this is bbc news with the latest headlines. scotland yard says it hasn't requested a delay to the publication of the sue gray report into lockdown gatherings in downing street and whitehall. borisjohnson is reportedly wavering on plans to raise national insurance in april to fund health and social care, as those inquiries into party claims continue. on bbc question time, a minister admitted the move is unpopular. everybody in the room is against it, everybody in the room is feeling the squeeze. is that fair? are you all against it? yeah. how do you feel about the increase? are you willing to pay the extra to fund health and social care?

we want to hear from you. get in touch at @benmboulos using the hashtag bbc your questions. the united states has urged china to use its influence with moscow to discourage any russian invasion of ukraine. doubts over the timing of the positive covid test novak djokovic used to enter australia. british sign language is on course to become a recognised language in england, making it more prominent in public service announcements. and coming up this hour, we hear from the �*bag lady of aberdare�*, who's collected 10,000 carrier bags. hello and a warm welcome to the programme. scotland yard has given more

details about its contact with the cabinet office team preparing the report on lockdown gatherings at downing street. the findings of sue gray's inquiry are yet to be published and the metropolitan police say they aren't responsible for the delay. but they've confirmed they want "minimal reference" in that report to events they're investigating themselves. meanwhile, there's increasing pressure on the government to delay a planned rise in national insurance. a number of conservative mps have joined calls to put off the increase for a year, to help relieve the cost of living crisis. we'll be live in westminster shortly on that update on the met�*s investigation into lockdown gatherings at downing street. first here's our political correspondent helen catt. welcome to question time. speaking on the bbc�*s question time programme, the armed forces ministerjames heappey appeared to concede that raising national insurance from april to pay for the covid backlog in social care was unpopular, describing opposition among the audience in morecambe as absolute.

everybody in the room is against it. everybody in the room is feeling the squeeze. is that fair? are you all against it? yeah. audience applauds. mr heappey also said that the government was in listening mode. you'll have noticed that the top of the government is in listening mode at the moment. and, erm... but the cabinet took the decision, and i think that it's important to recognise that actually as a tax, it will — i think sort of 50% of the revenue's raised by the top 14% of taxpayers, and there's six million people that pay nothing at all. so, arm, you know, it isn't the, eh, the blunt instrument that some people have described it as. there are calls from some conservative backbenchers for the rise to be delayed for a year. mel stride, who chairs the treasury select committee, told newsnight that he believed there was wiggle room in the public finances to allow it. the economy is doing quite a lot better than the 0br forecast at the time of the last budget, so we've got that additional fiscal headroom.

and the question then becomes, how do you use that? asked yesterday if the rise would go ahead, the prime minister said it was absolutely vital that covid backlogs and social care were fixed. his official spokesman later said there were no plans to change what had previously been set out. a treasury source said there had not been any discussions about changing the policy. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley who's in westminster. what more do we know about this latest development on the met investigation? the latest development on the met investigation?— latest development on the met investigation? the statement has 'ust come investigation? the statement has just come in _ investigation? the statement has just come in the _ investigation? the statement has just come in the past _ investigation? the statement has just come in the past hour - investigation? the statement has just come in the past hour or- investigation? the statement has just come in the past hour or so l investigation? the statement has i just come in the past hour or so and it basically says that the met had beenin it basically says that the met had been in contact with sue gray and asked her to only include minimal reference to the event that they themselves are investigating. we had expected to get the report from sue gray earlier this week, perhaps tuesday or wednesday, but the announcement from the met on tuesday about their own probe really threw a

spanner in the works, one that is still being dealt with and i think this latest statement will throw another spanner into the works. because it suggests that some of the more serious allegations will not be able to be fully explored in sue gray's report, the language they use in the statement is they want to avoid any prejudice to their investigation. it is not completely clear to me what that means but it does suggest that some of the more serious allegations will not be fully explored in the way that they might have been. my understanding this morning, speaking to people close to sue gray, is that she does still want to put out a report, if it was the option of a report or something redacted, she would rather put something into the public domain. but it will probably lead to accusations from opposition parties that this process, the cabinet office process, risks being a bit of 0ffice process, risks being a bit of a whitewash put up in the past hour

i have spoken to a government minister, the culture minister, who said that this process is independent, it is not one for the government to dictate but they do think that over the fullness of time, the sue gray report and the met investigation will get to the bottom of this, but that is both report together. the initial plan was for sue gray to get all the facts into the open and it is not completely clear at this morning if that will still happen. find that will still happen. and meanwhile _ that will still happen. and meanwhile there - that will still happen. and meanwhile there is - that will still happen. and meanwhile there is this i that will still happen. and meanwhile there is this wavering on the planned rise in national insurance contributions which is due to come in in april to help fund health and social but what is going on with that? the health and social but what is going on with that?— on with that? the political context ofthe on with that? the political context of the sue gray — on with that? the political context of the sue gray report _ on with that? the political context of the sue gray report is - on with that? the political context of the sue gray report is really - of the sue gray report is really important here because basically borisjohnson is on the ropes and he knows that his fate will be decided by conservative mps. he is seeing a lot of them regularly to try to win them over and a lot of them are telling him that they want the

national insurance rise to be either cancelled or postponed for a year. there is a growing number of conservative mps are saying exactly that, robert halfon, a senior tory backbencher told the bbc this morning he wants the government to go back to the drawing board on this because it will have the biggest impact on low income families. is the government going to budge? it's not totally clear, to be honest, borisjohnson said yesterday, the sort of answer that raises eyebrows in westminster, where he said we have to fund the nhs and find money for that and social care but didn't categorically say the national insurance rise would go ahead in april. the word from downing street is there are no plans to change it but i think the pressure on boris johnson for a rethink is only going to get more considerable in the next few days and weeks.— few days and weeks. nick, for the moment, thank _ few days and weeks. nick, for the moment, thank you _ few days and weeks. nick, for the moment, thank you very - few days and weeks. nick, for the moment, thank you very much. . few days and weeks. nick, for the i moment, thank you very much. nick eardley at westminster. as we wait

for the sue gray report and the met police investigation, there are still questions around the future of the prime minister. you don't have to go far back into conservative history to find the last time mps tried to oust a sitting prime minister. theresa may faced a vote of no—confidence in december 2018 but survived. joe moor was her director of legislative affairs. hejoins us now. what is it like for a prime minister when their own side, their own mps, are trying to push them out?- are trying to push them out? thanks for addin: are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me _ are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me on, _ are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me on, it's _ are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me on, it's a _ are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me on, it's a very - are trying to push them out? thanks for adding me on, it's a very good i for adding me on, it's a very good question and it's a very difficult time, understandably. ithink question and it's a very difficult time, understandably. i think the thing with theresa may was we realised for some time that a vote of confidence was likely to happen, that the sword of damocles had been hanging over her in that sense since she agreed the checkers deal on brexit in the summer of 2018. and

you plan for it because you know it's going to happen and you make sure you have the things in place you need to do when that time comes. i think for us, we had a plan in place, we were able to exercise it very quickly went the number of letters went into the 1922 committee to get it but the one thing i think is interesting is that it does consume the whole building and there are two points i would make. the first is that obviously number 10 is a big building, setaround first is that obviously number 10 is a big building, set around the prime minister and made up of political staff which is quite a large team but also the civil service. and when it gets political in that sense, the civil service support kind of disappears because it is a political matter so the political team is entirely focused on that issue. the second thing is, downing street, as with any other organisation, can only focus on a finite number of issues at one time. just because thatis issues at one time. just because that is the capacity people have.

