and wales, and you across england and wales, and you can see it fizzling out as it moves south and east, eventually clearing from the south—east into the afternoon, with a brighter day for many, with sunshine and blustery showers mostly to the north and west, wintry on the hills, but a windy day, not quite as windy as we have seen of the past few days. still quite gusty, chilly in the north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now. this north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now.— north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines _ goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines at _ goodbye for now. this is bbc news, the headlines at apm. _ living with covid — the prime minister sets out his plan for england, scrapping the legal requirement to self isolate from thursday. let us learn to live with this virus and continue protecting ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms. we will be able to protect ourselves whilst restoring our liberty is in full. free universal testing will be scrapped from april the 1st, even if you have symptoms. the labour leader says it's a mistake.

free tests can't continue forever but if you're 2—1 up with... if you're 2—1 up with ten minutes to go, you don't sub off one of your best defenders. in other news, president putin announces he's recognising two breakaway republics within ukraine as independent. the third named storm in a week, franklin, batters parts of the uk with floods, heavy rain and strong winds. and tributes are paid after the death of jamal edwards, the musical entrepreneur who helped launch the careers of artists such as dave and ed sheeran. good evening and welcome to bbc news. the prime minister has announced that all coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in england — hailing what he called a move from government restrictions to personal responsibility. as part of the plans to live

with covid, the legal requirement to self—isolate will be lifted by thursday. but people will still be encouraged to say at home if they test positive until the 1st of april. the universal testing programme will also end from april the 1st, even for people with symptoms. instead, free testing will be available only to the most vulnerable. and an additional booster dose will be offered to all over—75s and the most vulnerable over 12s from the spring — six months after their last jab. we'll be discussing the announcements in detail throughout the hour. but first, let's hear what the prime minister told a news conference in downing street in the past hour. in england, we will remove all remaining domestic restrictions in law. from this thursday, it will no longer be law to self—isolate if you test positive and so we will also end the provision of self isolation support payments, although statutory sick pay can still be claimed for a further month. if you are a fully vaccinated close contact or under 18, you will no longer be asked

to test daily for seven days. and if you're a close contact who is not fully vaccinated, you will no longer be required to self—isolate. until april the 1st, we will still advise you to stay at home if you test positive, but after that, we will encourage people with covid... with covid symptoms to exercise personal responsibility, just as we encourage people who may have flu to be considerate towards others. it's only because levels of immunity are so high, and deaths are now, if anything, below where you would normally expect for this time of year, that we can lift these restrictions. and it's only because we know omicron is less severe that testing for omicron on the colossal scale that we have been doing is now much less valuable in preventing serious illness. we should be proud of the uk

establish the biggest testing we should be proud that the uk establish the biggest testing programme per person of any large country in the world. but its budget in the last financial year was bigger than that of the home office. and it, the testing programme, cost £2 billion just last month alone. so, we must scale back and prioritise our resources for the most vulnerable. this is part of what so professor chris whitty said at that same press conference a short time ago. the omicron wave — conference a short time ago. the omicron wave is _ conference a short time ago. the omicron wave is still high. and if you look— omicron wave is still high. and if you look at— omicron wave is still high. and if you look at the uk, we are still in places— you look at the uk, we are still in places between one in 20 and one in 25 people _ places between one in 20 and one in 25 people have got omicron if they were tested according to ns data, which _ were tested according to ns data, which is _ were tested according to ns data, which is slightly backward looking. the rates are coming down but this this is_ the rates are coming down but this this is still— the rates are coming down but this this is still a — the rates are coming down but this this is still a very common infection _ this is still a very common infection. it is important to view the next — infection. it is important to view the next period when we will still have _ the next period when we will still have testing all the way up to april

and in _ have testing all the way up to april and in which changes are happening in fact— and in which changes are happening in fact in_ and in which changes are happening in fact in steps. people think about this as _ in fact in steps. people think about this as one — in fact in steps. people think about this as one big step but it is a gradual— this as one big step but it is a gradual steady change over a period of time _ gradual steady change over a period of time as— gradual steady change over a period of time as the rates are going down and as— of time as the rates are going down and as we _ of time as the rates are going down and as we head into spring. and i think— and as we head into spring. and i think it's — and as we head into spring. and i think it's important to understand that context, this is not a sudden everything — that context, this is not a sudden everything stops, this is a steady move _ everything stops, this is a steady move the — everything stops, this is a steady move. the next thing it's important to acknowledge is that we all expect, — to acknowledge is that we all expect, and patrick will talk more about— expect, and patrick will talk more about this, — expect, and patrick will talk more about this, there to be new variants _ about this, there to be new variants. in some of those new variants — variants. in some of those new variants will just variants. in some of those new variants willjust disappear but some — variants willjust disappear but some of— variants willjust disappear but some of them will cause us significant problems and they could be significant problems and they could he even _ significant problems and they could be even more vaccine escaping, but as severe _ be even more vaccine escaping, but as severe as— be even more vaccine escaping, but as severe as omicron, but the net effect _ as severe as omicron, but the net effect would be actually more people end up _ effect would be actually more people end up in_ effect would be actually more people end up in hospital, because a lot of our protections are from vaccination. or it could be more intrinsicaiiy— vaccination. or it could be more intrinsically severe because omicron came _ intrinsically severe because omicron came from _ intrinsically severe because omicron came from a much earlier variant. patrick— came from a much earlier variant. patrick wiii — came from a much earlier variant. patrick will talk a bit more about this _ patrick will talk a bit more about this so. — patrick will talk a bit more about this. so, we could certainly end up with something which is more likely to lead _

with something which is more likely to lead to _ with something which is more likely to lead to hospitalisations than omicron — to lead to hospitalisations than omicron and therefore we need to be very careful. — omicron and therefore we need to be very careful, as the prime minister said, _ very careful, as the prime minister said. and _ very careful, as the prime minister said, and have our surveillance and inaudible — inaudible with us. well, earlier in the commons, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, said the government's plan was chaotic. mr speaker, we have to take the public with us and that requires clarity about why decisions are being made. so, will the prime minister publish the scientific evidence behind his decision to remove the legal requirement to self—isolate, including the impact on the clinically extremely vulnerable? for whom lockdown has never ended. having come this far, i know the british people will continue to act responsibly. and they will do the right thing, testing and then isolating, if positive. what i can't understand is why the prime minister is taking away the tools that will help them to do that. free tests can't continue forever,

