hello and welcome to the programme which brings together leading uk columnists with the foreign corresdpondents who write, blog and broadcast from the dateline: london. this week: an inspector is called, from russia without love, and mr bri—er goes from washington — but is it the wrong one? joining us this week: steve richards, who writes, broadcasts and even takes to the stage with his take on life at westminster, rock and roll politics. stefanie bolzen is uk and ireland corerespondent for the german newspaper die welt and its associated website. in the studio is michael goldfarb, formerly foreign correspondent with pbs in the united states,

who now presents the podcast the first rough draught of history. the parties are over but memories linger. they're about to be tested, too, thanks to the commissioner of the metropolitan police. dame cressida dick announced a police investigation into gatherings in downing street during the coronavirus lockdowns. to those who may question this use of police time, dame cressida said the met wouldn't normally investigate retrospectively. in this case, though, there was evidence of "the most serious and flagrant type of breach". that whetted the appetite of many for the report into the gatherings being compiled by the civil servant, sur gray. on friday, though, the police asked her to make only "minimal reference" to events the police are investigating. this is all getting very, very complicated what should we make of this police intervention on the grounds of not trying to prejudice

something but it's not clear what is it they're trying to prejudice. it is not clear and as you suggest choreography of all of this and the publication of the report and whether bits of it, the key bits will be in the reports because of the police investigation. and all of this is important because timing and politics is significant. but, if you step back from this never—ending when will this report be published and in what form the situation is as clear as it can be. which is a prime minister stands accused of setting rolls and breaking them and then lying about breaking them in the context of the biggest national emergency since world war ii. in the end whatever the complexities for the current choreography we can all have views about these allegations but it's conservative mps they know what's going to be in the report when it's finally published in its full form. and it's up to them

whether they want to carry on packing this prime minister or removing him. it is a call but over to them twitter erupts every second with views about it but they are the agents and they can decide and they can't do it now and they know enough but it's up to them and i think many of them have not decided what to do yet. of them have not decided what to do et. ., , ., , ~' of them have not decided what to do et. ., , ~ . yet. that sounds like a political sloaan yet. that sounds like a political slogan from — yet. that sounds like a political slogan from somewhere. - yet. that sounds like a political slogan from somewhere. you l yet. that sounds like a political l slogan from somewhere. you are yet. that sounds like a political - slogan from somewhere. you are the agents of change. the? slogan from somewhere. you are the agents of change.— agents of change. they are. it is in their hands- _ agents of change. they are. it is in their hands. and _ agents of change. they are. it is in their hands. and what _ agents of change. they are. it is in their hands. and what is _ agents of change. they are. it is in their hands. and what is so - their hands. and what is so interesting when you speak to some of these conservative mps is it's wrong to talk of them as some sort of collective group. older conservative mps have experienced the drama of trying to remove the prime minister and the younger ones and the new intake from december 2019 this is all new to them. and it

is a big thing to do. and frankly they are the ones who are all over they are the ones who are all over the place as much as the metropolitan police and the fate of the sucre report. for metropolitan police and the fate of the sucre report.— metropolitan police and the fate of the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like _ the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it _ the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it will _ the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it will be _ the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it will be a _ the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it will be a case - the sucre report. for the rest of us it sounds like it will be a case of i it sounds like it will be a case of when sucre finally publishes we have to read between the lines. it has been a very _ to read between the lines. it has been a very confusing _ to read between the lines. it has been a very confusing week - to read between the lines. it has been a very confusing week and | to read between the lines. it has i been a very confusing week and to state _ been a very confusing week and to state that —— metropolitan police said, _ state that —— metropolitan police said, downing street said it is fine and we _ said, downing street said it is fine and we can— said, downing street said it is fine and we can publish some parts and then suddenly the metropolitan police _ then suddenly the metropolitan police came back and said no you can publish _ police came back and said no you can publish everything and today there is another— publish everything and today there is another turn. what i think is really— is another turn. what i think is really difficult about this and toxic— really difficult about this and toxic at _ really difficult about this and toxic at the end of the day is that now everyone can make their own interpretation of what is going on interpretation of what is going on in downing street and of course i think_ in downing street and of course i think it's — in downing street and of course i think it's very toxic that there are now allegations that there might even _ now allegations that there might even he — now allegations that there might even be political stitch up why the metropolitan police has now intervened and said the report