when things like confidence votes happen, it does consume everything so it slows everything else down and it gets parked and that is one of the biggest challenges.- it gets parked and that is one of the biggest challenges. when you take an issue _ the biggest challenges. when you take an issue like _ the biggest challenges. when you take an issue like the _ the biggest challenges. when you take an issue like the planned - the biggest challenges. when you | take an issue like the planned rise in national insurance, without getting into the detail of it, but an issue like that where it is some would say anathema to the natural conservative tenancy, a tax increase, how robustly can number 10 pursue a policy like that and get it through go ahead with it when it is weakened by these questions around the future of the prime minister and perhaps backbenchers feel more emboldened to say, hang on, we're not going along with this? it is emboldened to say, hang on, we're not going along with this?— not going along with this? it is a aood not going along with this? it is a good question — not going along with this? it is a good question but _ not going along with this? it is a good question but it _ not going along with this? it is a good question but it is _ not going along with this? it is a | good question but it is important not going along with this? it 3 —. good question but it is important to reflect on the context of white the planned tax increase is happening and being proposed in the first place which is that we are coming out of world changing pandemic, there were huge backlogs across the

nhs and front line care doesn't need to be financed. if you are going to make spending commitments of that nature, they need to be funded in some way and the only way you can fund the spending pledges is either by raising taxation or by cutting costs elsewhere. and it doesn't seem sensible, especially in the current fiscal and economic climate, to be adding to the national debt, it seems more sensible to fund it properly. seems more sensible to fund it ro erl . _, seems more sensible to fund it --roerl. . ~ seems more sensible to fund it n-roerl. ., seems more sensible to fund it ”roerl . ., properly. going back to the point about limited _ properly. going back to the point about limited capacity _ properly. going back to the point about limited capacity to - properly. going back to the point about limited capacity to get - properly. going back to the point i about limited capacity to get things done when number 10 is fending off challenges to the prime minister's authority, you could put the blame for that on those who are challenging the authority or looking another way, that if a five as that seems to see confidence ebbing away in his leadership, it is incumbent on them to say that it is time to hand over to someone who can focus on getting things done without these challenges? i’m

on getting things done without these challenues? �* ., , ., challenges? i'm not sure we are there yet- _ challenges? i'm not sure we are there yet. whether _ challenges? i'm not sure we are there yet. whether that - challenges? i'm not sure we are| there yet. whether that happens challenges? i'm not sure we are i there yet. whether that happens or not will public be quite a long process but it is ultimately in the hands of one constituency and that is conservative mps in parliament. the key thing i think for the prime minister at the moment is to demonstrate that downing street is not entirely consumed by this matter and that he cant move on and start to demonstrate the machinery of government is working and delivering on the pledges made —— he can move on. i would expect in the coming weeks to see progress on a number of issues, the levelling up white paper that has long been mooted you would hope it would see the light of day soon and there are plenty of other things the government could be seeing action on. it is important that they don't let this consume downing street at a time when they actually don't have control of the timetable because they're still waiting for the sue gray report to come through, for the met police to now start their investigations and

pursue that in the manner they need to. and in the meantime, downing street needs to be moving the agenda forward is. qm. street needs to be moving the agenda forward is. . ., ., , forward is. ok, joe, really interesting _ forward is. ok, joe, really interesting to _ forward is. ok, joe, really interesting to get - forward is. ok, joe, really interesting to get an - forward is. ok, joe, really. interesting to get an insight forward is. ok, joe, really- interesting to get an insight on what it's like from the inside, thank you very much, joe moor. the united states has urged china to use its influence with moscow to discourage any russian invasion of ukraine. a us state department official said western countries were unified in wanting a diplomatic solution, but the costs must be swift and severe for russia if it took military action. the us has also called for a meeting of the un security council to discuss russian aggression towards ukraine. the french president, emmanuel macron, will try to ease tensions over russian troop movements with a phone call to president putin this morning. mark lobel has the latest. in belarus, to ukraine's north, russian rivals for more training exercises, breathing life into fears

they are not here just for that. begging the question — is this a taste of things to come? elsewhere, spotted to ukraine's south, it is russian vehicles, possibly missile launchers, in annexed crimea. behaviour threatening enough to drive the us to advise its citizens to leave ukraine. it is also demanding germany walks away from this gas pipeline that would link it to russia if troops roll in. if russia invades ukraine, one way or another, nord stream 2 will not move forward. questions remain over how the us could stop it, but it is the kind of bullish talk one northern european nato ally thinks is their best bet at stopping an attack. putin understands and respects strength, and any sort of hesitancy

is always viewed upon from putin's side as weakness so as we are speaking with putin, we are also in the process of strengthening nato's position in the eastern flank. america is also threatening russia with heavy sanctions and is urging china to get behind efforts to stop an invasion, but some believe china will take any gas russia can't sell to europe. china should be interested in a clash over ukraine, i just because it would assure that russia would remain china's - ally almost forever. talks between russia and the west have warmed over arms controls in eastern europe, though that is seen as a secondary issue by russia, with diplomatic channels still open. as this threat of war drags on, it is leaving ukrainians, like the rest of us, guessing. translation: i'm even keeping

a machine gun in the toilet now. | translation: it all depends on the big boss in moscow i but it is making us distressed. for ourselves, for our children, and grandchildren. further western efforts to engage with russia in the coming days from the french president, emmanuel macron, and at the un security council, may offer some answers as to what happens next. mark lobel, bbc news. joining me now is christian molling, who is the director of the security and defense research program at the european council. good to have you with us. how much hope do you put on this phone call between president macron and president putin this morning? i think it is one in a chain of events that take place, the sessions that take place in the hope is of course that at least by time and send a positive signal to moscow that their

concerns are taken at least into account, not every time theorist, but into account, that is the one thing that is to signal to moscow and the other signal to macron is to his domestic audience because he has an ongoing election campaign and in his last election campaign, he made europe a core figure in this campaign. so he cannot back down on this, he has put up the term of european sovereignty and all these things into the public and now it is something where he has renewed this language so it is important for him also to show to his public audience that on the international scene, he is a leading european security. in terms of the sanction threatened against russia, how realistic and seriously do you think those will be resonating with president putin,

