hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are sienna rodgers, editor of labourlist, and broadcaster and journalist, james lewer. welcome to both, lovely to see you again, things are going up part of yourfront and i be again, things are going up part of your front and i be with us. here's the papers as we have them so far. the times says british weaponary has, for the first time, shot down a russian helicopter in ukraine. that's also a picture of the former brazil footballer, cafu, pulling out england at the world cup draw in qatar. the chancellor's response to the cost—of—living crisis is the focus of the weekend edition of the i. thousands of onshore wind turbines may be built, as the government looks to increase the uk's energy capacity, according to the telegraph. the ft focuses on the finances of roman abramovich,

and also how companies are dealing with staff absences due to coronavirus. on a similartheme, the guardian says covid rates are at an all—time high, as the easter break begins. and the daily express says the duke of york wants to play a key role in the queen's forthcoming jubilee celebrations. let's plunge straight in. sienna, do you want to kick us off first of all with that story on the front of the ft — office emptying fast as covid rates reached record high? ft - office emptying fast as covid rates reached record high? coated make rates _ rates reached record high? coated make rates are _ rates reached record high? coated make rates are just _ rates reached record high? coated make rates are just absolutely - make rates are just absolutely sky—high at the moment. —— covid. so covid has hit an all—time high across the uk and almost 5 million people, one in 13 of the population, are estimated to have the virus,

according to ons figures. there's been more hospitalisations, more deaths. obviously that's expected to fall quickly once this particular spike subdues, and the situation isn't as severe as before we had vaccines. i mean, i have covid right now, i have been pretty... h0??? vaccines. i mean, i have covid right now, i have been pretty...- now, i have been pretty... how are ou now, i have been pretty... how are you feeling? _ now, i have been pretty... how are you feeling? now _ now, i have been pretty... how are you feeling? now much _ now, i have been pretty... how are you feeling? now much better, - now, i have been pretty... how are you feeling? now much better, but now, i have been pretty... how are. you feeling? now much better, but i was uuite you feeling? now much better, but i was quite ill— you feeling? now much better, but i was quite ill earlier _ you feeling? now much better, but i was quite ill earlier this _ you feeling? now much better, but i was quite ill earlier this week. - you feeling? now much better, but i was quite ill earlier this week. but . was quite ill earlier this week. but everyone i know, because we probably all given to each other, has covid right now. so it is no surprise that offices, according to the fc, are emptying everywhere, because this new variant is just cutting through the whole population. —— the ft. people are causally talking about, should people have the right to work from home, flexible working, will the government allow it? it's happening whether we like it or not, because we all have to work from

home. we are all getting ill and having to take time off work sometimes as well, because despite being vaccinated, it's worse than a cold. , ., , being vaccinated, it's worse than a cold. �* . , . being vaccinated, it's worse than a cold. , . , ., _, being vaccinated, it's worse than a cold. , ., , ., ,, ., cold. james, have you had it recently. — cold. james, have you had it recently, again, _ cold. james, have you had it recently, again, or- cold. james, have you had it recently, again, or have - cold. james, have you had it recently, again, or have you | cold. james, have you had it - recently, again, or have you had it at all? �* ., , recently, again, or have you had it atall?�* . i, recently, again, or have you had it atall?�* ., i, �* at all? i've actually been 0k, i've done some _ at all? i've actually been 0k, i've done some tests _ at all? i've actually been 0k, i've done some tests over— at all? i've actually been 0k, i've done some tests over the - at all? i've actually been 0k, i've done some tests over the last. at all? i've actually been 0k, i've - done some tests over the last couple weeks _ done some tests over the last couple weeks and _ done some tests over the last couple weeks and i've been ok thus far, fingers _ weeks and i've been ok thus far, fingers crossed it stays that way. but it's _ fingers crossed it stays that way. but it's ripping through the population, it's at the highest rate it's ever_ population, it's at the highest rate it's ever been for a long time. it seemed — it's ever been for a long time. it seemed like rates are going down, so it's concerning, also the access to free testing — it's concerning, also the access to free testing is something the ft alludes — free testing is something the ft alludes to, as well, something people — alludes to, as well, something people are struggling with a little bit in _ people are struggling with a little bit in terms of why they can't get access- — bit in terms of why they can't get access— that ended today, that's the bil access— that ended today, that's the big news— access— that ended today, that's the big news line as well. the consternation _ big news line as well. the consternation is _ big news line as well. the consternation is that, - big news line as well. the consternation is that, as i big news line as well. tie: consternation is that, as the times reported this morning, because is no longer being provided by the

