this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. lam i am victoria derbyshire. friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten and forced to make a television confession local authorities insist they weren't informed about new restrictions in eight areas in england, as the government urges people not to travel in or out of the places and avoid meeting indoors there. we weren't told, and we were in regular communication with the hsc, so you would have expected something like this to have been communicated to our teams. and if you live in bolton, blackburn kirklees, bedford, burnley, leicester hounslow and north tyneside, what do you think of the advice? the goverment denies is a local lockdown by stealth — is it? i'm on twitter and instagram

@vicderbyshire, or you can email me on victoria@bbc.co.uk. america's top diplomat arrives in israel to try to ensure the ceasefire holds — and a news conference with the israeli prime minister is expected shortly. george floyd's family will be welcomed to the white house as the us marks the first anniversary of his murder. but many african—americans say police reform has not come fast enough. uk government borrowing is down by about £15 billion from this time last year, reaching £31] billion last month as parts of the economy reopened. nearly half of all dentists in england are considering leaving their practice if covid restrictions remain in place, according to a survey by the british dental association.

hello and welcome or around the world. we are first going to bring you the latest from the middle east. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is in israel to try to bolster the ceasefire with the palestinians, following the worst flare—up of violence in years. mr blinken�*s agenda includes talks injerusalem with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, and a meeting in the west bank city of ramallah with palestinian president mahmoud abbas. we can go straight tojerusalem. laura trevelyan is there for us. we expect a news conference shortly, what might be said?— what might be said? well, we expect a news conference _ what might be said? well, we expect a news conference between - what might be said? well, we expect a news conference between the - a news conference between the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the top us diplomat, antony blinken, making his first visit to the region hot on the heels

of the ceasefire. we will expect them to talk about the ceasefire, their discussion about what steps israel could take to try to uphold it. we know antony blinken came here with pretty limited aims, he is not trying to restart peace talks towards a two state solution. he is here to make sure the ceasefire holds, it is four days old, he had to try to get emergency humanitarian aid into the gaza strip and to push for the reconstruction of gaza, so the american approaches let's try to get this moving, try to address the causes of the conflict so the ceasefire holds, but from prime minister benjamin netanyahu i think you will hear about iran. he said last night, as antony blinken was in the air on his way, but israel would not shrink from making independent decisions on iran if the state of israel felt threatened. the americans want to rejoin the nuclear

deal with iran and they are having talks later in the week. it will not just be about the ceasefire, you can also expect around to crop up. thank ou, also expect around to crop up. thank you. laura. — also expect around to crop up. thank you. laura. we _ also expect around to crop up. thank you, laura, we will— also expect around to crop up. thank you, laura, we will be _ also expect around to crop up. thank you, laura, we will be back- also expect around to crop up. thank you, laura, we will be back with - also expect around to crop up. thank you, laura, we will be back with you when the news conference begins. —— you can also expect iran to crop up. supporters of the journalist roman protasevich who's being held in belarus, say they believe he's been beaten and compelled to make a televised confession. president biden has accused belarus of a shameful assault on dissent and freedom of the press after a ryanair plane carrying the blogger was forced to land in minsk on sunday. european union leaders have agreed to impose further sanctions on belarus, and told european airlines to avoid the country's airspace. the uk has also advised its carriers not to fly over belarus. in the video, mr protasevich said he was in good health and appeared to confess to crimes. the white house said it seemed to have been recorded under duress. there appear to be bruises on mr protasevich's head. his father has told the bbc he fears his son may be tortured. this report from mark lobel.

a hijacking, an affront to international norms, playing russian roulette with innocent civilians' lives — some of the charges levelled against belarus by the us, uk, eu and un after this ryanair plane was unexpectedly diverted to land in minsk. we've not seen anything quite as outlandish, as deceitful, as dangerous as this for at least 30, 40, maybe 50 years. all apparently to kidnap this man, opposition journalist roman protasevich, for running an opposition news channel on the social media platform telegram, where anti—government protests are organised. roman was later seen in a video released by belarus authorities but we're not showing it because it looks like he was filmed under duress.

roman�*s forehead looks bruised. his father is concerned at what he calls a terrorist act. translation: we hope that he will cope. - we hope that he will stay himself, not give into any of their tricks. we are afraid to even think about it but it's possible he could be beaten and tortured. the eu is furious. its leaders are demanding roman protasevich be freed immediately and democracy returned. they've agreed a ban on belarusian flights from all eu airspace and airports and further penalties on officials and assets in belarus. there will be additional sanctions on individuals that are involved in the hijacking but this time also on businesses and economic entities that are financing this regime. since disputed elections last august, this man, belarus's president, alexander lukashenko,

has cracked down on dissent. he's had hundreds of activists detained. many others fled the country into exile. among them, roman protasevich. his capture from high in the sky may become the highest profile one yet. mark lobel, bbc news. the head of the commons' foreign affairs committee, conservative mp tom tugendhat, said the international community faced a choice about how to respond to belarus. it is quite clearly wrong to put our own citizens endangered by having them fly over the territory of somebody who is willing to send out fighters to force a civilian aircraft to the ground. —— put our own citizens in danger. that in itself is really dangerous. but we've now got a choice, we've got a choice as the uk, we've got a choice as the european union, we've got a choice

as the united states. do we actually want to resolve the level of aggression that we are getting from russia and belarus, or do we want to let it continue? if we want to resolve it, we have some very clear choices. expose the corruption and stop the money flows. now, we can do that, we can expose the corruption because, sadly, so much of it flows through our own financial institutions, and we can stop the money flows, because it is us that is buying the energy from russia through pipelines through belarus like yamal pipeline or building another one like the nord stream 2 pipeline, so it is up to us. it is a choice, and we can make it. he'sjustin, he's justin, the he'sjustin, the united nations human rights office had said the detention of roman protasevich amount to extraordinary rendition. extraordinary rendition is essentially one government objecting an individual and transferring them from one country to another in order to circumvent the former country's laws on torture and interrogation. so will sanctions make any

realistic difference to belarus president, alexander lukashenko? here's our moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg. it is a key question, one of russia's most popular newspapers summed it up really well, it said to scare lukashenko with sanctions is doomed to failure, theyjust provoke him to do more because, the paper says, lukashenko has styled himself as a thuggish hooligan. which begs the question, how do you make a hooligan change his behaviour? the sanctions we have seen up to now against belarussian individuals and officials have not made the administration change its ways, and whether or not these latest european sanctions are effective, clearly eu leaders have come to the conclusion that what mr lukashenko did in forcing that ryanairjet to land in minsk to arrest a political opponent was so brazen and reckless that they had to do something, send a signal. lukashenko will use these latest

sanctions to go to the people around him and to go to the people and say, look, i told you so, the west has it in for us and wants to destroy belarus if not with bullets than with sanctions. he will use it to batten down the hatches. but as long as moscow is supporting him, i think, he will stay in power. will president putin have known about this before it happened, the forced landing of the plane via the bomb threat? it is another really interesting and important question, did the kremlin know? dominic raab, speaking yesterday, said we do not have enough information to reach a conclusion but what we know is russia and belarus are very close, we know the russian and belarussian security services are very close, they cooperate, but interestingly yesterday the pro—kremlin newspapers were silent about this story,

also the kremlin declined to comment about the ryanair drama yesterday, and eventually the russian state information machine cranked into action and you heard mps on tv programmes expressing support for mr lukashenko, but not yet clear whether moscow knew. interestingly, the two leaders, president lukashenko and president putin, are due to meet in russia later this week so the conversations between the two will be quite interesting, i think. the journalist himself, roman protasevich, this video has emerged, people say it looks like a forced confession on television, his friends say it looks like he has been beaten. are we ever going to see him again? that is not clear. about the video, it sounded scripted and the language used sounded quite bureaucratic russian, not the kind of russian you would expect from a 26—year—old.