given the current energy crisis and the fact that if you put sanctions on russia and then russia's exports of natural gas, for example, were to fall, the price would go up even more? and in a way, the sanctions would have a backlash effect on western europe and america as well? i think that is what moscow has taken into account, that they may not take the sanctions forward, i guess there are more questions as to whether this position that moscow holds is still true because the americans have weighed in with plans for sanctions that are not only on energy but that are also on export controls for technology, etc, and that might hurt the russians as well but your point is still valid, there is a short—term effect and the question is, are we willing to pay the price and this especially applies to berlin where i am sitting. are we willing to pay for

short—term higher gas prices, is the government willing to compensate for that? and therefore ensure that europe holds the line against the russians on these things? but i wouldn't start with the assumption that the europeans would back down anyway once the prices go up because this is the calculation in russia thatis this is the calculation in russia that is too easy for us to say, ok, we will basically be able to undermine this assumption because thatis undermine this assumption because that is part of political deterrence to keep your adversary somewhat at risk and uncertainty of what we are willing to throw into the game. i suppose this is the first european defence and security crisis, if we can put it like that for many years, where we are not seeing the key figure of angela merkel at the table in the discussions could of course olaf scholz is now the german chancellor and his approach is

interesting because he has said it does not want german made equipment being sent to ukraine. i wonder whether that perhaps gives a sense of division or cracks within the nato alliance? i of division or cracks within the nato alliance?— of division or cracks within the nato alliance? i wouldn't say it is a crack in the _ nato alliance? i wouldn't say it is a crack in the nato _ nato alliance? i wouldn't say it is a crack in the nato alliance. - nato alliance? i wouldn't say it is a crack in the nato alliance. he i nato alliance? i wouldn't say it is l a crack in the nato alliance. he has just given a traditional line that also the merkel government had before. there is nothing new to it. it gets a special flavour because many other european countries are currently delivering equipment to ukraine, showing more the solidarity side than military efficiency, but it is an important signal towards ukraine but also towards russia, that the europeans are on site so in that the europeans are on site so in that part, the germans i would not say are outliers but they have to make up their mind what they want to deliver. i guess the key point here is that we are seeing this crisis

coming out exactly at that point because we have a new government in germany which is not acquainted to international crises, we have an election campaign with the french president, so there is weakness in europe that you can basically try and exploit, i guess that is the typical strategy or tactics we are seeing from moscow since 2014 or even earlier. always once there is an opportunity to have a crack or widen a crack, to use this opportunity and see how far it gets. because you can say that putin has been quite successful in leverage inc the few potentials he has in power and he is back on the table talking to the us, the us is talking to him, the europeans are at least to him, the europeans are at least to a certain extent out of the game or have to crawl to come back into the game so it's getting quite well for moscow. and we are willing to make some concessions to them, to

prevent a shooting war in ukraine. christian molling from the defence and research programme at the european council, thank you very much. doubts have emerged about the timing of a positive covid test novak djokovic used to enter australia, where he had been hoping to defend his australian open tennis title. the world number one was originally given an exemption to play after providing evidence of having had the virus in december. his visa was later rejected. matt graveling has this report. this was novak djokovic's chance to win his tenth australian open, and with it, the most grand slams ever achieved in men's tennis. upon arrival in melbourne onjanuary 5, and confirming he was unvaccinated, his visa was revoked by the government. the serbian was given an exemption to play, having tested positive for coronavirus in mid—december. in an attempt to overturn the decision, djokovic's legal team presented two covid test certificates to a federal

court in australia. the first, shown to be taken on december 16th, shows a positive result. the second, taken six days later, shows a negative result. a german research company questioned why the unique confirmation code on the earlier test was higher than the later one. the bbc has investigated if codes on tests done in serbia are generated in a chronological order. a total of 56 test certificates were collected, and their unique confirmation codes plotted against the date of each result. in all cases studied, the earlier the result, the lower the unique code for the corresponding test. the only outlier of the codes plotted was novak djokovic's positive test on december 16th. according to the bbc�*s graph,

this confirmation code would suggest a test sometime between the 25th and december 28th. one data specialist said, "there is always the possibility for a glitch, but if this was the case, i don't know why the authorities would not say that." to try and explain this discrepancy, the bbc has approached novak djokovic's team, serbia's institute of public health, and its office of information technology, but has yet to have a response. matt graveling, bbc news. let's speak now to jake horton from our reality check team. how can we go about establishing the exact timing and secret of events of this at all? it exact timing and secret of events of this at all? , ., ., ., this at all? it began with two covid novak djokovic _ this at all? it began with two covid novak djokovic submitted - this at all? it began with two covid novak djokovic submitted to - novak djokovic submitted to australian courts. both of these tests were submitted to the court, one positive, dated the 16th of december, and one was negative, dated the 22nd of december. the

positive one, novak djokovic used it because he thought it would gain a medical exemption to enter australia but ultimately lost that appeal and he was deported on public health and safety grounds. but questions still remained aside from this but some discrepancies between the two tests he submitted to the court. people highlighted that on the first test on the 16th of december but the confirmation code was higher than his second test put every test in serbia has a specific unique confirmation code and it was suggested that usually they go up overtime chronologically so the earlier that result, the lower the id number. we asked teen djokovic and the public health institute in serbia to clarify any discrepancy and provide an explanation but we got no answers so we decided to do our own digging into the timeline like you are asking. and we found over 50 examples that we collected from bbc serbia college and a serbian scientist collecting his own data, to establish if these went up

chronologically over time and we plotted their monograph and it did indeed show that the earlier the test result, the lower the code —— plotted them on point up there was only one outlier and that was mr djokovic's positive covid test dated on the 16th of december, that he used to try and gain a medical exemption to australia. there are still questions about this and we have put them to the relevant authorities in australia as well as team djokovic and we have not had any answers so there is a slight mystery remaining around that element. , . ~ mystery remaining around that element. i . ~ ., ~ mystery remaining around that element. . . ~ . ~' , ., mystery remaining around that element. i . ~ ., ~ , ., ., element. 0k, jake, thank you for talkin: us element. 0k, jake, thank you for talking us through _ element. 0k, jake, thank you for talking us through it. _ 38 million birds have disappeared from british skies over the last 50 years. this weekend we're all being encouraged to join the rspb�*s annual big garden birdwatch. it's the biggest wildlife survey of its kind on the planet, and it's invaluable in the fight to stop the decline in bird populations. our climate editorjustin rowlatt is in sherwood forest for us