cannot— intervened and said the report cannot be _ intervened and said the report cannot be published info and there have even— cannot be published info and there have even been accusations by the leader_ have even been accusations by the leader of— have even been accusations by the leader of the liberal democrats to say it _ leader of the liberal democrats to say it might be mingling and always contributes until a feeling. what do the people on the street make of this? _ the people on the street make of this? firsl— the people on the street make of this? first they had to suffer for so many— this? first they had to suffer for so many weeks hearing day by day about parties and now this is all very— about parties and now this is all very difficult to understand and confusion about where the police investigation goes and what the sucre _ investigation goes and what the sucre report means so i think this is very— sucre report means so i think this is very much— sucre report means so i think this is very much eroding public trust into politics and politicians and there _ into politics and politicians and there for— into politics and politicians and there for i_ into politics and politicians and there for i think it will be best if this is— there for i think it will be best if this is a — there for i think it will be best if this is a grey reports would be published as soon as possible. i don't published as soon as possible. don't envy published as soon as possible. i don't envy you this to your readers. no. they had named today we picked was boris _ no. they had named today we picked was borisjohnson get cut by the police _ was borisjohnson get cut by the police which i could imagine people

are confused by that headline but at least they— are confused by that headline but at least they might read it. it is are confused by that headline but at least they might read it.— least they might read it. it is true that one thing — least they might read it. it is true that one thing you _ least they might read it. it is true that one thing you can _ least they might read it. it is true that one thing you can say - least they might read it. it is true that one thing you can say aboutl that one thing you can say about borisjohnson was he does translate into internationally and people have a grasp of who he is. i had seen it reported on us networks but is there much understanding of this, as it translates well as a story? this thin is translates well as a story? this thing is it's _ translates well as a story? this thing is it's not _ translates well as a story? this thing is it's not the _ translates well as a story? t�*i 3 thing is it's not the first time a conservative prime minister has been in trouble in recent memory. the reason was deposed only a few years ago and people with longer memories of member what happened to margaret thatcher and showers not defeated but was deposed by her own mps. the thing about borisjohnson in america is he and donald trump in so many ways on the surface you think they are different because donald trump can't quote latin and greek at you but on the other hand they are both

rich kids who are privileged and possess some apology where guilt and shame that would flow or a normal person has no purchase on their souls and so it's interesting to hear steve talk because before he came on icy that roger who is a very senior backbencher who has been around for some of these deposing of prime minister is still calling for johnson to resign. and yet i know the president we should look at is that donald trump president to a year after losing an election was still saying it was still in it i am the real president. and a peak whatever happens in these coming weeks and possibly months leading up to the may election ijust weeks and possibly months leading up to the may election i just feel johnson holding onto office using everything he possibly can and that's why twitter is full of ideas that's why twitter is full of ideas that may be he brought in the mist at the last minute, the metropolitan police to give up the works on the

report. police to give up the works on the re ort. ., �* , police to give up the works on the re ort, ., �* , ., police to give up the works on the re ort. ., �* , ., , report. that's an interesting conspiracy _ report. that's an interesting conspiracy theory. _ report. that's an interesting conspiracy theory. on - report. that's an interesting conspiracy theory. on this i report. that's an interesting - conspiracy theory. on this question. there was a resignation to speak it was a junior minister i'm honest most of us had not heard of him but he left in a most extraordinary way resigned at the dispatch box and in the process accuses government of being in different and arrogant and ignorant about something like £4 billion worth of fog that had taken place over money given to businesses that apparently did not exist but people were given money by the government, taxpayer money during the covid—i9 knockdown. it's an extraordinary state of affairs and yet in truth that seems to have put less attention then this business. it does and i think maybe that's also a _ it does and i think maybe that's also a hit — it does and i think maybe that's also a bit of the nature of the