but if you're 2—1 up with... if you're 2—1 up, with ten minutes to go, you don't sub off one of your best defenders. sir keir starmer. we can speak now to stephen reicher, who's professor of psychology at the university of st andrews university. he's also advised the scottish and uk governments on covid—i9 and served on a sage subcommitte on behavioural science. thank you very much forjoining us. i don't know how many more times we will be able to do this but let's make the most of it. chaotic said the labour leader, how fair is that as an assessment of what has been announced? the as an assessment of what has been announced?— announced? the problem is what's ha enin: announced? the problem is what's happening in _ announced? the problem is what's happening in terms _ announced? the problem is what's happening in terms of _ announced? the problem is what's happening in terms of taking - announced? the problem is what's happening in terms of taking away| happening in terms of taking away all the measures and i think it's really important to use the word measures, because the stress is often put on taking away restrictions but what has happened todayis restrictions but what has happened today is as much taking away support and protection, so, support for people to self—isolate, free tests,

so people have the ability to test themselves. that will inevitably lead to an increase in infections. chris vallance acknowledged that. right now, levels of infection are extremely high. they are one in 20, as we had in england, one in 25 in scotland and wales and one in 13 in northern ireland. there is a real danger of increasing infections. that's the first problem. the second problem is the message that comes from saying to people, "you don't even need to isolate, to stay at home, if you are infected", that infections don't really matter. that really undermines all measures to deal with the pandemic, including people getting boosted and vaccinated. remember, nearly one third of people still don't have the booster. that's the second thing. i think the biggest problem of all is that if you take away support, then it means that only those who've got the can do the things you ask of them. so, if you take away support,

as was done for self isolation, than if you got the money and if you've got the resources, yes you can stay at home. but if you don't, if you are on a zero—hours contract or if you are in precarious employment, you are in precarious employment, you have no choice. your choice is taken away from you, you have to go to work. similarly, imagine this scenario, you want to go and see your granny, a family of four or five people want to go and see their granny. but if they don't have the money, if they are already choosing between heating and eating, they have to think very seriously, can they afford to go and see granny? or are they prepared to go and see granny when they might be infected and therefore to be a risk to her? in that situation, again, you are chasing —— taking away choice for many people. another problem today is that despite all the talk about freedom and all the talk about choice, yes, there is now more choice, yes, there is now more choice for those with resources but less choice for those who are vulnerable and less choice for those without resources. that is a

fundamental problem. we always talked about building back better from the pandemic. learning. one of the things we have learnt is that this has been a pandemic of inequalities. what is happening at the moment rather than challenging and working against those it is increasing them and that is building back worse. we increasing them and that is building back worse. ~ ., ., increasing them and that is building back worse-— increasing them and that is building back worse. ~ ., ., ., ., ., back worse. we are now going from a stare back worse. we are now going from a stage where — back worse. we are now going from a stage where these _ back worse. we are now going from a stage where these measures, - back worse. we are now going from a stage where these measures, these i stage where these measures, these protections, restrictions, whatever your view, protections, restrictions, whatever yourview, is protections, restrictions, whatever your view, is whether they are government mandated and now it is about individual responsibility. how many different types of response might there be? we have seen a very different reaction to these measures from different people throughout the pandemic. from different people throughout the andemic. ~ , ., , pandemic. well, you see, in the ast, i pandemic. well, you see, in the past. ithink_ pandemic. well, you see, in the past, i think time _ pandemic. well, you see, in the past, i think time and _ pandemic. well, you see, in the past, i think time and again, - pandemic. well, you see, in the| past, i think time and again, the government has been saved by the good behaviour of the public. at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a real concern that the public wouldn't be able to put up with measures, they would be behavioural fatigue. we have found time and

again precisely the opposite has happened. for instance, over christmas, realfear of happened. for instance, over christmas, real fear of the surge in omicron and one of the reasons why it wasn't as bad as many people expected was that people didn't go out as much. people tested themselves before they went out. now, there was when things over which they had a choice. but this time, it is very different. you are asking people to do things which many people don't have choice over precisely because they don't have the resources. but many people will no longer be able to test themselves before they go out, because they can't afford tests. many people will not be able to self—isolate. so, what the government has done, in many ways, is to make it more difficult for the public to act well and to save them from their own policies. and that's rather ironic, it seems to me. but policies. and that's rather ironic, it seems to me.— policies. and that's rather ironic, it seems to me. �* , .,, it seems to me. but some people will have, as it seems to me. but some people will have. as you — it seems to me. but some people will have. as you say. _ it seems to me. but some people will have, as you say, the _ it seems to me. but some people will have, as you say, the resources. - it seems to me. but some people will have, as you say, the resources. howj have, as you say, the resources. how varied do you think we are going to be, the reactions of this to people? even those with the resources might

turn round and say, "well, what's the point?" if turn round and say, "well, what's the point?"— turn round and say, "well, what's the oint?�* ., ., :: :: the point?" if you go back to 2020, if ou no the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back _ the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back to — the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back to early _ the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back to early on _ the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back to early on in - the point?" if you go back to 2020, if you go back to early on in the - if you go back to early on in the first lockdown, what you found was huge variability in how much people abided by lockdown as a function of deprivation, ethnic minorities broke lockdown more. when you looked at motivation between those different groups, there was no difference. it was identical. the differences all had to do with the ability of some people to stay at home and the impossibility for others to stay at home and put food on the table at the same time. so, what we have seen time and time again throughout this pandemic is when you look at public behaviour, actually, the major factor has often been the amount of support you can give people. what isn't in doubt, for me, is our people responsible on the whole? are people responsible on the whole? are people willing to look after each other? the evidence shows a huge

flowering of concern for others. 1a million people involved in mutual aid groups. that sense of community the number of studies nationally and internationally, that sense of community was critical, central, two people abiding by measures. but, what limited people was not goodwill. what limited people was the practical ability to do those things. and i return to the point thatis things. and i return to the point that is precisely what you're taking away right now and making it impossible for many people to do what they want to do, to be responsible and to look out for each other. 5ir responsible and to look out for each other. ,, ., . ~ responsible and to look out for each other. ,, ., ., ., . other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need _ other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need to _ other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need to be _ other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need to be able - other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need to be able to - other. sir patrick vallance did say that we need to be able to ramp. other. sir patrick vallance did say i that we need to be able to ramp up very fast. if there is an increase, may be the measures will be put back into place and the kind of support you have been talking about. professor stephen reicher, thank you very much. vulnerable people will be