i think it is unlikely that mr lukashenko will announce to the world that he will open up the cell door and let the journalist out, he does not do that kind of thing, president lukashenko is due to speak later about the events of the last few days, so we are watching closely to see what he says. thank you, steve. breaking news from an independent review into alleged islamophobia and discrimination in the conservative party. one line from this review is that boris johnson's party. one line from this review is that borisjohnson�*s comments about women wearing the burqa have given an impression that the conservatives are insensitive to muslim communities, according to an independent review into alleged islamophobia and discrimination in the conservative party. boris johnson's comments about women wearing the burglar, before he was a

prime minister he wrote a piece in a newspaper suggesting women wearing the burqa looked like letterboxes. he said... sorry, the review said those comments give the impression that the conservative party is insensitive to muslim communities. in england, government advice has emerged urging people not to travel into and out of areas hardest hit by the indian coronavirus variant. the guidance was published online without an announcement on friday. councils in some of the areas affected say they weren't told the advice had changed. the guidance affects bolton, blackburn, kirklees, bedford, burnley, leicester, hounslow and north tyneside. it warns people against travelling into or out of these areas, unless it's necessary — for example to work or go to school — and to meet outside rather than inside where possible. downing street has insisted authorities in the affected areas were informed, and deny the guidance amounts to local lockdowns by stealth. our chief political correspondent adam fleming told me earlier about how the eight local

authorities have responded. there has been a breakdown of communication, we do not know precisely where, but we had directors of public health in some of these eight areas not knowing the advice on the government website had changed. the director of public health in north tyneside gave an interview to her local newspaper website yesterday being asked, should people go to north tyneside, and her saying, yes, it is fine. the director of public health in blackburn tweeted this morning saying they did not know anything about it and they asked the government to provide the risk assessment for changing the guidance. and also the reasoning. the government says it is not local lockdowns by stealth, they say it is not a local lockdown because it is guidance rather than the law, nothing has changed or closed in these places, they still went ahead with step three of the road map, they say it is not by stealth because the information is communicated.

it just seems itjust seems it it just seems it was itjust seems it was not communicated to literally everyone. with me now is the labour mp for huddersfield, barry sheerman. huddersfield is part of kirklees borough. kirklees is one of the eight councils under new covid guidance. did you know anything about it? nothing at all, and you are right, kirklees is a strange name but it comprises huddersfield, colne valley, morley and berkeley as well as dewsbury. we were totally surprised, it was leaked over the weekend, it was on the government website that many people did not pick it up, and this morning it was very clear very early that the rules and advice had changed, i got in touch with the chief executive of kirklees and she said these are not regulations, they are recommendations. this is a strange

world, all wishy—washy. we had a cabinet minister on the news this morning saying people should practice mindfulness. that is a really interesting concept when we are trying to dart i am so sorry to policy but there is a news conference to begin injerusalem. == conference to begin in jerusalem. -- i am so conference to begin injerusalem. —— i am so sorry to pause you. it is the us secretary of state antony blinken and israeli president benjamin netanyahu. we blinken and israeli president benjamin netanyahu. blinken and israeli president ben'amin netan ahu. ~ ., benjamin netanyahu. we are running late and we have _ benjamin netanyahu. we are running late and we have a _ benjamin netanyahu. we are running late and we have a long _ benjamin netanyahu. we are running late and we have a long discussion i late and we have a long discussion so i want to be very brief and speak about three points. the first is thanks to president biden and you, for thermally supporting israel's right of self—defence. i had to say that secretary blinking in a previous capacity in 2014 when we had another round of engagement against hamas aggression supported us by having replenishment of a

quarter of a billion dollars that you personally shepherded through the system very quickly. —— that secretary blinken in a previous capacity. you are giving meaning again with replenishment switch save civilian lives on both sides, we are grateful for that too. we too will give meaning to our commitment to self—defence if hamas breaks the calm and the tax rates with —— attacks as well, our response will be very we are working on ways to prevent hamas rearmament with weapons and means of aggression. the second point naturally is around, we discuss many regional issues but none is greater than iran and i hope

the us will go back to the previous deal, which we believe paves the way for iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy. whatever happens, israel will always reserve the right to defend itself against david sheen committed to our restriction and to getting the weapons of mass destruction —— committed to our destruction. we need to expand normalisation between israel and the arab and muslim world and deepen the peace treaties we already have. we discussed also how to improve the lives and the conditions of the palestinians, the humanitarian conditions in gaza including the conditions in gaza including the condition of a return of our mias, two civilians that, as well as

building economic growth for the west bank, with international cooperation and participation. as for peace itself, a formal peace with the palestinians, i think president biden was absolutely correct when he said you will not get peace until israel is recognised as an independentjewish state, that is the key, i could not agree more with president biden. i could not be happier in welcoming you and your delegation here injerusalem. we have a lot to work for. we have common goals of peace, security and prosperity and i look forward to working with you on those in this visit and more, so welcome. thank ou. visit and more, so welcome. thank yom thank — visit and more, so welcome. thank yom thank you _ visit and more, so welcome. thank you. thank you very, _ visit and more, so welcome. thank you. thank you very, very - visit and more, so welcome. thank you. thank you very, very much. . you. thank you very, very much. thank— you. thank you very, very much. thank you — you. thank you very, very much. thank you for— you. thank you very, very much. thank you for hosting us today and for the _ thank you for hosting us today and for the very— thank you for hosting us today and for the very good and lengthy

conversation. i am looking forward to spending some more time with some of our— to spending some more time with some of our colleagues as well later with president — of our colleagues as well later with president birsa and other palestinian leaders. president biden asked _ palestinian leaders. president biden asked me _ palestinian leaders. president biden asked me to come here to date for four reasons —— with president abbas — four reasons —— with president abbas. first, to demonstrate the commitment of the united states to israel's _ commitment of the united states to israel's security, to start to work towards — israel's security, to start to work towards greater stability and reduced tensions in the west bank and jerusalem, to support urgent humanitarian reconstructed assistance for gaza, to benefit the palestinian people and to continue to rebuild — palestinian people and to continue to rebuild our relationship with the palestinian people and the palestinian people and the palestinian authority. intense behind—the—scenes diplomacy led by president _ behind—the—scenes diplomacy led by president biden, working very closety— president biden, working very closely with the prime minister, helped — closely with the prime minister, helped produce last week's ceasefire. now we believe we must

build on _ ceasefire. now we believe we must build on it. — ceasefire. now we believe we must build on it, starting with the recognition that losses on both sides— recognition that losses on both sides were profound. casualties were often reduced to numbers. but behind every— often reduced to numbers. but behind every number is an individual human, a daughter, _ every number is an individual human, a daughter, son, father, mother, grandparents, best friend. and as the talmud teaches, to lose the whole _ the talmud teaches, to lose the whole world, whether that life is palestinian is ready. i would to the prime _ palestinian is ready. i would to the prime minister something president biden— prime minister something president biden made crystal—clear throughout the violence, the united states fully support israel's right to defend — fully support israel's right to defend itself against attacks, such as the _ defend itself against attacks, such as the thousands of rockets fired by hamas— as the thousands of rockets fired by hamas indiscriminately against israeii — hamas indiscriminately against israeli civilians. as many of you know, _ israeli civilians. as many of you know. the — israeli civilians. as many of you know, the commitment is personal for the president and runs deep, he has been _ the president and runs deep, he has been one _ the president and runs deep, he has been one of— the president and runs deep, he has been one of israel points most steadfast supporters for the past 50 years. _ steadfast supporters for the past 50 years, having worked closely with

every _ years, having worked closely with every prime minister over that period — every prime minister over that period as _ every prime minister over that period. as the prime minister mentioned, we had a detailed discussion about israel's security needs, _ discussion about israel's security needs, including replenishing iron dome, _ needs, including replenishing iron dome, and — needs, including replenishing iron dome, and we continue to strengthen all aspects _ dome, and we continue to strengthen all aspects of the long—standing partnership, including consulting closeiy— partnership, including consulting closely with israel as we did today on the _ closely with israel as we did today on the ongoing negotiations in vienna — on the ongoing negotiations in vienna around a potential return to the iran— vienna around a potential return to the iran nuclear agreement, at the same _ the iran nuclear agreement, at the same time — the iran nuclear agreement, at the same time as we work to counter micro _ same time as we work to counter micro iran's— same time as we work to counter micro iran's destabilising in the region — micro iran's destabilising in the region. we need to address a larger set of— region. we need to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges, beginning with tackling the great humanitarian situation in gaza and _ the great humanitarian situation in gaza and starting to rebuild. the united _ gaza and starting to rebuild. the united states will work to rally international support around that effort _ international support around that effort while also making our insignificant contributions including some eyewear and answer