british lobby or they generalist reporting on politics in the uk because — reporting on politics in the uk because they are concentrated and focusing _ because they are concentrated and focusing on what is happening on downing — focusing on what is happening on downing street and not so much what is happening in the lords but i must admit _ is happening in the lords but i must admit i _ is happening in the lords but i must admit i thought for a billion is a lot like — admit i thought for a billion is a lot like it's _ admit i thought for a billion is a lot like it's normal because of course — lot like it's normal because of course in _ lot like it's normal because of course in these times in these extra times and _ course in these times in these extra times and the government was popping up times and the government was popping up businesses 4 billion might be something that's normal but then a wet hack— something that's normal but then a wet back and they look at germany and of they— wet back and they look at germany and of they have the same numbers of fo- and of they have the same numbers of fog being _ and of they have the same numbers of fog being done with subsidies for business — fog being done with subsidies for business is suffering in the pandemic and they had 150 million euros _ pandemic and they had 150 million euros fog — pandemic and they had 150 million euros fog that was found so it's a very big — euros fog that was found so it's a very big number in the uk and you are right there's not much headlines about— are right there's not much headlines about it _ are right there's not much headlines about it but — are right there's not much headlines about it but i think it feeds in the wider— about it but i think it feeds in the wider question and that's also something that came up in the debate in the _ something that came up in the debate in the house of lords and around it that there is — in the house of lords and around it that there is a systemic failure of

legislation that can really track down _ legislation that can really track down fog whether it's money laundering in london and i know they are not— laundering in london and i know they are not talking about that but there is not _ are not talking about that but there is not enough hard legislation and that's— is not enough hard legislation and that's the — is not enough hard legislation and that's the way to a point that this government there so much stuff and so many— government there so much stuff and so many scandals and problems that the reat— so many scandals and problems that the real work which should improve peoples _ the real work which should improve peoples lives is not being done because — peoples lives is not being done because there is so much disruption and so _ because there is so much disruption and so many— because there is so much disruption and so many other things going on. the reason — and so many other things going on. the reason that did not get more purpose, it got quite a lot is because as you say he is not well known, the minister who resigned but because this whole saga over whether a prime minister broke his own rolls and bright about it is accessible and bright about it is accessible and i'm one of those who thinks these things can be overplayed at times but not this one. so the 4 billion is quite widely reported and the speech in the house of lords he gave has he resigned was escaping.

there is an implications from richie singh and the treasury about all of this but which he the chancellor is keeping a low profile at the moment. for all sorts of reasons. thank you. behind the drumbeat of war, did we just hear the sound of brakes being applied? on thursday, the united states rejected russia's central demand; that ukraine should neverjoin nato. sergei lavrov, the russian foreign minister said that although the biden administration had not addressed its main concern about the western military alliance — its expansion — there's "hope for the start of a serious conversation" on secondary questions. a fortnight ago, the kremlin said "we will not be satisfied with the endless dragging out of this process"; and russia's representative at the organisation for security and cooperation in europe, the osce, warned "we'll have to take necessary measures to ensure strategic balance and eliminate unacceptable threats to our national security."

