North Shropshire was a "safe" Tory seat, held for nearly 200 years. At the last general election, the party increased its majority to nearly 23,000 - gaining almost twice as many votes as all the other parties combined. But this morning constituents are waking up to a Liberal Democrat MP, after a by-election in which Helen Morgan secured 17,957 votes - nearly 6,000 more than her Conservative rival. The people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people, she says, telling Boris Johnson "the party is over". It's a barb at the prime minister, who has been dogged by questions about parties in Downing Street while restrictions on gatherings were in place last year.
The result bookends a torrid few weeks for the PM, beginning with his defence of Owen Paterson - who had been North Shropshire MP since 1997 - after he was found to have broken lobbying rules. His suspension was blocked by Conservative colleagues. But a backlash forced Downing Street to reverse its backing for the move and Mr Paterson stood down. The Conservative Party was also fined over the financing of Mr Johnson's renovation of the No 10 flat. And this week he experienced his biggest rebellion in office, with 100 Tory MPs voting against the government's updated Covid restrictions. Newsnight's policy editor Lewis Goodall says: "This was - at least the Liberal Democrats put it this way - a referendum on Boris Johnson and how he runs his government."

Nightclubs in Wales are to shut after Boxing Day - staying closed over new year - as First Minister Mark Drakeford called on people to avoid meeting "wider circles of friends" to hinder the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. From 27 December, Welsh businesses must allow people to work from home where possible and enforce measures such as two-metre distancing, one-way systems and physical barriers. The UK reported a record daily number of all variants - 88,376 - on Thursday. But the prime minister insists he is not putting hospitality into "effective lockdown", despite urging the public to exercise "caution". Chancellor Rishi Sunak will meet business leaders later, amid demands for financial support as event bookings are cancelled. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says restrictions on "higher risk settings" may be unavoidable and urgent financial help is needed. Welsh ministers say they will make £60m available for firms impacted.

Police investigating the fatal shooting on the set of the Alec Baldwin film Rust have a search warrant for the actor's phone. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died and director Joel Souza was injured in October, when Mr Baldwin was practising drawing a prop gun. Mr Baldwin, 63, insists he "didn't pull the trigger". The warrant, issued by a court in New Mexico, says "there may be evidence on the phone" that could be "material and relevant". Investigators want to look at text messages, emails, web browser history and other information. Mr Baldwin has said he would "never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger", telling ABC News he is fully co-operating with police and has been told it was "highly unlikely" he would face criminal charges. None have been brought.

Criticism of England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, from Conservative MPs, leads the Daily Mail. It quotes one accusing him of effectively changing Covid policy "at a stroke" by going further than the Plan B measures by advising people to stop unnecessary mixing. "It's beginning to look a LOCK like Christmas," puns the Sun, which says pubs and restaurants are shutting "after punters were asked to choose between partying or keeping loved ones safe". Chancellor Rishi Sunak has cut short a trip to California to hold talks with the hospitality industry about a support package, the Times says. Meanwhile, the Daily Express says the Queen has sent "a message of solidarity to Omicron-hit Britain" by cancelling her pre-Christmas family lunch. Read the review.

Ever found a hairpin down the back of the couch? They can be handy little things, from picking locks to fixing zips. But could you imagine swapping one for a house? That's, sort of, what Demi Skipper did, via TikTok. Having set up the Trade Me Project, in May 2020, she first swapped a hairpin for a pair of earrings, then traded those for some margarita glasses and so on. Later swaps involved an iphone, trainers, a surfboard and even tractors. Now she has her own house. Read how she did it.
Now, what's pale, 4in long and has 1,300 legs? No, this isn't a joke. It's a millipede with more legs than any other animal on record. Named Eumillipes Persephone, it was found almost 200ft (60 metres) underground in a mining region in Western Australia. Here it is. Finally, as it's Friday, don't forget to take our quiz of the week's news.

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