this morning and can explain what's involved. how do we get involved? i can tell that but first _ how do we get involved? i can tell that but first let's _ how do we get involved? i can tell that but first let's look _ how do we get involved? i can tell that but first let's look at - how do we get involved? i can tell that but first let's look at where i that but first let's look at where we are because we are in sherwood forest, a wonderful location, the forest, a wonderful location, the forest behind us, he slid beyond that and we have a bird feeder here but no birds. there was a sparrow and a robin earlier, a robin in sherwood forest, appropriately enough, but no others but the bird population here is amazing, wonderful dawn chorus. listen to this. �* , can wonderful dawn chorus. listen to this-_ can you - wonderful dawn chorus. listen to this._ can you hear i wonderful dawn chorus. listen to i this._ can you hear that? this. birdsong. can you hear that? somebody who _ this. birdsong. can you hear that? somebody who can _ this. birdsong. can you hear that? somebody who can interpret - this. birdsong. can you hear that? somebody who can interpret that i this. birdsong. can you hear that? somebody who can interpret that is| somebody who can interpret that is becky is the chief executive of the rspb i'm joined by imogen, a keen bird watcher who has been involved in the survey for a number of years. what birds could be here?— in the survey for a number of years. what birds could be here? there was a cacophony — what birds could be here? there was a cacophony of _ what birds could be here? there was a cacophony of things _ what birds could be here? there was a cacophony of things going - what birds could be here? there was a cacophony of things going on i what birds could be here? there was a cacophony of things going on but i a cacophony of things going on but the thing _ a cacophony of things going on but the thing i— a cacophony of things going on but the thing i was delighted to hear

was the — the thing i was delighted to hear was the song thrush, that was my first of— was the song thrush, that was my first of the — was the song thrush, that was my first of the year and it has eight repetitive — first of the year and it has eight repetitive and gorgeous song, and we also heard _ repetitive and gorgeous song, and we also heard a _ repetitive and gorgeous song, and we also heard a woodpecker earlier. what _ also heard a woodpecker earlier. what is — also heard a woodpecker earlier. what is this big garden birdwatch all about? what do people have to do? it all about? what do people have to do? , , , ., do? it is the biggest garden wildlife survey _ do? it is the biggest garden wildlife survey in _ do? it is the biggest garden wildlife survey in the - do? it is the biggest garden wildlife survey in the world | do? it is the biggest garden i wildlife survey in the world now, 1 million _ wildlife survey in the world now, 1 million people took part last year, and what — million people took part last year, and what we ask you to do is spend and what we ask you to do is spend an of— and what we ask you to do is spend an of your— and what we ask you to do is spend an of yourweekend and what we ask you to do is spend an of your weekend just watching the birds either _ an of your weekend just watching the birds either in your garden, from your— birds either in your garden, from your balcony, your local green space, — your balcony, your local green space, and _ your balcony, your local green space, and telling us how many of each _ space, and telling us how many of each species you are seeing and that all adds— each species you are seeing and that all adds up— each species you are seeing and that all adds up to give us a snapshot of what's _ all adds up to give us a snapshot of what's going on for our most common garden _ what's going on for our most common garden birds — what's going on for our most common garden birds. you what's going on for our most common garden birds-— garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years _ garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years but _ garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years but the _ garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years but the message i garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years but the message it i garden birds. you been doing this for 43 years but the message it isj for 43 years but the message it is telling us is quite depressing, what is it saying about british birds? when you look at that 43 years, you can see _ when you look at that 43 years, you can see overall there has been this decline. _ can see overall there has been this decline, losing about 38 million birds _ decline, losing about 38 million birds from the uk sky is in that time, — birds from the uk sky is in that time, about one fifth of the breeding bird population which is tragic— breeding bird population which is tragic and although some species are

doing _ tragic and although some species are doing better, there is a overall decline — doing better, there is a overall decline particular in farmland and woodland — decline particular in farmland and woodland and garden birds and the survey— woodland and garden birds and the survey helps us understand that. what _ survey helps us understand that. what is _ survey helps us understand that. what is driving this decline? it�*s what is driving this decline? it's all sorts of _ what is driving this decline? it's all sorts of things, a perfect storm in a way, _ all sorts of things, a perfect storm in a way, climate change in particular— in a way, climate change in particular is driving some of that decline — particular is driving some of that decline but so it's things like the way in _ decline but so it's things like the way in which we farm which has become — way in which we farm which has become much more intensive in the last 50 _ become much more intensive in the last 50 years, 70% of the land is farmland. — last 50 years, 70% of the land is farmland, things like pollution, pesticides, more development, you can see _ pesticides, more development, you can see how all of these factors making — can see how all of these factors making life difficult for birds. indie. — making life difficult for birds. indie, you are 16 years old and lets get this right, you have been doing this since you were 11? what attracted you to the survey? i’zre attracted you to the survey? i've been doing _ attracted you to the survey? i've been doing it — attracted you to the survey? i've been doing it for _ attracted you to the survey? i've been doing it for about five years, i been doing it for about five years, i live _ been doing it for about five years, i live in_ been doing it for about five years, i live in the — been doing it for about five years, i live in the middle _ been doing it for about five years, i live in the middle of— been doing it for about five years, i live in the middle of the - been doing it for about five years, i live in the middle of the woods l i live in the middle of the woods not far— i live in the middle of the woods not far from _ i live in the middle of the woods not far from it _ i live in the middle of the woods not far from it that _ i live in the middle of the woods not far from it that i— i live in the middle of the woods not far from it that i have - i live in the middle of the woods| not far from it that i have always been _ not far from it that i have always been surrounded _ not far from it that i have always been surrounded by _ not far from it that i have always been surrounded by birds - not far from it that i have always been surrounded by birds and i not far from it that i have always been surrounded by birds and to| not far from it that i have always i been surrounded by birds and to find out that— been surrounded by birds and to find out that some — been surrounded by birds and to find out that some are _ been surrounded by birds and to find out that some are in _ been surrounded by birds and to find out that some are in decline, - been surrounded by birds and to find out that some are in decline, i - out that some are in decline, i thought— out that some are in decline, i thought what _ out that some are in decline, i thought what could _ out that some are in decline, i thought what could i _ out that some are in decline, i thought what could i do - out that some are in decline, i thought what could i do to i out that some are in decline, i i thought what could i do to help and you can _ thought what could i do to help and you can of— thought what could i do to help and you can of course _ thought what could i do to help and you can of course take _ thought what could i do to help and you can of course take part - thought what could i do to help and you can of course take part in i thought what could i do to help and you can of course take part in the i you can of course take part in the survey— you can of course take part in the survey to — you can of course take part in the survey to find _ you can of course take part in the survey to find out _ you can of course take part in the survey to find out what _ you can of course take part in the survey to find out what is - you can of course take part in the survey to find out what is going i you can of course take part in the l survey to find out what is going on and where —