offered an additional booster from the spring. however, it's still an anxious time for those who have been shielding throughout the pandemic, including disabled people and those with long—term health conditions. joining me now are trishna bharadia, an ambassador for the ms society, and her sister anisha gangotra, a mental health manager and dance teacher, who have been shielding for most of the pandemic. trishna bharadia and anisha, thank you forjoining us. what was your first reaction when you had these restrictions were going to be lifted in sort of legal terms in england, trishna? mr; in sort of legal terms in england, trishna? y . in sort of legal terms in england, trishna? g , ., ., trishna? my first reaction and anisha echoes _ trishna? my first reaction and anisha echoes it _ trishna? my first reaction and anisha echoes it was - trishna? my first reaction and anisha echoes it was fear, - trishna? my first reaction and - anisha echoes it was fear, anxiety, and also a feeling like this is never going to end for us. lockdown never going to end for us. lockdown never ended for us. we've been shielding for two years, now. and it feels like what the previous guess was saying, that the tools and resources add to the support that was being made available to help people like us are actually being

taken away —— your previous guest was saying. you can only keep people like us safe if everybody is able to, for example, test. and self—isolate. and know what they are dealing with. self-isolate. and know what they are dealing with-— dealing with. anisha, what has life been like for _ dealing with. anisha, what has life been like for you? _ dealing with. anisha, what has life been like for you? how _ dealing with. anisha, what has life been like for you? how have - dealing with. anisha, what has life been like for you? how have you l dealing with. anisha, what has life - been like for you? how have you been able to go out and when?— able to go out and when? yeah, it's been really — able to go out and when? yeah, it's been really difficult. _ able to go out and when? yeah, it's been really difficult. so, _ able to go out and when? yeah, it's been really difficult. so, we've - been really difficult. so, we've been _ been really difficult. so, we've been all— been really difficult. so, we've been all shielding throughout. so, there _ been all shielding throughout. so, there is— been all shielding throughout. so, there is myself and i live with ulcerative colitis and i take medication to control it which is an immunosuppressant. —— there is myself— immunosuppressant. —— there is myself and — immunosuppressant. —— there is myself and trishna. we also have our parents _ myself and trishna. we also have our parents are _ myself and trishna. we also have our parents are both over the age of 70, and our— parents are both over the age of 70, and our mum — parents are both over the age of 70, and our mum has multiple health conditions. — and our mum has multiple health conditions, including a lung condition. and our dad isjust recovering _ condition. and our dad isjust recovering from prostate cancer. 50, for us. _ recovering from prostate cancer. 50, for us. is _ recovering from prostate cancer. 50, for us. is not — recovering from prostate cancer. 50, for us, is notjust be an hour each individual— for us, is notjust be an hour each individual circumstances but actually _ individual circumstances but actually as a whole, how do we protect — actually as a whole, how do we protect each other? we have essentially been shielding for the

past two — essentially been shielding for the past two years. we've only been going _ past two years. we've only been going out— past two years. we've only been going out to attend medical appointments. we haven't been doing anything _ appointments. we haven't been doing anything else because we felt that it hasnt— anything else because we felt that it hasn't been safe enough to do so because _ it hasn't been safe enough to do so because cases have been so high. and the concern _ because cases have been so high. and the concern is, now that the restrictions have are being removed, cases— restrictions have are being removed, cases are _ restrictions have are being removed, cases are still extremely high and as professor stephen said, all the support— as professor stephen said, all the support and resources that had been made _ support and resources that had been made available are now being taken away _ made available are now being taken away and _ made available are now being taken away. and they are saying that they are still— away. and they are saying that they are still trying to protect the most vulnerable, but, actually, that's not the — vulnerable, but, actually, that's not the case. because all the measures— not the case. because all the measures that were there to help try to protect _ measures that were there to help try to protect us, like social distancing, mask wearing, isolation and testing, is not going to be there — and testing, is not going to be there any— and testing, is not going to be there any more. so, it is affecting those _ there any more. so, it is affecting those most — there any more. so, it is affecting those most clinically vulnerable but also those, for example, in the low and middle — also those, for example, in the low and middle incomes, where they are already— and middle incomes, where they are already struggling with the cost of living. _ already struggling with the cost of living. all— already struggling with the cost of living, all the cost of living rises which _ living, all the cost of living rises which are — living, all the cost of living rises which are coming and now there is going _ which are coming and now there is going to _ which are coming and now there is going to be — which are coming and now there is going to be a further cost associated with things like testing.

actually. _ associated with things like testing. actually, that's not going to help all of— actually, that's not going to help all of us — actually, that's not going to help all of us who are living, you know, essentially. — all of us who are living, you know, essentially, we have been isolated for two _ essentially, we have been isolated for two years. essentially, we have been isolated for two years-— for two years. there will be vaccines — for two years. there will be vaccines available - for two years. there will be vaccines available and - for two years. there will be vaccines available and also| for two years. there will be - vaccines available and also three tests if you are symptomatic and you are vulnerable. finally and relatively briefly, trishna, given what you are facing, how are you going to adapt to the removal of these legal restrictions? i going to adapt to the removal of these legal restrictions?- these legal restrictions? i don't think it will— these legal restrictions? i don't think it will be _ these legal restrictions? i don't think it will be a _ these legal restrictions? i don't think it will be a case _ these legal restrictions? i don't think it will be a case of - these legal restrictions? i don't i think it will be a case of adapting, it is a case of we are going to become more isolated. we have not seen friends, family full two years. and if they are not able to test in orderfor us to and if they are not able to test in order for us to know that they are covid free, we are not going to be able to see them. and we have to also remember that there are many people in this country for whom the vaccines haven't offered the protection that we were hoping because they are immunocompromised. even the vaccines is not the holy grail. it's not the magic wand that

we all were hoping. for the vast majority, yes, it might be but the most vulnerable are still going to be left behind. as we have been throughout this pandemic. anisha gan . otra throughout this pandemic. anisha gangotra and _ throughout this pandemic. anisha gangotra and trishna _ throughout this pandemic. anisha gangotra and trishna bharadia, . throughout this pandemic. anisha gangotra and trishna bharadia, thank you very much, keep safe. sports now and a full round—up. novak djokovic has won his first match of the year. it comes after missing last month's australian open due to his deportation from the country as a result of not being vaccinated against covid—19. the world number one made light work of wild card lorenzo musetti at the dubai tennis championships, beating the italian in straight sets injust 73 minutes. the serb will play either russia's karen khachanov or australia's alex de minaur next. andy murray came from a set down to beat australian qualifier christopher o'connell in three sets. he was really turning on the style and showing his athleticism as he set up match point.