later today. we will work with our partners — later today. we will work with our partners to — later today. we will work with our partners to ensure that hamas does not benefit — partners to ensure that hamas does not benefit from the reconstructed assistance. at the same time we need to work— assistance. at the same time we need to work to _ assistance. at the same time we need to work to expand opportunity for palestinians in gaza and the west bank, _ palestinians in gaza and the west bank, including by strengthening the private _ bank, including by strengthening the private sector, expanding trade and investment and other means. investment like this will help foster— investment like this will help foster a _ investment like this will help foster a more stable environment benefiting palestinians and israelis. prime ministerand i had benefiting palestinians and israelis. prime minister and i had a chance _ israelis. prime minister and i had a chance to _ israelis. prime minister and i had a chance to discuss other steps needing — chance to discuss other steps needing to be taken by leaders on both sides — needing to be taken by leaders on both sides to set a better course for the _ both sides to set a better course for the shared future. as president biden— for the shared future. as president biden said. — for the shared future. as president biden said, we believe palestinians and israelis equally deserve to live safety— and israelis equally deserve to live safety and — and israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely, to enjoy equal measures— safely and securely, to enjoy equal measures of freedom, opportunity and democracy, _ measures of freedom, opportunity and democracy, to be treated with dignity — democracy, to be treated with dignity. we also discussed some of the intercommunal violence which erupted _ the intercommunal violence which erupted in— the intercommunal violence which

erupted in israel during the conflict _ erupted in israel during the conflict and hearing these wounds will take _ conflict and hearing these wounds will take leadership at every level. from _ will take leadership at every level. from elected officials to community leaders _ from elected officials to community leaders to— from elected officials to community leaders to neighbours. we welcome the statements made by the prime ministers _ the statements made by the prime ministers and members of his goals condemning the attacks regardless of whom _ condemning the attacks regardless of whom they targeted —— and members of his government. in the us we have witnessed — his government. in the us we have witnessed a — his government. in the us we have witnessed a shocking eruption of anti—semitic attacks. as president biden— anti—semitic attacks. as president biden said — anti—semitic attacks. as president biden said yesterday, they are despicable and must stop. there is a lot of— despicable and must stop. there is a lot of hard _ despicable and must stop. there is a lot of hard work ahead to restore hope. _ lot of hard work ahead to restore hope, respect and some trust across communities, but we have seen the alternative — communities, but we have seen the alternative and i think that should cause _ alternative and i think that should cause us— alternative and i think that should cause us all to redouble our efforts to preserve — cause us all to redouble our efforts to preserve the peace and improve the lives _ to preserve the peace and improve the lives of— to preserve the peace and improve the lives of israelis and palestinians alike, but thank you again— palestinians alike, but thank you again for— palestinians alike, but thank you again for overtime, prime minister, for the _ again for overtime, prime minister, for the very— again for overtime, prime minister, for the very good conversation, we look forward to working together.

thank _ look forward to working together. thank you — look forward to working together. thank you and the president for your strong statements against anti—semitism masquerading as anti—zionism, but it is anti—semitism, and you took a bold and clear position and we appreciate it. ithink and clear position and we appreciate it. i think all decent people everywhere will appreciate that, thank you. everywhere will appreciate that, thank ou. , ., thank you. reporter: gentleman, did ou thank you. reporter: gentleman, did you discuss -- — thank you. reporter: gentleman, did you discussm i — thank you. reporter: gentleman, did you discuss... i apologise, _ thank you. reporter: gentleman, did you discuss... i apologise, there - you discuss... i apologise, there are no questions. _ you discuss... i apologise, there are no questions. studio: - you discuss... i apologise, there are no questions. studio: thatl you discuss... i apologise, there l are no questions. studio: that is the us secretary _ are no questions. studio: that is the us secretary of _ are no questions. studio: that is the us secretary of state - are no questions. studio: that is the us secretary of state antony | the us secretary of state antony blinken at a joint news conference with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. mr netanyahu saying israel will always reserve the to defend itself against those who attack it, and antony blinken echoed that bid talks about continuing to rebuild relationships with palestinians and humanitarian aid to gaza. laura trevelyan, what would you draw from that? bzferr; gaza. laura trevelyan, what would you draw from that?—

you draw from that? very polite in ublic, you draw from that? very polite in public. the — you draw from that? very polite in public. the only — you draw from that? very polite in public, the only point _ you draw from that? very polite in public, the only point of— you draw from that? very polite in| public, the only point of dissension was nothing to do with the ceasefire between israel and hamas, it was benjamin netanyahu making clear that israel reserves the right to act against iran if it believes iran is threatening israel's interests. he said that because the us is currently holding indirect talks with iran about a potential return to the iran nuclear deal which was meant to stop iran developing nuclear weapons, meant to stop iran developing nuclearweapons, but meant to stop iran developing nuclear weapons, but the four day ceasefire between israel and hamas, secretary blinken said he is trying to uphold that, to get humanitarian aid into gaza, reconstruct gaza. this is tricky territory because the israelis do not want any of the reconstruction money to go to hamas so they can use it to build more rockets to fire at israel, neither do the americans. the americans want to use the palestinian authority and reconstitute them to make sure the

money is spent properly, and benjamin netanyahu also said the israelis would like to see the return of israelis who were captured in gaza and the remains of some of their soldiers before essentially they can see humanitarian aid is going on at the level of the americans would like. a lengthy conversation, some tensions, more meetings for antony blinken with president mahmoud abbas later today. with spending by holiday—makers this year expected to be just half the level of 2019. but despite the gloomy forecasts for this year, tourism analysts predict that demand for uk holidays is likely to outstrip supply this summer, with many holiday—makers unable or unwilling to travel abroad due to restrictions. let's speak to the the director of visit britain — patricia yates. good morning. as a uk geared up for

british holiday—makers this summer? absolutely. they have been closed for a long while and are very keen to welcome visitors back. it has been a turf a few months and even now people are opening with social distancing, they are not necessarily making the same sort of money as in a normal year but still very keen to get people in and travelling through the summer and beyond. haifa get people in and travelling through the summer and beyond.— get people in and travelling through the summer and beyond. how hard a ear has it the summer and beyond. how hard a year has it been? _ the summer and beyond. how hard a year has it been? if _ the summer and beyond. how hard a year has it been? if you _ the summer and beyond. how hard a year has it been? if you look- the summer and beyond. how hard a year has it been? if you look at - year has it been? if you look at domestic holidays, _ year has it been? if you look at domestic holidays, on - year has it been? if you look at domestic holidays, on a - year has it been? if you look at| domestic holidays, on a normal year has it been? if you look at - domestic holidays, on a normal year we would make about £91 million, we are talking about £51 billion this year —— make about £91 billion. for international, that is normally where £28 billion to the economy, around six this year's. the cities

are particularly hits because international visitors and business travellers usually go there, so we are doing the escape the everyday campaign to really promote cities. if you want a great holiday this year, go to the city centres. some of our crown jewels, the tower of london, museum search greenwich, they are talking about being 80 to 90% down —— museums in greenwich. saint paul's talking about the difficulties it faces without tourists. please come and see some of the lovely attractions that are normally too full to get tickets. this is the year to do that. can you sort the weather _ this is the year to do that. can you sort the weather for _ this is the year to do that. can you sort the weather for us? _ this is the year to do that. can you sort the weather for us? i - this is the year to do that. can you sort the weather for us? i wish, i this is the year to do that. can you | sort the weather for us? i wish, but i was at sort the weather for us? i wish, but i was at the — sort the weather for us? i wish, but i was at the seaside _ sort the weather for us? i wish, but i was at the seaside myself - sort the weather for us? i wish, but i was at the seaside myself on - i was at the seaside myself on sunday and the rain did stop. i wore a padded coat and had a wonderful walk along the beach at eastbourne and they had a display of old cars

and they had a display of old cars and lots of resorts i think are wondering how they can attract people in, so there are lots of great things to go and see that are outdoors as well as indoors, so please get out and support the industry and have a great summer and some wonderful experiences and memories. some wonderful experiences and memories— some wonderful experiences and memories. ., ., ., ,, ., memories. thank you for talking to us, memories. thank you for talking to us. patricia- _ memories. thank you for talking to us, patricia. let's— memories. thank you for talking to us, patricia. let's broach _ memories. thank you for talking to us, patricia. let's broach bring - memories. thank you for talking to us, patricia. let's broach bring you| us, patricia. let's broach bring you some details about the story we were talking about earlier, a review into alleged islamophobia in the conservative party. i think we can talk to our political correspondent alex forsyth. you have some more details. remind us why this review was commissioned? this details. remind us why this review was commissioned?— details. remind us why this review was commissioned? this came after a number of allegations _ was commissioned? this came after a number of allegations about - number of allegations about islamophobic behaviours and attitudes from some conservative party members and members, a series of dossiers were put together and

