this is bbc news, hello i'm victoria derbyshire, here are your headlines. questions for the uk government about russian interference after a highly critcal report says the risk was badly underestimated. ministers says they're looking at new security laws. i do think it's very important that we're all one step ahead of that and that is why, as i say, we will be looking at the activities of hostile states and what additional powers can be granted, and whilst there's work that remains to be done on that, i can confirm that. president trump warns america's coronavirus outbreak will get worse before it gets better and urges people to wear face coverings when social distancing isn't possible. if you can, use the mask when you can, use the mask if you are close to each other, if you are in a group. i would put it on when i'm in a group. i'm in an elevator and there are other people with me, including, like, security people,

it's not their fault, they have to be in the elevator, i want to protect them also. president trump also send his good wishes to ghislaine maxwell, accused of helping her ex—boyfriend jeffrey epstein traffic and abuse young girls. how to visit relatives in care homes safely. updated guidance for england is to be published this week. if your grandparent or mum or dad or relatuive with a disbailitty is in a care, tell us your story of the last few months victoria@bbc.co.uk or message me on twitter @vicderbyshire. in the next hour, a defamation case brought against britain's labour party by former staff members, who criticised the then—labour leadership‘s handling of anti—semitism in a bbc panorama documentary, is expected to be settled in the high court.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. the uk government will face questions in the house of commons today about the threat posed by russia after the report by mps yesterday said it had been badly underestimated. the report claimed the government made no effort to investigate claims of russian interference in the brexit referendum and criticised intelligence agencies for not giving the issue more attention. in response, security services look as though they're going to be given extra powers to try and prevent foreign interference in british democracy. ministers are considering a new law requiring people in the uk working for a foreign state to formally register their activities. the labour opposition has criticised "systemic failings" in how the uk has dealt with hostile states. the labour leader will face the pm at their final prime minister's questions before their summer holidays. let's talk to norman smith at westminster. so, what is next? next, from the government was my point of view, is

a new legislation to try and increase the powers of the security services to update the old official secrets act which everyone thinks is way past its sell by date and totally unsuited to the new age of cyber warfare. what the government is looking at is copying what the americans have, which is a register of foreign agents. that is not all spies have to sign on the dotted line and say, hello, i am a spy. but what it is, is if anyone is in the appointment of a foreign government, whether they are a lobbyist or a pr agent or whatever, working for a foreign government, they will have to register. the point about that is it is partly transparency so eve ryo ne it is partly transparency so everyone knows who is actually working for which government. but also it means those real spies who do not register, they can then be found guilty of breaking the law and booted out of the country. at the moment under british law the security services pretty much have

to catch foreign spies stealing secrets before they can actually kick them out of the country. it would be a huge step forward in terms of giving the security services the necessary powers to deal with foreign agents. the big caveat is, this is not happening because of yesterday's report, it has flagged up the importance of this move, but the government was already considering it. in broad terms you have to say the response of the government has been pretty much to say, look, we are aware of the russian threat, we are not ignoring it, we are not complacent, and that was the language we were hearing from grant shapps this morning. it is not the case that they weren't looking for and don't look for interference in all manner of different areas of british life, from interference in politics, but also of course the way that operations take place in things like social media. so they are looking at these things all of the time and it is not from that point of view a gap in our intelligence and knowledge.

but i do think it's very important that we are always one step ahead of that and that is why, as i say, we will be looking at the activities of hostile states, what additional powers can be granted, and whilst there is work that remains to be done on that, i can confirm that is something that is actively going on right now with the government. more broadly, there does not seem to be any particular moves by the government to act on some of the concerns identified by the committee. for example, one of the main concerns was that no one in government really took responsibility for trying to counter russian efforts to subvert our democracy. it fell between innumerable different government departments, the foreign office, the ministry of defence, the home office, the electoral commission, the national security council, the intelligence services, but no one said, yes, iwill take responsibility. the view of

government is that it is a cross departmental threat and it is not appropriate to have one person responsible and in any case, at the end of the day, the prime minister ta kes end of the day, the prime minister takes responsibility. thank you very much, norman. thank you very much, norman. lord ricketts was the uk's first national security adviser between 2010 and 2012 and is a peer. he sits independently from other peers in the house of lords. what you think about this idea of a register of foreign agents? you think about this idea of a register of foreign agent57m you think about this idea of a register of foreign agents? it is a good idea. it is a fairly good system and i am all in favour of transparency and that is one of the best weapons we can use peddling of influence, buying opportunities and reputation through hot money. so i think clarity about who is paying who for what is a start. right, now you are talking about peers registering donations and earnings

of more than £100. i was asking you about a register of foreign agents, so about a register of foreign agents, so agents working for other governments who happen to be walking in the uk. i will talk about the money issue in a second. in terms of the register of foreign agents, what do you think of that? it is very useful and is one of the recommendations in the intelligence and security committee report. if the government had not sat on it nine months ago, we would already be a lot further forward nine months ago, we would already be a lot furtherforward in nine months ago, we would already be a lot further forward in getting nine months ago, we would already be a lot furtherforward in getting on with that. i am sure that additional tools like that, strengthening the official secrets act, a foreign agents registration, all those are useful. let me read the quote about members of the house of lords and their business interest links to russia from the report. it is notable that a number of members of the house of lords have business interest links to russia or work directly for major russian companies linked to the russian state. these relationships should be carefully scrutinised given the potential for the russian state to exploit them.

it is important the code of conduct for the house of lords and the register of interests provide the necessary transparency and are enforced. can you explain to our audience why at the moment mps, members of parliament and lords, only need to register individual payments of more than £100, which they receive for any employment outside of the house, but it does not apply to the laws?|j outside of the house, but it does not apply to the laws? i do not know the background to that. i have seen a letter from the conduct committee in the house of lords answering the intelligence and security committee point, saying some of this has already been tightened up. but now all of us lords are supposed to register if we have foreign clients that we are working for. but it is true we do not have to disclose the amounts we are receiving and i am certain that will now be investigated and i suspect very rapidly it will be tightened up and iam very rapidly it will be tightened up and i am very much in favour of that. can you think of any reason why you would not have to declare over £100?

i think the lord has been treated in a line in a different recently they received donations from all sorts of places. mps have to run election campaigns and maintain offices in their constituencies. for many lords they do not employ staff or have any overheads, and for that reason the system has been a bit looser. but i am sure we now need to tighten that up. do you have any links with russian firms indirectly or directly? no, absolutely not. those of your colleagues in the house of lords that do, either indirect or direct business links, working for a russian company, why do you think the russian companies would be employing members of the house of lords? i do not think it is a secret that russia and other countries try to exercise influence, try to lobby, try to make friends with, make contact with, members of parliament,

but also the media and other people in positions of power in the uk. that is well known. lobbying is one thing, but working directly for a foreign company when you are an influential member of the house of lords is something else, isn't it? many of the members house of lords probably work for foreign companies. the key so far has been to declare them, so that people know who the peers are working for and to declare that before you say in the house of lords. we have this tradition that if you are speaking on an issue where you have a personal interest, you are expected to make their personal interest clear at the start of your speech. but i think we need to go further now, certainly. in what respect? just set up this register or ban those links? well, as of now it has been perfectly legal to do what some of my collea g u es legal to do what some of my colleagues in the house of lords are doing, which is work for large

companies in countries like russia. i think as long as we know that is happening and we produce the transparency point, i think we should certainly tighten up in terms of if you are receiving money from foreign states, foreign companies, that that should be declared in the same way as it is for mps and members of the house of commons and at the end of our whole in westminster. banning completely people from working for foreign companies would be a further step since lords relatively get a relatively small amount going into the house of lords and it would change the nature of the house of lords if you started to ban what laws could do. i am in favour of transparency and full declaration. £300 a day at the moment are the expenses to mark at the moment it is half break, £162, because most of us are not attending the house of lords. if you are attending remotely in the hybrid system they are using at the moment, if you are tuning in

from home to the committees, you are on half of that. why are you not working for a foreign company, a foreign agent? i am a director of a company in france which i have declared, as i have to, on the register. and i work for a uk based company which is part of a larger american company. so i have two business interests which are entirely public and i have declared them and make no secret of it. i am not working for a foreign state and never have done. thank you very much for talking to us. lord ricketts. the labour party has agreed to pay substantial damages to seven whistle—blowers over defamatory allegations made during a bbc panorama investigation into anti—semitism. we will bring you more on that as we get it. that news just in, the labour party has agreed

to pay substantial damages to a number of whistle—blowers who took pa rt number of whistle—blowers who took part ina number of whistle—blowers who took part in a bbc panorama programme on anti—semitism within the party, and how those claims of anti—semitism we re how those claims of anti—semitism were investigated. that isjust how those claims of anti—semitism were investigated. that is just from the royal courts of justice were investigated. that is just from the royal courts ofjustice this morning. this breaking as well. and the united states has ordered china to close its houston consulate, beijing said, marking a dramatic escalation in diplomatic tensions between the feuding superpowers. we'll speak to our correspondent steve mcdonnell shortly. president trump has warned that the coronavirus outbreak in the united states will get worse before it gets better. tens of thousands of new cases are being identified every day, and more than 140,000 people have died. speaking at the white house, mr trump urged americans to wear face coverings when they could not maintain social distancing. peter bowes reports. a different tone and a different message, noticeably subdued and less combative than usual, president trump took to the podium at his first coronavirus briefing since april. he acknowledged the pandemic

was far from over. we are in the process of developing a strategy that is going to be very, very powerful. we have developed them as we go along. some areas of our country are doing very well, other are doing less well. it will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better, something i do not like saying about things but that is the way it is, it is what we have, you look over the world, it is all over the world. apparently heeding the advice of his experts, who were absent from the stage, mr trump spoke enthusiastically about face masks even though he's only been seen once in public wearing one himself. i mean, i carry the mask. i went into walter reed hospital the other day, i have the mask right here. i carry it and i will use it gladly, no problem with it. and i have said that and i say, if you can, use the mask, when you can, use the mask, if you are close to each other,

if you are in a group, i would put it on, when i'm ina group. if i am in an elevator and there are other people with me, including, like, security people, it is not their fault, they have to be in the elevator, i want to protect them also. the change in rhetoric comes at a time when opinion polls suggest most americans disapprove of the way mr trump has dealt with the pandemic and with the number of new covid—19 cases soaring in some southern and western states, the president seemed to go out of his way to hammer home his new message. we are imploring young americans to avoid packed bars and other crowded indoor gatherings, be safe and be smart. after questions about the virus, the news conference took an unexpected turn when a reporter asked about ghislaine maxwell, the former girlfriend of the convicted sex offender, jeffrey epstein. reporter: ghislaine maxwell is in prison and so a lot of people want to know if she is going to turn in powerful people? and i know you talked in the past about prince andrew

and you criticized bill clinton's behaviour — i'm wondering, do you feel that she will turn in powerful men? how do you see that working out? i do not know, i have not really been following it too much. ijust wish her well, frankly. i've met her numerous times over the years, especially since i've lived in palm beach and i guess they lived in palm beach, but i wish her well. whatever it is. i don't know the situation with prince andrew. just don't know. not aware of it. a surprise ending to a new style of coronavirus briefing from the white house. peter bowes, bbc news. now to bring you some breaking news. the us government has abruptly ordered china to close its consulate in houston, describing it a as "political provocation". the chinese government has already promised a "necessary response" if the united states doesn't withdraw this decision. i'm joined now by our china correspondent stephen mcdonell who's in beijing for us. why would this measure have been

taken? why would this measure have been ta ken? that is why would this measure have been taken? that is a very good question and we are waiting for more information out of washington on this, but it is moving very quickly. there are already reports that fire trucks have been sent to the us consulate, china's concealer in houston, because of reports from local residents that consulate staff are outside the building burning documents in preparation for having to leave pretty quickly. the chinese government has confirmed the order that has been told to leave, and has described this as a provocation from the us side, which will mean a response from china. already local media here are taking opinion polls from readers as to which us consulate will be shot in china. it represents a significant escalation in the already tense breakdown between washington and beijing. what

we are getting from the state department, the us state department spokesperson, they have released a few lines saying this is all about protecting american intellectual property and american private information. so what the speculation is, is that this is going to be about these hacking allegations, potentially the us is saying it might have tracked the hack to an ip address back at that consulate. mike pompeo, the us secretary of state is in denmark, i believe, so he is on the move and we are waiting for more information to be released. presumably at some point he will speak and give us a more thorough explanation from the washington side as to why this has taken place. you can imagine the chinese government is furious at this. they have been givenjust a few is furious at this. they have been given just a few days to leave that consulate and i am sure that they will close a us consulate here. hong

kong possibly, chengdu, like that. thank you very much. steve mcdonnell in beijing. mike pompeo was here he had critical comments about the world health organization. and the who has rejected claims by steve pompeo who had accused the body being too close to china. all that happened at a meeting with uk members of parliament yesterday. mr pompeo alleged that the organisation's director general has been ‘bought‘ by china and that its failings had contributed to ‘dead english people. ‘the world health organisation has responded to the allegations with this statement. let's speak to the labour mp for rhondda, chris bryant,

who was at the meeting with mr pompeo yesterday — and whose question prompted his response. what did he say? his main thrust was that the free world needs to unite against china. i agree that with the uighur people, it is repression of rights, and what it is doing in hong kong and its attitude in the south china sea are all things we need to have a robust attitude about. then i said to him, the problem with the united states leading this charge in favour of the rules —based order and rule of law in the world is that the us under president trump keeps on dismantling elements of the rules —based order and completely ignoring it itself. there is a problem for you. he said, you say we are leading organisations, it is just the who. then he went into a long section about the chinese had bought the head of the world health

organization and mike pompeo then said, british people were dead because of chinese lies about the virus. i must say, in my heart i wa nted virus. i must say, in my heart i wanted to say a lot of american people are dead because of donald trump as not lies about the virus. but you did not? did you not say that to him? no, discretion sometimes is the better part of valour. he also said later on that the united states of america had been at the forefront of this debate about china and had been leading everybody, but they had been given a power boost by the virus, which i thought was a pretty despicable phrase. it basically means the united states of america has been using the coronavirus, the pandemic, asa using the coronavirus, the pandemic, as a stick in this battle, this trade battle, that they are having with china. i am not naive about china at all, nor am i about russia.

