this is bbc world news, with me, ben brown. the headlines: the uk prime minister's top aide, dominic cummings, is under renewed pressure, amid fresh allegations that he breached coronavirus lockdown rules. senior members of the ruling conservative party are among those calling for mr cummings to resign. police in hong kong have used water—cannon and tear gas against pro—democracy protesters angry at china's plans to introduce tough new security laws. dozens of people have been arrested. china's foreign minister has warned that certain us interests are pushing for "a new cold war", following the fallout from the coronavirus crisis. wang yi said the two countries must find a way for peaceful co—existence. taliban and afghan government forces have agreed a three—day ceasefire to mark the eid holiday. the militant group had stepped up its attacks in recent weeks. the ceasefire announcement has been welcomed by president ashraf ghani.

there's growing pressure from within the uk conservative party for borisjohnson‘s top advisor, dominic cummings, to step down, because of allegations that he broke lockdown rules. he and the government say he acted "reasonably and legally" by driving from london to county durham for childcare reasons while his wife had coronavirus symptoms. they've also dismissed as "inaccurate" claims he was seen in the north east of england on two more occasions. several senior tory mps have called for mr cummings to resign. mrcummings, are you mr cummings, are you going to resign?

did you return to durham in april, lots of people want to know this morning. i did not. you didn't return? well i am keeping my distance, how many times have you left london during the lockdown, mr cummings. did you leave the family home? do you think you are above the law? multiple mps have called for you to go, what do you say to them? why didn't you stay in your primary residence mr cummings, as the government stated? why did you drive across the country? mps are calling for you to resign. why did you not follow your own rules? anything to

say? you have nothing to add? do you have anything to add to the people who have been self isolating across this country? i think that is a no. let's speak to mike barton, he's the former chief constable of durham police. i know some of you are concerned that reporters were not socially distanced, at the bbc were not outside dominic cummings home, we received those pictures. but that is the latest from his home in london. we now know that he travelled to number ten downing st from there. he is in numberten number ten downing st from there. he is in number ten at the moment and of course, there is speculation that he and the prime minister are talking about these new claims in

today's newspapers, especially the observer and the sunday mirror which are running those new allegations that he was seen on two separate occasions in the north—east of england. let's talk to mike barton, the former chief constable of durham police. thank you for being here, what do you make of these allegations against dominic cummings, that he travelled to cou nty cummings, that he travelled to county durham ? cummings, that he travelled to county durham? thank you. i am not speaking on behalf of durham constabulary, i have not spoken to members of the force about this for understandable reasons. why i retired a year ago. i am just reflecting that the millions of people over the last two months have made great sacrifices. sacrifices, looking after their family in strict circumstances, businesses have gone and people who run businesses have not been able to do certain things. that is why i was surprised to learn

that somebody who has made the rules very clear, if you are suffering from coronavirus, you stay at home, you are in lockdown, you do not leave your home under any circumstances. not only did they do that and travelled 260 miles, but also then tried to justify it and evade their responsibilities through the use of reasonable words. i find it quite shocking, really. if you are still chief constable, you would be angry? not only am i angry now, i would be. iwould be angry? not only am i angry now, i would be. i would have to assuage my anger as chief constable, you cannot get angry that much, as a retired policeman, i can get angry much more. but i would be worried that the messages seem to be that the police are being embroiled in something where durham constabulary, andi something where durham constabulary, and i have been watching it closely,

have been sophisticated and using a light touch in the way they have encouraged people in the north—east. i was really pleased to see that the acting police and crime commissioner was at pains, not only to say that it was unwise of dominic cummings to do what he did, but then in the same breath, to praise the people of the northeast, who have conformed to the rule selflessly. one of the issues, it has been difficult for the police around the country to enforce the rules. it is a whole new concept in policing, obviously. it doesn't make it easierfor individual policing, obviously. it doesn't make it easier for individual police officers when people in power, frankly, very close to the prime minister are seen to be, if not breaking the rules, and it has been denied by downing street, but at least treating the rules very flexibly? let's not beat about the bush, he broke the rules. it is very