submitted to the party, the suggestion was the party was not taking this issue seriously and even though it repeatedly said that it was and eventually, there were calls for an inquiry which was established by the party in 2019. that has been running for around a year now and this inquiry has reported back today. this inquiry was running at the way the party dealt with allegations of discrimination and there's a whole range of findings, 50 plus page report, but let me bring you some of the key findings. this inquiry says two thirds of the complaints made to the conservative party headquarters in the last six years were about anti—muslim discrimination. it talks about an anti—muslim discrimination being present at a local association and individual levels among the party but it suggests there is no evidence that the party is institutionally racist. it does however say high—profile comments made by people including borisjohnson before he became prime minister about women

wearing burgers show a party and the leadership that is insensitive to muslim communities. —— burkhas. it talks about a complaints process thatis talks about a complaints process that is lacking, a compliance team that is lacking, a compliance team thatis that is lacking, a compliance team that is under resourced and inadequately trained, it makes clear individuals in their team do their best and it lays out a host of suggestions that the party needs to respond to including coming up with an action plan to address the findings of this report and in the words of the report author, a former ehrc, equality and human rights commissioner, he says it should be uncomfortable reading for the party and i think you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be. the response that we've had from the party so far as it will look at the report and the recommendations and will respond in due course. the recommendations and will respond in due course-— today is the first anniversary of the murder of george floyd — the black american man killed

by a white police officer in minneapolis. mr floyd's death sparked global protests against racism. barbara plett usher reports. in the years since george floyd died, rituals have helped the process. standard bearers drawn by a mix of the political and personal, like cortes, a symbolic pallbearer in a never ending funeral. it is like cortes, a symbolic pallbearer in a never ending funeral. it is my beloved friend, _ in a never ending funeral. it is my beloved friend, he _ in a never ending funeral. it is my beloved friend, he was _ in a never ending funeral. it is my beloved friend, he was like - in a never ending funeral. it is my beloved friend, he was like an - in a never ending funeral. it is my l beloved friend, he was like an uncle to me. i loved him and i miss him dearly. he was a role model to me. floyd �*s violent arrest and death over a minor crime was replayed at the recent trial of his killer. a white police officer, convicted of murder. activists believe pressure on the streets helped secure the guilty verdict. now, cortez is focusing on using the law to change the way policing is done?— focusing on using the law to change the way policing is done? that's why i recently joined _ the way policing is done? that's why i recently joined the _ the way policing is done? that's why i recently joined the naa _ the way policing is done? that's why i recently joined the naa pc- i recentlyjoined the naa pc minneapolis chapter, so i can familiarise myself with the bill is

going on and help our people out. it going on and help our people out. it sounds to me you're giving yourself a legal education? definitely. that's quite a change. definitely, a big change- — that's quite a change. definitely, a big change- many _ that's quite a change. definitely, a big change. many lives _ that's quite a change. definitely, a big change. many lives have - that's quite a change. definitely, a l big change. many lives have changed evenif big change. many lives have changed even if wider reforms have been slow to follow. it even if wider reforms have been slow to follow. .. ., to follow. it activated me, it activated — to follow. it activated me, it activated me _ to follow. it activated me, it activated me in _ to follow. it activated me, it activated me in ways - to follow. it activated me, it activated me in ways i - to follow. it activated me, it activated me in ways i did i to follow. it activated me, it. activated me in ways i did not to follow. it activated me, it - activated me in ways i did not know i could be activated. this activated me in ways i did not know i could be activated.— i could be activated. this man lives in the neighbourhood _ i could be activated. this man lives in the neighbourhood of _ i could be activated. this man lives in the neighbourhood of her - i could be activated. this man lives| in the neighbourhood of her george floyd was killed. i in the neighbourhood of her george floyd was killed.— floyd was killed. i saw an opportunity _ floyd was killed. i saw an opportunity to _ floyd was killed. i saw an opportunity to have i floyd was killed. i saw an opportunity to have a i floyd was killed. i saw an i opportunity to have a deeper community with my neighbours, to have tougher conversations about systemic racism, police brutality. every sunday he joins this service at the corner of the square where george floyd died. faith gives them confidence but the debate in this city over how to handle policing is messy and officers say they are under such scrutiny, they don't feel free to do theirjobs. it’s under such scrutiny, they don't feel free to do theirjobs.— free to do their “obs. it's long overdue, that i free to do theirjobs. it's long overdue, that an _ free to do theirjobs. it's long overdue, that an officer- free to do theirjobs. it's long| overdue, that an officer thinks twice before engaging. and i know some people are frustrated about how

many officers are leaving the force and they feel police are being oppressed. again, if you are doing yourjob right, this °ppfessed. again, if you are doing yourjob right, this shouldn't oppressed. again, if you are doing yourjob right, this shouldn't be happening. 50 yourjob right, this shouldn't be happening-— yourjob right, this shouldn't be hauuenin, ,., , , yourjob right, this shouldn't be hauuenin. ,., , ,., happening. so this anniversary is a chance to reflect _ happening. so this anniversary is a chance to reflect on _ happening. so this anniversary is a chance to reflect on a _ happening. so this anniversary is a chance to reflect on a life - happening. so this anniversary is a chance to reflect on a life lost, i chance to reflect on a life lost, and battle is won, and the struggles yet to be overcome. earlier, the bbc spoke to martin luther king iii — the son of the murdered civil rights leader — and asked him what positive change, in his view, would look like. the first step would be of course to get the legislation, the george floyd policing act bill passed, and there is an effort being worked on by senator cory booker, and the democratic side, and senator tim scott on the republican side, along with one or two members of congress so there is a diligent work going on, certain provisions in the bill, as it is, if passed in the house, i

think there may be some challenges but i believe something initially it will be done. that's just a step. there's so many things that have to be done to address policing in america. there has to be tremendous psychological evaluations that need to be done, there has to be police men hired from the community, so that, the communities they live in, police need to communities that are from that community, they have a vested interest. there has to be civilian review boards and civilian oversight board that had the ability to subpoena, to hire and fire when incidents happen. there has to be de—sensitivity, human relations and diversity training and those are just some of the steps. this is a marathon, not a sprint. friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten and forced to make a television confession. valery kavaleuski is the foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition political party in belarus. he told me what he made of the video

showing roman protasevich. it is definitely not a confession in real, i know roman personally, i know he is principled i know he is principled and courageous, and i know he is in the hands of the kgb right now, what he confessed, he has never done. he has never been involved in this organisation, he was not in belarus and moreover, there was no mass disorder on the streets of minsk, as you know. the protests against the elections of august 2020 was very peaceful, people never had any altercations with the police. there was never mass riots. this confession is completely fake. what do you expect will happen now to your friend? again, he is in the kgb, we don't have access to him through the lawyer.

we don't know much information other than what we have seen in the media. there are some things here and there but they are difficult to verify so we are hoping that sooner or later the lawyer will have access and they will have some word back with him. i mean, how are you and the rest of the nations who are condemning what has happened in the last 48 hours going to either get roman protasevich released or stop him being put on trial for the crimes with which the belarus regime accuse him of and stop him being given the death penalty as a punishment? this is going to be pressure, international and domestic, roman protasevich is not the only political prisoner in belarus, we have more than 400 now, most have to go through the processing by human rights defenders. to resolve this situation, to prevent these trials, release these prisoners, we need support of the international community and it has to be focused not only on the incident

with the ryanair flight, but it has to address the entire situation in belarus which is dismal and has been deteriorating since the elections last august. i wonder what kind of pressure mr lukashenko would be subject to? he doesn't care. he cares about his money, he cares about the economy and the economy is getting weaker by the day. what he cares about, the sanctions against state—owned enterprises in belarus but against those people around him who benefit financially from being loyal to him, the oligarchs, and this is what we have been talking to the european union and united states about for months and we expect that the eu in the light of the situation will be more resolute in adopting the sanctions. this goes also to the united kingdom of course, as you are not part of the eu any more.