the victory comes a week after murray suffered one of the heaviest defeats of his career — 6—0, 6—1 — against roberto bautista agut in doha. he'll now face either alejandro davidovich fokina or world number ten jannik sinner. let's bring you up to date with all the squad news for this weekend's six nations. and a boost for wales ahead of their crunch tie with england at twickenham. taulupe faletau is back in the squad after recovering from injury. the british and irish lions back rower played 80 minutes on saturday in his second match back for bath after seven months out injured. faletau comes into the squad following wales' victory over scotland in round two, having lost their opener to ireland. scotland head coach gregor townsend has added six players to the squad, to face france at murrayfield on saturday. jonny gray was among the big names to drop out due to injury. uncapped glasgow warriors duo ollie smith and kiran mcdonald are draughted in, along with simon berghan, oli kebble, marshall sykes and james lang.

and james lowe is back in the ireland squad, for their upcoming match against italy on sunday. the leinster wing missed the first two matches of this year's six nations with injury. his club team—matejimmy o'brien has been given a call up, too. next to golf. the proposed saudi—backed super league is "dead in the water" according to rory mcilroy, after two more big—name golfers ruled themselves out ofjoining the breakaway league. bryson dechambeau and dustinjohnson have reaffirmed their commitment to the pga tour. let's hear from our golf correspondent, ian carter, on the latest developments. johnson actually use the pga tour's social media outlet to outline he is actually still very much behind the established american circuit. shortly after that, bryson dechambeau took to his own social media channels to say that as long as the best players in the world were continuing to play on the pga tour, that's exactly where he would

continue to play his golf. there are, we think, some players who are still interested but, significantly, all of the big names, all of the younger stars have aligned themselves with the pga tour, without the big names, without the likes of dechambeau and johnson, who were the big names that i think greg norman and his colleagues, in terms of trying to launch this super league, were hoping that they would be able to hang this whole project around. without them, it does look dead in the water. disability golf has received a boost, with a revamped and renamed golf for the disabled tour announced today — with more tournaments and investment for the european disabled golf association. the dp world tour — formally known as the european tour — will increase its support, to take the tour semi—professional. it'll also feature events at the porsche open in germany and bmw championship at wentworth for the first time. mark cavendish has claimed his second win of the year with victory on stage two of the uae tour. cavendish bounced back after missing out on the green jersey at last week's tour of oman.

the 36—year—old edged out jasper philipsen in abu dhabi. he's now up to third overall, just six seconds behind the belgian who leads the race. that's all the sport for now. we'll have more for you on the bbc news channel later on. thank you very much. breaking news. vladimir putin has said he is recognising the independence of two breakaway areas of ukraine in the last half an hour controlled by russian backed separatists. in a televised address to said the donetsk and lugansk were ancient russian territories. let's hear what he said during that address to the nation earlier. translation: in this connection i have taken the _ translation: in this connection i have taken the long _ translation: in this connection i have taken the long since - translation: in this connection i have taken the long since overdue | have taken the long since overdue decision, immediately to recognise the independence and sovereignty of the independence and sovereignty of the donetsk people's's republic and the donetsk people's's republic and the lugansk�*s people's republic. i asked the federal assembly to

support this dish decision and to ratify the treaty on friendship and mutual assistance with both republics —— to support this decision. those two documents are being drawn up and will be signed very shortly. of those who seized power in kyiv, we demand that they immediately cease military combat action and, if they do not, then the entire responsibility for the continuation of bloodshed will be completely and absolutely on the conscience of the ruling regime in kyiv. announcing this decision, i am relying on the support of the russian people and of all the patriotic forces of the country. this was a reaction from boris johnson speaking in downing street in the past hour. i gather, just as i came into this press conference, that vladimir putin has, effectively, announced that russia is recognising the breakaway republics of donetsk and lugansk.

this is plainly in breach of international law. it's a violation, a... a... ..flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of ukraine. it... it is a repudiation of the minsk progress and the minsk agreement. progress and the minsk agreements. and i think it's a very ill omen and a very dark side. and a very dark sign. and it certainly does not seem to me... it's certainly yet another indication that things are moving in the wrong direction in ukraine. storm franklin — the third named storm in a week — has brought heavy rain and strong winds to many parts of the uk. severe flooding in northern ireland, yorkshire and manchester have forced people to leave their homes for safety. there are more than 130 flood warnings across england, scotland and wales. and "danger to life" alerts were issued in bewdley and ironbridge earlier tonight.

danny savage reports. it has been a very wet weekend. rivers across the uk have burst their banks and roads have been flooded. at ironbridge, in shropshire, a severe flood warning is now in place for the river severn. this is where the environment agency is most worried about. our temporary barriers are in place and they will obviously do what they can to protect the community, but we are expecting potentially seeing those barriers becoming overtopped and hence why the severe flood warning has been issued. heavy rain across northern england meant these flood gates had to be opened in manchester. it meant the local golf course disappeared underwater, but it saved homes from flooding. we didn't get a great deal of sleep because we kept on checking the app, monitoring the water levels. a little bit concerning, but, yeah, it feels like we are over the worst of it now. a few miles away, a lorry caught

fire after strong winds blew it into a bridge on the m6 near wigan. the driver escaped unhurt, but there were long rush—hour delays. a trip along the river wharfe in north yorkshire revealed numerous floods. this is the high street in tadcaster. the water was pretty deep. properties in wharfe bank terrace that are lived in, they've had to evacuate. a guy on the other side of the bridge climbed down a ladder to get out of his flat. it's very disappointing for the town. you know, nobody wants to run a business when this happens to it every few years, do they? tadcaster albion are nowjust one of the many football clubs who won't be playing at home for a while. in the next village along, the bridge across the river was closed after showing signs that floodwater was making it move. this is the river wharfe at boston spa, and the main bridge linking the two halves of the community has had to be closed because a crack has appeared in it. and that means for people living here, a seven—mile diversion to get from one side now to the other.

