so grant shapps, so i was putting to both grant shapps and to the defence secretary, ben wallace, about "my focus is hitachi trains." but it has also today been a really good reminder that just being prime minister is not a normaljob in any sense, and the people that do it are not normal people. and yes, this is yet another reminder this week, isn't it, for the umpteenth time, that borisjohnson is not a normal prime minister, and british politics in the 2020s would yet again be likely to be turned down by any publisher looking for a political drama forjust simply being too far fetched. do you reckon it's time to open the studio door and bring in our newscast guest for this week? i think we should. robert buckland, former cabinet minister, former justice secretary. so, adam, we've got that thing, haven't we, that awkward social moment when the three of us are back in here, but we can't really have a fourth, cos that's a bit much in these covid times. i'm going to listen to robert buckland, but not see him, cos i'm going to go and sit in your cupboard. give him my love! oh, well, thank yo

response they introduced so far was proportionate and only a few days ago the transport secretary, grant shappsf the travel section by introducing by the travel restrictions. they faced political pressure with labour calling for predeparture pressure with labour calling for predepa rtu re tests pressure with labour calling for predeparture tests that have now been introduced. sage, the government's own scientific advisers say that predeparture tests could be valuable. government was feeling pressure to do more. given there is still so much uncertainty about omicron. until we know that ministers are trying to buy some time while all of thatis trying to buy some time while all of that is worked out by scientists, and one of the latest things is this news to introduce predeparture travel testing. that has had a bit of a backlash with the travel sector, particularly saying it is too blanket a measure and so it will put people off trying to book holidays coming up to this christmas period in particular but today the deputy prime minister dominic raab told in our programme but it was better to have a

and it was not necessary for them to go further when it came to travel restrictions, then we had grant shappsctor but today, last night, the government did say they were going to introduce predeparture testing for any people coming back to the uk. that comes after a bitter political pressure on this issue, labour had been calling for predeparture testing for some time but the governments own advisers, sage, their group of scientific advisers said predeparture testing could be valuable in terms of trying to stop any cases at the variant coming to the uk. in terms of the reaction today, there has been a bit of a backlash from the travel sector who feel this blanket approach for all destinations is going to harm the industry and put people off trying to be christmas holidays and holidays next year as well with the uncertainty but today the deputy prime minister dominic raab argued it was betterfor the prime minister dominic raab argued it was better for the government to take what he called incremental steps rather than having to then lurch into more severe restrictions of cases continue to rise

tests before returning to the uk, particularas the tests before returning to the uk, particular as grant shappssly this wouldn't be introduced. it was something they were not considering. as we have entered the weekend, already contacting clients about the new returning requirements, the pcr tests on or before day two, this was not something we expected to be spending the entire saturday night and the rest of the weekend contacting clients in resort and those about to travel to the advice of these new entry requirements for when they return back to the uk. i5 when they return back to the uk. is it going to be logistically possible for everyone to fulfil these requirements with this short notice? it should be. we've been hit before. we had these measures in place until the beginning of october, this is not something that is completely brand—new. there are many people that are booked to travel at this time of year and booked at times when this was already in place. remembering people that travelled all the way through the summer and into early october has to go through exactly the same measures t

the health secretary, grant shapps, said they would make a decision on the 18th, maybe things will changeh and 28 days before the holiday is due to be paid for to make that decision. what the holiday is due to be paid for to make that decision.— make that decision. what are the factors that _ make that decision. what are the factors that you _ make that decision. what are the factors that you are _ make that decision. what are the factors that you are weighing - make that decision. what are the factors that you are weighing up, j factors that you are weighing up, what would make you cancel and what would make you decide to go anyway? i think a couple of things. the extra cost for the tests, when they announced we would have to have a pcr test on the way back with let's say, two days, i said, that is manageable but now they want you to do another 148 hours before you return and it's just the extra cost and to be honest, a lot of it is the uncertainty. you go on holiday and something changes dramatically, again, my partner, she would have to self isolate on the way back for four days, that'

the uk transport secretary grant shapps says he's not expecting any further covid restrictions this month place now the measures that we believe will see us through to the new year. and some of the measures which are not relevant, we are removing. in fact, yesterday we removed the red list countries. there is no point in having those any more because omicron is already here. so, we always try and keep these things proportionate, and remove them as quickly as possible. one thing i can say for certain is if we did need to do anything else, parliament would be recalled in order to vote on doing that, so it wouldn'tjust be an automated thing. coming in, in the last few moments, breaking news. this is a comment made by doctorjenny harries, the chief executive of the centre xhaka uk health security agency. she has told mps that omicron is probably the most significant threat since the most significant threat since the start of the pandemic. probably the start of the pandemic. probably the most significant threat since the most significant threat since the start of the pandemic. that is the star

