to the death of primary school head ruth perry, who took her own life borisjohnson tells the covid inquiry the way downing street parties have been portrayed is a travesty of the truth. the version of events that has entered the popular consciousness about what has supposed to have happened in downing street is a million miles from the reality. the writer and poet benjamin zephaniah has died at the age of 65 after a brain tumour. and counting the pounds and the pennies — why we're using more cash than we have done for a decade. and coming up on bbc news: four games without a win and, statistically at least, a horrible night at aston villa for champions manchester city, who manager, pep guardiola, admits are struggling.

good afternoon. the prime minister has been defending his plans to stop illegal immigration — after the dramatic resignation last night of home office minister robertjenrick who claimed the proposals don't go far enough. this morning, rishi sunak called reporters to downing street and insisted his draft immigration law will prevent every legal challenge that has ever been used to stop asylum seekers being put on flights to rwanda. let's go live now to our political correspondent alex forsyth who's in the houses of parliament. this has been a turbulent time for rishi sunak and that is before one plane carrying asylum seekers to rwanda has got off the ground. after the resignation of his immigration

minister robertjenrick, the divisions within the party over the government's approach on this policy have been laid bare. rishi sunak called a press conference trying to persuade people his approach was the right one, the question is when it silence his critics? a prime minister under pressure but defiant. we a prime minister under pressure but defiant. ~ , ., ' defiant. we will get flights off the round, defiant. we will get flights off the ground. we _ defiant. we will get flights off the ground, we will— defiant. we will get flights off the ground, we will deter _ defiant. we will get flights off the ground, we will deter illegal- ground, we will deter illegal migrants from coming here and we will finally stop the boats. he migrants from coming here and we will finally stop the boats.- will finally stop the boats. he had an uncompromising _ will finally stop the boats. he had an uncompromising message - will finally stop the boats. he had an uncompromising message forl will finally stop the boats. he had - an uncompromising message for those who say his rwanda legislation still allows for too many legal challenges.— allows for too many legal challenues. , ., ., challenges. there is no point having a iece of challenges. there is no point having a piece of legislation _ challenges. there is no point having a piece of legislation which - challenges. there is no point having a piece of legislation which means l a piece of legislation which means you cannot send anyone anywhere, it will not help anyone. when we are talking about an inch of difference and that inch making a difference having an operational scheme or not, it is pretty clear what we're doing is not only the right approach, it is not only the right approach, it is the only approach. i am

determined to fix this problem. the critics include influential figures like robertjenrick who last night resigned as the immigration minister, saying the bill wouldn't work and was a triumph of hope over experience. this morning his former boss about one made it clear she was not one over either. the boss about one made it clear she was not one over either.— not one over either. the reality is that the sorry _ not one over either. the reality is that the sorry truth _ not one over either. the reality is that the sorry truth is _ not one over either. the reality is that the sorry truth is it _ not one over either. the reality is that the sorry truth is it will - not one over either. the reality is that the sorry truth is it will not i that the sorry truth is it will not work and it will not stop the boats, that's my opinion having read it in the last 2a hours. that's my opinion having read it in the last 24 hours.— that's my opinion having read it in the last 24 hours. figures from the riaht the last 24 hours. figures from the ri . ht of the last 24 hours. figures from the right of the — the last 24 hours. figures from the right of the party — the last 24 hours. figures from the right of the party have _ the last 24 hours. figures from the right of the party have been - the last 24 hours. figures from the l right of the party have been brought in to help sell the prime minister's plan. michael tomlinson won out oversee the legislation as illegal migration minister. the opposition says the prime minister needs to change course entirely. the prime minister is — change course entirely. the prime minister is so _ change course entirely. the prime minister is so weak, _ change course entirely. the prime minister is so weak, he _ change course entirely. the prime minister is so weak, he cannot - minister is so weak, he cannot convince his own side, satisfying no one and inflaming them all. we all want to stop the boats but many on the benches opposite now agree with us that this plan is unworkable.