we expect that the government will be more forceful and more practical in its response, notjust declarations and words of support but practical measures to prevent the lukashenko regime from further crimes. right. more practical could be for example the fact that the belarus regime raises money through bonds in the city of london to help fund the regime. the uk government could intervene there? exactly. we need to cut all financial flows to the regime. we need to stop important goods and services used by state—owned enterprises, the economy of lukashenko is very weak and he needs external support and therefore, the uk government has special leverage over this situation.

austria has confirmed in the last few minutes it day spanning direct flights from the uk, after the indian variant of coronavirus. in a statement the austrian health ministry said the landing ban will be in place until the 20th ofjune, from during the first until the 20th ofjune, no direct flights from the uk to austria, austria says that is because of the spread of the indian variant of coronavirus. local authorities in areas hardest hit by the indian covid variant say they weren't consulted about new travel advice that's appeared on a government website. people are being urged not to travel into and out of eight areas. downing street insists the relevant councils were warned about the new guidance. joining me now is the lib dem mp and chair of the all parliamentary group on coronavirus, layla moran. hello to you. good morning. the government says these councils were told, the councils said they were not, who do you believe? i told, the councils said they were not, who do you believe? i believe

the councils. _ not, who do you believe? i believe the councils, absolutely. _ not, who do you believe? i believe the councils, absolutely. the i not, who do you believe? i believe | the councils, absolutely. the whole thing is ratherfarcical, you know, you update a website and then you expect that people are going to be scrolling through, hoping to notice the changes. just this morning, the government had pointed to the fact that the prime minister said people should be extra cautious but actually what people want, or through this pandemic is clarity. we know now the indian variant is one that we should be concerned about, this is affecting six councils and we've heard from them directly this morning and i've heard myself in conversation with councillors on the ground there, that they did not know. so if there was an e—mail sent, if there was a memo sent, it doesn't matter, it needs to be something that the councils on the ground appreciate, the public health directors can then get on the local media, make sure people understand what support is there for them, what they should be able to do. and what we are left with is uncertainty, a lack of clarity, and that's not

going to help the public health response at all so i think the government need to take responsibility for this mixed messaging, this botched job they have done today. matt hancock needs to come to their house and explain himself this morning. and actually, i think the prime minister should have a special press briefing tonight. so that people can absolutely understand what it is they are being asked to do. do you back this new— they are being asked to do. do you back this new guidance _ they are being asked to do. do you back this new guidance that - they are being asked to do. do youj back this new guidance that people in these affected areas should, if they can, mix outside and they shouldn't be travelling in and out of the affected areas unless it's for worker education?— of the affected areas unless it's for worker education? what i've learned all _ for worker education? what i've learned all through _ for worker education? what i've learned all through this - for worker education? what i've i learned all through this pandemic is that when the scientists are saying to do something, we really ought to do it. there hasn't really been a moment where they haven't pushed us to do something and actually they were wrong. by and large, that we should be listening to them. what i do think however it needs to happen

alongside, following these rules and whether its guidance, rules, actually i think the government needs to make these rules so it's clear but we also need support for people who are being asked to do this. we know that there will be business affected by this, if we've got now suggestions people should meet outside, the implications for restaurants and pubs is that there are potentially fewer people who are going inside and that's going to affect their bottom line compared to the rest of the country. where is the rest of the country. where is the support for those businesses, where is the clarity on what people actually should be doing? unless you sort that out with people on the ground, then actually, all you are going to have our people not following this guidance, and indian variant which let's remember got into the country because of issues at the border, issues that the all—party group on coronavirus and others have been actually raising with the government for many, many months now, the government let the indian variant in and now they are failing to deal with the outcome.

you may have just heard me failing to deal with the outcome. you may havejust heard me report austria has banned direct flights from the uk to austria because of the indian variant, your reaction to that? �* ., , , , the indian variant, your reaction to that? ., , , , ., ~ that? i'm not surprised and i think it 'ust that? i'm not surprised and i think itjust goes _ that? i'm not surprised and i think it just goes to _ that? i'm not surprised and i think it just goes to show _ that? i'm not surprised and i think it just goes to show how _ that? i'm not surprised and i think it just goes to show how scared i that? i'm not surprised and i think| it just goes to show how scared we itjust goes to show how scared we should be of these variant s of concern derailing the hard—won progress that we have all made not just with vaccines, but with everything else we have had to endure over the last few years. we all want life to go back to normal. and the indian variant is a concern. but i think we can also take note of what the scientists are saying, it's probably not going to be the last one that bc. the only way that we are going to get through this is to take a global approach. to protect our borders in the short term, make sure people are isolating which is the big piece of the puzzle that is as yet not filled by the government. but then also, to vaccinate the world, that is the only way we are going to be able to tackle this virus in the medium and long term.

thank you for talking to us. the headlines on bbc news... an investigation into islamophobia in the conservative party in the uk has found anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem in the party and some of the prime minister's comments gave the impression it is "insensitive to muslim communities". friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten. local authorities insist they weren't informed about new restrictions in eight areas in england, as the government urges people not to travel in or out of the places and avoid meeting indoors there. the director—general of the bbc, tim davie, says the findings of an investigation into how the journalist martin bashir was rehired in 2016 will be published next week. an inquiry by a former seniorjudge last week found the bbc covered up "deceitful behaviour" used by mr bashir to secure that interview with princess diana in 1995. our media and arts correspondent,

david sillito has more on the investigations underway at the bbc. they've already announced they will have a review of editorial and whistle—blowing procedures, today tim davie was questioned on the _ today programme and he was asked if there was a cover—up, a certain number of people in the bbc knew that martin bashir had been deceitful at the time and there had been other complaints about him through the years. why was he rehired in 2016? this is where a lot of the focus and attention is at the moment, the commons media select committee was interested why he was rehired, was it part of a cover—up and tim davie has announced another bbc investigation, this into why martin bashir was rehired in 2016. we are in the course of a quick investigation now, led independently within the bbc by kenny mcquarrie who is not part of news management.

we are interviewing people, getting the documents and we should be able to publish something next week. and what about tim davie saying he has no intention of ever airing the full interview with princess diana ever again, some will argue that is another woman being silenced? interesting question, there are people within the bbc who say this is an important historical document, it is a fair representation of her views at the time. and she expressed no concerns about what she said afterwards. she actually wrote the letter to the bbc, saying she had no regrets. so there is an interesting question. he did say that he could not foresee a time when the whole interview was going to be replayed again. but there may be a question that in a certain context, certain clips might be played at some point. but that was a matter to be discussed for the future. the uk's third largest steel maker, liberty steel, has announced plans to sell off its stocksbridge steel plant

as part of a restructuring plan. the company has substantial debts after the collapse of its main financial backer, greensill capital. our business correspondent nina warhurst reports. the uk was once a powerhouse in global steel. by the turn of the millennium, places like china were making it faster and cheaper. so steel works across britain closed, taking with them thousands ofjobs. in 2017, sanjeev gupta snapped up specialist steel—makers convinced he could be the man to save them. but to fund his plans, he entered into a complex financing agreement with a company called greensill capital — the same firm who was at the centre of a recent government lobbying row involving former prime minister david cameron. they went bust in march, raising big questions about how gupta's steel business could survive but he told the bbc he was certain jobs were safe.