i have been very critical of the british's of an attitude around russia which has been lackadaisical for years, and russia which has been lackadaisical foryears, andi russia which has been lackadaisical for years, and i have been saying this for a long time... i want to go back to what mike pompeo said. when he said china had bought the who and basically struck a deal which meant doctor ted ross secured election. are there any more details about that claim? only that he said this was based on secure intelligence and it had been passed on to the uk government. obviously i have no idea whether any of that is true and it seemed such an extraordinary thing to say at the time. then he went on to say at the time. then he went on to attack all sorts of other international organisations and he shrugged his shoulder about nato, he was not keen on the united nations and so on. if it is true, does it make you feel differently about the who? every multilateral organisation around the world, even interpol,

needs radical reform. the foreign affa i rs needs radical reform. the foreign affairs select committee has been saying this for some time. i sit on it. it is just you do saying this for some time. i sit on it. it isjust you do not saying this for some time. i sit on it. it is just you do not get to lead the charge for reform if you are undermining every single multinational organisation. you cannot say let's join together in a multilateral campaign if you underline every single multilateral organisation. of course, there are problems with the who, sometimes the best person does not necessarily get thejob. i have no idea whether it mike pompeo's allegation that the head of the who was bought, i have no idea whether that is the truth or not and what he means by that. i am just a multilateral list. i think america would be a good ally, we similarly believe in rule—based order and we believe in the rule of law, but then if you have donald trump suddenly doling out powders to his best mates, that does rather undermine the united states and the

free world's attitude towards the rule of law, doesn't it? yes. can i ask you about news in the last half hour regarding the labour party. they have agreed to pay substantial damages to seven whistle—blowers regarding anti—semitism and the way the party investigated it. this has just come in as well, the labour party has issued an unreserved apology to john ware, party has issued an unreserved apology tojohn ware, the presenter of the bbc panorama programme that laid out the anti—semitism claims last year. laid out the anti—semitism claims last yea r. let laid out the anti—semitism claims last year. let me ask you first of all about the substantial damages to those seven whistle—blowers who experienced anti—semitism. those seven whistle—blowers who experienced anti-semitism. your reaction to that. obviously i don't know the specifics of the court case, but my heart broke when i watch that panorama programme and i saw people that i know well in terrible distress. i know a lot of people in the labour party and it has been... you know... is a labour

person you join the party because you believe you are going to tackle injustice and prejudice and to see your own party dragged through the mud of allegations about anti—semitism and seeing anti—semitism and seeing anti—semitism and seeing anti—semitism and hearing it sometimes in party meetings, that has just been a terrible, terrible thing to live through it for the last few years. i really hope this will be a moment when we can move forward. iam will be a moment when we can move forward. i am glad that keir starmer is providing the leadership that we need and i hope that anybody who is thinking about some kind of legal challenge to all of this willjust keep their own counsel. you may accept this today, accept the fact. this was a defamation case we should remember, so what happened after panorama was that some within the labour party try to introduce those whistle—blowers and the reporter john ware, and that is why the party is now paying out money. and for my own part, i am just a backbencher,

but i offer my most sincere apologies to the staff. i have been apologies to the staff. i have been a staff member myself in the past andi a staff member myself in the past and i remember what it is like working for the party. i offer my own personal apology to those people and to the whole of thejewish community who found the last general election terribly difficult. many of them would normally want to vote labour but they could not because of anti—semitism in the labour party. i have seen it myself and some of it has been phenomenally virulent. the labour party is nothing if it is not a moral crusade and that moral crusade must be against prejudice. i was always taught as a child who neverjudge somebody according to the colour of their skin, creed, background, whether they are ill whether they are gay or straight and that rainbow alliance is what it is all about. this has been a terribly painful time for the labour party. thank you for talking to us on a

number of issues, chris bryant, the labourmpfor number of issues, chris bryant, the labour mp for rhondda. care homes have of course seen some of the most worrying levels of coronavirus infections, so how can they be made safe for both staff and residents? this week new guidelines for england will be published by the government so they can reopen their doors to visitors. the rules vary around the uk. at the moment residents are allowed visits outdoors in wales and scotland, and in northern ireland care homes are open but visits are restricted to one at a time. nadra ahmed is the chair of the national care association. she joins us from rochester. good morning. what do you need to hear from the good morning. what do you need to hearfrom the government good morning. what do you need to hear from the government in terms of guidance for homes in england? we need to hear some very clear guidance with the scientific evidence behind it that actually shows us how we can safely enable people to come and visit their loved ones as quickly as possible. this has been a very long period of time and we know it is having an impact on the relatives and the residents

and the staff. the sooner we can get this guidance, the better. and the staff. the sooner we can get this guidance, the betterlj and the staff. the sooner we can get this guidance, the better. i want to redo this, and it is from a woman who said, there must be thousands of people like my son who is a chef in a care home. he earns basic pay, his contract is so bad that if he does not go in, he does not get paid. he is not going to take a coronavirus test and he will go in even if he is pearly. he has three children, his rent is £700 a month, sick pay would be £400 approximately. he is working ina be £400 approximately. he is working in a privately run care home, but he simply cannot afford to go into isolation for two weeks. is that a fair point? i think it is a worrying point, actually, because of course the only way that we can make sure that we mitigate the risk of coronavirus coming into care services is to have these tests.

without the tests, the risks are quite high, especially if they are asymptomatic individuals. i understand the concerns around the funding and not being able to pay rent. i think the providers are doing everything they possibly can to try and recompense people for the additional challenges that they face. but, of course, we ourselves are working within a very tight envelope, which shows the massive challenges for providers to meet their financial commitments. it will include things like this additional purchase of ppe, which was not part ofa purchase of ppe, which was not part of a contract that was done last year. so we have got additional costs in relation to this and we are talking to government, the government has released money, it just has not reached the front line

because it was released to local authorities. the local authorities have used it for the purposes of their other responsibilities primarily. i think we are between a rock and a hard place in this, but i think testing is the only way that we are going to be able to mitigate the risks. i would urge everybody who has the opportunity to have these tests to take it for their own good as well. of course it is for your own family as well as for the families that you look after within our socially care setting. another message, my nan is in a care home, she is very frail, like so many we last visited on march the 15th, video calls are confusing for her and guided visits would be difficult because she is in bed. the ca re difficult because she is in bed. the care home has been amazing. ifind it hard to hear social distancing will go on for some time to come.

does this mean we will not be able to visit until we get a vaccine? garden visits would not work in her case with the frailty and likewise weaving through a window. you think you will be able to let visitors into your homes even if you think you will restrict them to one visitor at a time? i am hoping this guidance will help us make those decisions because providers are already working to risk assess every resident to ensure that they can enable visits. we are going to have to risk assess their families, limit the number of people coming into the service at any one time, so if you have a 50 bedded service you have 50 relatives who want to visit and we cannot have that happening. there will be time allocations we will have to work out but the guidance is what we need to start to work on that. many providers are doing garden visits and have invested in pods and we are doing additional

work around the infection control because every time a visitor comes into our service whatever area they going have got to have that that cleaned out again clinically so that we can mitigate the risk. it is all about mitigation of risk for us. our primary concern is our residents and our staff. we value both and we have to do everything we possibly can to safeguard them and also the relatives coming in and out of the service because the last thing we wa nt service because the last thing we want is somebody coming into the service and contracting it because our insurers are being really difficult. we have another additional problem that providers are finding it difficult to get indemnity insurance. covid is being excluded. we are fighting battles on so many fronts but we have two somehow bring it all together and the only way to do this is to have guidance from government and support from government. for example the

indemnity, it is not out of the possibility that the government could do something about that with insurers that they do with the nhs but we have to keep pushing that, we are battling that as well. primarily our concern is around keeping our residents and staff safe. thank you very much for talking to us today. thank you for your messages. we have had some positive ones about how good the care homes are. there are also some really moving ones. one from harrow in london, my mum's care home has not allowed visitors for three months, she requires 24—7 care, my dad priorto three months, she requires 24—7 care, my dad prior to lock ten would visit my mum every single day and has been doing this since my mum was admitted to the care home three yea rs admitted to the care home three years ago. he is totally broken by being unable to see her and my mum and so unable to comprehend why no

one is visiting her. it is exceptionally tough all round. linda, my dad is 83. he has a father to five children, he is in a care home struggling with alzheimer's. his care home was close to the public and still hasn't returned to accepting visitors. it has been a very difficult time. i was told i can facetime him but this didn't work because he couldn't understand what was happening and he broke down crying during the coal so i decided this was not good for him and i felt a little selfish because the calls we re a little selfish because the calls were for me, really. i visited him for his birthday on the home sat him down in an armchair in reception and i spoke to him through the glass entrance door. i received two cards from post he had need seeing how much he loved and missed us. i received a photo of him holding and i love you sign. the care home must

be so proud to have been able to announce they have had no virus cases. my dad looks so well and i am so thankful to all of the staff. that is so moving. restaurant owners who struggled to keep their businesses afloat during lockdown are now facing another challenge — people who don't turn up for bookings. chefs and restaurant owners say customers who don't show up are costing them huge amounts of money, particularly as they have had to adjust to social distancing measures and remove tables. a number of them are warning it could lead to job losses and more businesses closing. we can speak now to kenny tutt, masterchef 2018 champion and founder of pitch restaurant based in worthing on the south coast of england. hi, how are you? very well. good to be open and back at it. are people who have booked turning up? they are in the mean. we have a few that do not turn up. we have a few that do

not turn up. we have a few that do not turn up and do call or drop us a line or give us an email but then we have a section of people, we have had a section, unfortunately, who do not turn up and do not pick up the phone and that is where the trouble lies. why is it a problem? with the re sta u ra nt lies. why is it a problem? with the restaurant we started to the level to make sure people are looked after well, we buy the ingredients to the same level so we make sure we have enough produce to ensure people can eat. and it is a knock-on effect so it is not just eat. and it is a knock-on effect so it is notjust a case of a table or two ta bles it is notjust a case of a table or two tables not turning up, we have had it where we have a busy shift, it could be a bustling saturday night, people do not show up and then we have had to say to staff u nfortu nately then we have had to say to staff unfortunately it is not as busy as we thought, we cannot give you the shift because there's not enough for you to do, it doesn't make business sense, so it has a big snowball on

everything else. when i was writing the business plan for the restaurant ididn't the business plan for the restaurant i didn't put anything in seeing we have to charge customers to make a buck, we do not want to charge customers, we want people to have a good time, that is the bottom line, so this has collecting but it is not something we really wanted. you have started to charge for no—shows? something we really wanted. you have started to charge for no-shows? yes, i have. we charge £10 per head, which has gone up to 20p per head, and it is more of a deterrent and it goes back to the common courtesy thing —— to £20. tom kerridge said that 27 people did not turn up, it is so damaging. i get it, it is like when you have to cancel for a party or something like that, you never

wa nt to or something like that, you never want to make that call, but if you do not want to do it get someone else to do it or send an email or whatever, homing pigeon! howeveryou can tell us, just tell us. we are cool because i am a parent, i understand that you cannot always get to places as things happen, so we totally understand, butjust let us we totally understand, butjust let us know. how many days have you been open? just over a week? this is our second week. in that time did you know specifically how many no—shows you have had and by that i mean people who did not even ring to let you know? yes, it is not massive, we counted about ten people, but still it is enough to be an issue. we do not want it to be an issue so it is just a simple thing, give us a call. before lockdown and bets like that

we had bigger spells where there was more no—shows. it is where you get big parties that we have seen in the press recently. i also read on the weekend that other places were doing cancellation fees, so obviously you leave your card number when you book and people were cancelling their cards so they did not have to pay the cancellation fee. that is a lot of trouble to go to. just go out for the meal! orjust let us know and we will not charge you. probablyjust go out for the meal. it is nice especially now if you can get out and have a bit of your time. there are so many belated celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, we had our second proposal in the restau ra nt last we had our second proposal in the restaurant last week. it is a wonderful thing. people are generally very social. we are doing our best to keep people safe and i know a lot of restaurant hours are doing what they can to make sure

people are as safe as possible and feels comfortable but that is crazy, cancelling your card, we know how much of an issue that can be getting one again. i do not know if! believe that but i read it in a vaguely reputable paper. what is on the menu tonight? we have wonderful fish, scallops, hake, stuff from the coast, we have the south downs so we have wonderful lamb and meat dishes and of course a few vegan options as well so we are trying to make sure well so we are trying to make sure we look after everyone and all the dietary requirements, some nice summer stuff as well, eat duck salad, i could go on and on, always exciting dishes. good luck. thank you for talking to us. masterchef 20

in team champion —— 2018 champion. the labour party has agreed to pay "substa ntial damages" to seven whistleblowers over "defamatory and false allegations" made following a bbc panorama investigation into anti—semitism. the whistleblowers appeared in the documentary "is labour anti—semitic?" by bbcjournalist john ware last year. the panorama programme contained strong criticism of the labour party leadership's failure to act against anti—semitism within the party — but it was deemed impartial by ofcom. john also sued the labour party for libel in a separate case from the whistleblowers. he joins us from outside the royal courts ofjustice now. hello. first of all, the fact that the whistle—blowers have been paid substantial damages, how do you respond to that? i am obviously very pleased for them. their reputation was severely damaged by the labour party allegation that their of the

way that the party was dealing with anti—semitism complaints and the general hostile climate was motivated by so—called disaffection rather than what they actually believed so i am delighted they are repetitions have been restored today. it is a good day. it is justice. do you have any idea about the substantial damages might amount to? i cannot get into the figures but they meet the legal definition of substantial. in terms of the apology that the labour party has given to you, do you accept it? yes, i do. given to you, do you accept it? yes, ido.i given to you, do you accept it? yes, i do. i think it is meant sincerely and that is the end of the matter so far as and that is the end of the matter so farasi and that is the end of the matter so faras i am and that is the end of the matter so far as i am concerned with the labour party. it is not the end of the matter for a number of labour party. it is not the end of the matterfor a number of other alternative media outlets and

individuals because the labour party statement u nfortu nately individuals because the labour party statement unfortunately sort of triggered a fusillade of falsehoods which continued over the last year andi which continued over the last year and i know it was a sort of unwritten code amongst we journalists that we do not sue because free speech is sacrosanct as indeed it is, but the world has changed, thanks to social media, and you either accept and shrug your shoulders when people call you a liar or see you fabricated evidence and deliberately promoted falsehoods, as the labour party did, or you do something about it, so i decided to do something about it. obviously it is the labour party as it is now under sir keir starmer thatis it is now under sir keir starmer that is settling the sand forwarding the apology but it was the labour

party under a different leader that you would argue had tried to traduce you would argue had tried to traduce you and the whistle—blowers, correct? that is correct. of course it is the same corporate entity. there are entirely different leaderships. thank you very much for talking to us. john were from the royal courts ofjustice where he has received an apology from the labour party after they tried to effectively rubbishes investigation for bbc panorama last year and also where seven whistle—blowers have been given substantial damages after the alleged the labour party tried to defend them. whistle—blowers who took part in john's to defend them. whistle—blowers who took part injohn's programme for panorama. concern is growing for the wellbeing of rapper and fashion designer kanye west after he posted, and then deleted, a series of tweets over the last couple of days on a range of topics including a claim that his wife kim kardashian west was trying to get him hospitalised. we have a copy of one

of the tweets that we can show you now. he says doctors tried to commit him and that he has been trying to get a divorce from his wife. he also compares his mother—in—law kris jenner to kim jong—un. the 43—year—old has spoken in the past about battling mental illnesses and earlier this month he announced he was running for president. during a rally in south carolina on sunday he gave a long speech about gun control and his faith. he also tea rfully revealed that he and his wife nearly terminated their first pregnancy. let's take a look at a clip from that rally. a warning that some viewers may find it distressing. she said she was pregnant and for one month, two months, three months... ..we talked about her not having this child. she had the pills in her hand. we can take the pills and if we take it, it's a wrap. the ba by‘s gone.

