying they could only take place with its european allies present. the uk's top civil servant has removed himself from an inquiry into alleged christmas parties held at downing street during last year's lockdown. an event was held in simon case's office — his spokesperson said he played no part in it.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me is the daily mirror columnist, susie boniface alongside ali miraj, columnist at the article. we are always grateful to have your company. let's begin. let's take a look at some of tomorrow's front pages already in, starting with the mirror. it reports cabinet secretary, simon case — the man tasked with investigating whitehall christmas parties — steps down, after allegations that his own office held a virtual festive bash. the telegraph also leads with this saying the prime minister's bid to move

on from the tories�* by—election defeat has been derailed by the fresh leaks. the times says the inquiry into those parties is now in disarray as simon case steps back from the investigation. former ethics chief at the cabinet office, sue gray will take over. the i reports that omicron cases are getting out of control — with variant cases doubling every one—and—a—half days in london, the north east, west midlands and yorkshire. the ft reports that scientists believe the omicron variant is no less severe, as cases in the uk soar past 93,000 to reach a record high for the third consecutive day. but the mail splashes on the backlash from business leaders calling for the 10—day isolation rule to be scrapped, although the paper does also report that it is not yet known whether the omicron is actually any milder the previous variants. so, let's begin.

it is the mirror. with the latest twists in this party saga. it’s it is the mirror. with the latest twists in this party saga. it's been such a slow _ twists in this party saga. it's been such a slow news _ twists in this party saga. it's been such a slow news day, _ twists in this party saga. it's been such a slow news day, early - twists in this party saga. it's been such a slow news day, early in - twists in this party saga. it's been | such a slow news day, early in the week, the mirror had three bona fide splashes in one day and get to cram the mall and at once because of some of stuff that comes next day date now, quick, at the moment, the current tally, the current tally of parties last year is a 13. our paper revealed another one in may last year, not a christmas party but a gathering during lockdown a few weeks after the castle in downing street garden in which there was pizza and wine and people aren't supposed be meeting people outside in the garden or one household at a

time the prime minister himself was there, apparently. i time the prime minister himself was there. apparently-— there, apparently. i suppose you could the most _ there, apparently. i suppose you could the most charitable - there, apparently. i suppose you could the most charitable view. there, apparently. i suppose you could the most charitable view is interpreting it as one household. number 10 downing street and girl family together. that is a bit of a push. family together. that is a bit of a ush. �* , ., family together. that is a bit of a ush. �* a' family together. that is a bit of a ush. �* .,~ .,, , family together. that is a bit of a ush. , push. and if you take a step back, let's ut push. and if you take a step back, let's put this _ push. and if you take a step back, let's put this on _ push. and if you take a step back, let's put this on context. - push. and if you take a step back, let's put this on context. a - let's put this on context. a hospitality at the moment that is on its knees _ hospitality at the moment that is on its knees and we have rising inflation, _ its knees and we have rising inflation, increasingly belligerent china _ inflation, increasingly belligerent china and taiwan straits. we are discussing — china and taiwan straits. we are discussing how many parties did or did not_ discussing how many parties did or did not take part last christmas and downing _ did not take part last christmas and downing street and discussing what may or— downing street and discussing what may or may not have paid for by back racing _ may or may not have paid for by back racing a _ may or may not have paid for by back racing a design matter? lu may or may not have paid for by back racing a design matter?— racing a design matter? lu i'm seeinu racing a design matter? lu i'm seeing the _ racing a design matter? lu i'm seeing the prime _ racing a design matter? lu i'm seeing the prime minister - racing a design matter? lu i'm i seeing the prime minister needs racing a design matter? lu i'm - seeing the prime minister needs to get a grip on this of this is put to bed and moved ons and went he is to look at is a further case in point,

as the city has been utterly mismanaged. the government was like it does not have a grip at on the situation this is been reflected in a by lecturing assault that will probably come to a little bit later in the prime minister needs to actually get completely hold of the situations and these have been going on for over a week. we have serious issues to deal withs and on his credibility. issues to deal withs and on his credibility-— when its people. this is not acceptable. | when its people. this is not acceptable.— when its people. this is not accetable. ., , ., when its people. this is not accetable. ., ., , ., acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know, acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know. she _ acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know, she is _ acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know, she is an _ acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know, she is an avid _ acceptable. i apologise to sam case. you know, she is an avid viewer- acceptable. i apologise to sam case.

