it comes off the back of the chesham amersham by—election in the summer. baby the liberal democrat leader going up to north shropshire taking out his famous hammer, taking out his famous hammer, taking into the blue wall, but he won't be able to do that because he has covid and he will be isolating at home. jubilation for the limb dams and as you expect, complete silence from the conservative party. they will be awake, they will be saying this, downing street will be seen as they will be thinking, what we do now to regroup? the prime minister said, now to regroup? the prime ministersaid, he now to regroup? the prime minister said, he got away with at time, i think this is about local issues, issues peculiar to chesham amersham, but this is a more tricky thing for him to write off. not only because it is a more difficult political terrain for him now thanit political terrain for him now than it was in the summer, not only because there aren't obvious local issues that he can point to and say that this was about, but because in many ways this was, at least t

and amersham by—election. the chesham and amersham by-election-_ the chesham and amersham by-electionn. , �* ., ., , by-election. this wasn't another lib dems by-election _ by-election. this wasn't another lib dems by-election victory, _ by-election. this wasn't another lib dems by-election victory, it - by-election. this wasn't another lib dems by-election victory, it was - by-election. this wasn't another lib| dems by-election victory, it was our dems by—election victory, it was our best ever and on the swing we achieved, dozens of conservative seats would fault of the liberal democrats in the next election. in democrats in the next election. in scottish parliament elections the snp emerged as the big winners with what they saw as a fresh mandate for a new referendum. we what they saw as a fresh mandate for a new referendum.— a new referendum. we won the election on _ a new referendum. we won the election on a — a new referendum. we won the election on a commitment - a new referendum. we won the election on a commitment for. a new referendum. we won the election on a commitment for

about is a question around what is the actual policy response to this, because if we looked at the cheshamerms of a very long held conservative seat in a leave voting area of the country, i think the government will struggle to identify any issues that they can quickly turn around and in the absence of that, taking personal responsibility and showing more contrition will be even more important. contrition will be even more important-— important. that is not something _ important. that is not something boris - important. that is not i something boris johnson is traditionally something borisjohnson is traditionally known for, showing contrition. are we're going to see people taking the blame for this around him but the prime minister not ultimately taking responsibility himself? well there will always _ responsibility himself? well there will always be, - responsibility himself? vii there will always be, there is already talk of people around him in downing street perhaps not being as affect, the kind of advice that is getting, will there be movement on that, i suspect there probably will be

won in chesham and amersham, ed davey made _ in chesham and amersham, ed davey made the _ in cheshamces, our resources into north shropshire. people thought that was— north shropshire. people thought that was a foolish move. it turned out to— that was a foolish move. it turned out to be — that was a foolish move. it turned out to be a — that was a foolish move. it turned out to be a wise move and i'll tell you what. — out to be a wise move and i'll tell you what, britain could do with some wise and _ you what, britain could do with some wise and brave leadership at the moment— wise and brave leadership at the moment because there is none of it available _ moment because there is none of it available in — moment because there is none of it available in downing street. what we have seen _ available in downing street. what we have seen over the last few weeks is a range _ have seen over the last few weeks is a range of— have seen over the last few weeks is a range of communities who have been taken _ a range of communities who have been taken for— a range of communities who have been ta

democrats, overturning a tory majority of nearly 23,000, a swing even bigger than the one that won cheshamis a huge result that is going to send shock waves through westminster. helen morgan is the first liberal democrat and the first woman to win in north shropshire and she has given the prime minister a bloody nose. it has been an intense campaign fuelled by accusations of sleaze, christmas parties and covid—19 rebellions. sensing the opportunity, the lib dems flooded the area with activists and have been rewarded. turnout, 46%, 12% higher than a recent by—election in 0ld bexley and sidcup and the majority of almost 6000. north shropshire is a large rural constituency and while the pm was clearly an issue on the doorstep, the lib dems have also tapped into the feeling that this true blue seat has been forgotten by the conservatives. their candidate, neil shastri—hurst fighting a losing battle. we do need to reflect upon the result and i am sure, as a party, we will do that, but, i repeat it again, i'm sure you'll understand that we are going to get a bit of shuteye and i'll go and give m

shock defeat in what had become known as the tories�* blue wall — see what they did there — in the cheshamn. this wasn'tjust another lib dem by—election victory, it was our best ever and on the swing we achieved, dozens of conservative seats would fall to the liberal democrats in the next election. in scottish parliament elections, the snp emerged as the big winners with what they saw as a fresh mandate for a new referendum. the snp won the election on a commitment for a referendum when we're through the crisis. we won the election overwhelmingly, and in any normal democracy, that would be respected. in wales, labour remained in charge, agreeing a co—operation deal with plaid cymru. a great pleasure to have the opportunity to sign, formally, the agreement between our two parties. as northern ireland celebrated its centenary year, arlene foster stepped down as the leader of the dup. can you tell us what happened in there? did you face a motion of no confidence? are you still the leader of the party? her successor edwin poots lasted just 21 days. then the mp sirjeffrey donaldson took over. i

this is another by—election victory on top of another sensational victory in chesham and amersham.. thank you very much. if ou minister. thank you very much. if you are _ minister. thank you very much. if you are watching _ if you are watching internationally you can get the latest on this on the bbc news website and the bbc news app. if you are watching in the uk, stay with us. much more on this. forthosejoining stay with us. much more on this. for thosejoining around this. for those joining around the this. for thosejoining around the world. thank you very much. we will see you next time. lets go to our two guests, polly mckenzie and mo hussein, conservative special adviser and chief of staff at downing street. helen's speech was not much about policy or politics. it was really just a much about policy or politics. it was reallyjust a message for one person, and that person was borisjohnson. for one person, and that person was boris johnson.— was boris johnson. yes, it was an ex- orientating _ was boris johnson. yes, it was an ex- orientating speech. - an ex— orientating speech.