and so they funded over the last couple of months but do you think there is a shifting in the russian position? i there is a shifting in the russian osition? . ., , . . position? i am not sure. we heard president putin _ position? i am not sure. we heard president putin talking _ position? i am not sure. we heard president putin talking to - position? i am not sure. we heard president putin talking to the - president putin talking to the france — president putin talking to the france president parallel mothers today— france president parallel mothers today and there were some positive notes _ today and there were some positive notes coming out of it. moscow is saying _ notes coming out of it. moscow is saying there has been some movement and the _ saying there has been some movement and the foreign minister and foreign secretary— and the foreign minister and foreign secretary said there were some rational— secretary said there were some rational elements and to what the us had proposed but of course he does not change — had proposed but of course he does not change the fact that there are still more than 100,000 troops on the border— still more than 100,000 troops on the border of ukraine and the russians— the border of ukraine and the russians have also agreed there might— russians have also agreed there might be — russians have also agreed there might be another meeting in the format _ might be another meeting in the format early february so there is if you want _ format early february so there is if you want to — format early february so there is if you want to call it positive signs may be — you want to call it positive signs may be stability, a little bit of stability— may be stability, a little bit of stability but it's also at the same time _ stability but it's also at the same time very— stability but it's also at the same time very much that the russian

president— time very much that the russian president wants attention but what he really _ president wants attention but what he really wants is still very unclean _ he really wants is still very unclear~ i_ he really wants is still very unclear. i think what's making the situation — unclear. i think what's making the situation even more difficult is that of— situation even more difficult is that of course there are also very different — that of course there are also very different actions being taken may be less and _ different actions being taken may be less and by germany for example in the ukraine — less and by germany for example in the ukraine itself. the president said the — the ukraine itself. the president said the situation is not as dangerous as some outside ukraine are saying — dangerous as some outside ukraine are sa inc. . v dangerous as some outside ukraine are sa inc. . �*, . dangerous as some outside ukraine aresa in.. . �*, . ., are saying. that's what i was going to ruote. are saying. that's what i was going to quote- he _ are saying. that's what i was going to quote. he was _ are saying. that's what i was going to quote. he was saying _ are saying. that's what i was going to quote. he was saying to - are saying. that's what i was going i to quote. he was saying to everyone calm down. joe biden is still saying he expects military intervention by pressure and he now thinks next month. has he positioned things well in this particular crisis? after the embarrassment in afghanistan he doesn't seem to have got almost all allies from the scene even germany we thought would be an outlier said we thought would be an outlier said we are going to back the emergence of this. let we are going to back the emergence of this. . we are going to back the emergence of this. , ., . ,, ,

of this. let us go back in this crisis two _ of this. let us go back in this crisis two months _ of this. let us go back in this crisis two months which - of this. let us go back in this crisis two months which is i of this. let us go back in this crisis two months which is a l of this. let us go back in this - crisis two months which is a long time in twitter time and the first anybody heard about it were unattributed briefings in the new york times about this build up and this was not coming from tears. he did not hear highs for international support because the russians are going to look like they're going to grab some more of our country. i think people need to remember who joe biden is. this year marks the 50th year that he will be in public life. he was elected to the senate at 28 in 1972. and he has always been a very staunch atlantic system and in the days of the cold war and my podcast this week is about how 30 years ago when yugoslavia disintegrated inviting the us right behind britain, france, germany could not agree on when to have coffee much less how to monitor the situation. joe biden worked with bob

dillard in the senate and it was them who a chilly for bill clinton's hand to bring an end to that crisis. i think he likes to be from the front. he is very comfortable in dealing with pressure. at this moment. the question is has he overgrown it and to what degree has this been a massive disinformation efforts by vladimir putin who is a master of it? i will put 100,000 troops not everybody is paying attention to me and what happens next is this a way of trying to destabilise the rest? will germany really switch off much stream if russian tanks rolled into ukraine? where will london grad said any conservative governments with close highs to many russian oligarchs, will be shut off the city of london and access to their money? so these are questions that are all out there