rishi sunak will know that this is a moment of real risk, notjust for his policy but for his authority. are you saying to your mps bluntly, back me or sack me?— are you saying to your mps bluntly, back me or sack me? what i am saying is not 'ust back me or sack me? what i am saying is not just to — back me or sack me? what i am saying is not just to my _ back me or sack me? what i am saying is notjust to my mps _ back me or sack me? what i am saying is notjust to my mps but _ back me or sack me? what i am saying is notjust to my mps but the _ back me or sack me? what i am saying is notjust to my mps but the entire - is notjust to my mps but the entire country— is notjust to my mps but the entire country is _ is notjust to my mps but the entire country is i — is notjust to my mps but the entire country is i share their frustration. my patience with this has worn— frustration. my patience with this has worn thin. but frustration. my patience with this has worn thin.— frustration. my patience with this has worn thin. �* ., ., has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will — has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will have _ has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will have to _ has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will have to wait _ has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will have to wait as - has worn thin. but for now the prime minister will have to wait as his - minister will have to wait as his mps comb through the details of his latest bill to stop the boats. to decide whether or not to be supported in votes due to start next week. so why is the government's draft bill on illegal immigration so controversial? our home and legal correspondent dominic casciani is here to explain. thanks, ben. the safety of rwanda bill has one aim — to overturn the supreme court's ban on sending any cross—channel migrants to the african nation. and it aims to do that by blocking, step—by—step, anything the courts could do to prevent a plane taking off. this is the first and most important

measure in the bill. it says, "every decision—maker must conclusively treat the republic of rwanda as a safe country." it means judges must ignore evidence that rwanda isn't safe. but what ifjudges think there are other laws that mean a migrant must get a hearing? well, the bill ordersjudges to ignore legal challenges involving the human rights act, any other domestic law and international law too. in exceptional circumstances, a migrant could go to court if they specifically face "a real, imminent and foreseeable risk of serious and irreversible harm". but former home secretary suella braverman predicts this would let the european court of human rights get involved. the pm says he could stop that because the bill declares, "a minister can decide whether or not the government will comply with measures from the strasbourg court to stop a flight." some critics think the package is unworkable or doesn't go far enough.

and they're not alone. the government's own lawyers insisted on this statement on the front page of the bill that says the legislation may not be compatible with the european convention on human rights. those words are a warning from them that the make—or—break plan could end up in legal tatters. ben. let's go back now to our political correspondent alex forsyth. we heard what rishi sunak had to say at his news conference, but how much pressure do you think he's under on this issue? he is under significant pressure and there are two big questions here, there are two big questions here, there is the practical question, well this approach work? rishi sunak says he is committed to getting flights off the grant to rwanda but as you heard there, there are people who question that. the second big pressure point is the political one, there are people in the conservative party who have been vocal, suella braverman, robertjenrick, about the

fact they don't think this approach is going far enough. there are others wondering whether this is going too far. both of those camps are pouring over the detail with their legal team to see what they will do next before this comes back to a vote in next week. rishi sunak has said he will not make that a confidence vote, that means mps can vote against this plan without being at risk of being kicked out of the party. does that give them permission to do so? we will see but evenif permission to do so? we will see but even if rishi sunak says this isn't a confidence vote, there is no doubt it is a question of his authority. he has said himself that if those planes don't get off the ground, then his authority is without a doubt in question. a coroner says an ofsted inspection is likely to have contributed to the death of ruth perry, the primary school headteacher who took her own life. berkshire's senior coroner said the ofsted inspection of mrs perry's school lacked �*fairness,

respect and sensitivity�* and was at times, �*rude and intimidating.�* ruth perry — who was head at caversham primary in reading — and died injanuary while waiting for the ofsted report on her school to be published. duncan kennedy has been at the inquest this morning. there were tears and hugs from ruth perry�*s family when that verdict was read out here this morning. it is believed to be the first time that ofsted has been named as a contributing factor in the death of a teacher. the coroner herself described the lead inspector as at times rude and intimidating. this report from our education editor branwen jeffreys. ruth perry was the head teacher of caversham primary school for 13 years. she took her life in january this year. ofsted was going to take the school from outstanding to inadequate, leaving ruth perry distressed

from the first morning of the inspection. ruth said that that first meeting, she said she felt... it was just absolutely relentless. she said it felt like her head wasn�*t working properly, that he�*d sort of fire a question at her, not give her time to think and then another question and she didn�*t have time to answer and then she�*d try to answer and he�*d contradict what she�*d say or come back. she was just in a complete state. she kept repeating, "i�*m devastated. i�*m broken. i�*m traumatised." in evidence, other staff at the school described the lead inspector�*s behaviour as mocking and unpleasant. he told the court he paused their first conversation after mrs perry became tearful. ofsted has previously described the inspection as professional and sensitive.

