tensions at the top of the home office burst into the open — with the dramatic resignation of its most senior civil servant. sir philip rutnam is quitting after what he calls a vicious and coordinated campaign against him. there've been persistent reports of a rift between him and the home secretary priti patel. i have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands, behaviour that created fear and needed some bravery to call out. sir philip says he's suing the government for constructive dismissal. also tonight... as worldwide efforts continue to contain the coronavirus, three more people test positive in the uk.

a moment of history. the united states and the taliban sign a deal that it's hoped will end 18 years of war in afghanistan. and borisjohnson and his girlfriend announce they're expecting a baby — and that they're engaged. good evening. one of britain's most senior civil servants, sir philip rutnam, has dramatically resigned as permanent secretary at the home office. he told the bbc it follows what he called a "vicious and orchestrated" campaign against him, and says he's suing the government for constructive dismissal. sir philip's resignation comes after persistent reports of a rift between him and the home secretary, priti patel. our political editor,

laura kuenssberg reports. you're not meant to have heard of him. permanent secretaries are the backroom bosses of the government machine. but this rainy saturday morning became a personal and a public storm for him. in the last ten days, i have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign. it has been alleged that i have briefed the media against the home secretary. this, along with many other claims, is completely false. the home secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the cabinet office. i regret, i do not believe her. she has not made the effort i would expect to dissociate herself from the comments. priti patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this. i believe that these events give me very strong grounds

to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and i will be pursuing that claim in the courts. priti patel is known as a straight talker, but denied doing anything wrong when whispers about her behaviour made their way to the press in recent days. are you a workplace bully, home secretary? but there are now demands for an enquiry, with herformer top official taking the government to court and listing the accusations against her in public. i have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands, behaviour that created fear and needed some bravery to call out. sir philip ‘s time in charge was not without problems. the home office, a notoriously tricky part of government. you've probably already read a great deal more about permanent secretaries in the last few days than you ever expected to... an exit like this is serious and highly unusual. the prime minister has to get a grip

on this and not just allow this chaos to continue. you have to have a positive functioning relationship between civil servants who work immensely hard to deliver and also ministers who need to show leadership and be held to account. tensions between ministers and officials are nothing new, but this exit is on a different scale. there is no sense from number 10 at the moment that there will be consequences for priti patel and they have made no secret of the fact that they want to change things and they are not afraid of ruffling feathers, but there is a difference between decisiveness and dysfunction and ultimately this government, any government, needs the civil service to get things done. this has been a very difficult decision. but i hope that my stand may help in maintaining the quality of government in our country. sir philip, do you think that priti patel is fit for purpose? he will say no more for now.

but for the government's opponents, sir philip's decision to go public speaks volumes alone. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. the prime minister and his girlfriend carrie symonds have announced they're expecting a baby — and that they've got engaged. our political correspondent, iain watson is here with me. what more can you tell us? after those problems that we heard about in the home office which came quite soon after the prime minister lost his chancellor, number 10 will be pleased they have some good news to announce and the story makes the front page of many of the papers tomorrow. the baby is expected in the early summer. it will be the first child for carrie symonds and she said on instagram that she felt blessed but she also revealed she had actually got engaged to the prime minister towards the end of last year. to be frank, actually, westminster was rife with these rumours for some time. carrie symonds was a prominent environmental computer and had not been seen recently and she employed

an adviser last week and the prime minister is in the process of divorcing his second wife and he has got four children with her and he usually refuses to answer questions about the number of children he has. if he does decide to tie the knot with carrie symonds he will be the first prime minister in 250 years to get both divorced and married in office. as for tonight, he has been congratulated by political friends and colleagues including sajid javid he said it was wonderful news. iain watson, our political correspondent, thank you. three more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the uk. it comes as public health officials try to establish how a man from surrey become the first person to contract the disease without travelling abroad. the total number of confirmed cases here in the uk is now 23. meanwhile in italy, over 1,000 people have been infected, and the death toll has risen to 29. the virus — a respiratory disease, which causes pneumonia—like symptoms, has infected more than 85,000 people in 57 countries.