in south yorkshire, rotherham railway station looked as though it was built for boats rather than trains. storm franklin rattled through northern ireland first with gusts of nearly 80 mph. wales was hit, too. this was llandinam in powys, where homes were flooded. and york has a new tourist attraction. just one place where the water is still rising. the problems from this conveyor belt of storms aren't over. danny savage, bbc news. our correspondent, andrew plant, is in ironbridge in shropshire for us tonight. well, they have just finished putting up the flood defences here in ironbridge. they do that a couple of times of year, but this does feel slightly different, this time. the people living behind those defences advised to leave their homes and those living nearby told it would be

a good idea to have a bag packed in case they need to get going in a hurry. and the worry is that the river levels will continue to get so high that they eventually overtop these barriers. that's why they've told people to be on red alert here. i don't know if you can just see the water in the background, there, even though we're losing the light here? but it is a very swollen river severn. we've been up the river, about half an hour up river today, and there are homes there beginning to flood and people beginning to leave. and that's basically because of the delayed reaction on this water. essentially, all this extra water you're seeing here on the river severn here fell on the welsh hills over the weekend and that sort of 48 hour delay means that this river is continuing to get high. in fact, we're told it may not even peak until around this time tomorrow evening. and what that means is, there will be a very nervous evening and an anxious night here for the people in ironbridge and other people all the way along this river. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. a much quieter end to the day then we started with storm franklin

continuing to push out into the near continent. a ridge of high pressure building in, that will settle things down overnight. dry weather and chilly across eastern areas but the next frontal system will arrive across the north and west and temperatures recovering by the end of the night but wind and rain will push into scotland and northern ireland. this frontal system working its way in from the west end as it pushes across england and wales, it will slowly fizzle out, the rain won't be as heavy across england and wales. across scotland and northern ireland. you can see it fizzling as it moves south and east clearing away from the south—east into the afternoon to leave a brighter day for many with sunshine, blustery showers and most in the north and the west where they will be wintry over the hills but it will be windy, not quite as windy as what we have seen over the past few days but still dusty. cold in the north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now. —— still quite windy. hello, this is bbc news. i'm martine croxall.

the headlines: living with covid, the prime minister sets out his plan for england, scrapping the legal requirement to self—isolate from thursday. requirement to self-isolate from thursda . . . requirement to self-isolate from thursda . , , , ., ., thursday. this virus is not going awa , thursday. this virus is not going away. but _ thursday. this virus is not going away. but it _ thursday. this virus is not going away. but it is — thursday. this virus is not going away, but it is the _ thursday. this virus is not going away, but it is the day _ thursday. this virus is not going away, but it is the day when - thursday. this virus is not going away, but it is the day when all| away, but it is the day when all the efforts of the last two years finally enabled us to protect ourselves whilst restoring our liberties and pull. pre-universal testin: liberties and pull. pre-universal testing will _ liberties and pull. pre-universal testing will be _ liberties and pull. pre-universal testing will be scrapped from i liberties and pull. pre-universall testing will be scrapped from april the 1st even if you have symptoms. the labour leader says it is a mistake. free tests can't continue forever but if you're 2—1 up with... if you're 2—1 up with ten minutes to go, you don't sub off one of your best defenders. in other news, president putin announces entity recognising two breakaway republics within ukraine as independent. the third name storm in a week, franklin, batters the uk with rain, storms and strong winds.

back to our top story tonight — the end to all remaining covid legal restrictions in england has prompted a mixed reaction from scientists and the public and some concern from those who are clinically vulnerable. but what does the data say about the current state of the pandemic? is this the right move at the right time? our health editor hugh pym reports from eastbourne. taking a new tack and hoping for calmer waters. the government's new approach on covid has been well signalled, and members of eastbourne and district model yacht club have thought what it means for them. roger is in his 805, a potentially vulnerable age. but he is happy for the next step to be taken. we look as though we are on the sunny side of the mountain now, aren't we? do you think it is right to press on without restrictions? without restrictions, yes. very definitely. those here aged 75 and over may be further reassured by news

they will be eligible for a fourth vaccine dose. there is little disagreement over the need to open up at some stage and end legal restrictions, but it's a question of timing. jonathan is a gp at a large practice in eastbourne. there are high virus case rates in the area and he is anxious what about the ending of isolation rules might mean for patients. if it were to carry on till easter, maybe that would be a bit better. we have been trying hard to keep people out of the building when they are carrying an infection. they say there are no rules about isolation, they'll want to come and see us, which will make life more difficult. his concerns are echoed by linda. there is still a lot of covid about. i've got three members of my family that have got it. would you feel more comfortable if this compulsory isolation stayed for the time being? just till the spring. so what does the science suggest? covid hospital admissions have been falling and new anti—viral drugs have come on stream.

there is much higher immunity thanks to previous infections and vaccination. covid case rates relative to the population have been falling in the uk. they are lower than, for example, germany and italy, but above countries like the united states and canada. we still have high levels of infection in the community, but far lower levels of admissions to hospital and mortality is low. so i think you can't do it indefinitely. you have to lift restrictions at some point. but what we need do is recognise that people's behaviour — this is not a free ticketjust to go back and not worry about the virus at all. pcr testing sites will be wound down in england and free lateral flow tests cut back. that is proving more contentious. zoe is a secondary school teacher. she thinks the relaxation of isolation rules may be good for her children and other pupils without symptoms, but not necessarily everyone. for the sake of getting people back to work, etc, i think it is very good, but we do have vulnerable members of staff in our school,

and i just think they may feel very differently about it to how i do. moving on from restrictions at this centre and in the wider community. they will still have to learn to live with covid. hugh pym, bbc news, eastbourne. let's discuss what impact these changes might have on schools in england. joining me now is geoff barton, general secretary of the association of school and college leaders. they represent primary, secondary and post—16 education in england. thank you very much forjoining us. what is the reaction likely to be of staff in english schools to these restriction, legal restrictions, being removed? i restriction, legal restrictions, being removed?— restriction, legal restrictions, bein: removed? ~ , ., , being removed? ithink, probably, like everyone. _ being removed? ithink, probably, like everyone, they _ being removed? ithink, probably, like everyone, they will _ being removed? ithink, probably, like everyone, they will be - like everyone, they will be balancing what they heard from the prime minister, comparing what they heard from the scientists there, and i think there will be two reactions. i think there will be two reactions. i think there will be two reactions. i think on the one hand,

