owen patterson. _ had this come about? owen patterson, the _ had this come about?e seat since 1997, conservative stalwart, achieved over 60% of the vote at the last general election and the seat. he had been involved in a lobbying scandal and without going into all of the details, effectively the house of commons which polices itself on this matter, had said that they believe that mr patterson, as a result of these very significant lobbying transgressions should be barred from the house of commons for 30 days. mr patterson did not accept this lying down, he totally refused to accept the validity of thatjudgement and indeed managed to get through one form or another the agreement of the conservative party and the government to threaten to vote against that suspension and indeed that's what they did. this caused an enormous conflagration within parliament stopping the opposition said that the conservative party had effectively dismantled the standard system around one man and that could possibly be tenable stopping the government then retreated from that and set actu

it -et with the owen patterson it's not. it get this— with the owen patterson it's not.talking _ sympathy the fact that we had was talking about you got people in downing — talking about you got people in downing street in a very high pressure _ downing street in a very high pressure environment. this was a work— pressure environment. this was a work thing — pressure environment. this was a work thing. we should say the fat that this — work thing. we should say the fat that this has leaked is totally extraordinary. there is internal downing — extraordinary. there is internal downing street footage of a private moch— downing street footage of a private mock press conference was that we never _ mock press conference was that we never seen — mock press conference was that we never seen anything like this in british— never seen anything like this in british politics in the public domain _ british politics in the public domain before. much more secondary issue but— domain before. much more secondary issue but i'm — domain before. much more secondary issue but i'm sure there's

have a majority _ and owen patterson have a majority of more than 20,000. majority of more than 20,000. we have turned that around tonight _ we have turned that around tonight. we have got half of that— tonight. we have got half of that swing and round 30 seats in the — that swing and round 30 seats in the south of england, in those _ in the south of england, in those seats could easily fall to the — those seats could easily fall to the liberal democrats. conservative mps will be looking over their shoulders tomorrow morning knowing we are within— tomorrow morning knowing we are within touching distance. how have ou within touching distance. how have you done _ within touching distance. how have you done it? _ within touching distance. how have you done it? the - have you done it? the accusation will be if it turns out you are correct and have taken this stage, how have you done it? the accusation will be this is a by—election, people arejust this is a by—election, people are just protesting against the government and you have been helped rather by some of

and it _ over standards with owen patterson and it blew — over standards with owen patterson and itd _ and it blew up his face and he to stand out — and it blew up his face and he to stand out. and it's very, very safe tories _ stand out. and it's very, very safe tories seat — stand out. and it's very, very safe tories seat is _ stand out. and it's very, very safe tories seat is now looking not so safe at _ tories seat is now looking not so safe at aii~ — tories seat is now looking not so safe at all. that's two sets of trouble — safe at all. that's two sets of trouble for him. what is the bye election— trouble for him. what is the bye election is— trouble for him. what is the bye election is only happening because of his— election is only happening because of his decision. the other is the reason — of his decision. the other is the reason that— of his decision. the other is the reason that tories are pulling so badly— reason that tories are pulling so badly there is because it hasn't 'ust badly there is because it hasn't just been— badly there is because it hasn't just been one sca

seat and it looks _ of 22,000, owen patterson seat and it looks quite possible that they will lose —e it. i think if that happens then we are going to see a lot more _ happens then we are going to see a lot more anger coming to the floor on the _ lot more anger coming to the floor on the conservative back benches. that's _ on the conservative back benches. that's a _ on the conservative back benches. that's a real — on the conservative back benches. that's a real problem for boris johnson. because he is a lonely figure _ johnson. because he is a lonely figure west minister, he doesn't have _ figure west minister, he doesn't have a _ figure west minister, he doesn't have a lot — figure west minister, he doesn't have a lot of friends or the way he's _ have a lot of friends or the way he's always maintained his grasp on the party— he's always maintained his grasp on the party is he's got this presidential charisma and appeal. it only works — presidential charisma and appeal. it only works if he personally is popular — only works if he personally is popular which he doesn't seem to be. i