as forjoe biden, i suppose the fact that he raised the question is the important thing.— important thing. there are many issues which _ important thing. there are many issues which we _ important thing. there are many issues which we do _ important thing. there are many issues which we do not - important thing. there are many issues which we do not know- important thing. there are many issues which we do not know yetj issues which we do not know yet including — issues which we do not know yet including what vetting a putin is aiming — including what vetting a putin is aiming to— including what vetting a putin is aiming to do. but what i would say is that— aiming to do. but what i would say is that while it is relatively straightforward for the west to come around _ straightforward for the west to come around with a broad condemnation for what he _ around with a broad condemnation for what he has _ around with a broad condemnation for what he has done so far it's much harder— what he has done so far it's much harder in— what he has done so far it's much harder in practice. michael mentioned london and the russian wealth— mentioned london and the russian wealth in_ mentioned london and the russian wealth in london which various governments have thought about extracting in various ways or making it harder— extracting in various ways or making it harder for— extracting in various ways or making it harder for them but never do in the end _ it harder for them but never do in the end because they need to money. and each— the end because they need to money. and each country has cuts of interest _ and each country has cuts of

interest and there is also domestic politics— interest and there is also domestic politics in— interest and there is also domestic politics in pay inevitably. we have -ot politics in pay inevitably. we have got president parallel mothers stating — got president parallel mothers stating ease playing a war in this and we _ stating ease playing a war in this and we had a point this week and boris _ and we had a point this week and boris johnson supporters and saying he is the _ boris johnson supporters and saying he is the pivotal figure in organising the west response. not joe biden — organising the west response. not joe biden. and that is because he wants— joe biden. and that is because he wants to — joe biden. and that is because he wants to use ukraine partly to save his own _ wants to use ukraine partly to save his owniob — wants to use ukraine partly to save his ownjob. so there are all kinds of factors— his ownjob. so there are all kinds of factors playing into this at the moment but the fundamental one i think no— moment but the fundamental one i think no one knows for sure, maybe vladimir— think no one knows for sure, maybe vladimir putin does he is going to dry and _ vladimir putin does he is going to dry and move into ukraine and i think— dry and move into ukraine and i think no— dry and move into ukraine and i think no one knows for sure that if you were to— think no one knows for sure that if you were to do that precisely how the last. — you were to do that precisely how the last, the us obviously crucially but others — the last, the us obviously crucially but others will respond.— the last, the us obviously crucially but others will respond. germany is exosed but others will respond. germany is exposed on — but others will respond. germany is exposed on this _ but others will respond. germany is exposed on this because _ but others will respond. germany is exposed on this because of - but others will respond. germany is exposed on this because of its - exposed on this because of its energy dependency and in that sense it may surprise people that the chancellor said pretty much americans would have hoped he would

say you do this and this new project is dead but the interesting thing is he did not say it to the existing project because presumably they cannot afford to do that, can they? it was not even agreed by the now chancellor of germany that there would be sanctions on pressure involving no extreme if they use its energy supply so that there was already agreed in and get america back —— by of america will sell remember there was a pretty big route between washington and berlin around march stream to and you can read it there. it's as if moscow uses energy supplies as i wet and —— the situation in germany is much more complex because you have three parties in the government, the traffic light coalition and the spd has some domestic states because we

had an extreme pipeline and their prime minister is a politician and very keen for this pay plan to start going because it's supplying a lot of lot of money and don't forget to more than 55% of german gas comes from pressure and the german industry needs gas and the gas prices have already gone up 30% so of course there is a big fear what might happen but then again it's a very complicated position that the german government has taken with a number of historic references and they are not supplying weapons and so on and so forth but the understanding is if you don't speak clearly to pressure in eight live, vladimir putin will play on that weakness. vladimir putin will play on that weakness-— vladimir putin will play on that weakness. �* . , . . weakness. and that is at the heart ofthe weakness. and that is at the heart of the joe biden _ weakness. and that is at the heart of the joe biden approach. - weakness. and that is at the heart of the joe biden approach. it - weakness. and that is at the heart of the joe biden approach. it has l weakness. and that is at the heart|