and i called my wife and she said we're going to have this baby. i said, we're going to have this child. my mom saved my life. my dad wanted to abort me. my mom saved my life. there would have been no kanye west because my dad was too busy! confused murmerings thundering applause i could have killed my daughter!

a lot of people have been worried seeing that and seeing some of his tweets. we can speak now to meg kinnard — political reporter for ap who covered kanye's rally on sunday night — and ernest owens — a multimedia journalist who has written on kanye for over ten years. how do you assess that rally and also his tweets in the last 48 hours? it is needless to say somewhat hard to make of exactly what kanye somewhat hard to make of exactly what ka nye has somewhat hard to make of exactly what kanye has been doing. attendees at the rally said they were curious about what was going to be happening. they have known kanye west as an entertainer but they are trying to figure out if he is running for president, is this the real thing? there has been a lot of discussion about his comments about mental health diagnoses and death that may be playing some role in what is happening here. i will leave that to the experts to ascertain but

ican that to the experts to ascertain but i can tell you after watching the rally it was somewhat unconventional, it was very different, i have covered campaign politics for 15 years and never seen anything like this. this was something we were not really expecting to see in this political cycle in south carolina and we are also trying to figure out exactly what becomes of kanye west's campaign from here. do you take this apparent presidential bid seriously? not at all. i think part of this is a pattern of behaviour that kanye has shown throughout his career. these untie black and misogynistic rants often come when he has no album coming out. he has a new album coming out later this week and he is often selling shoes are products and

i want people to understand that while there is from mental illness that he still has sentiments rooted in white supremacy and has a very negative treatment when it comes to black women specifically and also misogyny and those three things cannot coexist without being correlated or the causation of mental health issues. the host of the daily show said i feel like someone the daily show said i feel like someone who the daily show said i feel like someone who ca res the daily show said i feel like someone who cares about him needs to ta ke someone who cares about him needs to take his microphone away. do you agree? yes, i think there needs to be an intervention. i want to be clear that what we do not want to do is project a lot of these issues upon the women in his life. a lot of people have tried to suggest that the death of his mother, which is very unfortunate, and his current wife kim kardashian, are to be

somehow responsible, and there's a lot of sexism in that when we do not look into the overall responsibility of this individual and their accountability, so i think there needs to be intervention but i want to be clear we should not put the onus specifically on women in his life and others to be accountable. in that rally, he revealed some very personal information that they considered aborting their first child. where you concerned for his mental well—being when you heard that? i certainly never heard a candidate really get that personal and icy candidate because that is how ka nye west and icy candidate because that is how kanye west has referred to himself and he has filed paperwork some places. it is a place we do not typically see. often we will see someone typically see. often we will see someone talking about their personal story, that is common, and sometimes getting very personal and talking

about some details that perhaps one might have never known about that person had they not been seeking such a public platform, but this was different, and there was a lot of back and forth, give and take, more crowd interaction than we typically see with these kind of events in other races with other candidates, but there was also a lot of opposition in other ways from the audience. i am opposition in other ways from the audience. iam not opposition in other ways from the audience. i am not saying opposition to what he was necessarily saying about his personal life but also some of the ways that it was coming out and i think also along with that while they may have been plenty of sympathy among people in the audience about thinking along those lines that ernest was expressing about having some concern for what was going on they were still not sure what to make of it and that may be because there are other things going on with kanye west, he does have some album related stuff going on this week, but also trying to figure out where is this going? he says he is running for president and

we are not sure what a lot of what he is saying they have to do with that. he is a republican, yes, and he has a relationship with donald trump? he has had a relationship with donald trump that dates back several years, at least to the 2016 campaign. they have met at trump tower after donald trump was elected and in 2018 they met in the oval office where reporters described they had the wildest most unconventional oval office meeting and a lot of the press corps had seen. and a lot of the press corps had seen. he has expressed a lot of support for donald trump in the past but he also recently said he was taking that red hat off, meaning he was going away from donald trump reportedly and pursuing his own path politically. sure. ernest, i read this morning again that him and his wife are living in separate parts,

separate wings of this huge house that they share, from what he said in that rally, from those streets that were deleted, apart from what is going on in his mind, potentially reducing there are issues at home? absolutely. we have to be clear that we look at the nature of how this relationship got formulated. kim kardashian, his interest for fame hungry reasons, was very clear from the beginning. i do not necessarily see kim kardashian as the victim. she has tried to pursue throughout hercareer is in she has tried to pursue throughout her career is in alignment with the relationship she is having with kanye relationship she is having with ka nye we st relationship she is having with ka nye west except relationship she is having with kanye west except it is backfiring. their relationship has been rooted in how they can succeed together. she has a relationship with trump as

well. they both have been complicit in oppressive systems to gain a. she has benefited from kanye west. the entire family has built a billion—dollar empire based on fame and in this situation kim has not been able to control the situation as much as other incidents and controversies, but be clear, kanye has always said he has an interest to run for president before all of these things came about. he has always done these types of antics throughout the years and now it is a situation it got a little more personal that has made people more concerned about be clear, these antics have always been aligned with capitalistic endeavours that he makes and! capitalistic endeavours that he makes and i want to be clear that for someone that suffers with mental issues as much as he is doing these outlandish things he has also been

able to accomplish a lot of things throughout his career and even in re ce nt throughout his career and even in recent years and i find there's level of manipulation and coincidence in some of these actions that a lot of times just coincidence in some of these actions that a lot of timesjust happen coincidence in some of these actions that a lot of times just happen when an album is about to be sold, when they are our deals and contracts to be done and he is predicated on when he chooses to do things, and this has been throughout his career and i wondered if this will be an episode that we will stop talking about it and then kanye will have something else to sell and he will come back up else to sell and he will come back up again. thank you for talking to us up again. thank you for talking to us and getting up so early. i think you both got up early. we appreciate you both got up early. we appreciate you talking to our audience around the world. thank you for your m essa 9 es the world. thank you for your messages particularly about care homes. this twitter user says my mother—in—law is in a care home and

we have had 30 minute window visits and bile time with the best of intentions they are a disaster because —— while done with the best of intentions they are a disaster because she cannot hear us. we've got quite a mixed weather picture today. we can slice and dice the country into three separate pieces. some warm sunshine to come across southern areas, outbreaks of rain for quite a few of you and we've got some brighter weather for the far north of orkney and shetland, with some sunshine coming and going, so quite a mixture of weather. we'll start off with a look at the rain, though, and we've seen some wet weather move across northern ireland, scotland, into northern england, north wales and the north midlands also seeing some patches of rain and that rain will continue edging in across north wales, the north midlands, from time to time throughout the rest of this morning, really. into the afternoon it stays quite damp. the rain turning a little bit lighter and patchy in nature but it

will often stay cloudy. some sunshine across the north and warm sunshine to the south. temperatures 25 degrees in the sunshine in london and that will feel warm. overnight tonight it is going to stay rather grey and turning increasingly murky around the coast and hills with mist and fog patches and mist and fog patches over the high ground. more wet weather edging towards wales. temperatures 12 to 14 degrees so it is going to be a mild start to the day with extensive cloud and this time the low pressure is moving across scotland into the north sea. the weather front brings cloudy weather with outbreaks of rain across parts of england and wales but the rain not reaching south east england until after dark. temperatures 23 degrees in the south—east. brighter conditions for scotland and northern ireland. friday we should see more sunshine to start the day but across southern areas and the south of wales it is probably going to turn cloudy with patches of rain threatening

and it looks quite likely we will see an area of rain move well into northern ireland as we go into friday afternoon as well so that is another area we will see some wet weather. the best of the sunshine further east with temperatures getting into the 20s. this weekend low pressure is firmly in charge with outbreaks of rain easing to showers with a north—westerly breeze. the weekend weather often pretty cloudy. saturday having the most extensive rain. sunday brighter but with quite a few showers particularly across northern and western areas.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. britain's labour party apologises and agrees to pay substantial damages to a group of former employees who'd criticised the party's handling of anti—semitism complaints. seeing anti—semitism and hearing it sometimes in party meetings, that has just been a terrible, terrible thing to live through for the last few years. i really hope that this is going to be a moment where we can move forward. i'm really glad that keir starmer is providing exactly the leadership that we need. questions for the uk government about russian interference after a highly critcal report says the risk was badly underestimated. ministers says they're looking at new security laws. i do think it's very important that we're all one step ahead of that and that is why,

as i say, we will be looking at the activities of hostile states and what additional powers can be granted, and, whilst there's work that remains to be done on that, i can confirm that. the world health organisation rejects claims by us secretary of state mike pompeo that the body had been ‘bought‘ by china. the united states has told china to close its consulate in houston, texas. it said it was acting to protect intellectual property and private information. beijing has condemned the decision. president trump warns america's coronavirus outbreak will get worse before it gets better, and urges people to wear face coverings when social distancing isn't possible. how to visit relatives in care homes safely — updated guidance for england is to be published this week.

hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around hello and welcome to bbc news, i'm annita mcveigh. two big stories in westminster today — in the past hour, at the high court, britain's labour party has apologised and agreed to pay "substa ntial damages" to seven whistle—blowers over "defamatory and false allegations" made following a bbc panorama investigation into anti—semitism. the whistle—blowers, who criticised the then—leadership's handling of anti—semitic complaints, sued the party after it issued a press release describing them as having "personal and political axes to grind". also, at parliament the government will face questions in the house of commons about the threat posed by russia after a report by mps yesterday said it had been badly underestimated. security services may be given extra powers to prevent foreign

intereference in british democracy, after the report claimed the government made no effort to investigate claims of russian interference in the brexit referendum. speaking in the last hour to my colleague victoria derbyshire, the labour mp for rhondda, chris bryant, says his heart broke when we saw the panorama programme. i saw people that i know well, you know, in terrible distress. and i know a lot of people in the labour party. it's been... you know, as a labour person, you join the party because you believe that you're going to tackle injustice and prejudice, and to see your own party dragged through the mud of, you know, allegations about anti—semitism and seeing anti—semitism and hearing it sometimes in party meetings, that has just been a terrible, terrible thing to live through for the last few years. i really hope that this is going to be a moment

when we can move forward. i'm really glad that keir starmer is providing exactly the leadership that we need. and i hope that anybody who is thinking about some kind of legal challenge to all of this willjust keep their own counsel. yeah. you mean accept this today, accept the fact that... ? i mean, this was a defamation case, we should remember, so what happened after the bbc panorama was that some within the labour party tried to traduce those whistle—blowers and, indeed, the reporter, john ware. and that is why the party is now paying out money. and for my own part, i mean, i'm just a backbencher, but i offer my most sincere apology to the staff. i have been a staff member myself in the past. i know what it is like working for the party. i offer my own personal apology to those people, and to the whole of thejewish community, who found the last general election terribly, terribly difficult —

many of them would normally want to vote for labour but simply felt they couldn't because of anti—semitism in the labour party. i have seen it myself, and some of it has been phenomenally virulent. the labour party is nothing, as harold wilson said, if it is not a moral crusade. and that moral crusade must be against prejudice. i was always taught as a child, you neverjudge somebody according to the colour of their skin, their creed, their background, whether they're male or female or, for that matter, gay or straight. for me, that rainbow alliance is what it has all been about. this has been a terribly, terribly painful time for the labour party. let's talk to norman smith at westminster. you smith at westminster. followed this labour anti—semitism you followed this labour anti—semitism story closely. you observed the equanimity that this has caused within the party. take us

to —— has apologised. has caused within the party. take us to -- has apologised. i well remember the morning after the panorama programme coming into our westminster offices and talking to sources around jeremy corbyn and being told is that these often very young party members were disaffected and were trying to underminejeremy corbyn. and then, i think the reaction to that almost compounded the horror of what the panorama programme revealed. all the signs we re programme revealed. all the signs were that team corbin were prepared to fight these whistle—blowers in court, and that for keir starmer, the party has unequivocally accepted that they defamed these individuals and often substantial payments to them in compensation, a complete

about turn. i think what is significant about it, it is a significant about it, it is a significant moment in british politics having a party paying out damages for defaming some of its own former staff. the second thing which, of course, is hugely significant is that itjust underlines sir keir starmer‘s determination to distance himself from the corbyn years and to bring down a cleaver on any ties on mr corbyn's stance on anti—semitism, and that of course follows on after the sacking of rebecca long bailey after treating —— retweeting and article deemed to be anti—semitic. this, i think, article deemed to be anti—semitic. this, ithink, will article deemed to be anti—semitic. this, i think, will be seen as another defining moment in trying to