government, it sparked a price war on the high street chemists, and all these companies are competing with each other to offer very good deals on multi—purchases which it sounds like we might need a bit longer. certainly, without a doubt, these figures _ certainly, without a doubt, these figures don't lie.— figures don't lie. sienna, it's sliuhtl figures don't lie. sienna, it's slightly baffling _ figures don't lie. sienna, it's slightly baffling because - figures don't lie. sienna, it's slightly baffling because we | figures don't lie. sienna, it's - slightly baffling because we were all told that, because so many people have been exposed with that, lots of people have the antibodies yet people are getting ill again, the numbers in hospital are 19,000, up the numbers in hospital are 19,000, up from 200 in the uk only a month ago. x financial growth, but nobody at the official level seems that worried about it, although it's clearly causing problems in the health service. i'm told there's no appointments for the next two weeks, perfectly understandable. if that's happening in gp surgeries, it's happening in gp surgeries, it's happening to hospitals and all the other care staff.—

other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare- _ other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare- i _ other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare. i tried _ other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare. i tried to _ other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare. i tried to book- other care staff. absolutely, it's a nightmare. i tried to book an - nightmare. i tried to book an appointment and was given a telephone appointment in three weeks. it'sjust ridiculous. it's affecting everyone, and of course it just seems like these spikes will just seems like these spikes will just regularly happen now, even though we are vaccinated. i got covid four months ago, i caught the tail end of delta, and i've got the second strain of omicron post every time these variants come out and it changes, we are going to get the new one pretty much, so about every four months i could be getting covid again. {lin months i could be getting covid aaain. . months i could be getting covid a.ain_ ., ., months i could be getting covid aaain. . ., , ., again. on a happy note, james, do ou want again. on a happy note, james, do you want to _ again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take _ again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take us _ again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take us on _ again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take us on to - again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take us on to the - again. on a happy note, james, do you want to take us on to the i - i you want to take us on to the i — sunak goes to wake up to the cost—of—living crisis, the usual bullet points that the i puts on its front pages. how much anxiety is there over this? we are in the middle of a local election campaign,

so it's not exactly great. it’s middle of a local election campaign, so it's not exactly great.— so it's not exactly great. it's an awful time _ so it's not exactly great. it's an awful time for _ so it's not exactly great. it's an awful time for the _ so it's not exactly great. it's an| awful time for the government, so it's not exactly great. it's an - awful time for the government, but it's not— awful time for the government, but it's not a _ awful time for the government, but it's not a great time for anyone. i certainly— it's not a great time for anyone. i certainly noticed itjust it's not a great time for anyone. i certainly noticed it just today on my smart — certainly noticed it just today on my smart metre, the spikes have already— my smart metre, the spikes have already started. and we've already heard _ already started. and we've already heard some tough stories of people choosing _ heard some tough stories of people choosing between eating and literally heating — i know the phrase — literally heating — i know the phrase a _ literally heating — i know the phrase a being bandied about a lot. but some _ phrase a being bandied about a lot. but some people are having to literally— but some people are having to literally choose between those two things _ literally choose between those two things. rishi sunak of italy has laid down _ things. rishi sunak of italy has laid down his package of measures, the i_ laid down his package of measures, the i touches on the fact that he might— the i touches on the fact that he might be — the i touches on the fact that he might be forced to call on it in the summer. and if this carries on and people _ summer. and if this carries on and people continue to struggle and it -ets people continue to struggle and it gets a _ people continue to struggle and it gets a lot — people continue to struggle and it gets a lot worse, which it seems like it could be for a lot of pennie. _ like it could be for a lot of people, that i think we are heading that direction for sure. obviously is not _ that direction for sure. obviously is not good — that direction for sure. obviously is not good for the conservatives in terms _ is not good for the conservatives in terms of— is not good for the conservatives in terms of local election pr, but i think— terms of local election pr, but i think a — terms of local election pr, but i think a lot — terms of local election pr, but i think a lot of people will be worried _ think a lot of people will be