of the joe biden approach. it has to of thejoe biden approach. it has to be clear and consistent and the message needs to be a clear one and a consistent one.— a consistent one. clarity is very hard and its — a consistent one. clarity is very| hard and its behind-the-scenes a consistent one. clarity is very - hard and its behind-the-scenes stuff hard and its behind—the—scenes stuff and what _ hard and its behind—the—scenes stuff and what worries me is far too much of this— and what worries me is far too much of this is— and what worries me is far too much of this is happening amongst our colleagues and it should not be leaked — colleagues and it should not be leaked to the press. diplomacy should — leaked to the press. diplomacy should really be secret and behind—the—scenes and that's why one is not _ behind—the—scenes and that's why one is not sure _ behind—the—scenes and that's why one is not sure where this is coming but i is not sure where this is coming but i am _ is not sure where this is coming but i am remained sceptical that it's going _ i am remained sceptical that it's going to — i am remained sceptical that it's going to go into a hot place. and with the — going to go into a hot place. and with the president in kyiv i think everybody should cool it down a bit. let everybody should cool it down a bit. let us _ everybody should cool it down a bit. let us hope — everybody should cool it down a bit. let us hope they are listening wherever they may be. the voices whispering and the people during debriefing. abortion during debriefing. and voting rights — two of the most divisive issues in american politics, being shaped not by the elected arms of government, but byjudges. the united states has a written constitution and someone has to decide whether the laws passed in congress and the executive orders issued by the president are consistent with it.

two of the nine justices of the supreme court whose task that is were appointed in the twentieth century. soon it will be one. stephen bri—er is reported to have told the white house that he's about to announce his retirement. although president biden has another three years in office, this may be his last chance to shape the supreme court — and with it, america's future. the weird thing about this is that he is a liberaljustice and yet it's the liberals who have been pressing for him to retire. could he explain that paradox? it for him to retire. could he explain that paradox?— that paradox? it has to do with how the supreme _ that paradox? it has to do with how the supreme court _ that paradox? it has to do with how the supreme courtjustice - that paradox? it has to do with how the supreme courtjustice and - the supreme courtjustice and federaljudges are vetted by the senate and requires a senate vote and the senate is not functioning now and then democrats were for on the back foot with bader ginsburg who is the scene liberaljustice a terrific woman stayed on the court

and showers in and there was a moment early in the last decade that she approached where democrats control the senate and a lot of people said maybe he should step down you already had counselling and maybe it's time and she did not end because it's an appointment for life she stayed on the court until the last moment where she passed away and the republicans were in charge of the senate and a protruding gaze they put a hard right young justice on the supreme court. before that day literally, barack obama and his last year in office had another opportunity but by then the republicans had control of the senate and he could not get even at hearing and that is how ben kavanagh got itself its critical at this moment to aid there is a 50—50 senate with a tie—breaking vote

that, harry's that if you are going to dry and maintain liberaljustice it would not make much difference because the court is essentially six hard conservatives and three liberals and it's a question of whether it becomes 700 conservatives and two liberals and it's just a way of interpreting the law. it’s and two liberals and it's 'ust a way of interpreting the law. it's become terribly politcised. _ of interpreting the law. it's become terribly politcised. the _ of interpreting the law. it's become terribly politcised. the other- of interpreting the law. it's become terribly politcised. the other thing l terribly politcised. the other thing most interesting to an outsider i heard an american network on thursday night debating it's going to be a black woman this time because joe to be a black woman this time becausejoe biden said that i should becausejoe biden said that i should be a hispanic man or woman the time after that. there's a sense in which the culture war wars they are supposed to dry and stay above are being translated onto the court itself. . . being translated onto the court itself. , . . , itself. this term culture war is re itself. this term culture war is pretty imprecise _ itself. this term culture war is pretty imprecise it _ itself. this term culture war is pretty imprecise it seems - itself. this term culture war is pretty imprecise it seems to l itself. this term culture war is i pretty imprecise it seems to me. president trump used patroness to