survey to find out what is going on and where we _ survey to find out what is going on and where we can— survey to find out what is going on and where we can help. _ survey to find out what is going on and where we can help.— and where we can help. people watchin: and where we can help. people watching might _ and where we can help. people watching might be _ and where we can help. people watching might be wondering l and where we can help. people i watching might be wondering why and where we can help. people - watching might be wondering why they should be involved but what would you say you get from your bird spotting? for you say you get from your bird s-uottin ? ., , you say you get from your bird s-rottin? ., ,., spotting? for me, it is a massive solace from _ spotting? for me, it is a massive solace from the _ spotting? for me, it is a massive solace from the stress _ spotting? for me, it is a massive solace from the stress of - spotting? for me, it is a massive solace from the stress of daily i solace from the stress of daily life. _ solace from the stress of daily life. taking _ solace from the stress of daily life, taking the _ solace from the stress of daily life, taking the time _ solace from the stress of daily life, taking the time to- solace from the stress of daily life, taking the time to sit- solace from the stress of daily. life, taking the time to sit down and look— life, taking the time to sit down and look at _ life, taking the time to sit down and look at birds _ life, taking the time to sit down and look at birds in _ life, taking the time to sit down and look at birds in more - life, taking the time to sit down| and look at birds in more detail, even _ and look at birds in more detail, even if— and look at birds in more detail, even if you — and look at birds in more detail, even if you don't _ and look at birds in more detail, even if you don't do— and look at birds in more detail, even if you don't do that, - and look at birds in more detail, even if you don't do that, just i even if you don't do that, just looking — even if you don't do that, just looking at— even if you don't do that, just looking at them _ even if you don't do that, just looking at them is _ even if you don't do that, just looking at them is such - even if you don't do that, just looking at them is such a i even if you don't do that, just i looking at them is such a calming influence — looking at them is such a calming influence on— looking at them is such a calming influence on any— looking at them is such a calming influence on any person's - looking at them is such a calming influence on any person's life, i looking at them is such a calmingl influence on any person's life, and taking _ influence on any person's life, and taking part — influence on any person's life, and taking part in _ influence on any person's life, and taking part in the _ influence on any person's life, and taking part in the survey, - influence on any person's life, and taking part in the survey, you i influence on any person's life, and taking part in the survey, you getl taking part in the survey, you get to sit— taking part in the survey, you get to sit down— taking part in the survey, you get to sit down for— taking part in the survey, you get to sit down for an _ taking part in the survey, you get to sit down for an hour— taking part in the survey, you get to sit down for an hour and - taking part in the survey, you get to sit down for an hour and just i to sit down for an hour and just observe — to sit down for an hour and just observe them _ to sit down for an hour and just observe them and _ to sit down for an hour and just observe them and anything i to sit down for an hour and just i observe them and anything about to sit down for an hour and just - observe them and anything about them is brilliant _ observe them and anything about them is brilliant to— observe them and anything about them is brilliant to put _ observe them and anything about them is brilliant to put it _ observe them and anything about them is brilliant to put it people _ observe them and anything about them is brilliant to put it people might - is brilliant to put it people might be a bit — is brilliant to put it people might be a bit intimidated _ is brilliant to put it people might be a bit intimidated by— is brilliant to put it people might be a bit intimidated by the - is brilliant to put it people might be a bit intimidated by the ideal be a bit intimidated by the idea that they— be a bit intimidated by the idea that they are _ be a bit intimidated by the idea that they are part _ be a bit intimidated by the idea that they are part of _ be a bit intimidated by the idea that they are part of a - be a bit intimidated by the idea that they are part of a science i that they are part of a science survey — that they are part of a science surve . ., ' . that they are part of a science surve . ., , . , that they are part of a science surve. ., '. , ., survey. how difficult is it to take art? it's survey. how difficult is it to take part? it's the — survey. how difficult is it to take part? it's the easiest _ survey. how difficult is it to take part? it's the easiest thing, i survey. how difficult is it to take part? it's the easiest thing, you| survey. how difficult is it to take i part? it's the easiest thing, you go to the rspb _ part? it's the easiest thing, you go to the rspb website, _ part? it's the easiest thing, you go to the rspb website, all _ part? it's the easiest thing, you go to the rspb website, all the i to the rspb website, all the information— to the rspb website, all the information is— to the rspb website, all the information is there - to the rspb website, all the information is there and i to the rspb website, all the information is there and it's| to the rspb website, all the i information is there and it'sjust sitting _ information is there and it'sjust sitting in— information is there and it'sjust sitting in your— information is there and it'sjust sitting in your garden _ information is there and it'sjust sitting in your garden or- information is there and it'sjust sitting in your garden or balcony information is there and it's just i sitting in your garden or balcony or green _ sitting in your garden or balcony or green space, — sitting in your garden or balcony or green space, taking _ sitting in your garden or balcony or green space, taking the _ sitting in your garden or balcony or green space, taking the time i sitting in your garden or balcony or green space, taking the time to. green space, taking the time to count_ green space, taking the time to count the — green space, taking the time to count the birds _ green space, taking the time to count the birds in _ green space, taking the time to count the birds in that - green space, taking the time to count the birds in that our- green space, taking the time to count the birds in that our and i green space, taking the time to| count the birds in that our and it really— count the birds in that our and it really is — count the birds in that our and it realty is that _ count the birds in that our and it really is that easy. _ count the birds in that our and it really is that easy.— count the birds in that our and it really is that easy. very simple, go to the website, _ really is that easy. very simple, go to the website, thank— really is that easy. very simple, go to the website, thank you - really is that easy. very simple, go to the website, thank you very - really is that easy. very simple, go i to the website, thank you very much, look out of your window, you don't need a garden stand on your balcony,

look at the window, go to a green space, fill in the form and mark down the birds you have seen, sent it in and you are part of the biggest citizen science project in the world and it is such a crucial way to understand what is happening to our bird population so if you can over the weekend, today or saturday or sunday, take a moment to do this because it's a great way to engage with nature and also help the rspb and the scientists understand what is happening to britain's birds, absolutely crucial point of absolutely, thank you very much. and absolutely, thank you very much. and as well as registering what you have seen them you can share it with others and tweet about it if you like. you're watching let's return to the news that the met police have asked the civil servant sue gray, who is preparing a report into parties held in downing street during lockdowns, that they want "minimal reference" in that report to events they're investigating themselves. let's get reaction from alex bailin qc. what do we read into this reference,

this quote that they want minimal reference to events that the police are investigating? is reference to events that the police are investigating?— are investigating? is certainly nothina are investigating? is certainly nothing sinister. _ are investigating? is certainly nothing sinister. ultimately i are investigating? is certainly - nothing sinister. ultimately there is a very sensitive political investigation being done by an independent civil servant and i can understand politically why everyone wants to see sue gray's report but the timing of it has cut right across a criminal investigation. a criminal investigation has the highest standards of procedural fairness. the met will want to get uncontaminated individual accounts from witnesses and suspects as to what happened and if sue gray were to publish her report warts and all, saying, for example, i've found such and such an account to be inconsistent or i found so and so to be unconvincing, that has a real potential to prejudice the criminal investigation and that's why, as i understand it, the met have asked

her to make minimal reference to the incidents they are investigating. i would have thought that if there were the possibility of a criminal trial, and not wanting to prejudice a jury, trial, and not wanting to prejudice ajury, but trial, and not wanting to prejudice a jury, but for lockdown infringements, if ajury, but for lockdown infringements, if indeed a jury, but for lockdown infringements, if indeed the police consider at the end there were any, it would normally result in a fixed penalty. surely professional investigators would note to disregard a civil service report and conduct their own investigations and not be swayed one way or the other by the publication of the report. that is a good question. you are right, the risk of contaminating a jury right, the risk of contaminating a jury is not there for offences that only require a fine, but it may be that the met are investigating perverting the course ofjustice. there is some suggestion there was the instruction to clean up phones and the like. i have no idea if that is correct or not but the met will