and — in the last hour — the first case has been confirmed in the republic of ireland. duncan kennedy reports. this is the health centre in surrey where the man reported feeling unwell. he is now the first person to be infected in the uk without having travelled abroad. as he was taken to hospital, the clinic was closed and cleaned. now reopened, those using it say they are concerned by what has happened. my husband has got a poor immune system and respiratory problems, so perhaps i'm a bit more concerned than others might be, but, just be sensible. tonight, the director of public health here in surrey said although this case in haslemere was a cause for concern, every necessary measure was being taken to try and stop the spread of this virus. the chief medical officer today confirmed three new cases, one each in hertfordshire, gloucestershire and berkshire.

involving people returning from asia and italy. the government says the spread of the outbreak can be controlled. we are still in the containment phase of this disease. we have been pretty good at containing it thus far and the chief medical officer has been very clear that there is no reason to think that we shouldn't be able to continue containing it and that is what our focus is on. the united states has now reported its first death. president trump tonight confirming the news. at this moment we have 22 patients in the united states currently. that have coronavirus. unfortunately, one person passed away overnight. she was a wonderful woman, a medically high—risk patient, in her late 50s. in the tenerife hotel outbreak, a fifth italian tourist has now tested positive. but 71 low risk people have been able to leave the hotel. the foreign office said more than 200 british guests have to be tested first,

before they can return home. and this was south korea, where a well ordered army of soldiers, turned cleaners, has been combing public areas. but it was still a record—breaking day with 800 new cases. just one more country trying to master every possible resource against this potent opponent. duncan kennedy, bbc news. with me is our health editor, hugh pym. what's the latest you're hearing about the government's response to the crisis? you heard there are the health minister saying that containment is still the strategy and that means taking cases that are diagnosed positive straight to hospital and isolation facilities and tracing their contacts. health officials still feel it is possible that it will bring the virus under control. there was a recognition that things could change very rapidly, globally

and in the uk, in terms of the number of cases and to that end, the government is about to ramp up its response with a series of announcements over the next week starting tomorrow with the health secretary matt hancock who is appearing on the andrew marr programme. it will involve a lot more coordination of government departments to focus on the virus as a priority working with the devolved administrations, there will be an action plan announced in the week and one of the measures being considered is something that will allow a rapid redeployment of retired health staff, bringing them back into the nhs and getting them reregistered quickly and that is being considered. you only have to look across the channel to see what can happen, france a week or so ago there were a dozen cases i know it is more than 100. today, the french authorities have announced a ban on all events involving more than 5000 people in confined spaces, for example a big agricultural show in paris, an example of the things governments are considering and hear

the chief medical officer for england has raised the possibility of school closures and events being cancelled if things escalate from here. hugh pym, thank you. and you can find out more about the symptoms of coronavirus and how to protect yourself against it on the bbc news app and on our website bbc.co.uk/news. the united states and the taliban have signed an historic agreement aimed at ending eighteen years of war in afghanistan. under the deal, all us and nato forces would leave the country over the next fourteen months —— if the taliban keeps to commitments its made. our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet reports from doha, where the negotiations have been taking place. they fought the world's mightiest army, but today they sat together. old enemies shaking hands on a deal. the first step towards ending america's longest war.

a glimpse of hope that afghanistan can finally move towards peace. but the us' top diplomat says that is up to the taliban. first, keep your promises to cut ties with al-qaeda and other terrorists. keep up the fight to defeat isis. welcome the profound relief of all afghan citizens, men and women, urban and rural, as a result of this past week's massive reduction in violence, and dedicate yourselves to continued reductions. but for the taliban, today was a victory march. there is no doubt that you won the war. no doubt. otherwise, the foreign forces have not come to afghanistan. what would you say to those now who fear the return of the taliban? they should not fear. because the government which will come after this, will be acceptable to all in afghanistan. watching from the sidelines

in kabul, an afghan government shut out of this deal. the taliban refused to talk to it. today, the nato chief and us defence secretary also sent them a message. they are still standing shoulder to shoulder with their afghan allies and their troops won't start leaving until peace talks start. but this is a different country from the dark days of brutal taliban rule. in doha, one deal is done. making peace will be much harder. history is being made in this moment. this is not a peace deal, but it is a significant step forward and for all the uncertainty and scepticism, afghans know this is their best chance to move towards peace in a very long time. but they worry about a us rush to the exit. especially in an election year, when president trump wants to bring his troops home. lyse doucet, bbc news, doha.