instinctively we are all just gleeful at the thought we could put this wretched virus behind us, but i do think for people who work in our schools and colleges, whether it is primary school, or college, will be reminding themselves that if you work in one of those places, it is not like other institutions. you're surrounded by large groups of young people, many of whom would not have been vaccinated, who don't get the virus badly themselves but do transmit it and they will be worried about the effect of all of that, and it will be critically worried at the idea that suddenly were moving pretty dramatically where we were told testing vaccinations, face coverings are part of the solution to something that is stricking those away, none of which is to say we should hold onto those things, but i think the processing people will be doing isjust come think the processing people will be doing is just come to terms with something which sounds are genetically different. haifa something which sounds are genetically different. how different is the environment _ genetically different. how different is the environment you _ genetically different. how different is the environment you talk - genetically different. how differentl is the environment you talk about in a primary school compared to a secondary school? but a primary school compared to a secondary school?— a primary school compared to a secondary school? but we have there is any primary —

secondary school? but we have there is any primary school— secondary school? but we have there is any primary school is _ secondary school? but we have there is any primary school is actually - is any primary school is actually more akin to normality also young people have not been expected of her face coverings in general. the vaccination programme has not been happening there. what we have seen in primaries and etiquette is a bit of an untold story is that you have seen members of staff, sometimes teachers, sometimes teaching assistants, sometimes the other staff, who have been testing positive and therefore have been self isolating. one of the big stories is the staff not being able to be at work, and i think one of the questions is, is this now going to lead to more transmission, more staff getting the virus and feeling ill and will we therefore have continued disruption? again, we don't know the answer do that. it might be that the spring weather is cool to help us in all of this, what i do think the lack of any particular education reference in what we heard from the prime ministers today today, because in the past we had the rhetoric that young people matter hugely. today,

we had no reference to young people and certainly no reference to be working in our schools and colleges. what kind of representation do unions like yours will make to the government? perhaps regarding carrying on with lateral flow testing, which we are told will not be free after the 1st of april for most people?— be free after the 1st of april for most people? probably the most im ortant most people? probably the most important representation - most people? probably the most important representation we've i most people? probably the most - important representation we've been making so far is on behalf of those people who work in special schools, because if you are in a specialist school, you're working with young people who clinically have very different needs and i think that is one area we want to acknowledge the government is recognised, a lot of the kind of mitigations taking place previously we continue in those special schools. previously we continue in those specialschools. i previously we continue in those special schools. i think the bit i am worried about, some of the who was a former head teacher, is what does this mean for me as a head teacher if i am in an area of high infection and i've got parents were saying, i'm going this and my child in, come what may, we have not got to do tests on them anyway. if they

have got symptoms, it is only like having a cold, because that is what we have heard today, is that going to lead me into dispute of parents? and what is going to be meeting mean to those young people —— is this going to lead to more disruption? again, iam not giving any solutions, but they are the kind of things we will be staying in our discussions to government, that we need to have reassurance these things are being thought through and we have got contingency plans if necessary. we have got contingency plans if necessa . . .p we have got contingency plans if necessary-— we have got contingency plans if necessa . , ., ., necessary. geoff barton, thank you very much- — the plans announced today are for england only. in a moment, we'll hear from our correspondents hywel griffith and emma vardy in wales and northern ireland, but first, alexandra mackenzie explains how scotland is approaching the next phase of the pandemic. here in scotland, the first minister will outline her plan on living with covid in the scottish parliament tomorrow. she said there will be some optimism as we move to a new phase in the pandemic,

but ahead of that, she said that anyone who tests positive with covid should self—isolate. she also disagrees with any sudden change to testing arrangements. she would prefer a slower move to a more targeted approach. here in scotland, you must wear a face covering in indoor public places and also vaccine passports are required in places like nightclubs and other large gatherings. in wales, the rules on self—isolation remain. there is a review due next month, but for now, if you test positive, here, you have to self—isolate for at least five days. that may now cause confusion for people who have to cross the border with england for work. masks remain mandatory in shops abd on public transport and in health care until the end of this month, but the welsh government's biggest concern is that change on testing.

they say bringing it to an end is premature and reckless. they had lobbied, alongside scotland and northern ireland, to keep a testing structure in place until at least the end ofjune. in northern ireland, _ the remaining covid restrictions, like face maskings and vaccine - passports, were dropped from being legal requirement last week- while self—isolation rules remain. but ending covid restrictions here wasn't straightforward. j because of the collapse in the power—sharing i executive at stormont, - there is no first and deputy first ministers here to. sign off on big decisions. instead, northern ireland's health minister had to get the backing. of individual ministers instead. and robin swann has also signed that letter from the devolved nations, - setting out their concerns as england plans- to end isolation rules. it's calling urgently for more - information on the scale of services that will remain to ensure all - four nations stay prepared for any future waves of the virus. emma vardy in northern ireland. let's get some more political

reaction to borisjohnson announcing that people in england who test positive for covid—19 will no longer be legally required to isolate from thursday. the westminster leader of the snp, ian blackford, said all four uk nations should be more joined up when making these kinds of decisions. this shows that the failure of the devolution settlement as it is, because it's a four—nation approach to testing that's been done uk—wide. the prime ministerjust admitted in the chamber that he announced at prime minister's questions ten days ago that this was going to come. where's the respect and the negotiation with the government in edinburgh and cardiff and in belfast? i mean, this is shocking. this is a political decision that's been taken today. it's not based on scientific advice. we've come a long way. and, of course, all of us has recognised that we have to live with covid, but an important part of that strategy is to have testing in place. we know that we're likely going to be facing new variants. we've just removed our defences. this is nothing to do with health and scientific advice. this is the prime minister caving in to his tory right wing to save his own skin

as we come through partygate. it's a disgraceful decision and an abrogation of responsibility of the prime minister that, quite simply, is prepared to imperil the best health practice that we need in scotland and we're being imperiled in doing that because westminster�*s turning off the taps in that support. this is an abrogation of responsibility from the prime minister, because... if you think of a scenario of a nurse working in the national health service that thinks that she may be suffering, he or she may be suffering from covid, who now doesn't have, as a matter of right, the ability to take a test, putting themselves at risk and putting the patients at risk as well. this is simply the wrong thing to do at the wrong time. it weakens our defences, when all of us are looking forward to the infection numbers being driven down. it really is quite an abrogation of responsibility of the prime minister to do this. ian blackford of the snp. many business leaders, particularly in hospitality, have been calling for a return