i think chesham and amersham and north shropshire suggest that in some parts of the country they canor the moment. the liberal democrat _ there for the moment. iie: liberal democrat constitution, if you like. liberal democrat constitution, if you like-— if you like. polly, i am going to have to — if you like. polly, i am going to have to interrupt - if you like. polly, i am going to have to interrupt you i if you like. polly, i am going to have to interrupt you for. to have to interrupt you for the moment. thank you for your contribution. plenty more available on the website on this story. an historic moment happening in north shropshire. the party, the conservative party losing for the first time in 200 years. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: has the giant finally gone to sleep? scientists say the volcanic eruption in the canary islands could be over by christmas. saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, ourwomen, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than

but taken together with chesham and amersham, the lib dems threaten to be back as a force and borisjohnson so, and that will change what he can do in terms of his power and over his party. terms of his power and over his .a _ �* , terms of his power and over his party. let's talk about that with our political _ party. let's talk about that with our political correspondent - party. let's talk about that with our political correspondent ben | our political correspondent ben wright. what does it all mean for the government and for boris johnson? ~ �* ., ., ~' johnson? well, we'll either look back at this _ johnson? well, we'll either look back at this by-election - johnson? well, we'll either look back at this by-election is - johnson? well, we'll either look back at this by-election is a - back at this by—election is a turning point for boris johnson's premiership turning point for borisjohnson's premiership or it will be remembered as another remarkable lib dem by—election win that in the end doesn't change very much. at the moment we don't know the answer. it clearly was a disastrous resul

we saw a similar thing in chesham and amersham—another tory safe seat, different part of the country,ew of conservative mps in the south of england, in particular where the lib dems are in second place — seats like wimbledon, seats like lewes — 91 of them mainly against the conservatives, with much smaller majorities than shropshire. this is one that stands out — esher and walton, the seat of the deputy pm and justice secretary, dominic raab. the tories haven't had to seriously worry about the lib dems since they ingested them and spat them out again after the coalition — a revival changes the complexion of our electoral politics. so let's neither overstate nor understate. this is a sensational result, but it's also a by—election, they can light up the electoral sky, then fizzle and mean little. but what it does mean, when taken together with chesham and amersham, the lib dems threaten to be back as a force, and that borisjohnson, who has for so long looked invulnerable, to whom nothing would stick, is no longer so, and that will change what he can do in terms of his power over his pa

this was not of the chesham and amersham.the constituency voted remain and where the conservative vote was clearly on the conservative vote was clearly on the slide, not least as a result of brexit. it is the kind of constituency where the voters had been satisfied brexit got done and that he might succeed in appealing to. maybe one interesting aspect of this is perhaps brexit as an election issue, this is a sign it may have worked its way through the system. it may not alter the way other document people could broad the relationship and not as strong as it was in 2019, but it is still as long as it was in strong as it was in 2019, but it is still as long as it was— strong as it was in 2019, but it is still as long as it was in 2017, and therefore still _ still as long as it was in 2017, and therefore still strong _ still as long as it was in 2017, and therefore still strong as _ still as long as it was in 2017, and therefore still strong as the - therefore still strong as the eu referendum.— therefore still strong as the eu

but this suggestion that there may be a tightening of the race, like amersham and chesham earlier this i'm going to make them pay at the ballot box and that's where it will really, really hurt. box and that's where it will really, really hurt-— box and that's where it will really, really hurt.- the _ box and that's where it will really, really hurt.- the article - really hurt. laura? the article makes the — really hurt. laura? the article makes the point _ really hurt. laura? the article makes the point that - really hurt. laura? the article makes the point that in - really hurt. laura? the article makes the point that in the i really hurt. laura? the article i makes the point that in the long term _ makes the point that in the long term it — makes the point that in the long term it is — makes the point that in the long term it is incredibly damaging when the public— term it is incredibly damaging when the public lose faith in their etected _ the public lose faith in their elected politicians and their leaders _ elected politicians and their leaders because it means in the future _ lea

from chesham and amersham to north _ winning. _ campaigns from the front. i want to thank you personally for the support you have _ thank you personally for the support you have given me over the past few weeks. _ you have given me over the past few weeks, whether it is on the streets of whitchurch, oswestry, market drayton, — of whitchurch, oswestry, market drayton, you have led the charge for change _ that result came in the early hours of the morning. we will be picking up of the morning. we will be picking up on a lot of the issues. you had the speech. a very personal criticism of the prime minister. we will be speaking to the chairman of the conservative party, oliver dowden, at half past seven. irate the conservative party, oliver dowden, at half past seven. we will also be talking _ dowden, at half past seven. we will also be talking to _ dowden, at half past seven. we will also be talking to sir _ dowden, at half past seven. we will also be talking to sir ed _ dowden, at half past seven. we will also be talking to sir ed

shock defeat in what had become known as the tories's blue wall — see what they did there — in the cheshamhey saw as a fresh mandate for a new referendum. we won the election on a commitment for a referendum when we're through the crisis. we won the election overwhelmingly, and in any normal democracy, that would be respected. in wales, labour remained in charge, agreeing a co—operation deal with plaid cymru. a great pleasure to have the opportunity to sign formally the agreement between our two parties. as northern ireland celebrated its centenary year, arlene foster stepped down as the leader of the dup. did you face a motion of no confidence? are you still the leader? her successor edwin poots lasted just 21 days. then the mp sirjeffrey donaldson took over. in may, dominic cummings, who quit as a number 10 aide in late 2020, made an explosive return to the headlines. in a marathon session at a parliamentary committee looking into the pandemic, the prime minister's former advisor accused his old boss of a list of serious failures. he described it as the new swine flu. did you tell him it