all our steel operations in the uk, one after another, was in the process of shutting. it's hard work which means they now have a viable future. it's still a tough journey ahead, the uk has many disadvantages, the uk steel industry has been decimated for the last few decades. we still have a lot of work to do, i'm not going to give up on the uk. as long as i am in charge, my plants will stay open. but who believes him now? the british government refused to supply £170 million bailout overfears about the transparency of the billionaire's business affairs. the unions say these plants must stay open saying they are strategically vital to uk defence, energy and aerospace. but the company must sell off some of its plants to pay its creditors and keep the business going. 3000 steeljobs at liberty are hanging in the balance. the head of the world health organization has said that all health workers and elderly

across the world, would have been vaccinated against coronavirus by now ifjabs has been distributed equitably. in an appeal for more doses for poorer countries, tedros adhanom ghebreyesus said governments vaccinating low risk groups were doing so at the expense of vulnerable people elsewhere. he was speaking at the opening of the world health assembly in geneva. australia's second largest city, melbourne, has reinstated covid restrictions after a fresh outbreak of the virus. home gatherings will be limited to five guests, public gatherings will be restricted to 30 people, and face masks will be mandatory indoors. the state of victoria hadn't recorded any covid cases for nearly three months. hundreds of people have marched in mexico city to protest against government plans to re—open schools. schools in mexico have been shut since march 2020. the country is now registering the lowest levels of mortality since the start of the pandemic, but protesters say they don't want a return to face—to—face classes unless students are fully vaccinated. in the uk, a survey suggests nearly half of all dentists in england are considering leaving their practice if covid restrictions remain in place. over the past year, most non—urgent

medical appointments have been postponed or cancelled. this has led to long waiting lists and frustrated patients, damaging morale. danjohnson is at the dentists for us. he's at a practice at kirkbymoorside, in north yorkshire. well, let me introduce you to a frustrated dentist. you have done this for 26 years, this is the sort of equipment you now have to wear when you are seeing patients. can you just tell us what that is like? it is actually difficult to talk it, isn't it? muffled: yeah, it is, _ and i'm starting to heat up already and i have only had it on, not even permanently on, it is just off the front. and you start to sweat in this, it is quite uncomfortable. so you can take that off, just so we can actually hear you. but that is how patients can expect to see you in the current conditions? yeah, when we are doing agp procedures, because it is creating the aerosol,

that is what we have to wear. we can wear the normal masks when we are doing checkups and non—aerosol stuff, but it is getting more and more frustrating, more and more difficult. i mean, it has been a very, very difficult year for everyone, but i have never known the demoralised nature of the profession as much as it has been this year. it is just getting worse and worse and, personally, i can't see... i've got another ten years, potentially, and ijust don't know what i am going to do. i can't carry on the way it is going, it's got to have a way out. and this stuff is expensive, it is time—consuming, it makes the job difficult? the ppe at the moment is provided by the nhs, that is fine. but the wearing of it is the problem. it is not necessarily the cost, but the cost of disposal has gone up. so you've got to get rid of all that, and it is the environmental consequences of all this plastic that is being not reused. it is an issue. as i say, the frustration and the demoralisation is what is really getting to me now. it is getting to the point where i can't see... i can't go back to what it was like before. what do you think you are going to do, then? well, we live in a very

lovely part of the world, we've had people come here for holidays, and i think i might build some shepherd's huts, in fact i've got the frame, ijust got to build them at weekends when i'm not here, and i'm going to put them in the back garden and rent them out on airbnb as a potential source of income. you are already thinking beyond... i am thinking of exit, yes. an exit strategy. and what would that do for patients in a part of the country like this? it is rural, you are the only practice around here. it is. i really feel for the people who live here, and i will be doing as much as i physically am able to do, but it is becoming more and more draining on me, emotionally and physically. my blood pressure was through the roof. i've got to look after myself at the end of the day. and the team are getting... they really are putting all in for this last year also, and they need to see a way out. briefly, what is that way out? what should happen? well, they have to look at what they are doing now and see how it can work in the future. they need to have a plan, a road map, they need to discuss with the profession,

a way forward of what nhs dentistry should offer. it can't be everything to everyone, because it never has been. it has never been funded to do that. so to say it is all going to be fine is rubbish, to be honest. it needs proper thinking. 0k. thank you, i appreciate your time and your insight. it has been a tough year for everybody in dentistry and patients who want to get back in the chair, it is an issue that will be discussed by mps at westminster this morning. we have asked to talk to england's chief dental officer repeatedly over the last year, but she told us she wasn't available. amazon is reportedly closing in on a deal to buy hollywood studio mgm for around six billion pounds. it would give the technology giant's prime streaming service access to a vast back catalogue of iconic content including the james bond and hobbit franchises. the deal could be finalised this week. and finally, two magellanic chicks have joined the colony at the chicago shedd aquarium in the us. these little penguins —

which are a threatened species — hatched within a week of each other. for now, they'll be living with an adult pair and will be shown to the public, once they hit important growing milestones. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. on the 25th of may last year temperatures were widely from the low 20s to the mid 20s. today, well we are still struggling to get up to average which is roughly 15 to about 18 or 19 north to south, but we do have sunny spells and scattered heavy showers. today, we are not expecting as many showers as yesterday, low pressure that brought the rain has moved away and we have a little system coming in across the south—west which will introduce some rain through today. after a cloudy start with some patchy rain, sunny spells developing but so are the showers across parts of scotland, northern and eastern england, some of those heavy and thundery with hail. it is breezy so they will move along and we have this rain across the isles of scilly, devon

and cornwall and into the channel islands but in between, a lot of dry weather with sunshine and highs between roughly 11 and 17 degrees, cooler on the north sea coast line. this evening, many of the showers will fade, the rain pulls away but in its wake we see some cloud and showers, and more cloud comes in across eastern areas, introducing some patchy rain. temperatures falling away to between 4 and 9 degrees, we are not expecting any issues with frost. tomorrow then, we still have all this cloud and patchy rain in the north and east, a lot of dry weather around tomorrow, northern ireland, wales, southern england. still a bit of cloud left in the south—west, here we have highs of 15 degrees, top temperatures likely to be in london and glasgow, at 17 degrees. as we go through wednesday night into thursday, we start to see some subtle changes. we start with some showers, we may even see a little bit of mist forming but it won't be problematic and then we have a ridge

of high pressure building across us on thursday, settling things down so a lot of dry weather, sunshine around. this weather front trying to come from the west will introduce some rain but because it's bumping into the high pressure, the rain will be as intense as it has been and temperatures up a bit, looking at 19, maybe even 20 degrees. friday and into the weekend, high pressure really takes hold, things remain fairly settled and also mostly dry as well. on bank holiday monday, we might see a weather front coming into the north—west bringing some rain but that's a long way off. one thing you will notice is, temperatures are going to get up to possibly 21, possibly 22.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11: anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem in the conservative party and some of the prime minister's comments were "insensitive" according to a review into alleged islamophobia in the party local authorities insist they weren't informed about new restrictions in eight areas in england, as the government urges people not to travel in or out of the places and avoid meeting indoors there. we weren't told and we're in regular communication with the hsc, so you'd have expected something like this to have been communicated to our teams. friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten and forced to make a televisied confession. uk government borrowing is down by about £15 billion from this time last year,

reaching £31.7 billion last month as parts of the economy reopened. the director general of the bbc says reform of the organisation needs to continue at pace — and an investigation into why martin bashir was rehired after his interview with princess diana is underway. we are in the course of a quick investigation now, led independently within the bbc by kenny macquarrie, who is not part of news management. we are interviewing people, getting the documents and we should be able to publish something next week. george floyd's family will be welcomed to the white house on the first anniversary of his murder. but many african—americans say police reform has not come fast enough. nearly half of all dentists in england are considering leaving their practice if covid restrictions remain in place, according to a survey by the british dental association.

an independent report into allegations of racial discrimination within the conservative party has found "anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem". the inquiry was commissioned by the conservatives following claims of islamophobia among its members. the report says the party had recorded more than 1,400 complaints about alleged discrimination over a five year period and said borisjohnson's past comments about women wearing the burqa gave the impression that the tories are "insensitive to muslim communities", but is said claims of "institutional racism" were not borne out by the way complaints were handled. joining me now from westminster is our political correspondent, alex forsyth.