distance himself from the corbyn yea rs. distance himself from the corbyn years. another big story, the continuing fallout from the russian report. what do you make from the government's response so far, looking at giving the security services more power? it is talking about a new law requiring foreign agents to register in the uk. to what extent is that an adequate response to the concerns raised by the report when a lot of interference is taking place in the cyberspace? the honest answer is it is not really a response because the kind of statement put out by the government, a 17 page statement, basically rebuts and refutes all of the committee's report. they simply reject the idea that they have not been alerted to the russian threat or have not done enough or turned a blind eye. there is not going to be

a reassessment of the brexit referendum. they don't accept that too many government departments are involved. they don't accept that intelligence services do not have the necessary funding or paris. the promise of legislation actually predates the report. the government is already talking about having a register of foreign agents, even though that is perhaps what the government this morning once to flag up government this morning once to flag up as government this morning once to flag up as was government this morning once to flag up as was indicated by the transport secretary. it is not the case that they weren't looking for and don't look for interference in all manner of different areas of british life, from interference in politics, but also, of course, the way that operations take place in things like social media. so they are looking at these things all of the time and it is not, from that point of view, a gap in our intelligence and knowledge. but i do think it's very important that we are always one step ahead of that and that is why, as i say, we will be looking at the activities of hostile states, what additional powers can be granted, and whilst there is work that remains to be done on that, i can confirm that is something that is actively going on right now

with the government. we may well get more of that at prime minister's question's. and then, of course, we are getting a statement or an urgent question which the home secretary priti patel will be replying to about the report. but perhaps the most striking thing in the report was its rather gloomy assessment that we are now into damage limitation in terms of russian money and russian influence so pervasive has it become in russian society and westminster circles that it is too late to expect to rip it out now. we are simply talking about damage limitation. thank you very much. let's return now to the news of

labour following the bbc panorama documentary into anti—semitism. lets get reaction now from jenny, who is co—chair ofjewish voice for labour. thank you so much for joining us on bbc news. your reaction to what has been happening at the high court in the last few hours. i think we have to distinguish between two things. it is possible that when the labour party described it as disgruntled employees, in defamation law that was not accurate. on the other hand, i think was not accurate. on the other hand, ithinki was not accurate. on the other hand, i think ijust heard just now as someone i think ijust heard just now as someone describing it as the proving the cesspit of anti—semitism. it does no such thing in my view. a

group of... the report that was going after the hrc, which is the publicly available and the hrc themselves have read it, established that an awful lot of what has been said by the staff aboutjeremy corbyn's involvement in the anti—semitism allegations actually we re anti—semitism allegations actually were back to front. they were... the big news has to be for me, why is the only news that is ever covered by the media outlet the news that seems to suggest that the allegations thatjeremy corbyn's leadership was a particular problem with anti—semitism in the labour party rather than the news from the hrc that actually based on evidence, the story was not at all how it has been publicly... the labour party under the leadership of keir starmer has apologised unreservedly for what was said about these

whistle—blowers. do you accept that they were not served well by the party they were working for when they raised concerns that there wasn't a procedure for complaints of anti—semitism to be handled?” wasn't a procedure for complaints of anti-semitism to be handled? i can't accept that or deny it. i don't want to get involved in a legal case myself, and i wasn't there. i don't know the individuals myself, i can't remember what all their names are. but what i am saying is they may well have been something that was said to them that could not be backed up sufficiently with the factual evidence. but what i am saying is that they are a minor player in a sense in this issue of whether or not the labour party is a uniquely anti—semitic during the last few years. they may argue, i guess, whether they are minor players or not, and this is a really acrimonious issue. they may be very sincere individuals, but the main story, we have been over the last

few years of when jeremy corbyn became leaders, whether there is a particular problem of anti—semitism within the labour party unlike other parties... jenny, i am so sorry. we do have a cut off point here for this interview. thank you very much. you are watching bbc news. just saying goodbye to our viewers on bbc two and we will be returning to this story. the world health organization says it strongly rejects claims by the us secretary of state mike pompeo who accused the body of being too close to china. mr pompeo made the remarks at a meeting with uk members of parliament yesterday. he alleged that the organisation's director general has been ‘bought‘ by china — and that its failings had contributed to "dead english people." here's a statment from the who. "the world health organization is not aware of any such statement but we strongly

reject any attacks and unfounded allegations. the world health organization urges countries to remain focused on tackling the pandemic that is causing tragic loss of life and suffering." earlier, we spoke to the labour mp chris bryant who was at the meeting. he was also at that meeting, and it was his questioning of america's decision to quit multilateral —— america's decision to quit multilateral organisations which prompted mike pompeo's comments. he said, well, you say that we are leaving organisations. it's just the who. and then he went into a long section about how the chinese had bought the head of the world health organization and then mike pompeo then said that british people were dead because of chinese lies about the virus. i must say, in my heart i wanted to say, well, a lot of american people are dead because of donald trump's lies about the virus.

i mean, he also said later on that china... that the united states of america had been at the forefront of this debate about china and leading everybody but that they had been given a power boost by the virus, which i thought was a pretty despicable phrase. it basically means that the united states of america has been using the coronavirus of the pandemic, as a stick, the pandemic, as a stick, you know, in this battle in trade battle that they have with china. the headlines on bbc news... the labour party has issued a full apology — after a defamation case brought by former staff members, who criticised the then—labour leadership's handling of anti—semitism, is settled in the high court. questions for the government about russian interference in the uk after a highly critcal report says the risk was badly underestimated. ministers says they're looking at new security laws. the world health organization rejects claims by us secretary of state mike pompeo that the body had been ‘bought‘ by china.

the us government has abruptly ordered china to close its consulate in houston, texas, describing it a as "political provocation". the chinese government has already promised a "necessary response" if the united states doesn't withdraw this decision. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell is in beijing for us and has more. waiting for more information out of washington on this, but it is moving very quickly. there are already reports that fire trucks have been sent to the us consulate, china's consulate in houston because of reports from local residents that consulate staff are outside the building burning documents in preparation for having to leave there pretty quickly. the chinese government has confirmed the order that it has been told to leave. has described this as a provocation

from the us side, which will mean a response from china. already, local media here are taking opinion polls from readers as to which us consulate will be shut in china. it represents a significant escalation in the already tense sort of breakdown between washington and beijing. and what we are getting from the state department, a us state department spokesperson has released a few lines saying this is all about protecting american intellectual property and american private information. what the speculation is is that this is going to be about these hacking allegations, potentially that the us is saying it might have tracked the hack to an ip address at that consulate. but mike pompeo, the us secretary of state, is in denmark, i believe, so he is sort of on the move. we are waiting for more

information to be released. presumably, at some point, he will speak and give us a more thorough explanation from the washington side as to why this has taken place. but you can imagine, the chinese government is furious at this. they have been given just a few days to leave that consulate, and i am sure they will close a us consulate here. hong kong, possibly, chengdu. somewhere like that. president trump has warned that the coronavirus outbreak in the united states will get worse before it gets better. tens of thousands of new cases are being identified every day, and more than 140,000 people have died. speaking at the white house, mr trump urged americans to wear face coverings when they could not maintain social distancing. peter bowes reports. a different tone and a different message, noticeably subdued and less combative than usual, president trump took to the podium at his first coronavirus briefing since april. he acknowledged the pandemic

was far from over. we are in the process of developing a strategy that is going to be very, very powerful. we have developed them as we go along. some areas of our country are doing very well, other are doing less well. it will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better, something i do not like saying about things but that is the way it is, it is what we have, you look over the world, it is all over the world. apparently heeding the advice of his experts, who were absent from the stage, mr trump spoke enthusiastically about face masks even though he's been seen only once in public wearing one himself. i mean, i carry the mask. i went into walter reed hospital the other day, i have the mask right here. i carry it and i will use it gladly, no problem with it. and i have said that and i say, if you can, use the mask, when you can, use the mask, if you are close to each other, if you are in a group,

i would put it on, when i'm ina group. if i am in an elevator and there are other people with me, including, like, security people, it is not their fault, they have to be in the elevator, i want to protect them also. the change in rhetoric comes at a time when opinion polls suggest most americans disapprove of the way mr trump has dealt with the pandemic and, with the number of new covid—19 cases soaring in some southern and western states, the president seemed to go out of his way to hammer home his new message. peter bowes, bbc news. the president has been reluctant to wear a mask himself until recently, but now he is asking all americans to wear face coverings. cbs news correspondent laura podesta explains what prompted the changes. i think it's twofold. one, the gravity of the situation. we have increasing coronavirus numbers. the us is now approaching a coronavirus caseload of 4 million. and some predict that that number could actually be 13 times higher,

if you take into account all of the people that haven't been tested who have been asymptomatic throughout this. more than 141,000 americans have now died and the number of deaths in arizona, texas and florida yesterday, each state had more than 100. so i think that the president realised this is something he needs to address directly to the american public. so that's the first point i wanted to make. the second is that he has a new campaign manager, who i think is looking very closely at the polling in some of the red states that are now leaning toward presumptive democratic nominee joe biden and saying president trump really needs to get out in front of the cameras and show that he has a handle on the coronavirus because so many of these polls show that the american public don't believe that he cares or is listening to the right people, is listening to doctors, as we go through this. more than five million people in the australian city of melbourne will be required to wear a face

covering in public spaces, including outside, from today. the guidance has been made compulory after a surge in cases of coronavirus. victoria state, which includes melbourne, remains in partial lockdown. cases of coronavirus have been climbing steadily in recent weeks. our correspondent phil mercer has the details. if people don't wear those masks without good reason, there are various exemptions, they could face a fine of about $140. so the authorities in australia's second biggest city, it is a city of more than 5 million people, are expecting people to adhere to this face covering regulation. it is not necessarily the fact that people have to wear a surgical mask. there is official advice about making your own from old clothes and shopping bags. but the authorities do believe that the wearing of face coverings and face masks is a low—cost, high—reward tactic as the virus continues to spread in this country.

here in the uk, the government's revealed enforcement action has been taken at a quarter of textile firms inspected in leicesterfor health and safety breaches during lockdown. eight have been told they need to comply with covid—19 risk controls. spot checks were prioritised in the city as it's seen higher rates of infection than the rest of the uk. more businesses are reopening in scotland as further lockdown measures are eased. nail salons and beauticians can open and universities will be allowed to begin a phased return to campus. social distancing measures remain in place. care homes have, of course, seen some of the most worrying levels of coronavirus infections, so how can they be made safe for both staff and residents? this week, new guidelines for england will be published by the government so they can reopen their doors to visitors. the rules vary around the uk — at the moment residents are allowed visits outdoors in wales and scotland, and in northern ireland, care homes are open,

but visits are restricted to one at a time. andy moore reports. hello! hi, mum! some care homes have gone to enormous lengths to make sure their residents can see theirfamilies. at this home in cheshire, they've created a special pod where loved ones are separated by a glass panel, but connected by intercom. onjuly 9, matt hancock said he would be issuing guidance within a few days on how care homes could reopen to visitors. but since then, there's been nothing. matt fleming used to see his mum in her nursing home on a daily basis, but because of coronavirus, he hasn't been able to visit her in months. when matt hancock made that announcement ten or 11 days ago, there was a real sort of sense of relief that finally we're going to get somewhere. and i'm going to be able to see mum after all this time, with the appropriate sort of ppe and the appropriate sort of health and safety measures put in place. but since then, there's

been complete silence. in wales, visits have been allowed to care homes the first ofjune, providing social distancing and hygiene procedures are followed. in scotland, homes that were virus—free for 28 days were able to accept visitors from july 3. and in northern ireland, homes that are virus—free can allow one person to visit, with a second person allowed where possible. in the absence of official guidance in england, many homes are making their own arrangements for safe visiting. care home providers say they need the promised guidelines immediately. once you have made a statement, you raise expectations for families, loved ones, and therefore, you have to have the follow—through. it's unfair for the providers, it's unfair for the families who are desperate to visit. so, the guidance needs to be published and it needs to be published at the earliest opportunity, because it's late.