britain has been battered by another winter storm — storm jorge. weather warnings are now in place from cornwall to the north of scotland and across to northern ireland for snow, ice, wind or rain, alongside around a hundred flood warnings. in east yorkshire, people evacuated because of severe flooding still can't go back to their homes. from there, olivia richwald. residents in the village of east cowick were rescued by canoe today as efforts to alleviate flooding in east yorkshire moved into their fifth day. we thought we would wait, because this is totally unprecedented and then, at god knows what time of the morning, bang, bang, bang, we heard, you've got to get out. so, here we are. residents sandbagged their homes and environment agency pumps tried to prevent more homes from being inundated. it has been the wettest february

since records began. pictures filmed on a drone show flooding up to the roof of kevin and catherine laurieman's bungalow in the town of snaith. it hasjust been heartbreaking. we are going to have to demolish, i think. so, that has gone. we are up to the gutter line, as you have said. and, you know, i can't even explain. where i am standing is half a mile from the nearest river. this area is called the wash lands and these fields are designed to flood, but this time the sheer amount of water just overwhelmed the man—made defences and flooded the town and now, there is nowhere for that water to go. the environment agency has more than 100 staff working in the area. unfortunately, the levels got so high in the wash lands, they have actually over topped some of those barrier bags which is why we have had the flooding here.

so, whilst things have operated as designed, we need to find out exactly why this happened and what we can do in the future. volunteers in snaith are providing hot meals, tea and coffee and donations of food and clothes. after weeks of flooding across the country, and with more weather warnings in place this weekend, the kindness of communities could well be called on again. olivia richwald, bbc news, snaith. the turkish leader, president erdogan has said he'll "open the door to europe" for refugees, because his country can't cope with the huge numbers of people fleeing syria. it comes as greek police have fired tear gas at thousands of migrants who'd gathered at a border crossing with turkey. the greek government says it's arrested more than sixty people. with all the sport now, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes at the bbc sport centre. thanks, ben. good evening. chelsea scored a dramatic late goal to win their first women's league cup title. they beat arsenal 2—1 in front of a record crowd in nottingham. john watson reports.

if chelsea, unbeaten in the league this season, are the unstoppable force, arsenal are the immovable object. only once have they failed to reach the final. the blues out to prove mountains can be moved, beth england twisting and then turning the arsenal defence to score. in this london derby, chelsea on the rise. in an open first half, the five—time champions would not fall without a fight. louise quinn rising highest. chasing silverware on four fronts, vivianne miedema attempted to keep that target alive, ahead of that though, missing at this time. arsenal kept pushing, the chelsea keeper kept their lead intact until leah williamson won the race to the rebound. a familiar feeling for the arsenalfans. but rebound. a familiar feeling for the arsenal fans. but with little to separate two of england's best teams, chelsea and england have a match winner, a 21st goal in a

standout season. it was unpredictable, chelsea unbeatable and it is their hands on the trophy for a first time. john watson, bbc news. it's been an interesting day in the premier league — match of the day and sportscene in scotland follow the news — so if you want to wait for the results — you need to avert your attention — because they're coming now. liverpool's incredible unbeaten run has been brought to a crashing end by watford, whose 3—0 victory moves them out of the relegation zone. liverpool are still 22 points clear at the top of the table — with ten games left. the day's other games also had a significant impact on the bottom half of the table with wins for crystal palace and west ham. rangers have been knocked—out of the scottish cup in the quarter—finals by league strugglers hearts. aberdeen are through to the last four with a win at st mirren. great britain have won their third medal at the track cycling world championships. matt walls took bronze in the men's omnium —

the multi—event — points race. he had to dig deep in the final event — to move up from fifth to third overall. the british team are still looking for their first gold in berlin, with one day to go. that's it from me. you can read about the world's richest horse race — the saudi cup — on the bbc sport website, where the favourite maximum security won the £155 million prize. back to you, ben. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. that's all from me. goodnight. good evening. the storm has brought some exceptionally wet weather once again and we have in excess of 100