to normality as soon as possible. but unions are warning that removing the legal requirement to self—isolate puts workers in an impossible position. so what effect will today's announcement have on business and the economy? let's talk now to kate nicholls, the ceo of uk hospitality, an organisation that represents more than 740 hospitality companies across england, scotland and wales. thank you very much forjoining us. what is your view of how removing this legal requirement to self—isolate in england only will have on hospitality businesses? we ve have on hospitality businesses? - very much welcome today's announcement. it gives our businesses certainty, it gives us the ability to start to plan and to be able to bring the start of the recovery for hospitality interview after two years of disruption. today's announcement is a clear signal to consumers that we can return generality, that people can look towards planning ahead, booking those celebrations they have missed over the past two years and hopefully return to hospitality and help our businesses to recover. but ou are

help our businesses to recover. but you are relying on customers feeling confident to do that? we you are relying on customers feeling confident to do that?— confident to do that? we are and we do know that — confident to do that? we are and we do know that we _ confident to do that? we are and we do know that we have _ confident to do that? we are and we do know that we have worked - confident to do that? we are and we do know that we have worked hard l do know that we have worked hard over the past two years, over reopening and particularly since july last year, when we reopened, the focus on the guidance and the risk assessment that we put in place to make sure that our guests and our employees were kept safe and we will continue to focus on those baseline mitigations that have been in place since july. mitigations that have been in place sincejuly. legal resurgence might fall away. businesses will do everything in their power to keep their employees and customers safe, and that's what we have done. and we focused on the issues that sage tones were the biggest mitigation of risk, hygiene, sanitation, and as employers, we have voluntary measures of what to do when staff are sick and cannot come into work, and that is notjust for covid. that is for a whole range of diseases. so just because legal restrictions following does not mean people stop doing the right thing. we want to

rebuild our consumer confidence and give our employees safety to come back to work and have a stable career with us. but back to work and have a stable career with us.— back to work and have a stable career with us. but how confident can employees — career with us. but how confident can employees be, _ career with us. but how confident can employees be, though, - career with us. but how confident can employees be, though, that. career with us. but how confident - can employees be, though, that they will get paid if they do have to stay at home because they are too poorly to come in? we stay at home because they are too poorly to come in?— poorly to come in? we do have statutory _ poorly to come in? we do have statutory sick _ poorly to come in? we do have statutory sick pay _ poorly to come in? we do have statutory sick pay and - poorly to come in? we do have l statutory sick pay and companies will have their own sick pay policies, to this is now moving to a stage where covid is treated like any other disease that people have come up when they cannot come into work, they rely upon their company's sick pay policies and statutory sick pay, so our worker can be reassured, our consumers can be assured people are not coming to work when they should not do and our businesses in many cases, sincejuly should not do and our businesses in many cases, since july 2020, should not do and our businesses in many cases, sincejuly 2020, had been investing in testing facilities for their staff to make sure that you have those risks under control, so we can reassure customers that will continue, but today allows us to look forward with some certainty that our back businesses have a viable and secure future ahead of them —— our businesses. haifa

them -- our businesses. how important _ them -- our businesses. how important is _ them -- our businesses. how important is it, _ them -- our businesses. how important is it, though, - them -- our businesses. how important is it, though, that. them —— our businesses. how important is it, though, that the government offers some sort of support if businesses do find themselves getting into trouble? because all of that sort of support is due to fall away. it because all of that sort of support is due to fall away.— is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern _ is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern that _ is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern that we've _ is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern that we've got - is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern that we've got on - is due to fall away. it is, nese the big concern that we've got on the | big concern that we've got on the horizon. we obviously lost christmas trading for the hospitality sector, that vital month that is equivalent to 25% of our profits. it means that many businesses and hospitality are fragile. one entry have no cash reserves, and in april we face increases in tax, in vat, in energy... there is a very uncertain future, as we come out of covid and we now navigate that uncertainty, we want the government to do more to ensure that the economy can remain open and that our businesses, which form such an important part of our economic recovery, are supported, and in particular want the government to retain that lower rate of vat at

12.5% which is due to rise just as we start to come into the recovery period, keep it at 12.5% to give our businesses and fighting chance, to save as manyjobs as possible and continue providing a low—cost alternative for consumers who are coming back out to hospitality. abs, coming back out to hospitality. a message to the chancellor. kate nicholls from a uk hospitality, thank you very much. some breaking news now. reaction to the announcement by vladimir putin that he is recognising two separatist areas of eastern ukraine, donetsk and the hands, as independent republics. —— luhansk. the white house is saying president joe biden full issue fresh sanctions against russia. people prohibit financing from us persons to or in the two prickly republics that vladimir putin has recognised as

independent entities. the order will also provide authorities with sanctions i any person determined to operate in those areas of ukraine according to the white house. the spokesman said more measures were forthcoming and that these were separate from sanctions the united states and its allies have already been preparing if russia invades ukraine. the concern now is with the recognition of donetsk and luhansk as independent republics in their own right, could pave the way for russian military forces to enter the eastern regions of ukraine. you are watching bbc news. a reminder of our lines. living with covid — the prime minister sets out his plan for england, scrapping the legal requirement to self—isolate from thursday. president putin announces he recognises two prickly republics within ukraine as independent. the third name storm in a week franklin betters the uk with floods, heavy

rain and strong winds. —— third name storm in a week, franklin, batters the uk. a "significant number" of vulnerable children remain at risk in the town where six—year old arthur labinjo—hughes was killed by his stepmother and father in 2020, according to a report by ofsted. it says the loss of experienced staff was a major factor behind the failings in solihull. our midlands correspondent phil mackie is there for us and he gave us some more on the report's findings. well, today's findings paint a difficult picture for the various agencies that were involved in the case of arthur labinjo—hughes. you will remember that he was killed by emma tustin and thomas hughes, his father and his father's partner, at the beginning of the first lockdown back in 2020. they subjected him to months of terrible physical and mental abuse. they starved him, they beat him, they poisoned him with salt and they even recorded some of that abuse and his desperate pleas for help and that led to a national outcry which has led to a number of reviews. there is a national one

which will come out in a few months. this was really looking not at the individual, granular detail of the arthur case, but looking at the various agencies, like the police, the nhs and children's services run by solihull borough council and to see whether or not they are working together well and, unfortunately, it paints a picture that seems to show they're not. they have something called a multi—agency safeguarding hub in solihull, set up across the country as a result of other tragic deaths, and they are supposed to get everybody into a room to share information when there is a child who is vulnerable and at—risk. there is one in solihull, but it doesn't seem to be working. the government has told all of those agencies to get their act together and come up with a solution. phil mackie. more than 50 people were tricked into working for a design agency that turned out to be fake, a bbc investigation has found. people from the uk and all over the world were hired during lockdown — they were told the company was a successful business,