if you cast your mind back to the owen patterson scandal it was a scandal about one backbench mp most damage that it did to the amount of damage that it did to the government both among republican backbench and peas were it to vote something they didn't believe in only to have the government you turn and really humiliate them. there was that. then there was the rail plan that. then there was the rail plan that wasn't, tax rise and there was other things. that wasn't, tax rise and there was otherthings. now that wasn't, tax rise and there was other things. now the downing street party story it's all part of the same thing. he also had the peppa pig speech, who can forget the peppa pig speech, who can forget the peppa pig speech? the minister rambling and looking very un— prime ministerial bear. i think slowly what you're starting to see is people getting the impression that may be borisjohnson is in such a winner after all. the conservative party has always know what he's like. they always know is details man and he changes his position and you get necessarily trust what he says will d

in a way, it's started perhaps with the owen patterson — it's started perhaps with the owen pattersone first big _ patterson affair, and that was the first big rebellion the prime minister tried to get the standards commission tossed aside with. and had to— commission tossed aside with. and had to u—turn within a very short time _ had to u—turn within a very short time period~ _ had to u—turn within a very short time period. those mps who voted with the _ time period. those mps who voted with the prime minister looks really foolish _ with the prime minister looks really foolish afterwards, felt very aggrieved and i think there is now this feeling that actually, what is being _ this feeling that actually, what is being done is being rushed through parliament. there isn't proper certainty, _ parliament. there isn't proper certainty, there isn't a proper analysis— certainty, there isn't a proper analysis of the costs of these measures, as well as the potential benefits _ measures, as well as the potential benefits. don't forget, if you look at the _ benefits. don't forget, if you look at

report and ending with that _ the owen patterson report and ending with that massive rebellion last with that massive rebellion last week. —— owen paterson. it's not been — week. —— owen paterson. it's not been good, — week. —— owen paterson. it's not been good, and people are willing to chat intended to say that the government should not go forward with further restrictions, but they can without overwhelming the nhs hold back— can without overwhelming the nhs hold back on having further measures, then that is going to please — measures, then that is going to please the backbenchers and what will really upset them i think is to be will really upset them i think is to he called — will really upset them i think is to be called back into the commons next week interrupting their christmas break. _ week interrupting their christmas break, which no one likes to do. and break, which no one likes to do. interrupting break, which no one likes to do. fific interrupting yours as break, which no one likes to do. fific interrupting yours as well, i imagine as cheap political correspondent at the m

but that was owen patterson, so we hear lots of rumours _ patterson, so we hear lots of rumours of thestances and where we are if the conservatives were to lose that. of course, _ the conservatives were to lose that. of course, it's very easy to over interpret — of course, it's very easy to over interpret. it's a long term trends that everyone in government should be most _ that everyone in government should be most concerned with, and labour should _ be most concerned with, and labour should look— be most concerned with, and labour should look to take the most opportunity. should look to take the most opportunity-— should look to take the most opportunity. should look to take the most o- ortuni ., ., �* . . should look to take the most ouortuni ~ ., ., opportunity. jo-anne nadler, a quick thou~ht on opportunity. jo-anne nadler, a quick thought on back _ opportunity. jo-anne nadler, a quick thought on back benches, _ opportunity. jo-anne nadler, a quick thought on back benches, because i thought on back benches, because they are the people who will have they are the people who will hav

this is all in the back of the owen patterson, who was meant to be disciplined, leaving the house ofservative party, the government tried to change the rules and then rapidly— tried to change the rules and then rapidly had to backpedal and launch all of its _ rapidly had to backpedal and launch all of its backbench mps down the mountain— all of its backbench mps down the mountain to try to change the rules and it— mountain to try to change the rules and it looks — mountain to try to change the rules and it looks absolutely ridiculous. that's _ and it looks absolutely ridiculous. that's what got them into this position— that's what got them into this position and the avenue christmas party— position and the avenue christmas party gate — position and the avenue christmas party gate and all of the things in the results speak for themselves. they did — the results speak for themselves. they did a — the results speak for themselves. they did a fantastic picture of borisjohnson and you can imagine, that must be the mood he feels. but from your point of view, this is unknown when shoulders

