at holyrood, the first minister _ won't be able to.r said this _ won't be able to. at holyrood, the first minister said this was - won't be able to. at holyrood, the first minister said this was not - won't be able to. at holyrood, the i first minister said this was not the update she had wanted. mr; first minister said this was not the update she had wanted.— update she had wanted. my key reauest is update she had wanted. my key request is this, _ update she had wanted. my key request is this, before - update she had wanted. my key request is this, before and - request is this, before and immediately after christmas, please minimise _ immediately after christmas, please minimise your social mixing with other— minimise your social mixing with other households as much as you can. if other households as much as you can. if you _ other households as much as you can. if you do _ other households as much as you can. if you do plan — other households as much as you can. if you do plan on socialising either at home _ if you do plan on sociali

in holyrood giving the latest advice from the scottish government on gatherings over the christmas andments are the latest from nicola sturgeon. large—scale live events basically cancelled. much more coming up. now time for a look at the weather. coming up. now time for a look at hello. it is a rather grey looking winter solstice at the moment, but looking at the western areas, the cloud will thin at times but overall staying very cloudy into the evening and stay pretty cold as well and by the time we hit the start of the evening temperatures could drop below freezing and that will lead into a cold night, maybe not as cold as last night, the coldest night of the winter, but a widespread frost nevertheless across scotland england and wales, and maybe —3, —5 in some parts of england and wales, quite a bit of sunshine around to begin wednesday morning, and a different story in ireland, not quite as chilly because we have cloud and outbreaks of rain and a strengthening breeze which spreads to parts of west and central scotland. this is bbc news broadacsting to viewers in the uk and around

but for most people in scotland, income tax rates, partially controlled by holyrood, remain unchangeding. i am absolutely astonished that, for this budget, she's not been able to at least acknowledge that she has at her disposal record block—grant funding from rishi sunak and the uk government. up by 10.6% and proving the benefits of scotland being part of a strong united kingdom. even before the pandemic, the snp was facing criticism of its record on health, education and drugs deaths, and this budget underlines that covid has sharpened all of those challenges, with a deadly virus now looming over every decision. james cook, bbc news. day three of the first ashes test gets under way shortly in brisbane, with england's captain already desperately searching for inspiration. the hosts are firmly in control, as our sport correspondent joe wilson reports. various scenarios are still possible in brisbane, but they all basically look the same. classic australia — ashes takeover. for a moment, ben stokes had dismissed david warner cheaply. the replay showed he'd overstepped — a no—ball, not

there has been son impression left that your administration at stormont and the administration in holyroodrdiff would like to go further and faster on restrictions or more concerned that the westminster government. what is your thinking at this stage? we government. what is your thinking at this staue? ~ ., , this stage? we have very good engagement — this stage? we have very good engagement across _ this stage? we have very good engagement across the - this stage? we have very good engagement across the uk, i this stage? we have very good | engagement across the uk, we this stage? we have very good - engagement across the uk, we met on friday, the cobra committee was convened by michael gove and we met this afternoon and i anticipate another meeting of the cobra committee to take place tomorrow. that is ensuring that we share all of the latest data around the movement of the omicron variant and what is happening in london and scotland is certainly ahead of where we were at and —— where we are at a northern ireland and we anticipate that two week lag we will catch up with the spread of thi

whether further restrictions will come in, we will hear about that this afternoon when she speaks at holyrood scotland, but in northern ireland, chris page is in belfast for us. the message from the devolved government here in belfast is the severity of the covid restrictions which could be coming up here may well depend on how many people turn up to places like this, the titanic exhibition centre in east belfast and its been transformed into a vaccination hall, just open this morning, it has a capacity of 4000 people every day and already several hundred people have been through the doors during just the last few hours. the health minister robin swann has said the boosterjab is the most effective weapon we have in the fight against omicron so the more people that do get their boosterjab, the more likelihood northern ireland will avoid the most restrictive regulations. the number of people in hospital with covid has fallen, it's the lowest it has been for quite a number of weeks. but there has been a warning from the health unions here today that their workers could they believe be facing the

i, i holyrood. thank you, mr speaker. areas in my _ holyrood. thank you, mr speaker.grave concern and focus for the government. he will also appreciate that electricity north west has done a reasonablejob in restoring i think 95% of the people affected, but clearly we want to work harder to make sure that about 6000 people, 7000 people, who are still of the grade can get the power as soon as possible. grade can get the power as soon as iossible. i, ., grade can get the power as soon as iossible. i, «i , i, , grade can get the power as soon as iossible. i, ~i , i, , i i possible. thank you very much, mr sieaker. possible. thank you very much, mr speaker- i— possible. thank you very much, mr speaker- i also _ possible. thank you very much, mr speaker. i also want _ possible. thank you very much, mr speaker. i also want to _ possible. thank you very much, mr speaker. i also want to send - speaker. i also want to send my condolences and pay respects to those who lost their lives in these awful circumstances, in particular to the family of the man who passed away in ambles