alex let's begin this reportjust published in the last few minutes. let's begin by looking at the detail of the key findings. you let's begin by looking at the detail of the key findings.— of the key findings. you have outlined some _ of the key findings. you have outlined some of— of the key findings. you have outlined some of the - of the key findings. you have l outlined some of the headlines of the key findings. you have i outlined some of the headlines but what this report was said to do was to look at the way in which the party had responded to allegations of discrimination and in particular, is a phobia. it talks about, there were 727 incidents over the past six years and the majority of which related to anti—muslim discrimination and most of those were incidents that occurred on social media, this was the most widespread. this report finds that a local association level and and an individual level there is anti—muslim sentiment in the party, but as you already said, the evidence does not bear out the fact that the party is institutionally racist. it does, however, say the some high—profile comments that have been made, perhaps most notably by borisjohnson been made, perhaps most notably by boris johnson before been made, perhaps most notably by borisjohnson before he was prime

minister, when he talked about women in black as looking like a letterboxes, it says those kind of comments can show a party and leadership that is insensitive to muslim communities. borisjohnson muslim communities. boris johnson himself muslim communities. borisjohnson himself was asked about these comments by the enquiry team during the course of their investigations and he talked about the fact that he knows offence had been taken by the use of his language, but when he wrote those comments, he was a journalist and he said that in journalism, you need to use language freely, although he goes on to say, he is sorry for the offence taken and what he will use those words again now finance? no he wouldn't. just stepping back, report is painting a picture of is an existence of anti—muslim sentiment at some levels of the party and failings by the party and how they deal with that, particularly around its complaints system which it says is inadequate and it says is inadequate and it sets out a whole host of actions the party needs to take. the man who led this enquiry says that he thinks it should make uncomfortable reading for the party

and so far we have heard from the conservative party headquarters and they are looking at this report, they are looking at this report, they are looking at this report, they are looking at the wide range of recommendations and mix and they will respond in due course. you referenced _ will respond in due course. you referenced that _ will respond in due course. you referenced that comments by the lord saying. he has as it hopes it makes the rank and file uncomfortable and spurs them into action and sent to borisjohnson. lead by example and accept our recommendations unequivocally and unconditionally. do you think we are going to get a further response from the prime minister, perhaps a further apology? i think that that is now where the... notjust the prime minister but the party more widely and i expect you to hear more from the party this afternoon and this has been rumbling on for some time now. a brief bit of background to this. there were repeat allegations of islamic phobic incidents and how the party had responded to those over the last few years and it was actually during the race to become the next conservative party leader and prime minister that sajid javid elicited this commitment from boris

johnson and others to hold this enquiry. this has been a year in the making, reported today as you say, a wide—ranging in—depth report and along with some damning conclusions about the way the party has responded to this. it set out a whole host of actions including a six month action plan to respond to these findings in the report. it will be hard for the party to avoid some pretty serious questions at this point about what this enquiry has found. . ~ this point about what this enquiry has found. ., ,, , ., , this point about what this enquiry has found. . ~' ,, , . has found. thank you very much, alex. has found. thank you very much, alex- there _ has found. thank you very much, alex. there has _ has found. thank you very much, alex. there has been _ has found. thank you very much, alex. there has been a _ has found. thank you very much, alex. there has been a brief i alex. there has been a brief statement from the equality and human rights commission, a sports person saying that they are pleased to see the independent investigation has now published its report. they have been kept in forms of the progress by professor singh and will evaluate that. that's from the policy —— equality and human rights commission. in england, government advice has emerged urging people not to travel into and out of areas hardest hit by the indian coronavirus variant. the guidance was published online without an announcement on friday. councils in some of the areas

affected say they weren't told the advice had changed. the guidance affects bolton, blackburn, kirklees, bedford, burnley, leicester, hounslow and north tyneside. it warns people against travelling into or out of these areas, unless it's necessary , for example to work or go to school; and to meet outside rather than inside where possible. downing street has insisted authorities in the affected areas were informed , and deny the guidance amounts to local lockdowns by stealth. aruna iyengar has this report. if you live in bolton, you might not be aware that current government advice on coronavirus here is different to other parts of the country. on friday, the government issued guidance, urging people in eight council areas not to travel in or out of the area except for essential reasons. the areas are... north tyneside, bolton, blackburn with darwen, burnley, kirklees, leicester, bedford and hounslow.

residents in these areas are also asked to meet outside and keep two metres apart from those they don't live with. health officials say they weren't told about changes to the advice, with one telling us... he goes on to say that when central government was asked to provide any evidence to support the need for the new measures he did not receive any response. the bbc also spoke to north tyneside council, which said local officials knew nothing about the new guidance until last night. mps say ministers must urgently clarify their advice, saying no announcement about the updated guidance was a recipe for confusion and uncertainty. but the department of health says guidance was needed to encourage people to take an extra cautious approach when meeting others or travelling in areas hit hardest by the new variant, first identified in india. aruna iyengar, bbc news.

let's go to one of the areas affected by this and i am joined by affected by this and i am councillor david greenhalgh is the conservative leader of bolton council — which is one of the local thank you for your time. when did you first become aware of this new advice? i you first become aware of this new advice? ~ ~ you first become aware of this new advice? ~' ,, .,, ., advice? i think like most other authorities, _ advice? i think like most other authorities, we _ advice? i think like most other authorities, we anticipated... l advice? i think like most other i authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you- _ authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you- we _ authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you. we can. _ authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you. we can. there i authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you. we can. there is i authorities, we anticipated... yes i can hear you. we can. there is a i can hear you. we can. there is a delay. apologies for that when did you first become aware of the advice? i you first become aware of the advice? ~ ~ you first become aware of the advice? ~' ,, ., , ., advice? i think, like many other authorities, _ advice? i think, like many other authorities, we _ advice? i think, like many other authorities, we first _ advice? i think, like many other authorities, we first became i advice? i think, like many other. authorities, we first became aware of the change in the format of this advice last night due to press and media enquiries. we first had advice on the cautious approach when we started to see the spike from about the 14th of may, but i immediately

and of course, like many other authorities, sought clarification and have now sought clarification that this is not in any way any additional restrictions in terms of lockdown, which of course, i am very clear that i am fighting against any kind of local lockdown at the moment. kind of local lockdown at the moment-— kind of local lockdown at the moment. �* . moment. but there is we were insured that _ moment. but there is we were insured that there _ moment. but there is we were insured that there are _ moment. but there is we were insured that there are formal- insured that there are formal changes to lockdown, we will be informed. so the specific new advice and you became aware of the following media enquiries last night. when downing street says that authorities in infected areas were informed about the new advice, is it talking about specifically the online advice pubs in filey? —— affected areas. online advice pubs in filey? -- affected areas.— affected areas. what is talking about, i believe, _ affected areas. what is talking about, i believe, is— affected areas. what is talking about, i believe, is the - affected areas. what is talking about, i believe, is the advice| affected areas. what is talking i about, i believe, is the advice that was sent out on the 14th of may originally following the prime

minister's announcement about when we started to see the increase in the variant cases and it was advice that we have done quite regularly through the pandemic on a device to local authorities on to have caution and for the residents to have caution and to socially distance. at the end of that guidance, there was try to avoid nonessential travel in and out of those areas. it then appears that on friday night, that advice was reformatted, which tended to give a little bit more emphasis on travel. this was not notified to us, but i'm glad to say and with relief that this does not mean in any way that we have additional restrictions added on to us as a local authority and that we absolutely have had confirmation from a public health england and from a public health england and from government that the advice and the announcement regarding restrictions and stands as of the prime minister's statement ten days

orso prime minister's statement ten days or so ago. prime minister's statement ten days or so ato. ~ ., i. prime minister's statement ten days orsoato. ~ ., .. prime minister's statement ten days orsoato. ~ ., ., ., or so ago. would you, though, have exected or so ago. would you, though, have expected and _ or so ago. would you, though, have expected and thought _ or so ago. would you, though, have expected and thought it _ or so ago. would you, though, have expected and thought it advisable . expected and thought it advisable that there should be a specific announcement as well as the online advice that was published on friday that there should have been a specific announcement foot? obviously around travel, although there have been indications around travel prior to that as you have said, around people keeping two metres apart and around meeting outside rather than inside were possible? it outside rather than inside were ossible? ., . ., , ., possible? it would certainly have heled for possible? it would certainly have helped for clarification _ possible? it would certainly have helped for clarification because l helped for clarification because this is obviously set a lot of hares running and we have a lot of uncertainty from our businesses who say can we still... the restrictions are not there and therefore it needs to be clear. clearly, any pre—discussions would have been advisable if there was this slight change in the formatting of the advice. and we wouldn't be in this position now will have to clarify so

much and i work in the dark. does this leave you _ much and i work in the dark. does this leave you playing _ much and i work in the dark. does this leave you playing catch up in the messaging locally? it this leave you playing catch up in the messaging locally?— this leave you playing catch up in the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt _ the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it _ the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it does. _ the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it does. we - the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it does. we are i without a doubt it does. we are strongly getting our communications at this morning that there is no change to local restrictions, things remain as they are, as they did from the announcement ten days or so ago. and one final question if i may. around the sensitivity from the government about this being described by some people as a local lockdown. are you saying, you obviously feel quite strongly about that as well, are you saying that despite saying the variant of concern being in your area, that you feel that these measures along with the vaccination programme are such that a local lockdown is not required?— that a local lockdown is not retuired? ., ., , required? while hospitalisations remain low. _ required? while hospitalisations remain low, yes, _ required? while hospitalisations remain low, yes, that _ required? while hospitalisations remain low, yes, that is - required? while hospitalisations remain low, yes, that is the i required? while hospitalisations i remain low, yes, that is the case. why there is clear evidence of

vaccine is working, which currently there is, we are obviously monitoring it on a day—to—day basis, while there is evidence that we are nowhere near the spike in cases that we had last year, the surge testing and surge vaccination currently is a way forward. and surge vaccination currently is a way forward-— and surge vaccination currently is a wa forward. ., ,, , . ., way forward. thank you very much for our time. i'm joined now by professor ravi gupta from the university of cambridge. he's a professor of clinical microbiology and has been researching the evolution of covid—19, including new strains. thank you very much forjoining us professor. talk to us about what is happening in these eight areas with this latest variant of concern first identified in india. and these pieces of advice, this new advice regarding what people should do, how they should behave. do you think that's as an appropriate level?