the department of health and social care said it was doing everything possible to protect the elderly and vulnerable during the current pandemic. it said it would be setting out details shortly on how safe visiting in care homes could resume. andy moore, bbc news. let's get more reaction now to the report into alleged russian interference in british politics. it criticised intelligence agencies for not investigating claims that moscow meddled in the brexit referendum. ava leejoins me now — she leads the campaign against digital threats to democracy at the think tank global witness. fort is your response to what the government has said in response to the russia report, talking about the security services being given more powers, a new law requiring foreign

agents to register in the uk?|j agents to register in the uk?” think the report itself is incredibly strong and, you know, it is pretty amazing that it is saying so is pretty amazing that it is saying so explicitly that successive uk governments have been running out the red carpets to oligarchs for far too long. and i think the governments responses have not been as strong as they could have been. there are a number of things that boris johnson's there are a number of things that borisjohnson's government there are a number of things that boris johnson's government should there are a number of things that borisjohnson's government should be doing to tackle the amount of money coming in from russia, which is having so much influence on the uk as this report exposes. three things that have been promised by this government and by successive conservative governments includes ending anonymous companies, both in the uk and in the uk's overseas territories, places like the british virgin islands, which is where a huge amount of dark money is coming in from russia and then into london and getting laundered along the way. they also need to bring turns fancy to the property market, so for years

and years we have seen stories —— transparency. we have seen people not having to reveal where they are when they purchase huge parts of london, oligarchs. there is a property register that is completely ready to go that the government needs to say yes on and introduce. and finally, the report also talks about what it calls golden visas which allows people to buy citizenship and residency into this country, and they are not transparent enough. there are not enough checks done, and we know that lots of people come into the uk this way. so transparency, absolutely, which we have heard many voices calling for in the wake of the publication of this report. your focus is on digital threats. and looking at how many threats to democracy, whatever countries you are talking about, come from

cyberspace, the rules of engagement we are talking about when it comes to cyber warfare are completely different. do you think the uk government and other governments have really got a handle on what those rules of engagement should be with those sorts of threats effectively? absolutely not. the report is also very clear about that. it says that our electoral rules, for example, not fit for the digital age and i do not think any government has a handle on it. the reality is there are huge unaccountable digital platforms now and no government yet has been brave enough to really hold them to account and to try and regulate them. hopefully, this will give the uk government the nudge needs to really push the likes facebook to start stopping interference coming m, start stopping interference coming in, particularly around elections but all types of politicised issues. we arejust

but all types of politicised issues. we are just welcoming viewers on bbc world rejoining us along with viewers, of course, on the bbc news channel. we are talking to ava who is digital threats campaign leader at the think tank global witness. you alluded a few minutes ago to how much, in this case, russian money is woven into british society through investments, through other forms of influence. unpicking that, how difficult is that going to be to give the sort of transparency that you have been talking about that you are calling for? right now it would be really easy because organisations like eyes global witness have been exposing this for a long time. there are a number of bills that are really ready to go, so the property register, the registry of overseas entities is totally ready. itjust needs to be introduced in parliament. so it was in the queen's

speech last year and that would really start the property market in the uk -- really start the property market in the uk —— stop the uk property market been used as a piggy bank. we know that five times more money is coming from russia to the uk's tax havens than to the uk itself. so thatis havens than to the uk itself. so that is really the way that this money is moving. it is going to places like the british virgin islands in particular. theyjust need to move on and we need to see will basically. everything is there, the scrutiny has been done itjust needs to be introduced. thank you very much. digital threats campaign leaderfor very much. digital threats campaign leader for global witness. breaking news just coming into us. leader for global witness. breaking newsjust coming into us. we leader for global witness. breaking news just coming into us. we are hearing that the uk and the united states have agreed to, this is the quote, amend the anomaly that

allowed the alleged killer of harry dunn to claim diplomatic immunity. that is just come from the foreign secretary in a written statement. harry dunn of course the 19—year—old motorcyclist who died following a road accident on the 27th of august, last summer. he was riding his motorcycle in northamptonshire when there was a collision between the motorcycle and a car driven by a woman who claimed diplomatic immunity. they have said that the us and britain have agreed to amend the anomaly that allowed anne sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity. that news just coming into to claim diplomatic immunity. that newsjust coming into is in the to claim diplomatic immunity. that news just coming into is in the last few moments.

visitors travelling into the republic of ireland from a "green list" of 15 european countries, will no longer be required to quarantine for 14—days on their arrival. italy, greece and norway are among the countries on the approved list — as they currently have low coronavirus infection rates. passengers from britain and the united states will still be asked to restrict their movements for 14—days. the list of approved countries will be reviewed on a fortnightly basis. let's find out more about this with our ireland correspondent emma vardy. i believe this list is being reviewed on a fortnightly basis. tell us more about what the government in the republic of ireland is saying about the easing of restrictions for certain countries. well the way it was made this decision was... or lower, those with the kind of countries that made it onto the list. the key point is that great britain and the us are not on

there. so in practice that means that for people travelling from great britain to the republic of ireland they would be required to fill out a form, a passenger locate form at the airport or wherever they arrive and then to quarantine 14 days. but the big question that has been raised is how is this enforceable? because of course passengers from northern ireland, well, they don't need to fill out any kind of form in that way. so there is always a possibility you could travel from london to belfast and then travel south into the republic of ireland and how our authority is going to know where you have gone? is that this is the anomaly in this that people are saying look, how is it enforceable? although we have heard that you mightjust find although we have heard that you might just find yourself although we have heard that you mightjust find yourself not although we have heard that you might just find yourself not very welcome from locals in the republic of ireland. your accent might mean you stick out and people will ask, well, if you're from england, have you quarantined ? well, if you're from england, have you quarantined? but those of the rules and that is how it is supposed to be working in practice. of course there is a special exemption from people moving on the island of ireland on a whole. absolutely, no

restrictions from people moving from northern ireland south to the republic of ireland and vice versa. the republic of ireland is part of the common travel area with great britain, so there is some controversy britain, so there is some co ntrove rsy over britain, so there is some controversy over people from great britain not being allowed to travel to ireland without these kind of restrictions. but of course we know that the republic of ireland has a lwa ys that the republic of ireland has always taken a very cautious approach. it went into lockdown quite a lot ahead of the uk and the new teashop has said that he wants to ta ke new teashop has said that he wants to take this cautious approach. —— the irish leader has said they want to ta ke the irish leader has said they want to take a cautious approach. there are other countries like portugal have made it onto ilan's green list. the central workers can travel but holiday—makers would need to abide by these quarantine rules. and the government has had actually we don't wa nt government has had actually we don't want anybody to be travelling anyway, central travel only still applies, that is the advice. and

they're calling for people from the republic of ireland to holiday at home. ok, emma, thank you very much. the metropolitan police commissioner says the "knee on the neck is not a technique that is trained" to police officers in this country. cressida dick was responding to a question from a member of the public on an lbc radio phone—in. it was about footage that emerged last week, which appeared to show a police officer kneeling on a man's neck in islington, north london. the techniques that you saw and not taught in training. and what i can say is taught in training is to a lwa ys say is taught in training is to always be very alert to, you know, the head is a very vulnerable part of the body. and the neck and the airway is absently fundamental. so you will often see maybe two officers detaining somebody on the ground and another officer will be right down near the head, keeping the head safe, making sure the airways free. and they are taught of

course as soon as airways free. and they are taught of course as soon as somebody is, if you like, behaving or under control, to get them sitting up so that the airway is as free as possible. you are not going to that kneeling on somebody‘s neck. are not going to that kneeling on somebody's neck. that to rephrase the chokehold, that is not in training and the need on the neck is not of course a technique that is trained. it can be an effective way to make homes warmer, cut energy bills and tackle carbon emissions, but home insulation does't always go to plan. in britain, more than 13 million homes have what's called cavity wall insulation and for those living in fuel poverty, the work was done forfree. but in around 800,000 cases it's believed to be faulty, and that can lead to damp and mould and have a detrimental effect on health. zoe conway reports on the struggle many homeowners have faced to get help. her report was filmed before the introduction of social distancing. as you can see there is black mould and spores here. this is dangerous to anybody‘s hell.

and spores here. this is dangerous to anybody's hell. gavin's house in bridgend is so riddled with mould that the council says it is uninhabitable. he and his family had to move out to and half years ago. emotionally, what can be worse than the feeling that you have failed your trial. homes built after the 19205 your trial. homes built after the 1920s have a gap between the exterior wall and the wall known as a cavity. insulation started to be addedin a cavity. insulation started to be added in the 1970s. it can be wall, beads of foam and is injected into the break. before insulation is installed , the break. before insulation is installed, the cavity must be com pletely installed, the cavity must be completely clear of debris. but all too often, installers haven't bothered to check. you are seeing debris at the base of the cavity. once you have installed the insulation, that insulation and the rubble will cause a bridge and it will cause damp and iteration from the outside into the inside. gavin has spent three years trying to get the company that did the work to fix

his house. but gavin won't get a penny off them. because like so many insulation companies, it has gone bust. we have been fighting these cases per year upon year. they know what it can cause yet they are allowing families to stay in conditions like this. the work was guaranteed by the cavity insulation guaranty agency. they have admitted the insulation should never have been installed. they have offered to extra ct been installed. they have offered to extract it but not pay the £60,000 repair bill. they argue the house has been poorly maintained and say gavin to go to arbitration to resolve the issue. campaigners and some mps say that it is not fit for purpose. how can it call itself independent and say it is standing up independent and say it is standing upfor independent and say it is standing up for the consumer, they ask, when its governing body is almost entirely made up of the industry. in a statement, it says that it is now dealing with more than 3000 claims

per year. they say they have got independent advisers on their board and they now carry out physical inspections on 5% of all installations. in just inspections on 5% of all installations. injust a inspections on 5% of all installations. in just a few weeks's time another government green energy scheme will be under way. ministers say that installers will have to meet high and stringent standards, ensuring consumer protection. but what campaigners also want to know is what they plan to do to help all the people whose insulation has failed. sorry conway, bbc news. we can speak now to darrenjones, the labour chair of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee. first of all on the issue of homeowners who have been left in the situation as we saw in the report where the insulation clearly wasn't fitted properly, what mechanism for

compensation is there? well, the issue here is about the enforcement of consumer law and making sure that importers have the powers to take action but also get adequate compensation for consumers who have suffered as a result of poor standards or shoddy work. what i have been calling on ministers to do this week before the introduction of the vouchers in september is to ensure that regulators are given the proper powers and capacity. as well as giving the consumer is the right information at every point in the process from when they ordered the voucher to when the work is signed off, to ensure that complaints can be handled in a quick and transparent way in giving consumers the confidence that if things do go wrong, compensation will be made available to them. you mention the introduction of the green homes gra nts introduction of the green homes grants from the government in september, vouchers up to £5,000 worth of vouchers to be issued to homeowners to make them more energy—efficient, this is in england. with the launch of that

scheme, do you have any concerns about future issues with the quality of the work? well, we welcome the scheme because insulating our buildings and homes is a really important priority for our targets and it's a good fiscal stimulus for the economy when we have the obvious struggle as a consequence of the pandemic. but we have said to the government they need to have a standard scheme so that only suppliers who meet government standards are able to provide services in return for the money thatis services in return for the money that is spent through the vouchers. we see no reason why the government can't ensure this happens in time for september. the important point though is that the kind of shoddy traders are a minority of traders but they can lead to absolute devastating circumstances for consumers like you have shown in your story today. we need to give people the confidence to insulate the homes because it is important and confidence comes from knowing that the government has got consumers's back if things go wrong. i see no reason why it can't be

sorted before september. the legislation is in place, we have the consumer rights act which provides the right legal covers. in my view it is just the right legal covers. in my view it isjust a the right legal covers. in my view it is just a matter of enforcing it in this particular project. i think the government can get on and do that this summer. ok, darren jones, chair of the house of commons strategy, thank you for your time. britain's department for energy, business and industrial strategy gave us this comment: the uk housing secretary robert jenrick has defended his actions over a controversial planning application in east london. mrjenrick had approved plans for 1,500 homes at the westferry print works site, which was later rescinded the day before a local infrastructure levy would have added tens of millions

of pounds to the cost of the project. the developer, richard desmond had exchanged texts with the minister relating to the planning decision. speaking to the house of commons housing and local government committee, mrjenrick denied trying to rush through the decision. this is an application that was made in 2018 to tower hamlets council. they then spent many months in which they could have made the decision. for whatever reason and, you know, we can all impude motive here, they chose not to make the decision. they even cancelled meetings of the committee that could have progressed this application, on the grounds that they had no business to discuss. clearly that is a surprising choice of words when there was a very important application lying before them. it was a direct result of their failure to progress the application that it eventually came to the department. there was then the planning inspector's inquiry report and it

came to a decision for a minister. so i think it's a perfectly fair decision to try and get this done one way or another before the charge came in. who that benefits is of no interest to me. you know, i'm not interested in the personal finances of the applicant. i'm interested in making a fair decision on the basis of the fact before a material change in circumstances occurs. that is the rule of law, that's naturaljustice and that's the role of the secretary of state. doctors in pakistan say they face intimidation and threats from patients and their families as they struggle to contain the spread of coronavirus. health workers say people are hiding covid—19 symptoms, fearing they'll be stigmatised. others claim the virus is fake and that doctors are killing patients. bbc urdu's farhatjaved gained access to the icu of the main covid hospital in islamabad to meet

doctors who are at breaking point. alarm bleeps doctors here say they are notjust having to fight the virus but an information war as well. they have to convince people coronavirus is real and that they should trust them. some people are saying it's a hoax, it's a conspiracy theory by the developing world to control the population and doctors are acting like an agent of those agencies. so this was very hurting for us. a survery suggests that one in five pakistanis believe the virus has deliberate been spread by foreign powers. and half of those surveyed say the threat has been exaggerated. thelma thought the virus was nothing

to worry about until she caught it. people must take it seriously, she tells us. critics say the government has failed to convert conspiracy theories with a clear health message and doctors here say violent threats from confused families desperate to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones who can't be released due to coronavirus protocols. they were using abusive language for us. they were threatening the whole team that, "we'll come and murder you one day " and even one of the patients, clearly threatening all of us that, "i will go out and i will break the legs of one of you." threats like this are pushing some doctors to breaking point. translation: one woman accused me of killing her mother who died of coronavirus.