the inquest heard that ruth perry was distressed, barely able to speak after meeting the lead inspector on the first morning. inspectors were raising concerns about the record—keeping for keeping children safe at the school. as an experienced head teacher, ruth perry knew that if they were judged ineffective on safeguarding, they would be judged inadequate overall. the inquest also heard that no child came to harm. caversham was where ruth perry had grown up — she went to the primary school as a child. her family says that she dwelt on what would happen when ofsted published the report, fearing shame, humiliation and the loss of herjob. this was going to be the end of her career and she didn�*t know what else she could do. i don�*t think she could hold her head up high. i think she was so distraught by it. she felt like she had let everybody down, so she let down the governors,

she let down the pupils, she let down the parents, she let down her family. ruth perry died on the 8th ofjanuary, just under two months after the inspection. her gp said it had contributed to her deteriorating mental health and death. ofsted published the report grading the school as inadequate in march. it had ruth perry�*s name on it, a note at the end saying she had died. this is when the family decided to speak out. ifind it callous, heartless, insensitive, tone deaf and these aren�*tjust the terms that i�*ve been using, tojust pretend that things are ok. in april, a month after the family first said the inspection had contributed to ruth�*s death, ofsted responded. the findings were secure and i think the inspection team worked with the professionalism and sensitivity that i would expect from our inspectors. more changes were promised injune.

schools graded inadequate would be swiftly re—inspected, giving them a chance to change. ofsted went back to caversham primary school in the summer. this time it was graded good as a result of the changes made. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. the coroner also heard many comments this morning about the training of ofsted inspectors. she said for example when it came to dealing with distressed head teachers, inspectors were given two minutes of training and she also said there was no written guidance about dealing with pausing inspections if head teachers became distressed. the whole issue of ofsted and these one—word conclusions about being good or inadequate are now the subject of an education select committee hearing in the commons. that is due to report in the new year. in the

meantime, ruth�*s sister has been speaking to the inquest saying ruth�*s death has left a void in the family and the family themselves will be giving a press conference in the next few minutes. borisjohnson has said that the way downing street parties during covid have been portrayed is �*a travesty of the truth�* and �*a million miles away from reality�*. the former prime minister was giving a second day of evidence to the inquiry into the pandemic. mrjohnson also defended his government�*s eat out to help out scheme at the height of the pandemic. he said the scheme — which made restaurant food cheaper — had been properly discussed with scientists and was not seen as a �*gamble�*. our political correspondent pete saull reports from the inquiry. even earlier than yesterday, under cover of darkness, the former prime minister pulled up at the covid inquiry. d0 minister pulled up at the covid inuui . ,, minister pulled up at the covid inuui . inquiry. do you regret the downing street parties? _ inquiry. do you regret the downing street parties? but _ inquiry. do you regret the downing street parties? but he _ inquiry. do you regret the downing street parties? but he knows - inquiry. do you regret the downing street parties? but he knows it - inquiry. do you regret the downing| street parties? but he knows it will take more than _ street parties? but he knows it will take more than i _ street parties? but he knows it will