earlier at holyrood, the scottish conservatives said ms sturgeon should have moved faster on boosterrepare to bring in mass vaccination centres, but only now, only today, has that been accepted. _ the first minister's statement also included legally—enforceable measures to stop crowding and maintain physical distancing in shops and hospitality venues. and there'll be £200 million to support businesses affected by the changes, and to help people to self—isolate. nicola sturgeon was adamant she did not want to cancel christmas. nevertheless, these changes will make big differences to people's festive season. there's definitely an atmosphere in the air, people are just getting a bit more worried and people are not going to have the christmas they hoped for. i feel like, by now, - people have stopped caring a little bit, especially now with the festive spirit. - people are kind of desperate to go out and socialise _ and go back to their normal lives. with things going on at downing street and parties and things like that, itjust makes you think, "what's the point if they're not sticking

we heard nicola sturgeon making that announcement in holyrood in the last half—an—hour.rought in. let's hear a little bit of that announcement.- brought in. let's hear a little bit of that announcement. from the 26th of that announcement. from the 26th of december — of that announcement. from the 26th of december for _ of that announcement. from the 26th of december for a _ of that announcement. from the 26th of december for a period _ of that announcement. from the 26th of december for a period up - of that announcement. from the 26th of december for a period up to - of that announcement. from the 26th of december for a period up to three l of december for a period up to three weeks. _ of december for a period up to three weeks. we _ of december for a period up to three weeks, we intend to place limits on the size _ weeks, we intend to place limits on the size of— weeks, we intend to place limits on the size of large public events that can take _ the size of large public events that can take place. this does not apply to private _ can take place. this does not apply to

this is a virtual session of holyrood, the scottish parliament, as you will gather, and this has been specially convened, in light of covid, and because we are running up to new year, to hogmanay, and the first minister again urging people to stay—at—home more than normal, and to limit the size of your indoor gatherings to know more than three households. a lot of talk about boosters as welcome as we have heard from the westminster government, please get your booster, please bring your appointment forward for your booster if you possibly can, and also making the point that the belief is about 80% of cases of covid in scotland are now believed to be the omicron variant. no one should be complacent about getting covid, says the first minister. and all of that again throwing up what we have discussed a lot in the last few days, the difference in approach in the uk, depending where you live, depending which nation you live in, in terms of different restrictions, as we edge up to new year. we will talk more about that in the coming hours. i am sure. right now, the time is 2:32pm, much more

meet the scottish government, due to meet on tuesday, and then there will be a further update at holyrood, thank ou afternoon. conor gillies in glasgow, thank you very _ afternoon. conor gillies in glasgow, thank you very much. _ afternoon. conor gillies in glasgow, thank you very much. edging - afternoon. conor gillies in glasgow, thank you very much. edging up - afternoon. conor gillies in glasgow, thank you very much. edging up to l thank you very much. edging up to half past. i do want to talk more about our main story tonight, of course, the inquestjury findings, course, the inquest jury findings, concluding course, the inquestjury findings, concluding that errors at the metropolitan police probably contributed to the deaths of three young men, who were murdered by the serial killer stephen port in east london. i've been promising we will talk to the police chief �*s council. i'm so sorry. let's talk to deputy police chief constable, stephanie jardine. she is also a deputy police chief constable at west midlands police. thank you forjoining us. i'm sorry, we've had trouble getting th

scotland's finance secretary kate forbes has delivered her budget speech at holyrood with pledges to msps that income tax rates would remain unchanged. 0n income tax, this government's priority has been to make the tax system fairer and more progressive and to protect low— and middle—income taxpayers. with increases in the cost of living and rising fuel prices likely to impact lower income families the most, i believe that these principles are more important than ever. i can therefore confirm that income tax rates next year will remain unchanged. the starter and the basic rate bands will increase in line with inflation and the higher and top rates will remain frozen at their current levels. 0ur progressive income tax policy means the majority of scottish taxpayers will continue to pay less income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the uk, while those who earn more will pay more. new zealand is looking to bring in legislation that will stop young people from ever buying cigarettes even as they age into adulthood. the goal is to make the whole country smoke—free. lucy grey has more. n