i was so disappointed and hurt that i thought i should just quit. ourjob is thankless and i can't save people. i became a doctor to help people but i can't do it. doctors are warning the upcoming religious festivals where thousands are expected to gather in mosques will put more pressure on the struggling health system. animal rights campaigners are asking the south korean president for help to save hundreds of the country's caged moon bears. more than 400 bears are being kept on farms across the country. they‘ re bears are being kept on farms across the country. they're waiting to be killed for their parts which some people use as medicine. our correspondent has this report and you may find some of the scenes upsetting. distressed, she rocks from side to side. she is not known

life beyond these rusty bars. over 120 moon bears are crammed in filthy cages on this farm. some are missing limbs and fur. all are just waiting to die. translation: i started the farm to sell bear bile. back then that used to sell so well but now no one wants to buy it. this distressing footage shows a bear being killed for its bile. it is legal in south korea as long as the bear is over ten years old. the fluid is used for a number of health problems from hangovers to heart disease but demand has collapsed and farmers have no funds to feed the bears. these ones are fed on leftover doughnuts from the crispy cream factory. translation: this

farm has the most of all in south korea so we anticipated it would be in poor condition but it is actually a lot worse than what we expected. campaigners are pushing the government to provide a sanctuary for over 400 of korea's forgotten moon bears and close down these farms. translation: we need to stop this wrong farming culture, especially in this time of coronavirus when it is important to put distance between wildlife and humans. the smell of the bear done thatis humans. the smell of the bear done that is piled up underneath these cages is really overwhelming. and we are told that sometimes these bears will fight one another, injure one another and often they are just left to die. moon bears are not meant to be in cages together. they are solitary animals. this is what a happy moon bear looks like. this is

a two—year—old in a national park in the mountains. bear bile was once so sought—after that these bears was ca ptu red sought—after that these bears was captured and killed to near extinction. but dozens have now been reintroduced to the wild. including this mother and her cubs, spotted on hidden cameras. it is not possible to re—wild the over 400 caged bears in this country but campaigners are trying to make some of them more co mforta ble trying to make some of them more comfortable in the hope that one day they will have more freedom. laura baker, bbc news. let's get more reaction to our main story that britain's labour party has issued an "unreserved apology" to a journalist who investigated alleged anti—semitism in the party for bbc panorama and to seven whistleblowers who appeared on the programme. it also agreed to pay "substantial damages" for making "defamatory and false allegations" against those involved. let's speak to the national chair

for the jewish labour movement — mike katz. mike, thank you very much for joining us today. your reaction to all of this. well we are pleased that the labour party has decided to settle with the documentary maker and with the whistle blows. frankly this day should never have come. it isa this day should never have come. it is a tragedy of the labour party, of all parties that it has decided it is the best way to react to whistle—blowers calling out racism that the labour party should have pursued these people through the courts rather than listen to what they have to say and work out there isa they have to say and work out there is a real problem. so i am really pleased this day has come. len mccluskey the general secretary of the unite union has reacted in the last few minutes saying today's settle m e nt last few minutes saying today's settlement is a misuse of labour party funds to settle the case it was advised we would win in court, he has said on twitter. how do you

react to that? i think it is great misuse of funds. despite publicly opposing, spent lots of members's money on expensive lawyers to pursue these whistle—blowers and other members to silence them. that is the real misuse of labour party members's money. i think it is fair to reflect on this that the party we now know is in possession of the d raft now know is in possession of the draft report into anti—semitism in the labour party. so it is really highly unlikely the party would settle with whistle—blowers if they thought the whistle—blowers had no case what they had said on the programme and indeed to the hrc was without any merit or basis or foundation. so i think len should really focus on that, work out why the party is gone this way and help to rebuild with thejewish

community. just finally and briefly, how much does this restore trust amongst members of thejewish community in the labour party? and does it draw a line or is it a step towards drawing a line and all of this? it's a step towards it. keir starmer was very strong from the outset that he wanted to rebuild trust. we will see what the report has to say and we will see how the party reacts to it. but all we have ever wa nted party reacts to it. but all we have ever wanted to see is actions as well as words. and we have seen yet again from the labour party more action and that can only be a good thing. and a sign that we are hopefully on the road to recovery and a rotary building trust between the labour party and thejewish community. it's just a shame that we have had the last five years of denial and of clear racism within the party. ok, the national chair

for the jewish labour movement. thank you very much for your thoughts on the development today. you're watching bbc news. in the next few minutes borisjohnson is to face his last prime minister's questions before the summer recesss. our assistant political editor, norman smith is at westminster. i'd be surprised if what has been happening in the courts today didn't come up at pm cues and indeed the russian report as well. so a lot to talk about at this final one before the summer break. i think the two might well come up. from keir starmer‘s point of view he'll quite welcome mat for this reason that the decision to apologise in the courts was obviously designed as a sort of break with the jeremy corbyn years. but i think we hear keir starmer on

russia he will adopt a very different tone to bat that we have become accustomed to from jeremy corbyn. again to seeking to highlight the change of management in the labour party. so it is quite possible that keir starmer might wa nt to possible that keir starmer might want to focus on that russia report. also because i suspect the argument he will make is that what the report uncovered was, if you like, a casual approach by the borisjohnson government, a lack of grip, a lack of seriousness, a lack of readiness to listen to the experts about the scale and nature of the russia threat. and that's been a sort of co nsta nt threat. and that's been a sort of constant theme of keir starmer‘s criticism of borisjohnson. he may of course go back to covid—19 because i think the vast bulk of questions that have been asked to premises questioned's is covid—19 because it is absolutely dominated

our lives for the last few months. there are two elements of the past week that he may want to pick over. the suggestion we got from last week, the confirmation was that there maybe an enquiry. he pressed borisjohnson onto the nature of that inquiry and how independent it will be in its remit. and then of course on friday we had boris johnson's statement when he said things will be returning to normal by christmas and encouraging people back to work from august the 1st. so again, so keir starmer may choose to pick up on some of those themes. i will be surprised if he went into the detail about how much detail was behind mrjohnson's plans. norman, thank you very much. norman smith there. just before 23 let's have a look at the weather.

we have got someone weather across southern areas, a good chunk of the uk with cloudy outbreaks of rain but something a little bit drier and brighter across the final to scotland. the radar picture shows you where the heaviest rain has been, vertically northern ireland and scotland but we have seen some wet weather as well for north wales getting into the north midlands and that will continue to push its way eastward with time. rain at times for north wales, the north midlands and northern england. generally the rain will turn light as we head into the afternoon and it may well be dry for a time the afternoon and it may well be dry fora time in the afternoon and it may well be dry for a time in northern ireland. often pretty cloudy, sunshine for the far north of scotland and in the sunshine in the south 25 degrees in london, that will feel pretty one. overnight tonight it stays pretty cloudy with further pulses of rain, turning quite murky as well with mist and fog patches forming around them coastal hills but it will be a mild night with temperatures 12 to 14 degrees.

this is bbc news. the headlines... britain's labour party apologises and agrees to pay substantial damages to a group of former employees who'd criticised the party's handling of anti—semitism complaints. questions for the uk government about russian interference after a highly critcal report says the risk was badly underestimated. ministers says they're looking at new security laws. the world health organisation rejects claims by us secretary of state mike pompeo that the body had been "bought" by china. how to visit relatives in care homes safely — updated guidance for england is to be published this week.

let's cross to the house of common where prime minister's questions are getting underway. for everybody involved in this huge effort. mr speaker, under my leadership, national security will a lwa ys leadership, national security will always be a top priority for labour. i want to ask the premise about an extremely serious report from the intelligence and security committee. it concludes that russia poses an immediate and urgent threat to our national security and is engaged in a range of activities that include espionage, interfering in democratic processes and serious crime. the prime minister received that reports ten months ago. given that the threat is described as immediate and urgent, why and earth did the prime ministers sit on that report for so

long? mr speaker, when i was foreign secretary for the period that i have beenin secretary for the period that i have been in office, we have been taking the strongest possible action against russian wrongdoing, orchestrating, i seem to remember, the expulsion of 130 russian diplomats around the world, well be right honourable gentleman opposite sat on his hands and said nothing while the labour party parroted the line of the kremlin when people of this country were poisoned at the orders. mr speaker, i stood up and condemned what happened in salisbury andi condemned what happened in salisbury and i supported the then prime minister on record. i ask the prime minister on record. i ask the prime minister to check the record and withdraw that. i was buried there. the report was very clear that until recently, the government has badly underestimated the russian threat and the response that it has required. it is still playing catch

up. the government has taken its eye off the ball. arguably, it was not even on the pitch. how does the prime minister explain this? mr speaker, i think the right honourable gentleman plasma questions are absolutely absurd. there is no country in the western world that is more vigilant in protecting this country or the international community from russian interference and we are going further now, introducing new legislation to protect critical national infrastructure and to protect our intellectual property. and i think he will find, if he goes to any international body or any gathering around the world, it is the uk that leads the world in caution about russian interference. ido caution about russian interference. i do not wish to contradict the right honourable gentleman, but there leader of the opposition pa rroted there leader of the opposition parroted the line of the common... identity of him criticised the then leader of the opposition. if you had

criticised the then leader of the opposition, now is the time for him to set the record straight. mr speaker, i was absolutely clear in condemning what happened in salisbury, not least because i was involved in bringing proceedings against russia on behalf of the family. that is why i was so strong about it. and mr speaker, i spent five years as director of public prosecutions, working on live operations with the security and intelligence services, so i am not going to take lectures from the prime minister about national security. i think summary wants to go security. i think summary wants to go for a security. i think summary wants to go fora cup security. i think summary wants to go for a cup of tea. keir starmer. mr speaker, the prime minister said he would bring forward new legislation. i want to make it clear that we will support that legislation and work with the government. it is not before time, 18 months ago, the prime minister said the government is vigilant for

18 months ago, they said they do not have all the power is yet to tackle the russian threat. ib legislation is being passed in that 18 month period? this is about national security. why has the government delayed so long in bringing forward this legislation? mr speaker, this government is bringing forward legislation, not only a new espionage act and new laws to protect against the theft of our intellectual property, but also an act directly to counter individuals in russia or elsewhere who tra nsg ress in russia or elsewhere who tra nsgress human rights. in russia or elsewhere who transgress human rights. this is really about pressure from the remainder is to have seized on this report to try to give the impression that russian interference was somehow responsible for brexit. that is what this is all about. that people of this country didn't vote to leave the eu because of pressure

from russia russian interference. they voted because they wanted to ta ke they voted because they wanted to take back control of our money, trade policy and our laws. after campaigning for remain, after wanting to overturn the people's referendum day in, day out, in the period when he was sitting on the labour front bench, he simply cannot bring himself to accept that. can i just gently say to the prime minister as just gently say to the prime ministerasl just gently say to the prime ministeras i did just gently say to the prime minister as i did last time, he may have to go to specsavers. the chair is this way, not that way. if you can address this way.” is this way, not that way. if you can address this way. i see the prime minister is already on his preprepared lines. this is a serious question of national security. the prime minister sat on this report for ten months and failed to plug a gap in ourlower for ten months and failed to plug a gap in our lower national security for a year gap in our lower national security fora yearand a gap in our lower national security for a year and a half. mr speaker, one of the starkest conclusions in the report is that the uk is clearly a target for russian disinformation campaigns. it also highlights that this is being let with a fragmented

response across whitehall and government. the response is a hot potato, with no one organisation representing itself as having the overall lead. that is a serious gap in our defences. it is about responsibility, prime minister. so how is the prime minister going to address that gap and make sure the uk meets that threat with a joined up, robust response? mr speaker, there is no other government in the world that takes more robust steps to protect our democracy, to protect critical national infrastructure and to protect our intellectual property, as i have said, by interference from russia or anybody else. frankly, ithink interference from russia or anybody else. frankly, i think that everybody understands that these criticisms are motivated by a desire to undermine the referendum on the european union that took place in 2016, the result of which he simply cannot bring himself to accept.

serious gap in our official secrets act. laying bare for 18 months, that is all the prime minister has to say about it. one way the government can seek to clamp down on russian influence is to prevent the spread of kremlin backed disinformation. social media companies have a big role to play, but the report also highlights serious distortions in the cupboards by russia, state—owned broadcasters. broadcasts pose actual and potential harm. the supreme minister agree with me that it is time to look again at the licensing for russia today is to operate in the uk? i think this would come more credibly from the leader of the opposition had he called out that the former leader of the opposition took money for appearing on russia today. he protested neither against the former leader of the opposition's stance on salisbury, nor against his willingness to take

money from russia today. he flip flops from day—to—day. one day, he is in favour of staying in the eu. the next day he is willing to accept brexit. the leader of the opposition has more flip—flops than a bournemouth beach. thank you, mr speaker. last week, the party opposite bravely abstained on a vote that attempted to tie us into the eu indefinitely, for the highlighting the increasing detachment of labour from the old heartlands like... can my honourable friend confirm that we on this side of the house are fully committed to delivering our promises to the british people and restoring ourfull to the british people and restoring our full economic independence on the 1st of january so that people across the valley get the level up that we so deserve? mr speaker, i certainly can give my honourable friend that assurance. that is what the people voted for, and that is what we will deliver. we will bank

your time aback for one more question. keir starmer. —— bring keir starmer back. this is the economist who wrote two versions of every article ever published. —— columnist. the labour party is under new management. no frontbencher of this party has appeared on russia today since i have been leader of this party. finally, mr speaker, i wa nt to this party. finally, mr speaker, i want to ask about the appalling persecution of muslims in china. we have all seen the footage of them being herded onto trains unheard of forced sterilisation, murder and imprisonment. no strong condemnation

for —— further strong condemnation for —— further strong condemnation for china, will the prime minister in the day concerted effort with international partners to make clear that this will not be allowed to stand in the 21st—century? that this will not be allowed to stand in the 21st-century? that is why the foreign secretary only this week condemns the treatment. that is why this government, for the first time, has brought in targeted sanctions against those who abuse human rights. i am delighted he now supports the government, but last week he did not support the government. i am glad he is with us this week. i do not know how questions he has got to come back and ask throughout this session. we have been getting on consistently with delivering on our agenda. one year ago, this was a leader of the opposition who was supporting an anti—semitism condoning labour government you wanted to repeal

brexit. 14 new hospitals, 20,000 more police, 50,000 new nurses, and by the way, we have already recruited 12,000 more nurses and 6000 more doctors and 4000 more police. we are delivering on the people's priorities. we are the people's priorities. we are the people's government. we had a government that supports the workers of this country as well, with the biggest ever increase in the living wage. we are heading up to scotland to visit the snp leader. yesterday, the tory party held a political cabinet... with a panic about apparently, great strategy amounts to more uk cabinet ministers coming to more uk cabinet ministers coming to scotland. can i tell the prime minister, the more scotland seas of

this uk government, the more convinced they are of the need of scotla nd convinced they are of the need of scotland independence. the fire better plan of the tories would be to listen to the will of the scottish people. before his visit tomorrow, will be prime minister call a halt to the government's full frontal attack on devolution? mr speaker, i really don't know what the right honourable gentleman is talking about. the only bill i can think of that is before the house or will be coming before the house, i know he, enjoys cross—party support, is the uk internal market bill. i know that is a massively devolutionary bill which gives huge powers straight back from brussels to scotland, and its principal purposeis to scotland, and its principal purpose is to protectjobs and protect growth throughout the entire united kingdom to stop pointless barriers of trade between all four parts of our country, and anybody sensible would support it. anybody

sensible, mr speaker, would realise from that answer that the prime minister simply does not get scotland. in 2014, the people of scotla nd scotland. in 2014, the people of scotland were promised devolution max. nearfederalism, the most powerful devolved parliament in the world, and instead, we got a tory trade bill that threatens our nhs. and immigration bill that will devastate our economy. a power grab that will dismantle the revolution. scotland's powers grabbed by westminster. worker's rights attacked. the rates close and the bedroom tax. the nhs up for sale. it's mps and people oppose all these measures. how can the prime minister claim that this is a union of equal partners when these damaging policies will all be imposed upon scotla nd policies will all be imposed upon scotland against its will?”