worried more about trying to keep food on _ worried more about trying to keep food on the table, pay for fuel and 'ust food on the table, pay for fuel and just keep — food on the table, pay for fuel and just keep themselves warm in their homes _ just keep themselves warm in their homes at _ just keep themselves warm in their homes at the moment. also the fact that we've _ homes at the moment. also the fact that we've had this patch of weather this week_ that we've had this patch of weather this week that we didn't expect, it was so _ this week that we didn't expect, it was so warm last week now it's gone cold again _ was so warm last week now it's gone cold again. 10 was so warm last week now it's gone cold aaain. ':: , , . . was so warm last week now it's gone cold aain. i“, , , . ., , cold again. 10 celsius in wigan this afternoon. when _ cold again. 10 celsius in wigan this afternoon. when i— cold again. 10 celsius in wigan this afternoon. when i was _ cold again. 10 celsius in wigan this afternoon. when i was coming - cold again. 10 celsius in wigan this| afternoon. when i was coming back esterda , afternoon. when i was coming back yesterday. it _ afternoon. when i was coming back yesterday, it was _ afternoon. when i was coming back yesterday, it was sunny _ afternoon. when i was coming back yesterday, it was sunny but - afternoon. when i was coming back| yesterday, it was sunny but snowing at the same time. i’gre yesterday, it was sunny but snowing at the same time.— at the same time. i've never seen an hinu at the same time. i've never seen anything quite _ at the same time. i've never seen anything quite like _ at the same time. i've never seen anything quite like it _ at the same time. i've never seen anything quite like it for _ at the same time. i've never seen anything quite like it for a - at the same time. i've never seen anything quite like it for a long i anything quite like it for a long time — anything quite like it for a long time i— anything quite like it for a long time. i think we all hope the weather— time. i think we all hope the weather gets warmer because that'll help us— weather gets warmer because that'll help us with our bills. it�*s weather gets warmer because that'll help us with our bills.— help us with our bills. it's not a aood help us with our bills. it's not a good time _ help us with our bills. it's not a good time to — help us with our bills. it's not a good time to turn _ help us with our bills. it's not a good time to turn up _ help us with our bills. it's not a good time to turn up the - help us with our bills. it's not a - good time to turn up the thermostat. sienna, i'm intrigued bya good time to turn up the thermostat. sienna, i'm intrigued by a line in this, i don't know if you are — number ten's... this, i don't know if you are — numberten's... i don't this, i don't know if you are — number ten's... i don't know if this feeds into this idea that there is tension between number ten and 11 on how much money to spend. it’s a

tension between number ten and 11 on how much money to spend.— how much money to spend. it's a very interesting line, _ how much money to spend. it's a very interesting line, obviously— how much money to spend. it's a very interesting line, obviously there - how much money to spend. it's a very interesting line, obviously there is - interesting line, obviously there is often these tensions between downing street and the treasury, we've seen them so many times before no matter what party is in government. but rishi sunak particularly, because borisjohnson in recent months, not so much any more, but has been... is seen as a very likely contender to succeed boris johnson, seen as a very likely contender to succeed borisjohnson, rishi sunak, and he's still a popular politician, but that rests on the measures introduced during the pandemic. and those are the measures like furlough that he's tried to distance himself from because he wanted to present himself as a thatcherite chancellor to tory mps to drum up support in the party. he resents having to make these huge unprecedented decisions, but will he have to call an emergency budget for the summer? how much pressure will downing street be putting on him in order to ian