take more than i had _ street parties? but he knows it will take more than i had to _ street parties? but he knows it will take more than i had to protect - street parties? but he knows it will| take more than i had to protect him from the cold reality of his time in office. this morning �*s focus period office. this morning �*s focus period of autumn 2021 covid was surging back. government scientists were calling for another lockdown so why didn�*t he followed their advice? he was shown diary entries from the chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance, some of them excruciating. the prime minister meeting begins to argue for letting it rip, saying yes, there will be more casualties but so be it. he yes, there will be more casualties but so be it— yes, there will be more casualties but so be it. he suggested he was -auttin but so be it. he suggested he was putting forward — but so be it. he suggested he was putting forward arguments - but so be it. he suggested he was putting forward arguments that i putting forward arguments that others were making. that putting forward arguments that others were making.— putting forward arguments that others were making. that they would be no national— others were making. that they would be no national lockdown _ others were making. that they would be no national lockdown until- others were making. that they would be no national lockdown until the - be no national lockdown until the last moment and that you will try a tier system. last moment and that you will try a tier system-— last moment and that you will try a tier system. no. here was a former prime minister _ tier system. no. here was a former prime minister offering _ tier system. no. here was a former prime minister offering a _ tier system. no. here was a former prime minister offering a staunch . prime minister offering a staunch defence — prime minister offering a staunch defence of his actions, pushing back strongiy— defence of his actions, pushing back strongly on— defence of his actions, pushing back strongly on the accusation he moved too late _ strongly on the accusation he moved too late he— strongly on the accusation he moved too late. ., , ., ., too late. he had this to say about the partygate _ too late. he had this to say about the partygate scandal. _ too late. he had this to say about the partygate scandal. the - too late. he had this to say about i the partygate scandal. the dramatic representations _ the partygate scandal. the dramatic representations that _ the partygate scandal. the dramatic representations that we _ the partygate scandal. the dramatic representations that we are - the partygate scandal. the dramatic representations that we are now - representations that we are now having _ representations that we are now having about this are absurd and i

want _ having about this are absurd and i want to— having about this are absurd and i want to repeat that, they are 1 million — want to repeat that, they are 1 million miles from the reality of what _ million miles from the reality of what happened.— million miles from the reality of what happened. million miles from the reality of what ha ened. ., , ., , ., ., what happened. that prompted a rare intervention from _ what happened. that prompted a rare intervention from the _ what happened. that prompted a rare intervention from the inquiry - what happened. that prompted a rare intervention from the inquiry chair. i intervention from the inquiry chair. so many of them who suffered horrific grief during lockdown, partygate has been called exacerbated. i partygate has been called exacerbated.— partygate has been called exacerbated. ., ., , , ., exacerbated. i totally understand their feelings. _ exacerbated. i totally understand their feelings. boris _ exacerbated. i totally understand their feelings. boris johnson - exacerbated. i totally understand their feelings. boris johnson has | exacerbated. i totally understand| their feelings. boris johnson has a times shown _ their feelings. boris johnson has a times shown his _ their feelings. boris johnson has a times shown his emotions. - their feelings. boris johnson has a times shown his emotions. the i times shown his emotions. the suggestion he didn�*t care about older people dying prompted this. some of us were going to make it and some _ some of us were going to make it and some of— some of us were going to make it and some of us— some of us were going to make it and some of us weren't. to say that i didnt— some of us weren't. to say that i didn't care — some of us weren't. to say that i didn't care about the suffering that was being — didn't care about the suffering that was being inflicted on the country is simply— was being inflicted on the country is simply not right. the was being inflicted on the country is simply not right.— is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested _ is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested in _ is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested in the _ is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested in the eat - is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested in the eat out i is simply not right. the inquiry is also interested in the eat out to l also interested in the eat out to help out restaurant discount scheme of summer 2020. its said claims the scientific advisers were not consulted. i scientific advisers were not consulted.— scientific advisers were not consulted. , , consulted. i remember being surprised _ consulted. i remember being surprised later, _ consulted. i remember being surprised later, i _ consulted. i remember being surprised later, ithink- consulted. i remember being surprised later, i think it i consulted. i remember being surprised later, i think it wasj consulted. i remember being i surprised later, i think it was in