you know, she is an avid viewer of. you know, she is an avid viewer of the papers. and i'm sure she would always be welcome. now she is cancelling parties. and she will have something else to fill her diary with. it is always good to catch up with, my brain is like catching up with my mouth and vice versa —— not catching up. .he . he should've removed himself from this inuui . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and _ . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and it _ . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and it was _ . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and it was going - . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and it was going to - . he should've removed himself from this inquiry and it was going to be - this inquiry and it was going to be a quick— this inquiry and it was going to be a quick and — this inquiry and it was going to be a quick and dirty inquiry so the government could move on from this and draw— government could move on from this and draw a _ government could move on from this and draw a line under it, apologise, sack will_ and draw a line under it, apologise, sack will needed to be sacked and so we have _ sack will needed to be sacked and so we have simon's senior civil servant who is— we have simon's senior civil servant who is a _ we have simon's senior civil servant who is a cabinet secretary and most senior— who is a cabinet secretary and most senior civil — who is a cabinet secretary and most senior civil servant in the land. civil_ senior civil servant in the land. civil servants are meant to be seen not heard _ civil servants are meant to be seen not heard of— civil servants are meant to be seen not heard of them as they're giving evidence _ not heard of them as they're giving evidence to — not heard of them as they're giving evidence to parliamentary select committee and his case in the front

pa-e committee and his case in the front page of— committee and his case in the front page of most of the newspapers. this is not _ page of most of the newspapers. this is not a _ page of most of the newspapers. this is not a good look for him it's not a good _ is not a good look for him it's not a good looh— is not a good look for him it's not a good look for the government, he should _ a good look for the government, he should have recused himself and this is going _ should have recused himself and this is going to _ is going to roll over into next week and the public is getting quite fed up and the public is getting quite fed up with— and the public is getting quite fed up with it — and the public is getting quite fed up with it. it and the public is getting quite fed u- with it. , and the public is getting quite fed uwith it. , . ., , up with it. it is particularly difficult for _ up with it. it is particularly difficult for him _ up with it. it is particularly difficult for him because . up with it. it is particularly i difficult for him because he's up with it. it is particularly - difficult for him because he's on the outside of whitehall as an impartial arbiter. the personal politicians go to when something needs to be discovered in the midst be investigations. it's not really political you're seen as the person who defends the integrity and independence of the civil service against undue political pressure. both of those things are somewhat compromised by the story. i was civen his compromised by the story. i was given his job _ compromised by the story. i was given his job by _ compromised by the story. i was given his job by the _ compromised by the story. i was given his job by the prime - compromised by the story. i —" given hisjob by the prime minister who says i know how to have an independent inquiry, i'm going to get the guideway give the job to to investigate. if we trade that, someone that i've employed, get them to investigate, i would be rightly

left out of the building. they don't understand is this case for prince william and coming to downing street with some experience outside of westminster and how it is that when a prime minister sat down and we need to investigate. why he didn't immediately say, i don't think i'll be a good look because you gave me the job. be a good look because you gave me thejob. but then be a good look because you gave me the job. but then when he was asked it as the parties they supposedly had last year, he should've said that that was not a good idea either because i happen to know that there was wine out of my personal office and it was in my digital diary store this christmas. it is not going to be a good look, but it some of us to do your cover up but it some of us to do your cover up for you, but it some of us to do your cover upforyou, sir. but but it some of us to do your cover up for you, sir. but he did not do either of those things. in the last week, this is been going on for

three weeks now. last week for the cabinet office itself had some parties, all of the journalists said to downing street, are you sure you want simon to do this? is he definitely in the clear, you 100% on that. downing street said be done the due diligence, don't you fret about it, my dear. and guess what, five minutes later, they found improvement going to have to recuse myself. if i was simon, i would be upset that my boss put me in the situation and secondly fully aware that i have been entirely unable to do myjob tomorrow as being an impartial adviser to the prime minister because you no longer look impartial, it looks like he was going to be or intended to be some kind of a cover—up by someone who was doing exactly the same potentially criminal behaviour as he was supposed to be investigating. and that situation, you should have the wherewithal, the self—awareness