north of shropshire by election for owen patterson, stand—down of the whole lobbying _ patterson, stand—downookmakers have got litt— that in some of the bookmakers have got lib dems ahead and that builds up got lib dems ahead and that builds up critical— got lib dems ahead and that builds up critical mass and becomes a huge headache _ up critical mass and becomes a huge headache forjohnson. i don't think in this— headache forjohnson. i don't think in this territory the beginning of the end — in this territory the beginning of the end but i can see is moving towards — the end but i can see is moving towards some form of a tipping point — towards some form of a tipping point it's— towards some form of a tipping point. it's interesting, some of the papers, _ point. it's interesting, some of the papers, china dropped parallels with thatcher~ _ papers, china dropped parallels with thatcher. she stood out in november 1990, _ thatcher. she stood out in november 1990, she _ thatcher. she stood out in november 1990, she lost a by election and... one thing — 1990, she lost a by election and... one thi

owen patterson the outgoing mp has conservatives he was under 23,000.erally refer to as true blue, this part of the country. however, that is not the case this time. the liberal democrats have been giving the conservatives a real run for that money. pouring activists into the area, over a thousand people they say just into the area, over a thousand people they sayjust in the last week a loan out leafleting across the area, trying to get as many votes as possible. they reckon just the weekend gone they knocked on 23,000 doors they knocked on 23,000 doors they really are putting everything on the line here. they think there is a chance they may have taken it. it really is on eight knife edge. the conservatives and again, they've been working very hard during the week but of course what's been happening down a west minister has really affected the campaign here. at the same time the liberal democrats have a look at the bit between the teeth, they think there's a real chance, they've had a great response to they've had a great response to the doorstep and h

the egregious allegations surrounding the lobbying scandal of former conservative mp owen patterson. johnson stood by him. it led to an election taking place this thursday. and portly, that is seen as a referendum on boris johnson's leadership. there is a leadership -- shift and boris johnson's leadership underground in the united kingdom, there is a feeling the government is adhering to a policy of one rule for them, another for everyone else. francine: thank you very much, laura wright with the latest. omicron with a steep rise in cases. 30 states have reported cases. chief medical officer anthony fauci says it's able to evade vaccines. another tested positive for covid-19. joining us now is overall just at the university of brighton. -- is a virologist at the university of brighton. what do we know about omicron and vaccines? what works against it and what doesn't? >> what we know is the over cron variant has got some -- omicron variant has got some changes to the spike protein, taking out bits of the virus that attaches to your cells. the vaccine was originally made against the o

you've alluded, including the refurbishment of 10 downing street and is attempt to get his pal owen pattersonally that he is dealing with this and the size though it is a process of everything i read today for an about experts and maybe ad but never nani and never nearly 100 people rebelling against it so i do think you have to be said to worry about in the long term if not in the short term and as you said a little earlier, if he loses the violation in tomorrow, then they have a majority of 23,000, the liberal democrats are more or to connect with them in the last media poll i saw, to lose that they be in real trouble.— poll i saw, to lose that they be in real trouble. and interesting thing about this, we _ real trouble. and interesting thing about this, we have _ real trouble. and interesting thing about this, we have got _ real trouble. and interesting thing about this, we have got clifton - about this, we have got clifton brown quoted on the front of the times and in its version and saying it's striking the range of rebels who got ian smith former conservative party leader who is been aro