want to keep everything possible open. they might have that in mind. aside from prejudicing anyjewellery at a trial, as you say, that couldn't be an issue in a fine only offence, but they will want uncontaminated individual accounts so if sue gray publishes what each person has said, different accounts and so forth, then everyone will know what everyone else has said so the met will not be able to conduct a clean investigation. so i understand why they are asking effectively for a delay in publication of sue gray's report, even though politically everybody wants it. i don't think it is the met gagging sue gray, i think they are saying, hold off until we have investigated properly so you don't cross contaminate who we speak to. you refer to something is there, like the suggestion that people were told to delete messages about parties off their phones. that is as

yet unconfirmed, but there have been various reports, mutterings and rumours in the public domain, through the papers and through media. in a way wouldn't it be better to get a definitive version of events that has been robustly investigated by sue gray and her team and then there is less risk of misunderstanding or contamination, as you put it, of the police investigation.— investigation. sue gray is independently _ investigation. sue gray is l independently investigating investigation. sue gray is - independently investigating and investigation. sue gray is _ independently investigating and can form her own conclusions. she is entitled to form any of those that she wants. but she is not conducting it as a criminal investigation so the procedural standards she is applying are not the same. if someone is interviewed by the met as a suspect then they are entitled to have a lawyer, they have certain criminal rights and so forth. if sue gray spoke to that person they would not have those rights, so they are performing a different function.

that is not to say one is valid and the other is not, but if you publish one ahead of the other then it is very difficult for the met to go in and independently find out for themselves what happened, if everyone can read exactly what everyone can read exactly what everyone else told to sue gray. that's the difficulty, it's one of timing. it is not that one is more valid than the other or that sue gray is not valid. it's that they are running concurrently, creating awkwardness. it is a common problem in criminal investigations that if, for example, a disciplinary investigation is going at the same time as a criminal investigation, quite often that can be paused or kept under wraps until the criminal investigation has run its course. really interesting, alex, our qc. sport, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. here's jane dougall. good morning.

let's start with the tennis down under. rafael nadal has a chance to move ahead of his rivals and win a record—breaking 21st grand slam title after reaching the final of the australian open. nadal looked as though he was back to his best in the first two sets of his semi—final against the italian, matteo berrettini. but he then had to dig deep, after losing the third set. however, nadal showed his experience and fought to take control again and win the match. it clearly meant so much to him after issues with his foot put him out of action for much of last year. at 35, nadal could now make history in the final on sunday. asi as i said, a couple of days ago, i have been a little bit unlucky in my career with injuries. in all the time i have played amazing finals with good chances, against novak in 2012, roger in 2017. ifeel lucky

with good chances, against novak in 2012, roger in 2017. i feel lucky i won once in my career in 2009 but i never thought about another chance in 2022. it means a lot to be in the final again here. well, nadal will face either stefanos tsitsipas or daniil medvedev, who're on court right now. white neck it has been a tight match so far. ., , , ., ., so far. the opening set went to a tie-break which _ so far. the opening set went to a tie-break which medvedev - so far. the opening set went to a tie-break which medvedev has i so far. the opening set went to a i tie-break which medvedev hasjust tie—break which medvedev has just taken 7—6. captain heather knight came to the rescue for england on day 2 of the women's ashes test in canberra. katherine brunt got the day off to a good start by taking her tally to five wickets, before australia declared on 337—9. however, england's openers put onjust nine runs between them. and, as the batting line—up crumbled around her, knight hit an unbeaten century to keep her side in the match. england closed on 235—8 —

that's 102 runs behind. to football now. arsenal's women got their first win of 2022. but they had to come from behind against brighton to do it. england striker beth mead produced two goals from superb free kicks. the first tapped in by vivianne miedema. and the winner scored by mead herself. arsenal are four points clear of chelsea at the top of the wsl table. irish boxer katie taylor will create more history in april, as part of the first female fight to headline new york's famous madison square garden. taylor, the undisputed lightweight world champion, will fight amanda serrano as the main act on the card. promoter eddie hearn has described it as the biggest women's boxing match of all time. that's all the sport for now. you can keep up—to—date with the tennis on the bbc sport website. back to you, ben.

it has been four weeks since new post—brexit border rules came into force for trade between britain and the eu, and many companies — especially smaller ones — are struggling to cope. the added bureaucracy is being blamed — at least in part — for long queues of trucks outside the port of dover, which is the main trading hub between britain and europe. our global trade correspondent chris morris has been finding out more. driving into dover, past queues of lorries stretching for miles. they're being held here to avoid congesting the town. queues are not uncommon in these parts, but they've been particularly bad in recent weeks. drivers are fed up waiting for hours and sometimes days. when we are waiting, it's no money. they blame cancelled ferry crossings and post—brexit bureaucracy. john shirley has run a freight—forwarding company in dover for 25 years, but this is new territory. customs documents now have to be completed in full before thousands

of lorries can board ferries heading for europe every day. that's caused all sorts of headaches for people. people don't know the paperwork properly, haven't prepared themselves. and so that's why there's delays here. i mean, we found a driver here four days — four days! — with a load from germany. won't it get better with time as people get used to a new system? i don't know. i suspect it won't do. and it's notjust exporters. people bringing goods into the country from europe have also been dealing with new bureaucracy since january the ist. david pavon runs this small deli in bristol. each individual consignment he imports now needs separate customs forms — where there used to be none. and later in the year, some of these products will need to be physically inspected when they arrive in the uk. we will need to do more paperwork. we will need to pay more money. we might need to increase

the prices, but at the end of the day, that's what we do. it's certainly more difficult, but unless we close the doors and shut the business, we need to do it. so what happens in places like dover will have a wider impact. many companies are changing the way they do business across the channel in order to cope with new bureaucracy and delays. but others have simply stopped trading between britain and the eu altogether. while global trade in general rebounded pretty well last year from the covid hits of 2020, trade between the uk and the eu did not — and it's almost certainly going to stay that way. the government says traders need to get used to new rules and focus on new trade deals — on the other side of the world. but two years after britain left the eu, the idea of seamless trade across this narrow stretch of water — that ship has already sailed. chris morris, bbc news, dover. the charity doctors in distress,

which provides mental wellbeing support to healthcare workers, has called on the government to provide substantial mental health support to nhs workers, to avoid a serious staffing crisis. this follows a recent survey of 10,000 nhs staff has revealed half of those surveyed are actively looking to leave theirjob, as the effects of burnout and past two years take their toll. the employment survey conducted by the royal college of nurses published last month found two thirds said that their mental health is the main reason for wanting to leave, while half say that they plan to do so in the next year. here with me is the president of the royal college of general practitioners, amd chair of doctors in distress — a charity that supports the wellbeing of healthcare workers — dame clare gerada. white neck why is the why is the problem so acute at the moment? ., ~ , ., ., ,