policies will all be imposed upon scotland against its will? i mean, i wouldn't hesitate to accuse the honourable gentleman for failing to listen to my last answer, but the uk internal market bill is massively devolutionary, mr speaker. powers passed from a —— from brussels to scotland. just on a political level, it seems bizarre to me that the scottish nationalist party actually wa nt to scottish nationalist party actually want to reverse that process, hand those powers back to unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats in brussels. is that really the policy? ido brussels. is that really the policy? i do not think that is sensible.” welcome the health secretary's for a review into the report of grain of that's. i raised this with a statistician. he said the numbers themselves would not change the policy, but would he agree that two

numbers would improve confidence in policy. also, the difference between those dying of and with covid—19 is a key to understanding this disease? my a key to understanding this disease? my honourable friend makes an extremely important point, and as i have said repeatedly at this dispatch box, it is very important that we wait until the conclusion of this epidemic and have a proper statistical assessment of where we are. that, ithink, is the statistical assessment of where we are. that, i think, is the course that i would recommend to him. mr speaker, i was the first member of this has to raise concerns about russian interference in our democracy for years ago. by blocking the publication of the russia report before the election on the grounds of the grounds that a committee said we re of the grounds that a committee said were spurious and then 26 new committee, it is clear that this prime minister has knowingly put his own party interests before the

national interests of our country. no, mr speaker, and that is a lamentable way of looking at it and a lamentable question because if he thought that there was genuinely something in the reports that showed that, for instance, the brexit referendum had been undermined by russia, he would now be saying that doesn't appear. what you have here, andi doesn't appear. what you have here, and i have told the house several times, the rage and fury of the remainder elite finding that there is, in fact, remainder elite finding that there is, infact, nothing in this remainder elite finding that there is, in fact, nothing in this report, no smoking gun whatsoever after all that fiori. suddenly, all those who wa nt to that fiori. suddenly, all those who want to remain in the eu find that there is no argument to stand on. i regret that they should simply move on. i visited nine schools in peterborough in recent weeks. head

teachers and, of course, support staff are doing brilliant work facilitating online learning and looking after vulnerable families. but their huge effort is no substitute for a classroom learning. does the prime minister agree with me that it is absolutely vital that we get children back where they belong in the classroom from september? i do indeed agree with that, mr speaker. it will be a fantastic thing to hear in the labour party stand up to their friends in the unions and issue the same instructions. i think that would be a wonderful thing. the social market foundation report identified hull as the area facing the worst economic hit and the slowest recovery to covid—19. i have stood here in this place and called on the government for support to the ca rava n on the government for support to the caravan manufacturing, hull city council excluded entrepreneurs... government fails to address the

gravity of the situation hull faces. the government needs to recognise that you cannot level up by shutting down, so what you support will he give to preventjob losses here? down, so what you support will he give to prevent job losses here? mr speaker, we have already given the east riding of are over 21 million to deal with the pressures of coronavirus. we have supported 90% of ca rava n coronavirus. we have supported 90% of caravan manufacturers, who she rightly supports with the furlough scheme. we have the kick starter and thejob retention scheme. we have the kick starter and the job retention bonus scheme. we have the kick starter and thejob retention bonus scheme scheme. we have the kick starter and the job retention bonus scheme to retain people in theirjobs as part ofa retain people in theirjobs as part of a massive package, £640 billion overall to get our country moving again and make sure that we bounce back stronger than ever before. schools in buckinghamshire have done a tremendousjob in recent months,

balancing online learning with physical classes for the children of key workers. will my right honourable friend join me in thanking the teachers of the constituency, and will you also agree with me that it is right to have increased funding for schools, providing more money for all peoples and giving them the best prospects for future? and giving them the best prospects forfuture? iam proud and giving them the best prospects forfuture? i am proud that and giving them the best prospects for future? i am proud that we have fulfilled our promise, our manifesto promise, and we are levelling up schools across the country so that every primary school pupil receives the money. i pay tribute to all the teachers and all the schools in his constituency for the excellent work that they have done in the last few months. mr speaker, face coverings will become a mandatory on public transport in wales on monday. vat meeting has been applied to ppe, but at present does not apply to non—medicalface at present does not apply to non—medical face coverings. will the prime minister extend the zero

rating to these items that members of the public, especially those on low incomes, are not penalised for following the rules? as the honourable gentleman knows, and i think in very much for his question, we have removed vat from all ppe, including on facemasks which, as everybody knows, can protect from infection, and that will remove the burden on vat incurred homes, nhs trusts and key workers. for home—made facemasks, those which meet the guidance will be covered and will continue to be covered by the zero rate, but i am happy to ask the zero rate, but i am happy to ask the relevant minister to write to him on the position. friday is the first anniversary of my right honourable friend becoming prime minister and over the last 12 months, his focus on record funding for the nhs boosted funding for every school child in england, and also great progress in recruiting

more police officers, it has all enabled us to start to address some of the ingrained regional inequalities that we have in our country. my right honourable friend ensure that the levelling up remains central to his vision for our country for every single year of his premiership? i thank my right honourable friend, and i can absolutely give her that guarantee that, in the current circumstances, now is the time to double down on levelling up, and that is what we are going to do. that is why we're rolling out a colossal programme of investment and infrastructure, massive investments in our public services and fantastic new technology. that is the way to give every pa rt technology. that is the way to give every part of our country the opportunity to its potential. on the 10th ofjuly, the prime minister nets bethany during people's premise questions. talking about the direction of maternity leave during

covid—19. the prime minister understood the significant ramifications lockdown has had on mothers and parents who have missed out on childcare support, health visitor access, the availability of building bonds with family members and the community. has the premise for considering the petition and can he give an indication of when the government will respond to the necessary request to get the precious time back for mothers and families? . i remember bethany and her question, and i know how difficult this problem is for many people, and i can certainly commit to him to look at it in detail and see what we can do and i will write back to her. my right honourable friend knows better than most that covid—19 has an unequal impact on

the bame community, on the elderly, on men and indeed, on the overweight. can he please update the house on the steps being taken across government to empower people, away from fat shaming and an overreliance on bmi, and let us know what he is doing to enable people to ta ke what he is doing to enable people to take back control of their own well—being? take back control of their own well-being? i thank the honourable friend for the extreme attacked with which she expressed a question. there are significant comorbidities associated with covid—19, and we do need, as a country, to address obesity and the sad fact that we are, iam obesity and the sad fact that we are, i am afraid, considerably fatter than most european nations. we will be announcing a strategy to help. we will be bringing forward a

strategy which i hope will conform with my right honourable friend's ideas. i don't know if the payments has had the chance yet to read the report commissioned by the minister of housing into the standard of homes delivered under committed development. that report found properties with no windows. three quarters of the properties didn't meet the national space standards, andi meet the national space standards, and i quit the report, studio flats of just and i quit the report, studio flats ofjust 16 square and i quit the report, studio flats of just 16 square metres and i quit the report, studio flats ofjust 16 square metres were found ina number of ofjust 16 square metres were found in a number of schemes. to put it in context, 16 square metres isjust about the size of the base of the ministerial limousine which he gets driven around in each day. we'll be prime minister now change the rules and ensure that in future, we never again allow properties to be built, slums to be built, where people are asked to live in a space which is as

small as his ministerial car.” asked to live in a space which is as small as his ministerial car. i was plywood when i was the mayor of london to change the plans —— i was proud. give people the space they need to live and grow in the homes that we build. as the prime minister ta kes a that we build. as the prime minister takes a well earned staycation, will my right honourable friend mind if i suggest some holiday reading's how innovation works will give new ideas in how we recover from innovation works will give new ideas in how we recoverfrom covid—19. the happiness of blonde people by my dearfriend who happiness of blonde people by my dear friend who writes about our stories of immigration and the fragility of belonging. finally, as the mp for the hundred acre word, it is never too early to read this

winnie the pooh to your son, you sage advice. i think that is wonderful advice, which i will take to heart, and i look forward to joining herfor a to heart, and i look forward to joining her for a game to heart, and i look forward to joining herfor a game in the hundred acre wood. wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if the opposition party abandons the spirit of eeyore which seems to envelop them. tonight, i will be supporting luton town fc who are fighting for their life any tapping ship. although businesses in a luton town are not doing the same. if luton needs to go back into lockdown, with the government introduced targeted financial support so local government can afford to adhere to? i thank the local authorities in luton. people are working very hard

to ensure that they contain the epidemic in luton. as local authorities are doing around the country. we are supporting them, as she knows, with £3.7 billion of investment, as well as the £600 million for the infection fund and a further 300 million to support local track and trace. if local communities do have to go back into lockdown, we will take steps to support them as well.” lockdown, we will take steps to support them as well. i am in wholehearted support of this government's planner to build, build, build. whilst it is important that we build more affordable homes, this cannot come at the expense of our beautiful countryside. can be prime minister tell me how the government will balance the obligation local authorities have to build housing under local plans with protection for the green belts? of

course, mr speaker, and i thank my honourable friend for his question. it allows me to point out that there is massive opportunity to build back better on brownfield sites. that is what we should prioritise, and that is certainly what we will be telling our local authorities. let's head to scotland. the deputy snp leader. parliament will return after the summer recess to what the manufacturing group describes as a jobs bloodbath when the chancellor and the fellow scheme. we can see the impact on jobs over the and the fellow scheme. we can see the impact onjobs over the horizon. what will the prime minister do to support strategic sectors and prevent unemployment reaching 1980s levels ? prevent unemployment reaching 1980s levels? mr speaker, what we are doing already, and she knows about

thejob retention doing already, and she knows about the job retention scheme doing already, and she knows about thejob retention scheme the bonus to employers to keep furloughed workers on. the vat cut, and many other things that we have done on top of the £160 billion we have invested in incomes and injobs, livelihoods, throughout this crisis. but of course, mr speaker, we will continue to do more as the economic ramifications of covid—19 unfold. of course we are preparing for that. as the chancellor has said, we cannot protect every job. we the chancellor has said, we cannot protect everyjob. we must be clear with the country. we cannot protect everyjob, but with the country. we cannot protect every job, but nobody with the country. we cannot protect everyjob, but nobody will be left without hope. nobody will be left without hope. nobody will be left without opportunity and this country will bounce back stronger than ever before. mike constituency was recently but first in the best coastal

destinations in the my right honourable friend confirmed that the government is looking at further financial measures to help the coastal towns that have been hardest hit in the time of need? yes, indeed ican, mrspeaker. hit in the time of need? yes, indeed ican, mr speaker. i hit in the time of need? yes, indeed i can, mr speaker. ithank hit in the time of need? yes, indeed i can, mr speaker. i thank my honourable friend and i can tell her that we are funding hundred and 78 projects in the coastal communities fund and truro will receive at least £500,000 from the town's funds to support the high street and local community. as chair of the all-new parliamentary group on coronavirus we are leading a cross—party rapid enquiry to make sure that we have learned lesson of the uk government's handling of this crisis before a second way. we have had more than 900 submission so far including those from bereaved families and also professional bodies like the nhs confederation and the bma. we will be releasing

recommendations as we go along, simply asked that will the prime minister take these recommendations seriously with a view to acting on them when we come back in september? of course, i would be very happy to look at whatever her committee produces. order and a short statement to make on tuesday the 24th of march the house passed an order allowing for virtual participation in select committee meetings... so, with a question there relating to coronavirus the last prime minister's questions before the summer recess. we are expecting an urgent question pretty soon expecting an urgent question pretty soon from the shadow home secretary on the russia report. butjust to quickly recap, briefly recap on turn three. keir starmer began on the russian report, he asked the prime minister why, given the threat that was described in the threat as immediate and urgent did the government sit, to use his word, on the report for ten months? the prime minister responded saying, defending

britain's handling, the goodman's handling of all of this saying that criticism was motivated by keir starmer‘s desire to undermine the result of the eu referendum. it was quite acrimonious at times, wasn't it, quite testy at times. keir starmer talking about the prime minister's preprepared lines and the prime minister saying that the labour party was channelling the spirit of eeyore in its responses. as of that was the last pmq's before the summer recess. we are waiting for that urgent question on the russia report and we will come back to the house of commons as soon as that happens. but now let's look at the day's lead story because britain's labour party has apologised and agreed to pay substantial damages to seven whistle—blowers over defamatory and false allegations made following a bbc panorama investigation into anti—semitism.

the whistleblowers — who criticised the then leadership's handling of anti—semitic complaints — sued the party after it issued a press release describing them as having "personal and political axes to grind". the labour party also issued an unreserved apology tojohn ware — who investigated and presented the panorama programme "is labour anti—semitic?". earlier he told my colleague victoria derbyshire he very pleased at the outcome for the whistleblowers. their reputation was severely damaged by the labour party allegation that their criticisms of the way that the party was dealing with anti—semitism complaints and the general hostile climate was motivated by, quotes, disaffection rather than what they actually believed. so i'm delighted that their reputations have been restored today. it's a good day, a good day for justice. and do you have any idea what the substantial damages might amount to? what sort of figures are we talking?