intervene again? with his hand before his? i think it will have to before his? i think it will have to be forced if he's going to intervene again. because many people will literally be unable to pay their bills, it's notjust a really small number of people right at the bottom, but quite a lot of people either at the end of this month or three months once their bills are up, they literally will be unable to pay those bills because they will of gone up so much. that's unsustainable, i think we will see further interventions, certainly before the budget. i further interventions, certainly before the budget.— further interventions, certainly before the budget. i want to cut in their and get _ before the budget. i want to cut in their and get you _ before the budget. i want to cut in their and get you to _ before the budget. i want to cut in their and get you to the _ before the budget. i want to cut in| their and get you to the telegraph, because this is interesting. very strong antipathy amongst conservative voters and others, of having turbines on shore. people conceded offshore but onshore was something the promised or did not want to cross in 2019. it now looks

like the new borisjohnson is willing to cross this. how much of a political challenge do you think this is? , , ., ., political challenge do you think this is? , ., , . this is? this is another difficult thing because _ this is? this is another difficult thing because boris— this is? this is another difficult thing because boris johnson, l this is? this is another difficult - thing because boris johnson, there's thing because borisjohnson, there's been lots of conflicting briefings coming out on this issue, because he seemed to him earlier this week that he's definitely preferring offshore and has gone cold on onshore wind, but much more recent briefings, the story in the telegraph suggests he is on board with onshore. people have been talking about ideas like, could they a lower energy bills for the people who are living nearby the farms? i think that would be a terrific idea, i completely support that intervention because as it's pointed out in the story, onshore wind is the uk's cheapest source of new power, and it'sjust wind is the uk's cheapest source of new power, and it's just absolutely crucial at a time when people's energy bills are going up, and really some tories have been pushing for fracking really some tories have been pushing forfracking but really some tories have been pushing for fracking but the experts say that aside from concerns about the impact that can have on the

environment, that would just take years to benefit from that. there is a very interesting line here talking about how the prime minister was kind of told it could take a day to put up onshore wind turbines, but ten years for it to get approval in england at the moment. sojust having that very dramatic contrast and what's actually manageable and how the tories mightjust look to change those rules, i think that's particularly important in this context now.— particularly important in this context now.- i've i particularly important in this i context now.- i've been context now. james? i've been readin: context now. james? i've been reading bits — context now. james? i've been reading bits of _ context now. james? i've been reading bits of the _ context now. james? i've been reading bits of the peace, - context now. james? i've been| reading bits of the peace, boris johnson — reading bits of the peace, boris johnson previously called the ludicrous wind farms and that they failed _ ludicrous wind farms and that they failed to— ludicrous wind farms and that they failed to pull the skin off a rice pudding — failed to pull the skin off a rice pudding. boris has never been a fan of these _ pudding. boris has never been a fan of these in — pudding. boris has never been a fan of these in the past, clearly. sounds _ of these in the past, clearly. sounds like my boxing skills, but anyway. but sounds like my boxing skills, but an a. �* ., , sounds like my boxing skills, but an a. �* . , ., , sounds like my boxing skills, but an a . �* . , ., , , sounds like my boxing skills, but an a. ., anyway. but anything that gives us a bit of a boost _ anyway. but anything that gives us a bit of a boost in _ anyway. but anything that gives us a bit of a boost in terms _ anyway. but anything that gives us a bit of a boost in terms of _ bit of a boost in terms of energy targets, — bit of a boost in terms of energy targets, we need as much as we can -et.

targets, we need as much as we can get. obviously this does divide some opinion, _ get. obviously this does divide some opinion, i_ get. obviously this does divide some opinion, i think within the tory ventures — opinion, i think within the tory ventures especially, but clearly where — ventures especially, but clearly where we — ventures especially, but clearly where we are at the moment with the energy— where we are at the moment with the energy crisis, this can only help. but the — energy crisis, this can only help. but the thing you just read out about— but the thing you just read out about the _ but the thing you just read out about the ten years to obtain approval. _ about the ten years to obtain approval, that does concern me a lot, i_ approval, that does concern me a lot, i must— approval, that does concern me a lot, i must admit, it really does. you can— lot, i must admit, it really does. you can go— lot, i must admit, it really does. you can go at least a couple ways on this, like often with these stories. wendy clearly has got significantly more useful in the energy mix over the last ten years, and the amount we generate is good, then we had a year, the year before last where we were less windy than we normally you are, and we are finding suddenly we didn't have the capacity we needed. but that's for another time. take us to the front of the ft again — p&o, the story that keeps on giving and not in the way that they were hoping. not in the way that they were ho - in . , not in the way that they were hoina. ,.,