but its website made false claims and featured fake profiles and stolen work. catrin nye has been investigating this story over the last year for a bbc three documentary — her report contains some flashing images. just over a year ago, james harris from york was desperately searching forjobs online. he'd applied for more than 2,000 before landing a great—looking role with a glamorous design agency called madbird. i was buzzing — absolutely buzzing that i'd finally found a job that i knew i could, like, progress in. one of my best friends, helen, was like, "oh, my god, this is it, jim — this is it!" more than 50 people from all over the world got a job at madbird between mid 2020 and early 2021, when the pandemic was raging. they were impressed by the company's client list. nike, samsonite, national geographic — that sounds like big budgets, as well. and i showed it to lots of people who i know who are in the same industry as me, and they all agreed — it looked great. it's established. it's based in kensington. madbird's ambitious recruits

were told they'd only earn commission for the first six months, before getting a salary if they passed their probation. that didn't seem like a problem, given the impressive clients the agency already had. are you web—based ? everyone worked remotely — some for almost six months. the sales team was in talks with some big clients. if you guys have any questions, feel free to ask me. have a good weekend. but then, everything changed. i've received an email from jane smith, who i wasn't familiar with. the rest of the madbird employees were ccd in. i'm like, "jane smith? who's jane smith? " and as i was reading the email, my mouth kept dropping, like... all of the work was stolen. that bombshell email from an unknown

whistle—blower claimed to have evidence that madbird was a fake design agency. the work on the website was stolen, several staff members didn't really exist, and madbird's impressive client list wasn't real. i've literally been here for, like, two months. working for, like, how many hours, not getting paid, telling people to do this. recruiting people to a fake company. i've spent the last year investigating the truth behind madbird. i found many more victims and reams of fakery. one of the co—founders of the company didn't exist — his picture turned out to belong to a beehive designerfrom prague. and other staff members turned out to be fake, too. an entire pitch document that staff had been using to try and get work was stolen from another design agency. so who was behind this elaborate con? our investigations all led us to one man — madbird's charismatic boss ali ayad.

he was the director of the company, he looked like an influencer — appearing in g0 magazine — and had claimed to have worked for nike. but all that turned out to belies, too. we needed to speak to ali. hi, ali ayad. my name's catrin nye, i'm from the bbc. come on, it's time to talk to us, ali. why did you make up a fake company and then take advantage of people when they were at their most desperate? this is your version of the story. 0k? we have been waiting to hear your version of the story, ali, for months. you don't know all the things behind the story. you have heard one version of the story. you need to see two sides of the story. will you say sorry to the people who you hurt? i'm 5 o rry? whose lives and time you wasted? if i hurt somebody — if i hurt somebody, of course i'm sorry, but i'm telling you there's another version of the story. there was no other version of the story he has given us. as far as we knew, he didn't make any money from madbird. he insists he was trying to create opportunities for people during the pandemic.

one thing we did know — many people around the world had been jobfished and were left with unanswered questions. catrin nye, bbc news. musicians, actors and the royal family have paid tribute to the musical entrepreneur jamal edwards, who's died suddenly at the age of 31. he's been credited with helping to launch a string of music careers, including those of ed sheeran, dave and jessiej. our music correspondent mark savage looks back at his life. smokeybarz tv! # smokeybarz tv... big up, smokeybarz! this is howjamal edwards started a media empire. a grainy clip, filmed on his phone in the middle of a school trip.

he created the sbtv.channel on youtube in 2006, frustrated he couldn't find the music he loved online. everyone in my area was an emcee, and i remember i was sitting there thinking, "why can't i find these online?" if they were, it was bad—quality versions. i thought, "i'm going to try and film the people of my area and upload it to youtube. before long, sb.tv had become the place for british rap, giving exposure to artists like swansea, dave and ed sheeran. it played a key role in making grime go mainstream and earned jamal edwards an mbe at the age of 24. he put his success to good use, funding youth groups for underprivileged children and raising awareness of mental health. musicians and djs have remembered him as an inspiration. if i had one word to describe jamal, it'd be selfless. withjamal, i never had to question

what he was after or his intentions, because i know he just wanted everyone to be great. i don't know anybody that has a bad word to say - about jamal, and i'm really glad - he got his flowers when he was alive because one thing — he can rest assured| that he was a legend _ and we all knew that and his legacy will really live on. in acton, where he was raised, fans and friends have been leaving flowers and messages of tribute. he was the hero of acton, he showed you could make it out without being a drug dealer, without getting involved in crime. jamal was the guy that showed kids from low—income households that you are not limited to what your grades might tell you. my abiding memory of him would be his vision, - how he looked ahead - and how he knew what to do. jamal edwards' impact on music cannot be overestimated. although he died young, he will be remembered with his own words.

the goal isn't to live forever. jamal edwards, who has died at the age of 31. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. a much quieter end to the day then. we started with storm franklin continuing to push out into the near continent. a ridge of high pressure building in, that will settle things down overnight. dry weather and chilly across eastern areas, but the next frontal system will arrive across the north and west and temperatures recovering by the end of the night but wind and rain will push into scotland and northern ireland. this frontal system working its way in from the west. ws it pushes across england and wales, it will slowly fizzle out, so the rain won't be as heavy across england and wales as across scotland and northern ireland. you can see it fizzling as it moves south and east, clearing away from the south—east

into the afternoon to leave a brighter day for many, with sunshine, blustery showers and most in the north and the west, where they will be wintry over the hills, but it will be windy, not quite as windy as what we have seen over the past few days. still gusty. cold in the north and fairly mild in the south. goodbye for now.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching context on bbc news. after months of shuttle diplomacy, a speech from president putin that puts russia on the brink of war. in a rambling address, mr putin said ukraine was linked to russia by blood. his entire speech, as in earlier essays, laying the groundwork for the wholesale occupation of ukraine. the british prime minister is due speak to the ukrainian president tonight, the house of commons will vote on a new sanctions bill tomorrow. this is plainly in breach of international law. i think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign. in other news... england ends covid restrictions with the legal requirement to self isolate gone from thursday. tonight with all the context, mick mulvaney,