well, i can't get into the figures but they meet the legal definition of substantial. in terms of the apology that the labour party has given to you, how do you, i mean, do you accept it? yes, i do. i think it is meant sincerely and that's the end of the matter, so far as i'm concerned, with the labour party. it's not the end of the matter for a number of other alternative media outlets and individuals because the labour party statement unfortunately sort of triggered a fusillade really of falsehoods that have continued on and off for the last year. and, you know, i know it is, well was, anyway, an unwritten code amongst we journalists that we don't sue because free speech is sacrosanct, as indeed it is. but, you know, the world has changed

thanks to social media and you either accept and shrug your shoulders when people call you a liar and say you fabricated evidence and deliberately promoted falsehoods, as the labour party did. or you do something about it. so i decided to do something about it. and obviously it's the labour party as it is now under sir keir starmer that is settling this and forwarding the apology but it was let's go back to the house of commons. mr speaker, this government will not tolerate any foreign interference in the running of our sovereign state. we have long recognised the threat posed by the russian state, including from conventional military capabilities, espionage, cyberattacks, covert interference and illicit finance. we have been clear that russia must desist from its attacks on the uk

and our allies. and we have been resolute in defending our country, our democracy and our values. and we categorically reject any suggestion that the uk actively avoided investigating russia. the uk has a record of taking strong action against russian wrongdoing. this is demonstrated by our responses to the salisbury attack, the ongoing illegal annexation of crimea and just last week the cyber attacks on research and development facilities in the us, uk and canada. our world —class in the us, uk and canada. our world—class intelligence and security agencies continue to produce regular assessments of the threats posed by hostile state activity, including any potential interference in past or current uk democratic processes. and our 30—year russia strategy is designed to move us to appoint where russia

chooses to work alongside the international community. since the committee took evidence injanuary 2019, much more has been done. we have established the defending democracy programme and strengthened our cross government counter disinformation capability. in march, we formally about the existence of thejoint we formally about the existence of the joint state threat assessment team. earlier this month, we launched the uk global human rights sanctions regime, to target serious human rights abuses with 25 russian government officials already sanctioned. and we have committed to bring forward legislation to counter hostile state activity and espionage. this will modernise existing offences to deal more effectively with the espionage threat and consider what new offences and powers are needed. this includes reviewing the official secrets act and considering whether

to follow our allies in adopting a form of foreign agent registration. we are taking action at every level. we are taking action at every level. we have stepped up our response to illicit finance to the introduction of new powers by the criminal finances acts 2017, including unexplained wealth orders. and the establishment of the multi—agency national economic crime centre within the national crime agency. the rules on visas have already been tightened but we will continue to consider whether any further changes are required to ensure it cannot be abused. let there be no doubt, we are unafraid to act wherever necessary to protect the uk and our allies from any state threat. thank you, mr speaker, and i thank all involved in producing the russia report. until recently, the

government had badly underestimated the russian threat and the response required. not my words but the damning indictment of the systemic failings in the government's approach to security the russian reports sets out. —— the russia reports sets out. —— the russia report sets out. the truth is they took a conscious decision not to look at all, as in the case of the 2016 referendum. if there is any doubt about the failure of ministers to look, let me tell you what the report says. the written evidence provided to us appear to suggest that her majesty's government had not seen or sought evidence of successful interference in uk democratic processes. who provided the evidence? check the footnote, the evidence? check the footnote, the government itself. no wonder that the government was so desperate to delay the publication of this report. sitting on it for months and blocking its publication before a general election was a dereliction of duty. let me say, mr speaker, we have no issue with the russian

people. it is the russian state that is involved in a litany of hostile activity. cyber warfare, interference in democratic processes , interference in democratic processes, illicit finance and acts of violence on uk soil. the report finds a failure of security departments to engage with this issue to the extent that the uk now faces a threat from russia within its own borders. does the minister except that this is in a situation when the uk is, as the report says, top target for the russian regime. and does the minister also accept that on defending the uk's democratic processes and discourse, there was no single organisation offering leadership in government. instead, it was in the words of the report hot potato passed from one to another with nobody taking overall responsibility. i thank our security services for the work they do. but they need help and this report makes clear they have not received

strategic support, the legislative tools of the resources necessary to defend our interests. the report concludes recent changes in resourcing to counter hostile russian state activity are not or not only due to a continuing escalation of the threat but appear to be an indication of playing catch up. when will the government stop playing catch up? anyone who saw the prime minister's failure to engage on base at prye minister's questions will be extremely worried. when will the government treat this with the seriousness it deserves, acts on the findings of the report and put the security of our country first? well, mr speaker, the one thing that i agree with in terms of what the right honourable gentleman has said is the threat that we face from russia. as i made very clear, in my opening statement, in terms of all

the different varieties of threat that that presents itself. we recognise and have always recognised the enduring and significant threat posed by russia. and russia remains a top national security priority for this country. however, in terms of the other assertions that he makes, i reject them. and i think it is a bit rich for the labour front bench to lecture this government about its sta nce to lecture this government about its stance in relation to russia, given that the foreign secretary, the shadow foreign secretary herself even said at the weekend that the labour party had got it wrong in relation to its position. the right honourable gentleman highlighted the issue of strategy. and again i would point to the russia strategy that was implemented in 2017 and indeed the cross government russia unit that has focused on all of this. and actually brings things together across government accountability

through the national security council. he highlights the issue of the protection of our democracy and, unlike the party opposite, i am proud that we stood on a manifesto, a conservative manifesto, that committed to defend our democracy and highlighting that we will protect the integrity of our democracy by introducing identification to vote at polling station, stopping postal vote harvesting and measures to prevent any foreign interference in elections. and i look forward to the party supporting those measures in a way that they did not in terms of their own manifesto at the last general election. and in terms of our approach, we are clear eyed in relation to the threat that russia poses. that is why we have taken the steps that we have and indeed as i outlined, all of the different measures that we have implemented over the last months and years and

indeed to set out that message to russia that whilst we want to maintain that dialogue with them, there can be that no normalisation of our bilateral relationship until russia ends the destabilising activity that threatens the uk and our allies and undermined the safety of our citizens and our collective security. we take the issue of our national security incredibly seriously. and as i say, i will take no lectures from the party opposite inputin no lectures from the party opposite input in the interest of this country first. the chair of the intelligence and security committee. thank you, mr speaker. given that the minister has so much to say on this subject, it is really rather sad that it is having to be said in the context of an urgent question rather than a voluntary statement by the government. the russia report could not have been produced to this

high standard without the dedication, the expertise and above all the objectivity of the isc‘s brilliant staff, some of whom i have worked with previously. yet according to the journalist tim walker, some people within government tried to sack secretary at and make political appointments. will my right honourable friend, as i still regard him, resist the temptation to fob us off with cliches about not believing everything you read in the media. and give this house now categorical commitment that no party political special advisers will be allowed anywhere near the intelligence and security committee? thank you, mr

speaker. can i thank my honourable friend in relation to what he has said about the work of the intelligence and security committee of parliament. and he will recall that he and i shared the bill committee, establishing the isc and he will know the weight and consideration but i give to it and indeed the work of those officials and those who work to support its activities, its enquiries and its investigations. and he can certainly have my assurances to the weight and support that i give to his committee. i commend the work of the previous committee that has produced this report that a subject to this urgent question. i also commend all members of the committee for the work, robust and rigorous work that i know that they will do during the course this parliament. we now go to

the snp spokesperson. unlike the minister i would at least have the grace to congratulate the honourable gentleman on his election to the chairmanship of the intelligence and security committee and he will have our backing and making sure he stays there because he is an independent minded person and is the right person to chair the committee. and like him! person to chair the committee. and like him i would thank the committee for publication of the report. mr speaker, there is a lot of stuff in there, it is a cow that is going to give us a lot of milk for quite some time and! give us a lot of milk for quite some time and i think it deserves to be taken seriously. and objectively. i think the issues it raises in relation to actively looking the other way in terms of looking the other way in terms of looking the other way in terms of looking the other way into the brexit referendum need to be addressed objectively by both the government and indeed by the opposition. that also applies to what it has to say about the scottish referendum. i have banged on more about this than any other mp

or politician in scotland. in fact, in scotland, mr speaker, my party has a strong record on this than any other political party. so let's have the inquiry into brexit and the 2014 referendum campaign. let's bring that forward and let's be clear that that forward and let's be clear that thatis that forward and let's be clear that that is only something that the united kingdom government can do. and if it does, he will have my support in doing so. but can i ask him, when does the government intend to bring forward the legislation that he mentions, for example on foreign agents. and also clarified that there will be ample time to debate the rather confused and obscure effort across government in order to counter the threat seriously. we have produced our response to the committee's report andi response to the committee's report and i would commend him to look at that. because it does underline on this issue that he highlights around

in inquiry that it is they work of the intelligence and security agencies to assess any new evidence as it emerges. and given this long—standing approach, we do not believe it is necessary to hold a specific retrospective enquiry. if there were evidence to be found it would emerge through our existing processes . would emerge through our existing processes. and we have found no evidence of successful interference in the way that has been described by some. and indeed, it does leave i think many people to think that this is about re—arguing some of the issues over the brexit referendum, not respecting and reflecting the outcome of that referendum. in terms of the legislation, we are working at pace in relation to that and i am quite sure that there will be plenty of opportunities in this house to debate that as well as other issues related to this report. mr speaker, this report highlights concerning

aspects of russian interference in uk affairs with a sinister combination of 21st—century technology and tactics that are reminiscent of the cold war. much of the report is redacted for obvious reasons but can my right honourable friend i sure the house that he is satisfied that where mistakes were made aware threats were underestimated, they are already being put right to ensure that our democracy and our economy are protected from nefarious influence now and in the future. can i say to my honourable friend that we keep all of our response under review. it is why i highlighted all of the different measures and steps that are in place. to guard against this risk from action, interference, espionage by any hostile state in terms of, hostile state activity, in terms of, hostile state activity, in terms of, hostile state activity, in terms of what that requires. and so it is why we, for example, in 2017

established the nsc and endorsed russia strategy. but he has my reassurance as to the steps we've taken and we will continue to take to guard our security and ensure that national security is absolutely at the forefront. it was not lost on the house that the minister did not a nswer the house that the minister did not answer the question put to him by the chairman of the intelligence and security committee. will he now do so security committee. will he now do so please. i think to respond to the right honourable gentleman i was very clear as to the weight on the importance of the independent scrutiny that the isc provides an y from my perspective on the government's perspective we will a lwa ys government's perspective we will always examine and reflect carefully on the incredibly important work and the importance of that being conducted in the independent way that the isc has always fulfilled its role in responsibility and i'm

quite clear that that will continue into the future. the isc report suggests that the snp have questions to a nswer suggests that the snp have questions to answer about russian interference. does my right honourable friend agree that given how scotland and the independence referendum are at the centre of these allegations, it is right that these allegations, it is right that the snp explain what it knew about this issue and when. honourable friend has made her point i think very clearly and firmly and we will wait to see how the snp themselves respond to various points that have been flagged. but obviously our priority is for the national security of the whole of our united kingdom and that work continues very firmly by this government.” kingdom and that work continues very firmly by this government. i wish the memberfor firmly by this government. i wish the member for stoke—on—trent, one of the main recommendations from the

committee was the need for a bill to reform the official secrets act and espionage act. and i welcome what the minister has announced today are more broadly and informative in this morning's times newspaper both the former director of m15 and the right honourable member for bromsgrove when he gave evidence to the isc both supported this. the commissioners in 2017 set off a consultation process around this thatis consultation process around this that is yet to report. could i ask the minister when it will report. i could i urge him to really make sure that we do get this legislation in place because it is needed. and let's hope it is not going to be just some spin to take the headlines on the day after the report was announced and let's actually get into action. i agree with the honourable gentleman in terms of

what he has said over legislation. and he will note that in the queen's speech we committed to introducing legislation to counter hostile state activity and espionage. i think it is right... we are just going to pull away from that discussion in the house of commons in response to urgent question on the russia report because we have a statement from the former labour leaderjeremy corbyn in response to our other main story today, the unreserved apology from the labour party under keir starmer 27 labour party members —— to seven labour party members who were criticised by the jeremy corbyn leadership for the complaint about the party not doing enough to handle complaints of anti—semitism. well jeremy corbyn in the statement saying the party's decision to apologise today and make substantial payments to former staff who sued the party in relation to last year's

bbc panorama programme is a political decision, not a legal one. jeremy corbyn goes on in the statement that he has just issued. the decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle anti—semitism in the labour party in recent years. so that is the gist of the statement from jeremy corbyn. he is saying that the decision today by the labour leadership under keir starmer to apologise was a political one and not a legal one. we will have much more on this story throughout the day here on bbc news. simon will be here with the news bbc one in just a moment but first of all let's have a look at the weather. many parts of the cloud have more cloud to contend with today. you can see on the earlier satellite

picture, the cloud has been producing some rain. northern scotla nd producing some rain. northern scotland has seen something bright through today as have southern england on the far south of wales. as we keep the sunshine down towards the south it is going to feel warm for the rest of the afternoon, 24 or 25 degrees. but for mid wales up towards the north coast of wales, northern england will keep cloud, showery rain. northern ireland brightening up with some sunshine, 20 degrees there in belfast. but the cloud and patchy rain extends across south once southern parts of scotland. northern scotland though you will hold onto spells of sunshine through the rest of today. this evening and overnight we keep a supply of cloud rolling in from the atla ntic supply of cloud rolling in from the atlantic and some slightly heavier bursts of rain returning into northern ireland, perhaps north west england in north—west wales by the end of the night. with all the cloud around it is not going to be a cold night, not by any stretch. in fact the belfast and liverpool temperatures will get no lower than

15 degrees. tomorrow, again a lot of cloud across parts of the uk, the wettest weather moving away from northern ireland into northern england, southern scotland. showery rain pushing through wales and into the midlands. cloudier than today across the south—east so cool as a consequence. scotland and northern ireland i'm hopeful things will brighten up a bit as we head towards the end of the day. thursday into friday this big area of high pressure centred across the azores is going to try to bulge its way in our direction. it will settle things down. friday is our window a fine weather in most places, certainly more sunshine than we have had in the northern part of the uk although i think cloud will roll into northern ireland later on. a few showers down towards the south but that's where we will have the warmest of the weather with highs of 24 degrees. further north 18 degrees. remember that window fine weather, it closes as we head into the weekend. low pressure pushing in from the atlantic, that is going to bring showers or longer spells of

rain. the possibility of heavy thundery downpours towards the south. sunday should be a bit dry and brighter for most of us.

labour agrees to pay "substantial" damages to seven former employees who sued the party over anti—semitism. an unreserved apology in the high court for party comments about the seven, who spoke out in a bbc panorama programme last year. we are pleased that our reputations have been restored, although it will take time to repair the damage caused by their unfounded attacks. we are glad that keir starmer is showing the leadership which is so desperately needed to bring this chapter to a close. there's an apology too to the bbc presenterjohn ware. also this lunchtime... are you a soft touch on russia, prime minister? pressure on the government to tighten security laws, after accusations of underestimating the threat of russian interference.