september when chris says that this is eat— september when chris says that this is eat out— september when chris says that this is eat out to help the virus. and i thought. — is eat out to help the virus. and i thought, that is funny. find is eat out to help the virus. and i thought, that is funny.— is eat out to help the virus. and i thought, that is funny. and it has 'ust been thought, that is funny. and it has just been confirmed _ thought, that is funny. and it has just been confirmed that - thought, that is funny. and it has just been confirmed that the i just been confirmed that the architect of that scheme, who is currently finding out himselfjust how hard the top job is, currently finding out himselfjust how hard the topjob is, will appear here on monday, but not before several more hours of questioning this afternoon for borisjohnson. peter saul, bbc news. the defence secretary has called for more aid to be delivered into gaza. grant shapps has been in the middle east to offer uk supplies via a sea route. he�*s also holding talks with senior israeli and palestinian officials. meanwhile, israel has carried out more heavy bombardments across gaza overnight, with fighting intensifying in the south. 0ur middle east correspondent yolande knell reports. pushing into the hometown of the head of hamas in gaza. israeli forces say they�*ve even encircled his house, though it�*s thought he has

long retreated underground. the prime minister says it is only a matter of time before their most wanted man is caught. for now, there are fierce battles raging with hamas fighters in the southern city of khan younis. ground troops backed up by air power. but there have been deadly israeli strikes here, too, in rafah by the egyptian border. this is where tens of thousands of gazans, many already displaced by the fighting, have been heading, seeking safety. children are among the victims. this distraught man collapsing as he brings another small body from the rubble. israel says it is doing what it can to minimise civilian casualties but locals reject that. translation: you can see - all the destruction and it was said this was a safe area. there are no safe areas, anywhere can be exposed to shelling and destruction.

while dozens of lorry loads of supplies are reaching gaza via egypt each day, distribution is a big problem with hostilities nearby. the uk is now looking at bringing in aid by sea, says the defence secretary. it seems to me that what the world needs to do is get a lot more aid to people who are, in many cases, innocent in this, caught up in hamas, caught up in the israeli action, and as human beings, you know, and particularly as the united kingdom, what we want to do is help. most gazans have now fled their homes and the un secretary—general is warning of a global threat from this war. but still there is no international agreement on how to bring it more swiftly to an end. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. our top story this afternoon... rishi sunak defends his plans to stop illegal immigration,

after the resignation of a minister who says they won�*t work. coming up, we meet the boy who�*s become the smallest recipient of a kidney transplant in northern ireland. coming up on bbc news... support for owen farrell from a world cup winner. as the england captain takes a break from international rugby to focus on his mental health, mike tindall tells us the criticism had crossed a line. the poet and writer benjamin zephaniah has died at the age of 65. he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago. his family described him as a true pioneer and innovator. 0ur media correspondent david sillito looks back at his life. i used to think this were women. i used to think police were men. i used to think police were men. i used to think poets were boring

until i became one of them. this is ben'amin until i became one of them. this is benjamin zephaniah. _ until i became one of them. this is benjamin zephaniah. benjamin i benjamin zephaniah. benjamin zephaniah... t benjamin zephaniah. ben'amin zephaniah. . .i benjamin zephaniah. ben'amin zehaniah... ., , ., ., , zephaniah... i love my mother and my mother loves — zephaniah... i love my mother and my mother loves me _ zephaniah... i love my mother and my mother loves me government - zephaniah... i love my mother and my mother loves me government he i zephaniah... i love my mother and my mother loves me government he rose | mother loves me government he rose to fame in the 805, his dub poetry rooted in the language and street politics of his home in birmingham. his words were political, mu5ical, radical, reflecting raci5m his words were political, mu5ical, radical, reflecting racism and what life was really like on the streets, also highly acclaimed. the recipient of 16 honorary doctorates and for one friend and fellow poet his passing i5 one friend and fellow poet his passing is a terrible loss. i think what marked — passing is a terrible loss. i think what marked benjamin - passing is a terrible loss. i think what marked benjamin out i passing is a terrible loss. i think what marked benjamin out was| passing is a terrible loss. i think. what marked benjamin out was his very unique personality, he was... his roots. — very unique personality, he was... his roots. so— very unique personality, he was... his roots, so proud of his roots, he was kind, _ his roots, so proud of his roots, he was kind, funny person. he his roots, so proud of his roots, he was kind, funny person.— was kind, funny person. he also a- eared was kind, funny person. he also appeared more _