clear. what they are trying to do is use this sophisticated sophistry to suggest that if you have got a child, then the rules don't quite apply. that is rubbish. the area they are going to which mentions children, does not allow you to do what they did. the deputy chief medical officer, who has been a beacon of wisdom for me in all of this, made it really clear that it has got to be a life—threatening issue that allows you to break the coronavirus lockdown. this was not life—threatening. let's not beat about the bush, i am making it really clear, a0 years of policing, understanding the law, interpreting the law. reasonable excuse is not to do what they did. that is first of all. now, does this make it harder for policing? of course it does.

what makes it really hard is the fa ct what makes it really hard is the fact that the family did this, but he is completely unrepentant. not only that, but you have got a government minister yesterday, grant shapps, making it up as he was going along. it was obvious to everybody he was making it up as he was going along, simply to save the skin of an adviser to the prime minister. i think it is appalling. what is going to happen today? the police and crime commissioner in dorset has made it clear that this is going to make it difficult for them to police down there, a holiday resort, beaches and everybody wanting to go. when police officers are doing that sophisticated, light—touch negotiation with people, understandably, families at the end of their tether, probably with four oi’ of their tether, probably with four or five kids and of their tether, probably with four orfive kids and doing lots of shouting a lot of noise, are saying

if that is good for the goose, it is good for the gander and if dominic cummings can do it and we don't have symptoms, then i can. it is going to be very difficult for my former colleagues. it is notjust a question of setting a poor example, travelling 26a miles from london to durham, he might have stopped a petrol stations along the way and potentially spread the virus? you are spot on. let's go back to what was happening at this time. this was the peak of the infection in london. the north—east was a relatively unscathed at this stage. now, the teller has turned. the north—east and the north—west are hot spots. many thousands of people have died. we can never know, and the cummings family can never know if they were a

source of one of those streams of infection. certainly, you cannot rule that out as a possibility. it isa rule that out as a possibility. it is a dreadful thing to have on your conscience, the fact that you may have infected other people and they have infected other people and they have died. mike barton, gratefulto you for your time. mike barton, former chief constable of durham police. we can speak now to the leader of the scottish national party thank you for being with us. downing street have said dominic cummings acted reasonably and legally. he said yesterday he wasn't going to resign and he doesn't care how it looks, what is your response to that? that is an extraordinary look from dominic cummings to say he doesn't care how it looks. he is the senior adviser to the prime minister, the architect of much of the policy of the government. it is clear as mud this man has broken the

guidelines the government put in place. he has to accept responsibility for his actions. the prime minister has questions that he has to answer. he wasn't at the press c0 nfe re nce has to answer. he wasn't at the press conference yesterday and i'm asking he makes himself available to the press this afternoon, so he can a nswer the press this afternoon, so he can answer questions. we know the government were aware that dominic cummings was in lockdown but there are many questions the government has to answer, when did they know that dominic cummings had gone up to durham? did they sanction dominic cummings going up to durham? there are many questions to answer. we cannot have a downing street cover—up and the prime minister must come out this afternoon and answer questions in front of the press, in front of the residence of the united kingdom as to what has happened here. on that failure of responsibility of dominic cummings to do the right thing, the prime minister must now show leadership and the prime minister must make sure he leaves downing street today and he doesn't return, that he

leaves that office. because quite simply, the confidence the public have in the government and the covid—i9 messaging has been critically undermined by the senior adviser to the prime minister, that has not accepted the rules that are in place. it is not acceptable to the rest of us. so the whole argument put by mr cummings, but by the government that this was a child ca re the government that this was a child care issue, you don't buy that?” think it is hogwash. does anybody suggest that dominic cummings couldn't have arranged childcare capabilities in london? when you look at the lines that came out from the government right at the start of this when the prime minister said on the 18th of march, quite unequivocally, anyone with covid—i9 should isolate at home, they should not be travelling anywhere else. the prime minister also made it clear that elderly relatives, grandparents should never be put at risk in such a situation. it is as clear as mud that this individual has broken the