not in the way that they were homin, ,., not in the way that they were hoina. ,. ., hoping. p&o ferries are facing a criminal probe, _ hoping. p&o ferries are facing a criminal probe, the _ hoping. p&o ferries are facing a criminal probe, the issue - hoping. p&o ferries are facing a criminal probe, the issue with i hoping. p&o ferries are facing a i criminal probe, the issue with this for me. _ criminal probe, the issue with this for me. that — criminal probe, the issue with this for me, that i'm reading and understanding it, is at the moment, p&0 understanding it, is at the moment, p80 are _ understanding it, is at the moment, p&0 are registered outside the uk. so any— p&0 are registered outside the uk. so any criminal investigation that -ets so any criminal investigation that gets under way is a matter of how far this _ gets under way is a matter of how far this can— gets under way is a matter of how far this can go. i'm not really sure what _ far this can go. i'm not really sure what the — far this can go. i'm not really sure what the government are pushing for and what this investigation is pushing _ and what this investigation is pushing for will actually have much result _ pushing for will actually have much result i_ pushing for will actually have much result. i think it's good to see the government calling out, no doubt, it's awful— government calling out, no doubt, it's awful what happened to these people _ it's awful what happened to these people at— it's awful what happened to these people at theirjobs. but i don't know— people at theirjobs. but i don't know whether it'll actually make much _ know whether it'll actually make much of — know whether it'll actually make much of a — know whether it'll actually make much of a difference, and this peace talks about — much of a difference, and this peace talks about the fact that there will be an investigation, but i'm not sure _ be an investigation, but i'm not sure what— be an investigation, but i'm not sure what the end result will be. i don't _ sure what the end result will be. i don't think it'll be better for people _ don't think it'll be better for people who have lost theirjobs. sierra. _ people who have lost theirjobs. siena, maybe i'm being cynical but i have a slight feeling that some of this is an act of harassment, that the government has kind of got a b

in its bonnet particularly about peter hebblethwaite and doesn't like what he's done, they don't have the powers to stop it or even prosecute — but is using all the other tools of government, which include things like spot checks in all these things which suggest they might get him banned as a company director as an unsuitable person. i what point does that stop — is there a point where that stop — is there a point where that stops being legitimate? this that stop - is there a point where that stops being legitimate? this is very difficult. _ that stops being legitimate? this is very difficult, but _ that stops being legitimate? this is very difficult, but really _ that stops being legitimate? this is very difficult, but really the - very difficult, but really the government is just very difficult, but really the government isjust under very difficult, but really the government is just under so much pressure here partly because, particularly about the ceo, because anyone who saw his appearance in front of that select committee — it was outrageous, it was really stunning, one of the most stunning things i've seen in parliament. the fact that he just openly admitted,

yes, the company broke the law by failing to consult with the government and unions, and that happened. i5 government and unions, and that ha ened. , ., ., happened. is not something that directors of _ happened. is not something that directors of the _ happened. is not something that directors of the company, - directors of the company, shareholders if they don't like it, or customers, it's down to them to do something about it? there is not a legal mechanism — is entirely atomic or appropriate to say we don't like this guy, so we will go for his company? we are a capitalist society when people do what they do, but there's supposed to be mechanisms in capitalism that correct extremes or inappropriate behaviour. ,, ., , , correct extremes or inappropriate behaviour. , , , ., behaviour. sometimes things 'ust go too far, behaviour. sometimes things 'ust go too far. and — behaviour. sometimes things 'ust go too far. and r— behaviour. sometimes things 'ust go too far, and i think it's * too far, and i think it's interesting that grant shapps has written them, asking them to consider his this qualification, because his comments were just that outrageous. at a certain point you just have to intervene. just like the cost crisis we are talking about, people might be reluctant and it might go against their instincts to intervene, but ministers at some pointjust have to. a lot of what

they talked about,