was kind, funny person. he also appeared more recently - was kind, funny person. he also appeared more recently in i was kind, funny person. he also| appeared more recently in peaky blinder5. in a statement his family said he was a true pioneer and innovator, left the world a joyful and fantastic legacy, the poetry of benjamin zephaniah. i am and fantastic legacy, the poetry of benjamin zephaniah.— benjamin zephaniah. i am not the roblem. benjamin zephaniah. i am not the problem- if _ benjamin zephaniah. i am not the problem- if you — benjamin zephaniah. i am not the problem. if you give _ benjamin zephaniah. i am not the problem. if you give me - benjamin zephaniah. i am not the problem. if you give me a - benjamin zephaniah. i am not the| problem. if you give me a chance, benjamin zephaniah. i am not the i problem. if you give me a chance, i will teach you... i can do more than dance. i am will teach you... i can do more than dance. iam not will teach you... i can do more than dance. i am not the problem, i greet you with a smile, you put me in a pigeonhole, i am versatile. a5 you with a smile, you put me in a pigeonhole, i am versatile. as i get older, i am pigeonhole, i am versatile. as i get older, iam po5itively pigeonhole, i am versatile. as i get older, i am po5itively sure i have no chip5 upon my shoulder, black is not the problem. just for the record, some of my best friends are white. b. record, some of my best friends are white. �* . , record, some of my best friends are white. �* ., , ., white. a remarkable poet and writer ben'amin white. a remarkable poet and writer benjamin zephaniah _ white. a remarkable poet and writer benjamin zephaniah who _ white. a remarkable poet and writer benjamin zephaniah who has - white. a remarkable poet and writer benjamin zephaniah who has died i white. a remarkable poet and writerj benjamin zephaniah who has died at the age of 65. the uk has accused russia of running a cyber—hacking campaign targeting politicians and public figures, including an mp who had

his emails stolen. the government says a group working for the russian security service, the fsb, has been stealing data for years, and making some of it public. russia has always denied such activity. 0ur securtity correspondent gordon correra is with me now. just tell us more about what the russians are alleged to have done. pretty serious allegation, trying to interfere in british political life e55entially by trying to hack into private e—mail5 e55entially by trying to hack into private e—mails of public figures. for instance, an mp who i spoke to earlier this year said he believed russian intelligence had compromised his e—mail account and stolen e—mail5. in that case they were not made public. in other cases e—mail5 have been published by others on the internet to try to embarrass groups or undermine tru5t. in one case a trade document between the us and uk was hacked from a private e—mail account, leaked, used in the 2019 election campaign. russia was

accused of that in the past but for the first on the british government has put together a series claims about russia and says the5e has put together a series claims about russia and says these are the russian government and this group the russian security service, fsb, russian officials were summoned by the foreign office and the hoper5 by being public about this they can try to disrupt the work of the group, although russia of course denies it, and try to get people to be more aware of this activity which is significant, that can be a lot of elections happening this year in the uk and the us, europe, around the world, and the worry is more of this kind of activity could take place. many thanks, gordon security correspondent. the culture secretary has announced the bbc licence fee will increase by £10.50 next year to £169.50 a year — that�*s less than the expected rise of around £15. the government says the reduced increase is because of cost of living pressures. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba is outside the bbc�*s headquarters.

just bring us up to date with the details. , ., ,., ., details. yes, the reason for the difference _ details. yes, the reason for the difference is _ details. yes, the reason for the difference is when _ details. yes, the reason for the difference is when the - details. yes, the reason for the difference is when the current l difference is when the current licence fee deal was done, it was agreed the licence fee would rise in line with inflation from 2024. previously the rate of inflation had been calculated across a whole year, september to september, meaning an increase ofjust under £15. the government said it was too much and decided to take the rate of inflation for one month, september 2023, when the rate was quite a bit below the annual average. the culture secretary lucy frazer speaking in parliament making the announcement said the bbc had to take into account the current cost of living situation. the bbc has responded, issuing a statement in which it said today�*s news will mean further changes will be required on top of the savings the bbc is already making and the content budget will be impacted which will