guidelines that he should have followed, the rest of us are expected to follow. i think every mp has had e—mails coming out by the tonne at the moment from constituents who are outraged. constituents who have done the right thing and have not been able to go to family funerals, have not been able to see their loved ones. they are affronted by those in government that seem to think they are above the law. it simply is not good enough and there are far too many questions we still not have had the a nswe rs questions we still not have had the a nswers to questions we still not have had the answers to that the prime minister must face up to. we cannot have a cover—up for this and the prime minister has to come clean on what he knew and when he knew it. the prime minister is quoted in one newspaper as saying, i will not throw dominic cummings to the dogs. we know they are very close and the prime minister may feel he needs dominic cummings so much in government that he will not simply fire him. that will be a catastrophic failure of leadership.

the prime minister has to have the sense to appreciate what is right and what is wrong. you have got a man who has broken the regulations the way that dominic cummings has, there is no question he has to go. it isa there is no question he has to go. it is a prime minister's leadership that will be called into question if he doesn't do the right thing by removing this individual. he is in downing street right now and i would simply say to the prime minister if he is watching, make sure dominic cummings leaves office and he isn't returning to 10 downing street. we have had similar instances, with scotland's chief medical officer who had to resign, with professor neil ferguson, who had to resign and other leading figures who have urged the public to obey the lockdown, who then have not obeyed the rules. do you think dominic cummings falls into that category, as it were?” think unquestionably. these are difficult circumstances for all involved. but when you take the situation with catherine calderwood, she accepted she was in the run,

made an apology on the sunday morning and hosted the scottish government's press conference with the first minister. nobody hid from this and there was an acceptance that making sure people had confidence in the public health message. here we have dominic cummings, the prime minister both hiding from view. it is not good enough, they should be in front of the press this afternoon. the prime minister will be in front of the liaison committee on wednesday, and iam liaison committee on wednesday, and i am pleased about that. but he needs to make himself available, not just to the press but needs a virtual meeting to make sure we get a nswe rs virtual meeting to make sure we get a nswers to virtual meeting to make sure we get answers to questions as to what the prime minister knew and when and whether or not he sanctioned his senior adviser not following the regulations he put in place. it is the most serious situation we are in. we were just talking to the former chief constable of durham, he says he believes that if dominic cummings doesn't resign it will make it harderfor the

cummings doesn't resign it will make it harder for the police around the country to enforce the restrictions that are still in force, would you agree with that? i have some sympathy with that view. we have been left with the judgment of each individual as to what should be a common—sense approach. it is not good enough, the advice has to be to stay at home unless they are clear circumstances that is not the case. but stay at home message, to protect the nhs and save lives, has been undermined by the behaviour of dominic cummings and undermined by the prime minister, refusing to accept his responsibility to relieve —— remove this individualfrom office. he simply has to go, he should have been gone by now. the prime minister needs to do that on the prime minister needs to make sure he is held accountable, in front of the press and the liaison committee and ultimately, in front of parliament by his failure of leadership. ian blackford from the snp, thank you for your time today.

90. let's go to our political correspondent rob watson. we were hearing calls for borisjohnson to appear at today's daily briefing to a nswer appear at today's daily briefing to answer questions about dominic cummings, how likely do you think that is? i have absolutely no idea, but what was interesting listening to mr blackford, you can sense opposition politicians are not going to let go of this fun and so there will be demands continually for an investigation into mr cummings' behaviour, demands for him to resign and of course, demands for boris johnson to appear. i think the problematic thing for the prime minister, there are grumbles along these lines for conservative mps. there was one conservative mp, tobias ellwood, who is saying the prime minister needs to make an appearance, get a grip on things. i know from talking to conservative