to go you know what, i resigned. i don't do thisjob to go you know what, i resigned. i don't do this job any more. it's time to go. don't do this 'ob any more. it's time to go.— time to go. using the phrase cover-up _ time to go. using the phrase cover-up as _ time to go. using the phrase cover-up as if _ time to go. using the phrase cover-up as if it's _ time to go. using the phrase cover-up as if it's a - time to go. using the phrase l cover-up as if it's a statement time to go. using the phrase - cover-up as if it's a statement of cover—up as if it's a statement of fact. but the first time you mentioned it, they said do not give mentioned it, they said do not give me to be involved in the cover—up. and were clear about that, take exactly the point that you're making and in the sense of all the papers making that this is an unnecessarily shooting yourself in the foot. on a day when, you've got a story on the front of the telegraph, the prime minister trying to move on from the parties then trying to move on from a terrible by election. that parties then trying to move on from a terrible by election.— a terrible by election. that by election defeat _ a terrible by election. that by election defeat was _ a terrible by election. that by| election defeat was absolutely seismic— election defeat was absolutely seismic and if you look six months, they say— seismic and if you look six months, they say six— seismic and if you look six months, they say six weeks is a long time and six _ they say six weeks is a long time and six months is an absolute

eternity. you go back to earlier this year. — eternity. you go back to earlier this year, back in may when the tories _ this year, back in may when the tories one — this year, back in may when the tories one hartlepool, the 50% of the vote — tories one hartlepool, the 50% of the vote a— tories one hartlepool, the 50% of the vote. a seed that is been labour for decades— the vote. a seed that is been labour for decades and you look at where we are now. _ for decades and you look at where we are now. i_ for decades and you look at where we are now, i mean, going to go back to the beginning of october for the prime _ the beginning of october for the prime minister skimmed a berm storm or speech _ prime minister skimmed a berm storm or speech in _ prime minister skimmed a berm storm or speech in the fast forward in a rock-solid — or speech in the fast forward in a rock-solid -- _ or speech in the fast forward in a rock—solid —— barnstorming. and traditionally a place of the always voted _ traditionally a place of the always voted tory going back centuries. it perfectly— voted tory going back centuries. it perfectly decent candidate who is a doctor. _ perfectly decent candidate who is a doctor. ex — perfectly decent candidate who is a doctor, ex army officer, a barista, is basicaiiy— doctor, ex army officer, a barista, is basically really stuffed by the seismic— is basically really stuffed by the seismic incompetent of his leader. remember how we got here. this is all in _ remember how we got here. this is all in the _ remember how we got here. this is all in the back of the owen patterson, who was meant to be

disciplined, leaving the house of commons — disciplined, leaving the house of commons in 30 days, but the conservative party, the government tried to _ conservative party, the government tried to change the rules and then rapidly— tried to change the rules and then rapidly had to backpedal and launch all of its _ rapidly had to backpedal and launch all of its backbench mps down the mountain— all of its backbench mps down the mountain to try to change the rules and it— mountain to try to change the rules and it looks — mountain to try to change the rules and it looks absolutely ridiculous. that's _ and it looks absolutely ridiculous. that's what got them into this position— that's what got them into this position and the avenue christmas party— position and the avenue christmas party gate — position and the avenue christmas party gate and all of the things in the results speak for themselves. they did — the results speak for themselves. they did a — the results speak for themselves. they did a fantastic picture of borisjohnson and you can imagine, that must be the mood he feels. but from your point of view, this is unknown when shoulders but boris johnson. ii unknown when shoulders but boris johnson. , unknown when shoulders but boris johnson. _ . ., , johnson. if the by election result was a turkey _ johnson. if the by election result was a turkey just _ johnson. if the by election result was a turkey just to _ johnson. if the by election result was a turkey just to bring - johnson. if the by election result was a turkeyjust to bring the - was a turkeyjust to bring the festive — was a turkeyjust to bring the festive twist to it, it could be seen — festive twist to it, it could be seen to — festive twist to it, it could be seen to have been stuffed, basted and roasted in downing street. we have a and roasted in downing street. have a full and roasted in downing street. - have a full diet available tonight because he has. on top of the rest