the next few weeks, those will go to parliament again, because we have had this commitment from grant shappsort secretary this morning. we've got in place now the measures that we believe will see us through to the new year. and some of the measures which are not relevant, we are removing. in fact, yesterday we removed the red list countries. there is no point in having those any more because omicron is already here. so, we always try and keep these things proportionate, and remove them as quickly as possible. one thing i can say for certain is if we did need to do anything else, parliament would be recalled in order to vote on doing that, so it wouldn'tjust be an automated thing. another... sorry, adam. iwas about to say, meanwhile, another conservative resignation over events at christmas last year? yes. conservative resignation over events at christmas last year?— at christmas last year? yes, this is shaun bailey. _ at christmas last year? yes, this is shaun bailey, he _ at christmas last year? yes, this is shaun bailey, he was _ at christmas last year? yes, this is shaun bailey, he was t

earlier— transport secretary grant shapps earlier suggested they would probably be no further measuresary. so _ come under severe pressure in january. so i think, for that reason. _ january. so i think, for that reason, we are not actually hearing government ministers absolutely ruling _ government ministers absolutely ruling out further restrictions. i'm sure _ ruling out further restrictions. i'm sure the _ ruling out further restrictions. i'm sure the prime minster will be asked but at _ sure the prime minster will be asked but at the _ sure the prime minster will be asked but at the press conference today and l'm _ but at the press conference today and i'm sure he will have to find a form _ and i'm sure he will have to find a form of— and i'm sure he will have to find a form of words to convince people that christmas won't be entirely ruined _ that christmas won't be entirely ruined but— that christmas won't be entirely ruined but equally he will keep the option— ruined but equally he will keep the option open of taking further measures if the spread of the virus suddenly— measures

as we had in katie's report, the transport secretary grant shapps said on wednesday he didn't want tolot of concern about that from the travel sector. in terms of why they have done this, this shows us just how concerned ministers are about the new omicron variant of coronavirus and the uncertainty we have around it. we still don't know exactly how much more transmissible it is and whether or not it is resistant to the vaccines we have available. whether it may be more harmful to those who catch it. there is still a lot of uncertainty around it. ministers want to hide time with extra measures like risk. only recently some of these travel restrictions were lifted and now we are seeing slowly then introduced again. are seeing slowly then introduced aaain. ., .. are seeing slowly then introduced aaain. ., ~' ,, are seeing slowly then introduced aaain. . ~ ., a blast of wintry weather is sweeping across parts of scotland and northern england today — where nearly five thousand homes are still without electricity — nine days after the damage caused by storm arwen. army troops will continue

in number ten behind me and more recently a couple of cabinet ministers have left as we've seen grant shappstatement in parliament, possibly from the health secretary and possibly a news conference at some point as well but so far no confirmation, even that the cabinet have met or that any decisions have been made, so we will have to wait and see. , :, :, :, been made, so we will have to wait and see. , :, ., ., : ., ,, ., ,, ,., and see. jonathan blake, thank you very much- — i“m joined now by steve searle, who cancelled his conservative party membership today. thanks forjoining us. why? i've been concerned for awhile about way the government, the general behaviour has manifested itself and that's generally a problem with the system. that's generally a problem with the s stem. :, :, that's generally a problem with the s stem. :, ., , ., :, , ., system. you get a big ma'ority and ou then system. you get a big ma'ority and you then get i system. you get a big majority and you then get complacency - system. you get a big majority and you then get complacency and - you then get complacency and

we can speak now to the transport secretary, grant shapps. good morning. nice to talk to you.are — with nearly 250 majority. i think these are sensible steps. but the main _ these are sensible steps. but the main thing to do is to remind people to go— main thing to do is to remind people to go and _ main thing to do is to remind people to go and get that boosterjab. that is the _ to go and get that boosterjab. that is the thing — to go and get that boosterjab. that is the thing which will prevent us from _ is the thing which will prevent us from having to come i think, extend anything _ from having to come i think, extend anything or— from having to come i think, extend anything or go further, if everybody has got _ anything or go further, if everybody has got the jab in their arm. one has got the 'ab in their arm. one uuote has got the 'ab in their arm. one quote from — has got the jab in their arm. one quote from last _ has got the jab in their arm. <1>t9 quote from last night, talking about the prime minister, was, he has to realise he has to change. you think you will? we

even a transport secretary, grant shapps, said it was fantastic to see george and the dog back in theirul alace. ., , and the dog back in their rightful lace. ., , ., ., ., place. lovely. good to hear that the riaht place. lovely. good to hear that the ri . ht thin place. lovely. good to hear that the right thing can _ place. lovely. good to hear that the right thing can happen, _ place. lovely. good to hear that the right thing can happen, it _ place. lovely. good to hear that the right thing can happen, itjust i right thing can happen, itjust takes a bit of time, a bit of effort. and i see you over there. have you come up with a compilation name for that outfit?— name for that outfit? well, i quite like some of— name for that outfit? well, i quite like some of the _ name for that outfit? well, i quite like some of the ones _ name for that outfit? well, i quite like some of the ones you - name for that outfit? well, i quite like some of the ones you were i like some of the ones you were suggesting, but naga didn't seem convinced we needed to go for a new name. i convinced we needed to