sources over the last few days and weeks, that there is unease in conservative ranks, not just weeks, that there is unease in conservative ranks, notjust about this. this has obviously broken over the weekend, but concern in general about the government's handling of the covid crisis and easing of the lockdown and a perception, both here and very much, i should add, internationally, that britain has mishandled this crisis, it was slow to recognise its severity. so considerable pressure on the prime minister. absolutely, from the opposition and from some people and from his own ranks as well. dominic cummings yesterday, when he was pressed said he doesn't care how this looks. but actually, the government must care how this looks at the prime minister must care, because apart from anything else, apart from the pr side of it, in terms of trying to enforce the lockdown, it makes it more difficult if you have a high—profile figure, who is alleged to have either broken or bent the rules? absolutely. it is

very ha rd to or bent the rules? absolutely. it is very hard to see this as anything other than a political public relations and in many ways, an international relations catastrophe. most people would recognise it is not really about mr cummings, as such. although he is an extremely controversial figure to people who follow politics closely in this country, particularly the history of brexit. but it is about a principle, about authority and the danger the government faces. this is what you get endlessly on social media, but beyond that is people saying, how could you have one rule for everybody in the uk, but a different rule for those in power? no matter the extenuating circumstances, i think that is the real problem the government faces. it is about authority, about existing instructions, about what to do about the virus, but also the future plans

the virus, but also the future plans the government may have. that may be the government may have. that may be the price, politicians fear, of keeping dominic cummings. the government will be a challenge, does this rule apply to ordinary people or to people inside the government as well? at times like this in politics, you need your allies and your friends. the thing with politics, you need your allies and yourfriends. the thing with dominic cummings, he is an abrasive character and from everything you read about him, he makes enemies rather more quickly than he makes friends? one of the things about being a character like dominic cummings, someone with, how can you put this? someone who has radical views, or has expressed reviews that challenge the status quo. he likes to set himself up as someone who sees politicians, many of them, all of the parties are hopelessly

attached to the status quo. he is seen as someone, he attached to the status quo. he is seen as someone, he makes no bones about this, he believes in shaking the whole country up. it is why he backed brexit, he thinks there is a different way of doing things, the government could up its game, business cut up its game, the civil service, britain could up its game. if you have views like that you are bound to have lots of people who think, yet he is brilliant, great i will get behind him. but a lot of people also say, including the former prime minister david cameron, actually we don't want him anywhere near government, he is that type of character. rob watson, thank you. speaking on the andrew marr show this morning on the bbc, the transport secretary grant shapps defended dominic cummings. my understanding is that he stayed there, in the house, forthe understanding is that he stayed there, in the house, for the ia days until he would have been out of the sort of quarantine period. that is my understanding of the situation.

are you sure he was not back in durham, seen walking in the bluebell wood on the 19th of april? he has beenin wood on the 19th of april? he has been in london since the 14th of april and has not returned to durham since that time, that is my understanding. there has been a lot of stuff in the papers throwing these dates around. just because somebody, dominic cummings has surprised you, butjust because it is in the newspaper, doesn't mean it is in the newspaper, doesn't mean it is true. i am trying to establish what is true. you say he definitely didn't go back to durham, how do you know that? because the statement from numberten said know that? because the statement from number ten said that once he came down to london on the 14th, he has remained in london since and reports of him being back in durham since, i think you said on the 19th, are erroneous. that is how we know. we're about statements from number ten, you said yesterday that at no stage was mr cummings or his family spoken to by the police about this matter. durham police have put out a

clear statement yesterday evening saying they did speak to his father. he should the public believe? there has been some confusion, let's try and clear it up. the father contacted the police, not the other way around. secondly it was an unrelated matter, which i think they don't want to go into, about security. it is not that the police make contact without any reason to discuss the specific matter. why did number ten therefore say, and why did you say that the police had not spoken to mr cummings or his family about this matter when they had? they spoke to... about this matter. ican they spoke to... about this matter. i can read you the statement. the police said on the 31st of march our officers were made aware that dominic cummings had travelled from london to durham and was present at an address in the city. at the request of mr cummings' father, the police may contact by telephone. he confirmed his son had travelled with