put in all kinds of people who he failed to reflect kind of views and i imagine joe failed to reflect kind of views and i imaginejoe biden will use this space to do the same. now there might be some tokenism in it in terms of whether it's hispanic or whatever but presumably whoever gets appointed will probably reflect that liberal perspective which as michael has outlined is now in a striking minority and so i think people get too worked up at applying this term culture wars when it's a chilly a liberal versus small see conservative divide which is the more significant one. you conservative divide which is the more significant one.— conservative divide which is the more significant one. you have got a minute to sun _ more significant one. you have got a minute to sun this _ more significant one. you have got a minute to sun this up. _ more significant one. you have got a minute to sun this up. it _ more significant one. you have got a minute to sun this up. it would - more significant one. you have got a minute to sun this up. it would be i minute to sun this up. it would be a significant going to have a black woman on the supreme court they have only been to african—american justices.

only been to african-american 'ustices. . ., only been to african-american 'ustices. ., ., justices. the politicisation of the constitution _ justices. the politicisation of the constitution of _ justices. the politicisation of the constitution of the _ justices. the politicisation of the constitution of the court - justices. the politicisation of the constitution of the court is - constitution of the court is something i am fascinated by in the us and in germany is a german word for you it's a nice long german word but it's a chilly constitutional patriotism and that meant the constitutional accord and the institution in germany that germans have most respect for and deputy it's not so politcised as it is in the us. i it's not so politcised as it is in the us. . , , it's not so politcised as it is in the us. ., , , ., the us. i am sure they are relieved about that- — the us. i am sure they are relieved about that- i— the us. i am sure they are relieved about that. i was _ the us. i am sure they are relieved about that. i was going _ the us. i am sure they are relieved about that. i was going to - the us. i am sure they are relieved about that. i was going to say - the us. i am sure they are relieved| about that. i was going to say thank you all for being with us and thank you for your company. ben brown is in the chair for dateline: london next weekend. i'll see you same time, same channel in a couple of weeks. goodbye. 87 senators voted for him funny how times have changed. the day.

the north of the country is in for a stormy weekend. both on saturday and later on sunday. the overall message for most of us is not necessarily a stormy one we will call it when with a mixture of sunshine and showers. right now to the west of us we have storm mattek funding and it will be approaching scotland through the course of friday night and into the early hours of saturday and the rest of the weather will occur during the day on saturday. all the while across england and wales to the evening it will be quiet and it's dry here is the storm forming to the rest of the hebrides saturday morning and it's pushing him very mild airfrom the morning and it's pushing him very mild air from the southern kinds so

it means on saturday morning temperatures will be around 10 degrees and so a mild start to today. here is the weather map for saturday notice the pressure lines and it's that very strong wind blowing out of the northwest and here is a look at the warning for the met office because they have been updated and now an amber warning is in force for each and parts of scotland so for the populated areas into edinboro as well in a yellow warning of wind elsewhere but that hey —— highest gusts will be an ex post basis of northwestern scotland 80 mph possibly more. when the across northern england and less windy in the south but a lot of sunshine on offer on saturday. however the south and the southern counties could end “p and the southern counties could end up being cloudy for most of the day. the storm pulls away into the baltic and this next one comes in. we are in for two rounds of severe gales and early on saturday or sunday the

weather will be fine with some sunshine across many parts of england and later on sunday the rain sleeping into scotland with some mountains now and this is a developing storm some so severe gales again in the western isles with gales felt across northern england and into parts of east anglia. a blustery sunday night into monday and monday morning we could have disruption across northern parts of the uk and next week it looks as though it will remain pretty unsettled.

this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at eight. police say they haven't delayed the publication of a report into downing street parties, and the timing of its release is a matter for the inquiry team. the police said it had not today the publication after previous concerns. pressure on boris johnson pressure on borisjohnson to delay a rise in national insurance. ministers say it's needed to fund health and social care. a couple have been jailed of the death of an eight—week—old baby. she had more than 60 broken bones. and a bill legally recognising british sign language as language in england receives government backing.