moment? thank you. clearly the andemic moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is _ moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the _ moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the catalyst - moment? thank you. clearly the pandemic is the catalyst that - moment? thank you. clearly the j pandemic is the catalyst that has increased the numbers of staff who have got mental health problems. nhs staff had problems before the pandemic but it has been catalysed since. what doctors in distress has been doing during the pandemic is holding online, not face—to—face, groups for all sorts of health professionals, doctors, nurses, paramedics and others, so they can come together and share their experience and get and give support so they don't become mentally ill. what we are asking for is that it becomes an integral part of every single health worker's job, becomes an integral part of every single health worker'sjob, which is one hour per to enable them to get support, eitherjoin a group or get individual supervision. support, eitherjoin a group or get individualsupervision. —— support, eitherjoin a group or get individual supervision. —— one hour per month. in

individual supervision. -- one hour per month-— individual supervision. -- one hour per month. in the middle of winter, andemic per month. in the middle of winter, pandemic or — per month. in the middle of winter, pandemic or not, _ per month. in the middle of winter, pandemic or not, the _ per month. in the middle of winter, pandemic or not, the pressures - per month. in the middle of winter, pandemic or not, the pressures are | pandemic or not, the pressures are far greater. does it vary from one point in the year to another or is it so built—in we will see a lot of people leave their professions? irate people leave their professions? we are people leave their professions? - are already seeing people leave and gaps and unfilled vacancies. we are already seeing large numbers of staff away on sick leave, predominantly with mental health problems. the problem is with us already. what we are asking for at doctors in distress is to ask to do something more to prevent more becoming unwell. just like ppe during a pandemic, we think it's now important to invest in psychological ppe. it's not that people have to ask for help, because we know many who most need it don't ask. it is to integrate it into every single person's job integrate it into every single person'sjob plan. i have to do continuing professional developer

and every year, updating my skills and every year, updating my skills and basic life support. we need to make sure that's the same for people requiring, all of us, requiring support in the really tough jobs we all do. support in the really tough “obs we all do. . support in the really tough “obs we all do. , , ., , all do. there will be people watching — all do. there will be people watching this _ all do. there will be people watching this who - all do. there will be people watching this who are - all do. there will be people watching this who are not l all do. there will be people | watching this who are not in all do. there will be people - watching this who are not in the health care profession who say the job they do is stressful, it takes a toll on their mental health. the difference with this, if the profession loses skilled people, very able people, it affects all of us. how does that look in practical terms for the rest of us as patients as and when we need to access those services? �* ., ., , ., �* ., ~ services? and two wrongs don't make a riaht services? and two wrongs don't make a ri . ht to services? and two wrongs don't make a right to step — services? and two wrongs don't make a right to step if— services? and two wrongs don't make a right to stop if you _ services? and two wrongs don't make a right to stop if you work _ services? and two wrongs don't make a right to stop if you work in - services? and two wrongs don't make a right to stop if you work in a - a right to stop if you work in a stressful job a right to stop if you work in a stressfuljob such as teaching, or my son is a social worker, of course you should get psychological help in your work. you should get psychological help in yourwork. if you should get psychological help in your work. if we don't invest in supporting health care staff then sadly we will not have them there when we need them the most. that's really important because if you don't have a doctor or nurse attending to you then you will

struggle and suffer yourself. it is important we start to invest in psychological interventions for all people, but in particular, as i have said, for those doing quite hard emotional work for all our sake. white one point to ask you while you are with us. there is a white one point to ask you while you are with us. there i- are with us. there is a live issue about a national— are with us. there is a live issue about a national insurance - are with us. there is a live issue about a national insurance rise l are with us. there is a live issue | about a national insurance rise to help fund health and social care, at a time when people are facing a pinch on their cost of living, that will have an impact on their mental health as well as on people who work in health care professions. how do you see a resolution to that, when it is needed to help for health and social care?— social care? fortunately i do not have to make — social care? fortunately i do not have to make these _ social care? fortunately i do not have to make these decisions. l have to make these decisions. speaking as an individual, ifind it extraordinary that someone over 60, still in full—time employment, i pay less national insurance now than i

did before my 60th birthday. there are other ways of increasing funding. i am are other ways of increasing funding. lam in are other ways of increasing funding. i am in the fortunate position that i don't have to sort out this problem.— position that i don't have to sort out this problem. thank you very much indeed. — out this problem. thank you very much indeed, dame _ out this problem. thank you very much indeed, dame claire - out this problem. thank you very l much indeed, dame claire gerard. out this problem. thank you very - much indeed, dame claire gerard. -- much indeed, dame claire gerard. —— dame clare gerada. british sign language is on course to becoming a legally recognised language in england after the government said it will back a new bill which will be debated in the house of commons later today. campaigners, including the first deaf contestant on strictly come dancing, rose ayling—ellis, say they hope the change will see it more widely used and promoted. jonathan blake has this report. for centuries, british sign language has been used by deaf people in the uk as an essential tool to communicate. but while it's recognised as a language, it has no legal status. campaigners, including the strictly winner rose ayling—ellis, are calling for a change in the law to ensure bsl becomes more widely used, improving accessibility for deaf people. if i go to the doctor and there's no interpreter, it means i have to bring a family

member with me. but i don't want that, i want privacy. the labour mp rosie cooper, whose parents are both deaf, has proposed new laws, which the government is now backing. mps will debate the proposals later and, once passed into law, government departments will be required to report their use of bsl, and a panel of bsl users will be set up to advise ministers and officials. it's hoped this will lead to bsl being more widely used in public settings, like this monthly signed service at manchester cathedral, and more interpreters being employed as a result. scotland already has a law promoting the use of bsl. there are campaigns for similar changes in wales and northern ireland. the new law in england is being described as a watershed moment for the deaf community, and the hope is that the estimated quarter of a million people who use bsl in some form every day will be able to play a more prominent role in society. jonathan blake, bbc news.

with me now is rosie cooper, labour mp for west lancashire, who's brought forward that bill. firstly, what are the chances of the bill succeeding?— firstly, what are the chances of the bill succeeding? good morning. we are very hopeful. _ bill succeeding? good morning. we are very hopeful. the _ bill succeeding? good morning. we are very hopeful. the labour- bill succeeding? good morning. we are very hopeful. the labour partyl are very hopeful. the labour party is supporting it, the government and all parties across the house are supporting it. we need to get it through today and i am absolutely hopeful that this is it. this bill has arrived and this is its time. what difference will it make to people that you have spoken to about this? it’s people that you have spoken to about this? �* , , . ., people that you have spoken to about this? �*, , . ., ., ~ people that you have spoken to about this? �*, , . . ., ~ ., this? it's very clear it will make a hue this? it's very clear it will make a huge difference _ this? it's very clear it will make a huge difference to _ this? it's very clear it will make a huge difference to death - this? it's very clear it will make a huge difference to death people| huge difference to death people because they will not turn up —— to deaf people because they will not turn up at their doctors or perhaps go to an interview at a job centre and have people who can't communicate with them. we would not show up to these places and not be