going back to the owen patterson issue in parliament. is a lot of pent—up anger on the tory back benches and we will see that expressed tomorrow.- benches and we will see that expressed tomorrow. thank you very much indeed- — anne sacoolas, an american woman living in britain accused of causing the death of a boy by dangerous driving, will now face trial here in the uk. harry dunn was killed in august 2019 when his motorbike was hit by a car driven by anne sacoolas near an raf base in northamptonshire. she left the country after the incident and claimed diplomatic immunity. after the incident and claimed here's the dunn family lawyer and spokesperson. i've spoken to the parents and, as you can imagine, they're completely overwhelmed at the moment. lots of tears. but importantly, of course, we continue to think about harry. this is no celebration, this is no victory, but clearly, the culmination of two and a half years now of very tough, high—profile, public campaigning for justice. our campaign was always about, you know, you don't get t

owen patterson resigned. the conservative counted it is...ining us. how do you answer on the door step of the anger the people are feeling about the investigations? the prime minister has — about the investigations? the prime minister has been _ about the investigations? the prime minister has been absolutely - about the investigations? the prime minister has been absolutely clear. about the investigations? the prime minister has been absolutely clear - j minister has been absolutely clear — there will be an investigation. if there will be an investigation. if there has been misconduct... i share there has been misconduct... i share the anger people. i went back onto the anger people. i went back onto the covid front line the pandemic broke out. i've seen how hard my colleagues have worked, i've seen how hard it's been on patients and theirfamilies, and i myself was lockdown last christmas so it's vital people follow the rules. and get there booster now. what about the sleaze allegations? _ get there booster now. what about the sleaze allegat

it was driven by the resignation of owen patterson. mark harper referred to this case.their candidate is trying to hold a seat that has their candidate's trying to hold a seat that's been tory for decades, but for which he's having to fight. there's lots of distractions nationally, but what is important is i am talking to the voters see on the constituents and putting forward a positive message, and what i would say is that unlike some of my opponents, i'm the only candidate putting forward a positive message with solutions. this is a vast constituency. swathes of farmland scattered through market towns, and most people here back to brexit. a loss here would be a blow for the conservatives. this time, the lib dems are pitching themselves as the alternative. i think there's a strong sense that people have been taken for granted by the conservatives, and what we're saying is if they can send a message to the government that that's not acceptable any more and elect an mp that will listen to the people here and fight their corner for them nationally. everyone ready? labour,

thing to mention is that as a by election on thursday and it was triggered by the resignation of owen pattersonpresenter of the politics, a podcast i can recommend. what do you make of those notes? the rebellions? this i can recommend. what do you make of those notes? the rebellions?— those notes? the rebellions? this is horrific for boris _ those notes? the rebellions? this is horrific for boris johnson. _ those notes? the rebellions? this is horrific for boris johnson. all - those notes? the rebellions? this is horrific for boris johnson. all of - horrific for boris johnson. all of these results, the absolute top end of what downing street was expecting. that prime minister addressed the committee of backbench tory mps this afternoon and he gave a measured when he said there is no alternative these measures. he said he wanted to be as free as possible and ministers coming out to that meeting in parliament today said they thought the rebellion was disappearing and it seems to have had the opposite effect. they've got over 100 tory mps guarding against the government on vaccine passports means

and just to reiterate, i want patterson, the former conservative mp in this can join c, had a majority ofjust under 23,000. join c, had a majority ofjust under23,000. —— owenowen paterson. that has just been stripped away. an unbelievable result and it has shown that the campaign run by the liberal democrats here in shropshire has borne fruit. they have been out in numbers speaking to people. i would say what has been happening down in westminster has made it very, very difficult for the conservative candidate, neil shastri—hurst, but i think also there has been a feeling this is something dams have been trying to tap into on the doorstep is that this rural constituency, true blue conservative mp5 for almost 200 years has been taken for granted by the conservative party. there are issues here around services, about access to the nhs, waiting times for ambulances, and that is also part of the victory for the liberal democrats here. it seems to be a post brexit era because as we were hearing, this area did vote for brexit. voters appear to have forgiven the lib dems and their message that they can deliver for the people of north shropshire while the conserva