of it. but presumably love from the daily mirror. let's move on. it is interesting on the point of leadership to hear what angela has been saying this evening. the deputy leader of the labour party. let's play that in. i leader of the labour party. let's play that im— leader of the labour party. let's play that in. i think boris johnson has set the _ play that in. i think boris johnson has set the tone _ play that in. i think boris johnson has set the tone for _ play that in. i think boris johnson has set the tone for his _ play that in. i think boris johnson i has set the tone for his government and he _ has set the tone for his government and he lives — has set the tone for his government and he lives by— has set the tone for his government and he lives by one _ has set the tone for his government and he lives by one rule _ has set the tone for his government and he lives by one rule for- has set the tone for his government and he lives by one rule for him - has set the tone for his government and he lives by one rule for him and other— and he lives by one rule for him and other rules — and he lives by one rule for him and other rules for— and he lives by one rule for him and other rules for everybody _ and he lives by one rule for him and other rules for everybody else - and he lives by one rule for him and other rules for everybody else and i| other rules for everybody else and i think— other rules for everybody else and i think people — other rules for everybody else and i think people can— other rules for everybody else and i think people can see _ other rules for everybody else and i think people can see through- other rules for everybody else and i think people can see through that l think people can see through that now it's _ think people can see through that now it's incredibly— think people can see through that now it's incredibly hard _ think people can see through that now it's incredibly hard to - think people can see through that now it's incredibly hard to believe j now it's incredibly hard to believe that no _ now it's incredibly hard to believe that no one — now it's incredibly hard to believe that no one in _ now it's incredibly hard to believe that no one in government- now it's incredibly hard to believe that no one in government that l now it's incredibly hard to believe . that no one in government that knew that no one in government that knew that these _ that no one in government that knew that these parties _ that no one in government that knew that these parties were _ that no one in government that knew that these parties were happening i that these parties were happening and there's— that these parties were happening and there's a _ that these parties were happening and there's a huge _ that these parties were happening and there's a huge bite _ that these parties were happening and there's a huge bite of- that these parties were happening i and there's a huge bite of evidence now, _ and there's a huge bite of evidence now. i_ and there's a huge bite of evidence now. i do— and there's a huge bite of evidence now, i do believe _ and there's a huge bite of evidence now, i do believe that _ and there's a huge bite of evidence now, i do believe that the - now, i do believe that the investigation _ now, i do believe that the investigation that- now, i do believe that the investigation that he - now, i do believe that the investigation that he is i now, i do believe that the i investigation that he is going now, i do believe that the - investigation that he is going to be and is _ investigation that he is going to be and is evidence _ investigation that he is going to be and is evidence there _ investigation that he is going to be and is evidence there that - investigation that he is going to be and is evidence there that he - investigation that he is going to bel and is evidence there that he needs to cover— and is evidence there that he needs to cover that — and is evidence there that he needs to cover that investigation - and is evidence there that he needs to cover that investigation very - to cover that investigation very swiftly— to cover that investigation very swiftly to — to cover that investigation very swiftly to restore _ to cover that investigation very swiftly to restore the _ to cover that investigation very swiftly to restore the public - to cover that investigation very l swiftly to restore the public trust and then — swiftly to restore the public trust and then handover— swiftly to restore the public trust and then handover the _ swiftly to restore the public trust and then handover the evidencel swiftly to restore the public trust i and then handover the evidence to the police — and then handover the evidence to the police because _ and then handover the evidence to the police because no— and then handover the evidence to the police because no 1's - and then handover the evidence to the police because no 1's broke - this is the political difficulty and

even the little conservative papers are struggling with this question. can he really recover from this given that his personal brand and all the things, some of the things have turned negative for him? exactly. it's on the vacancy in the by election. in 2019, there are 35,444 people in the area who voted for a party representing someone and led and knew at the time we knew he was a serial liar. that he was going to be doing some kind of brexit there was not going to be ideal and he is going to use immigration dog whistles and other cheap tricks and they were fine with that. thousand immorality. knowing right and wrong just doing the wrong thing but it's ok because it doesn't hurt me. that immorality. ok because it doesn't hurt me. that immorality-— ok because it doesn't hurt me. that immorali . ., ., , immorality. some of those thousands of tieole

immorality. some of those thousands of peeple voted _ immorality. some of those thousands of people voted on _ immorality. some of those thousands of people voted on principle - immorality. some of those thousands of people voted on principle or - of people voted on principle or because they didn't trustjeremy corbyn oral kinds of other things. the question you asked was about boris johnson's the question you asked was about borisjohnson's character the question you asked was about boris johnson's character and the question you asked was about borisjohnson's character and his character was going to be immoral. but we have now with the parties and also the way it has unfolded and the way organising the investigation makes things even more catastrophic that it was supposed to be fixing, that it was supposed to be fixing, thatis that it was supposed to be fixing, that is a morality. that's the inability to know the difference between right and wrong, notjust making a bad choice by making a choice and having no idea where the moral compass should be avoided even is and that is the thing that i think is causing the disconnect now but the public. it is the idea that he is notjust a bit of a chancellor, but of a gambler, he is genuinely programmed kind of wrong because being immoral. that is something that is plugged into your

head when you're a toddler