his family from london to the north—east and was self isolating import that property. that was a conversation between the police are mrcummings' family conversation between the police are mr cummings' family about the situation. i don't think you have read at the end of that statement.” have read out all i have got. there are have read out all i have got. there a re two have read out all i have got. there are two things on there, it was mr cummings' father who contacted the police, not the other way around and the discussion was about a separate matter relating to security, which is the key thing. they also talked about this matter and number ten denied that. the statement is clear, they said they didn't talk and they did. if you read the original newspaper allegations to which they where responding to, the newspaper allegation was the police had made contact in order to raise the subject. the police, in fact it was the father who made contact and secondly, it was to discuss a security issue, which you did not mention. father is a member of the

family, obviously. after all of this, is there a clause, that if you are worried about a child, you can decide where you go to self—isolate, you can drive where you like and the government is comfortable with that? there has not been a specific thing which you can only move a mile. the key point is people remained locked down, which is exactly, as i understand it, what happened in this case in order to isolate and get beyond coronavirus. let me read you your own government's guidance on the subject given on the 22nd of march. essential travel does not include visits to second homes or similar, weather and including four isolation purposes, people must remain in their primary residence. mrcummings did not remain in their primary residence. mr cummings did not do that. as we have discussed, when he arrived at the place where he was going to get support in a property adjacent to his parents, he didn't then move

around, he remained there, in a place where they thought they could bring the best care to their child. the bit of the guidance you didn't read out makes clear, it asks people to make every effort and it acknowledges, keep following the advice to the best of your ability. but we are aware that not all of these measures will be possible, the key thing is not to keep moving around. grant shapps speaking to andrew marr. i will be back with a full bulletin at the top of the hour, but let's get the weather. hello there. it's an improving story this bank holiday weekend in terms of the weather. yesterday, parts of the north west of scotland through the highlands saw nearly 3.5 inches of rain. despite cloudy skies this morning, it's certainly an improving picture and it will slowly brighten up as the afternoon continues. you can start to see the cloud breaking up quite nicely in this weather watcher picture from dorset. the reason being, high pressure is starting to build now

from the south—west and that will dominate over the next few days. this weak where the front into the north is still breezy at the moment, but the winds will slowly die down as we go through the day and any cloud and drizzle will tend to ease. it has been a cloudy start but generally we're seeing that cloud breaking up over the rest of the afternoon and there will be a little more sunshine coming through. lighter winds than yesterday and with more sunshine and lighter winds, as a consequence it will feel a little warmer. so temperatures through the afternoon perhaps peaking from ten to 22 degrees, that's 72 fahrenheit. as we move through the evening and overnight the winds will fall lighter still and the high pressure continues to dominate. there will be some clearer skies, little bit of patchy mist and fog and favoured spots for that are are close to the coast of south—west wales and south—west england. we'll need to keep an eye on that first thing on bank holiday morning. elsewhere we're looking at temperature sitting at around seven to 11 degrees. as we move into bank holiday monday, dry, settled and sunny for many,

certainly the best of the three days through the weekend. yes, there are some whether fronts pushing into the far north—west and by the end of the day could bring cloud and outbreaks of rain into northern ireland and western scotland. shouldn't spoil the day too much, ahead of it those temperatures will peak at highs of 25 degrees, 77 fahrenheit across the south—east, may be high teens for scotland and northern ireland. those weak weather fronts continue to put across the top of the high but it's fairly powerful so it'll be a weak affair, it's not really going to produce that much in the way of rain, may be more in the way of noticeable cloud as we go through tuesday and into wednesday. you can see a little more cloud around, it stays dry, sunny and warm, particularly into the south. that is it, whatever you're doing, take care.

good afternoon. there's growing pressure from within the conservative party for borisjohnson's top advisor, dominic cummings, to step down, because of allegations that he broke lockdown rules. he and the government say he acted "reasonably and legally" by driving more than 250 miles from his london home to county durham for childcare reasons when his wife had coronavirus symptoms. they've also dismissed as "inaccurate" claims he was seen in the north east of england on two more occasions.