flood warnings in force at the moment but the concern over night is the strength of the winds, they are really whipping up and gusts of

hello this is bbc news. let's get mark now on the news of prime minister and his partner terry simons. their engagements that person says they are very pleased to have announced that their needs. in a post on her private instagram account she wrote many of you already know, but for my friends that still downs we got engaged at the end of last year. and we had a baby hatching early summer. i feel incredibly blessed. the guardian columnist said he is concerned about the timing of the announcement. todayis the timing of the announcement. today is a big government scandal, at one of the most senior civil serva nts at one of the most senior civil servants have resigned and exiting the government. we had to setting is

that mean a british iranian woman in a prison, insignificant part because a prison, insignificant part because a borisjohnson actions. it is expected of common coronavirus. by refusing to test her. as you noted, we have a huge slats going on in the terrible government response. we have, it is worth saying, there will be many births, today, tomorrow, the day after. in a country by millions of children at live in poverty and they will not have the life that each child will gladly and i'm glad will have, a happy and comfortable life in a doubt, because of the policies implemented and supported by the prime minister. i think my fear is tomorrow, let me don't see a country whose price is plant and north korean outlets to shame.

cheerleading for the government, acting as propagandist for the government. they are going to splash the best matter then holding the cove na nt the best matter then holding the covenant into the best matter then holding the cove na nt into accou nt. the best matter then holding the covenant into account. we should be the primary purpose of the british press. as the guardian columnist. when i asked dennisj. how significant this baby will be?m when i asked dennisj. how significant this baby will be? it is very unusual to have, a baby being born in downing street, and i think it is something that will be regarded as good news by many of the nation. they prime minister hs, he is also a human being, a father, family man, and we simply see a different side of him. it is not up there with coronavirus, and brexit,

but it is a pleasant diversion. unusual yes. not a president —— president yes but maybe a friend of times? it is unusable for a prime minister to have children while they are and numberten. minister to have children while they are and number ten. with a dairy could be said that most are beyond that age. but then in 2000 tony blair having three children with sherry, gave birth to lee he came into numberten straight sherry, gave birth to lee he came into number ten straight street mack and hand to talk about having a sun. ten years later dana cameron had a daughter born in cornwall. they were very young prime ministers. cam and being the youngest prime minister

and the last 198 years. a turned back towards that younger prime ministers. those of an age where you are more likely to have children while actively serving as prime minister. let's catch up with the weather. did he think that we have had significant of rain as a line through friday into saturday. main rain cleared away for the morning hours, but left in its wake lots of showers and longer spells of rain all wrapped around the deep area of low pressure which is storm jorge. very strong winds to come drop your message this evening and overnight. those lands not abating baby and afternoon in the north. many parts will see the sf wednesday 50 or 60 mph. winds strong enough to bring down trees and how it blinds and disrupt transportation. you can see deep band of salary rain stretching

from northern ireland through much of northern england, north wales for a time as well. pushing gradually into southern scotland. snow over the hills and with the bands it feels like a blizzard. showers in the south that they to ease a little bit. the clouds and the showers preventing frost from those areas. rain continues and northern isles, and northern isles, and bought a salary start sunday. a lot quite wet weather across northern ireland slipping northwards into scotland through the day. tyre for northern scotland, died for orkney but saying quite shipment. we see more sunshine and fewer showers but blustery breeze went to east farm to a question sunday. kathy particularly in the north might not be expected 60 or 70 that we will see through the evening and overnight in the first on sunday morning. as a result at this wednesday will still feel chilly tomorrow. a question about how far into england that band of rain it will come, you can see

through sunday night and had my baby could see my rain pushing it. a much colder night, widespread frost and therefore an ice risk. a snatching s&l as well and therefore an ice risk. a snatching s&l as well on that weather system. monday morning rush—hour needs to be watched. it doesn't look like it will amount to a great deal but it could make things a little bit, poor visibility and slippery. temperatures sunshine and slippery. temperatures sunshine and shallow day for most and ice. the story for the week i had not been exceptionally warm. we say chilly for the first week of march. night—time frost as well and showers. and as ever more online.