at holyrood, the first minister said this was not the update she had wanted.n socialising either at home or in indoor public places, we are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three and make sure you test before you go. the scottish conservatives said ms sturgeon should have moved faster on booster vaccinations. week after week my party has come to the chamber and asked _ the first minister to- prepare to bring in mass |vaccination centres, but only now, | only today has that been accepted. the first minister's statement also included legally enforceable measures to stop crowding and maintain physical distancing in shops and hospitality venues. and there will be £200 million to support businesses affected by the changes, and to help people to self—isolate. nicola sturgeon was adamant she did not want to cancel christmas. nevertheless, these changes will make big differences to people's festive season. there is definitely an atmosphere in the air, people are just getting a bit more worried and people are not

but for most people in scotland income tax rates remain unchanged. rates — partially controlled by holyroodhat for this budget she has not been able to at least acknowledge that she has at her disposal record block grant funding from rishi sunak and the uk government. up by 10.6%, improving the benefits of scotland being part of a strong united kingdom. even before the pandemic, the snp was facing criticism of its record on health, education and drugs deaths, and this budget underlines that covid—19 has sharpened all of those challenges with a deadly virus now looming over every decision. james cook, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. weather forecast don't just weather forecast don'tjust rely on computers but looking out of the window as well! air is crisp. we have got a big change to our weather patterns with much milder weather pushing away over the next couple of days but before we get there overnight and light a band of rain pushes eastwards across the country and will be followed by plenty of showers across north—western areas and is colder air begins

at holyrood, the first minister said this was not the update she had wanted.our group to a maximum of three and make sure you test before you go. the scottish conservatives said ms sturgeon should have moved faster and booster vaccinations. week after week at my party has come to the chamber and asked _ the first minister to- prepare to bring in mass vaccination cenres but only now, i only today has that been accepted. the first minister's statement also included legally enforceable measures to stop crowding and maintain physical distancing in shops and hospitality venues. and there will be £200 million to support businesses affected by the changes, and to help people to self—isolate. nicola sturgeon was adamant she did not want to cancel christmas. nevertheless, these changes will make big differences to people's festive season. there is definitely an atmosphere in the air, people are just getting a bit more worried and people are not going to have the christmas they hoped for. i feel like by now, - people have stopped caring a little bit, especially now with

the cabinet's due to meet in the next hour and first minister nicola sturgeon will update holyrood laterinister has also warned new restrictions could be on the way there, saying ministers may "need to take more steps to keep wales safe". mark drakeford has announced urgent plans to offer the booster vaccine to all eligible adults by the end of the year. there are currently 30 confirmed cases of omicron in the country. as we've been hearing, scores of conservative mps have indicated they'll oppose the government's plan b measures for tackling the omicron variant. one of them is with us now the conservative mp, tobias ellwood. good morning to you, thanks for your time today. a, good morning to you, thanks for your time toda . �* , , ., good morning to you, thanks for your timetoda . �* , ., , good morning to you, thanks for your time today-— time today. a series of votes in parliament _ time today. a series of votes in parliament today, _ time today. a series of votes in parliament today, so _ time today. a series of votes in parliament today, so can - time today. a series of votes in par

let's get more on the measures announced by scotland's first minister this afternoon at holyrood.and their own of risk which _ responsibility and their own of risk which is _ responsibility and their own of risk which is obviously pertinent as we move _ which is obviously pertinent as we move to _ which is obviously pertinent as we move to live with this virus that people — move to live with this virus that people also take their own responsibility. i people also take their own responsibility.— people also take their own responsibility. people also take their own resonsibili . , , responsibility. i suppose the bad news is for _ responsibility. i suppose the bad news is for scottish _ responsibility. i suppose the bad news is for scottish businesses l responsibility. i suppose the bad i news is for scottish businesses like the hospitality industry and people cancelling parties and all sorts of social events.— cancelling parties and all sorts of socialevents. , . ., ., social events. exactly. we have also heard that new— social events. exactly. we have also heard that new protection

let's cross to holyrood where the first minister of scotland nicola sturgeon is updating the scottish decisions that we have had to make. and i'm afraid this is another moment when such frankness is really important. the purpose of today's update is to level with you on what we know so far about the spread in scotland of the new omicron variance. and also to share our estimate at this stage of what we are likely to face in the days and weeks to come. we face a renewed and severe challenge in the face of the omicron variance. because of the much greater and faster transmissibility of this new variant, we may be facing, indeed we may be starting to experience a potential tsunami of infections. now, we are not alone in that, far from it, everything i am about to share with you about the situation in scotland is broadly reflected in the data for the rest of the uk as well and although i am not familiar with the data elsewhere, i would suspect it is reflected there as well. we have just suspect it is reflected there as well. we havejust published suspect it is reflected there as well. we h