understood or understand what is communicated to us. but right now it is more often than not that there is no interpreter. the government actually directing each department to promote, protect and use bsl, and indeed to report on that at the minimum every three years but i am sure it'll be than that. you will be able to see which departments are doing well, whether there are any lagging behind. the truth is, when you get bsl in the mainstream, deaf requiring it, you will have more bsl interpreters i am sure, and it will become commonplace and we will build it into a fair culture where everyone is valued.- it into a fair culture where eve one is valued. ., ,., ., ., everyone is valued. how important do ou think everyone is valued. how important do you think the — everyone is valued. how important do you think the appearance _ everyone is valued. how important do you think the appearance of— everyone is valued. how important do you think the appearance of someone | you think the appearance of someone like rose and strictly come dancing

is to moving this forward? in like rose and strictly come dancing is to moving this forward?— is to moving this forward? in terms of awareness. _ is to moving this forward? in terms of awareness, she _ is to moving this forward? in terms of awareness, she has _ is to moving this forward? in terms of awareness, she has done - is to moving this forward? in terms of awareness, she has done an - of awareness, she has done an incrediblejob. people like my father were campaigning in the 70s to get subtitles on tv. there has been a movement and campaign for years. but rose winning strictly and the insight she gave families right across this nation of what the deaf world feels like, those ten seconds without music when she and giovanni danced were momentous. and her winning has shown absolutely, deaf people, as my mum and dad used to say to me, you can do anything, you just have to really try hard. she has proved that deaf people can do anything. but you have to help them ijy anything. but you have to help them by removing communication barriers. remove those barriers and the world is their oyster. that's what today will begin. it is an emotional and

momentous day that this journey is beginning, with support right across the house. its beginning, with support right across the house. . ., ., ~' the house. its next owner to think, and i remember _ the house. its next owner to think, and i remember seeing _ the house. its next owner to think, and i remember seeing tweets - the house. its next owner to think, and i remember seeing tweets at l the house. its next owner to think, l and i remember seeing tweets at the time and messages on social media, in the early days of the pandemic, people were saying, why is there no official sign language interpreter during the pandemic daily briefings. when you think, a major issue like that, affecting people from every background right across the country, actually if it wasn't thought of then, and it takes something like a deaf contestant on strictly come dancing to make it happen, it feels like it has been a long time coming. it has been. rose's appearance on strictly brought it to everyone's attention because it's such a big programme, dropping into living rooms across the nation. it was sad that bsl interpreting was only available on one channel. i hope this bill will now mean that

whenever the prime minister or a senior minister makes these big announcements, press conferences, there will always be a bsl interpreter there. we are moving on, not looking backwards, let's move on. we are going to make this work. i sat in a cafe in london four or five years ago and someone taught me a few words of sign language. to my shame i have forgotten them but it has inspired me to relearn them. if we all learn a few simple things thenit we all learn a few simple things then it makes a difference. let’s then it makes a difference. let's start with good _ then it makes a difference. let's start with good morning. - then it makes a difference. let's start with good morning. good l start with good morning. good mornin: start with good morning. good morning to _ start with good morning. good morning to you _ start with good morning. good morning to you too. _ a carrier bag may not mean much to most people — you chuck it in the car on the way to the shop, you may have a few stuffed in a cupboard somewhere that you scarcely ever think about. but, one woman in aberdare, south wales, is known as the bag lady. angela clarke has collected 10,000 of them and these aren't just any carrier bags — they're historical artefacts,

some worth hundreds of pounds, as our wales correspondent tomos morgan reports. where is the first one that started your collection? one of the first will be thejubilee's. from 1977. so at that point, did you think, yes... yeah. ..i'm going to keep them? i'm going to keep them. you knew at that point? yeah, i did. for almost half a century now, angela clarke has been collecting carrier bags. my top five. i love these. they're so unique. i've got quite an affinity with these. her 10,000—strong collection is thought to be the largest in the world. that's the actual bag. and here you are with noel edmonds, the man that never ages. he doesn't age. he looks no different. and it all spiralled as a io—year—old, after an appearance on the �*70's children's tv show the multi—coloured swap shop. i only had about 200 at that point. and then, after that programme, you basically doubled your collection? yeah, i did, literally just doubled it.

i had to go back on the show again two weeks after. how do you keep them? i keep them in plastic bags. they originally were in suitcases, which are now disintegrating because they're so old. the suitcases, but not the bags? well, the bags are old as well, aren't they? now, these haven't been disturbed for a while. and what's the long term plan? what do you want to do with them? what would you like to see done with this collection down the line? ijoke to my sons, it's their inheritance. one of these is going for £10 on ebay. another one is £30. some of them are going up to £300 because people are using the prada, etc, making bags out of them. so would you sell them? no. what i would love to see is these to be displayed somewhere, because everybody�*s connected with them. they go, "oh, look at that!" you know, it's a piece of their history, their childhood. so i'd love to see them displayed. can i ask you, just to play devil's advocate?

have you had anyone say to you, "why are you collecting plastic bags?" yeah, all the time. what do you say to them? all the time. because it's interesting. and then when you show them, they'll go, "oh yeah, i rememberthat! i remember that. i remember that place." 10,000 collected, and probably a few more thousand still to go. i do get bags, eh, arrive at my property here too, you know, "bag lady, aberdare" and they get to me! it's quite funny! tomos morgan, bbc news, aberdare. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello. there will still be a bit of hazy sunshine here and there this afternoon but a lot more cloud around and to the north and west, greyer conditions with some patchy like rain and drizzle possible. but it is into the north of scotland where we see the heaviest rain, most persistent around orkney and shetland. a blustery wind coming in from the south—west which will lift temperatures up into double figures in western areas. a degree or so down on yesterday towards the south and east

but still it is reasonably mild for this stage injanuary. into tonight, more rain across northern scotland, plenty of cloud elsewhere, the odd spot of light rain, many will be dry. but with those winds coming in from a south—westerly and strengthening, for most of you temperatures actually climb a bit through the night rather than drop. it will be a mild start to saturday but colder air will be pushing southwards behind this narrowing band of heavy rain and gusty winds. staying cloudy across the far south into the afternoon with temperatures in the teens but with sunshine developing more widely across the north, it is going to feel colder, especially in the wind, which will touch 60—70 mph across parts of scotland later. see you later.

this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. scotland yard says it hasn't requested a delay to the publication of the sue gray report into lockdown gatherings in downing street and whitehall. uk prime minister borisjohnson is reportedly wavering on plans to raise national insurance to fund health and social care, as those inquries into party claims continue. on the bbc�*s question time programme, a uk ministeradmitted the move is unpopular. everybody in the room is against it, everybody in the room is feeling the squeeze. is that fair? are you all against it? yeah. how do you feel about the increase? are you willing to pay the extra to fund health and social care? we want to hear from you. get in touch at @benmboulos using the hashtag bbc your questions.