in turn have a significant impact on the wider creative services sector across the uk. the government is launching a review of how the bbc should be funded after 2027 when the current licence fee agreement expires. should there be a licence fee in the future?— fee in the future? thank you, lizo mzimba reporting. _ a state of emergency has been declared in seychelles, after a massive explosion at an industrial area on the main island of mahe. the blast flattened commercial buildings and destroyed nearby housing, leaving a trail of destruction along the island�*s east coast. strike action by train drivers is continuing to disrupt commuters across the country. drivers for great western railways, crosscountry and the heathrow express all walked out today. the rolling industrial action by aslef, in a long—running dispute over pay, will continue until saturday. the amount of cash we use has grown

for the first time in a decade, according to the british retail consortium. it says 19% of purchases last year were made with notes and coins, as shoppers kept a closer eye on their budgets during the cost of living crisis. colletta smith has more on this. we have colletta smith has more on this. - have also been hearing this morning from the financial regulator to make sure wherever you live in the uk you still have free access to this, free withdrawals and deposits of cash. the financial regulator turning the thumb screws with new plans to make sure whenever a bank is closing a branch, they also have a plan in place for what will replace that. it is not about preventing the branch closures which is a bit of an inevitable trajectory at the moment, it is about making sure banks consult with each other and make your plans are in place before the branches are closed. what we are going to see over the next year or

so, around 90 new banking hub is opening up across the uk, one of them will be here in the corner as these two units are joined together. from march, the spanking help will open up. the idea as it is staffed ljy open up. the idea as it is staffed by post office staff so any day people can come in and take out cash, deposit cash, but also a rotation of all the big banks right across the uk, say on a monday, it might be hsbc, tuesday, santander, they will have a member of staff in they will have a member of staff in the banking hub so people can talk to a physical member of staff from the bank. it is because the banking regulator says almost 3 million households are still dependent on cash, particularly the elderly and the vulnerable, and yes you are saying, particularly the increase we are hearing about today on other people were turning to cash payments to try to keep a lid on their budgets as things have become so much tighter in the cost of living crisis. . ~ much tighter in the cost of living crisis. ., ~' , ., , much tighter in the cost of living crisis. ., ,, , ., , .

a three—year—old boy has become the smallest and one of the youngest recipients of a kidney transplant in northern ireland. 0lly cartmill weighed just 13kg, or 29 lbs, when he had the life—saving operation, receiving a kidney donated by his grandmother, michelle. stephen watson has the story. happy and healthy after a successful kidney transplant. but two years ago, 0lly cartmill�*s parents were told their son would have died if they hadn�*t taken him to hospital for a blood test. we always knew that there was something wrong with 0lly. he cried from morning till night, i would say from when he closed his eyes until he woke up, but he didn�*t close his eyes that much. he was crying, he was sore all over. he was dying of thirst. and he was only allowed 100 ml of water a day to drink. you know, imagine dying of thirst all the time and you weren�*t

allowed a drink of water. 0lly who spent up to 14 hours a night on dialysis urgently needed a kidney. his grandmother proved to be a suitable donor. it was hard to watch him just lying about with nothing able to play and do the things a three—year—old should do. i got the phone call to say i was a match and i couldn't believe it. i was absolutely delighted that i could do that for my grandson. michelle�*s kidney was removed and transplanted into 0lly on the same day in belfast city hospital. 0lly�*s operation was complicated. we're using an adult kidney. and obviously that's a fair size in comparison to a child's tummy, i so it's always a little bit more i stressful to get it right. kidney failure has such a huge impact on their growth, - development, attendance to school, their ability to eat, _ so it's a winning lottery ticket for young olly. i while 0lly quickly felt the benefits of his surgery, his mum and dad had received news about their one—year—old daughter.

we were actually in hospital with 0lly at the time when we found out she was going to have kidney failure as well, so... we got one sorted out and we have another while to wait before we get etta sorted, but hopefully we will get there. for now, the cartmill family is thankfulfor 0lly�*s new lease of life. stephen watson, bbc news. yay! time for a look at the weather. here�*s stav da naos. thank you. good afternoon. further wet and windy weather expected for the rest of the week, exacerbating flooding issues across the country. numerous weather warnings in force across the uk, go online to check them out. a mild, wet and windy afternoon thanks to the area of low pressure, lots of isobars, active weather front bringing heavy rain, already less cold start to the day, turning milder overnight and into

tomorrow. the rain falling as snow