professor... i don't know if you can hear me, but we can't hear you currently. you may have muted. flan currently. you may have muted. can ou hear currently. you may have muted. can you hear me? _ currently. you may have muted. can you hear me? professor, _ currently. you may have muted. can you hear me? professor, you're i currently. you may have muted. canj you hear me? professor, you're with us. good. you hear me? professor, you're with us- good- you _ you hear me? professor, you're with us. good. you have _ you hear me? professor, you're with us. good. you have my _ you hear me? professor, you're with us. good. you have my question i us. good. you have my question clearly, i trust. us. good. you have my question clearly, itrust._ clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing _ clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing worry _ clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing worry here _ clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing worry here in - clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing worry here in the i clearly, i trust. this variant that is causing worry here in the uk| clearly, i trust. this variant that i is causing worry here in the uk has increased in frequency in india to a considerable extent over the last few weeks, it is one to worry about, we need to keep an eye on it and i think that the, what is happening in the seven areas that have been discussed is that there appears to be transmission in the community of that particular variant and the measures that have been described are, will go some way to mitigating that. but there is a bit of an issue as we have heard in the messaging

from the public that is getting confusing. it is confusing of what they can and cannot do, the level of anxiety people need to have and it's anxiety people need to have and it's a compromise, but i think thatjust needs to be a bit more clarity and a bit more forewarning of the public. compromise is an interesting word because where'd you compromise with this virus? that is the question. looking at how well the vaccination programme is going, do we have enough data to say that you know, if some extra measures are introduced in these areas, given the progress of the vaccination programme, is that altogether enough to put a stop to transmission? i that altogether enough to put a stop to transmission?— to transmission? i personally don't think it is because _ to transmission? i personally don't think it is because we _ to transmission? i personally don't think it is because we haven't i think it is because we haven't reached enough people with two doses and of course young people and children are not vaccinated so there is a significant group of people in whom you are going to get

transmission. of course, the risk of severe illness is lower in this group and that is why they're not vaccinated yet, but it provides a reservoir for this virus to amplify its self and then seep into older age groups who are only partially vaccinated, some of whom may go on to get symptoms, very few of them will get more severe symptoms and end up in hospital and then of course there are vulnerable people in the community have not responded vaccination and some of the elderly who also have impaired immune responses. that is where we are going to end up if this goes out of control and it would only have taken a few more weeks or a couple of months to get vaccination up to higher levels and into younger people to prevent that. just finall , people to prevent that. just finally. on _ people to prevent that. just finally, on the _ people to prevent that. just finally, on the question of people who have had both their vaccinations, how should they be behaving when they hear this advice?

can they relax or not?— can they relax or not? explain that for us. can they relax or not? explain that for us- that's _ can they relax or not? explain that for us. that's a _ can they relax or not? explain that for us. that's a really _ can they relax or not? explain that for us. that's a really difficult i for us. that's a really difficult question. unfortunately, at population level let us take 100 people, if they have all had two doses, let's say 90% will be very highly protected against infection and want transmitted to anyone else either, but there will be up to 10% who have not responded to the vaccine very well, who may be able to transmitted and in general, if you have had two doses, and you are young and healthy let's see you are in good condition, you have a very high chance of being completely even from infection, so it's difficult on an individual level, but i think people can be reassured and shouldn't be worried if they have had two doses of the vaccine. it's more the wider community we are issuing these about.— more the wider community we are issuing these about. thank you very much. supporters of the journalist,

roman protasevich, who's being held in belarus, say they believe he's been beaten and compelled to make a televised confession. president biden has accused belarus of a shameful assault on dissent and freedom of the press, after a ryanair plane carrying the blogger was forced to land in minsk on sunday. european union leaders have agreed to impose further in the past few minutes boris johnson has called for his immediate release. a hijacking, an affront to international norms, playing russian roulette with innocent civilians' lives — some of the charges levelled against belarus by the us, uk, eu and un after this ryanair plane was unexpectedly diverted to land in minsk. we've not seen anything quite as outlandish, as deceitful, as dangerous as this for at least 30, 40, maybe 50 years. all apparently to kidnap this man, opposition journalist roman protasevich, for running an opposition news channel

on the social media platform telegram, where anti—government protests are organised. roman was later seen in a video released by belarus authorities, but we're not showing it because it looks like he was filmed under duress. roman's forehead looks bruised. his father is concerned at what he calls a terrorist act. translation: we hope that he will cope. i we hope that he will stay himself, not give into any of their tricks. we are afraid to even think about it but it's possible he could be beaten and tortured. the eu is furious. its leaders are demanding roman protasevich be freed immediately and democracy returned. they've agreed a ban on belarussian flights from all eu airspace and airports and further penalties on officials and assets in belarus. there will be additional sanctions

on individuals that are involved in the hijacking but this time also on businesses and economic entities that are financing this regime. since disputed elections last august, this man, belarus's president, alexander lu kashenko, has cracked down on dissent. he's had hundreds of activists detained. many others fled the country into exile. among them, roman protasevich. his capture from high in the sky may become the highest profile one yet. mark lobel, bbc news. let's talk to the latvian foreign minister, edgars rinkevics. mr link of h, thank you forjoining us on bbc news today. do you think the latest action from the eu is going to make an impact? first of

all, going to make an impact? first of all. thanks _ going to make an impact? first of all, thanks for— going to make an impact? first of all, thanks for having _ going to make an impact? first of all, thanks for having me. - going to make an impact? first of all, thanks for having me. yes, i all, thanks for having me. yes, indeed i think the decision statement from the eu will work. for two reasons, one is the safety of passengers because it is necessary to be able to fly flights. second, i indeed i believe that we need sanctions in order to increase costs of the regime and to show that such kind of behaviour and what is happening is not acceptable and there is not going to be any cooperation. figs there is not going to be any cooperation.— cooperation. as long as the president — cooperation. as long as the president has _ cooperation. as long as the president has the _ cooperation. as long as the president has the backing l cooperation. as long as the | president has the backing of cooperation. as long as the - president has the backing of russia, is he going to budge? he is president has the backing of russia, is he going to budge?— is he going to budge? he is going to budte if is he going to budge? he is going to budge if russia _ is he going to budge? he is going to budge if russia says _ is he going to budge? he is going to budge if russia says enough - is he going to budge? he is going to budge if russia says enough is i budge if russia says enough is enough and russia can say enough is enough and russia can say enough is enough if they are at least one or two reasons. one, this is very

costly to sustain the regime and russia is putting billions and billions into and if russia understands that actually the risks of losing the whole country not only the president and his cronies. the latest statement from the criminal —— kremlin suggests that russia was involved in the president was not worth responding to. it was driven by anti—russian sentiment and so at the moment, and russia denying any knowledge of the events. your reaction are comment? i knowledge of the events. your reaction are comment?- reaction are comment? i was surprised — reaction are comment? i was surprised and _ reaction are comment? i was surprised and we _ reaction are comment? i was surprised and we need i reaction are comment? i was surprised and we need a i reaction are comment? i was i surprised and we need a thorough investigation and i think there are so many questions that need to be answered that to jump to conclusions while this operation coordinated to find what happened during that incident. those questions need to be answered. i don't have doubts that this was a special operation, that

this was a special operation, that this kind of lets say forceful landing of of the plane was orchestrated by means, was russian involvement are not? i think we still need to have some more investigation in order to understand. in investigation in order to understand.— investigation in order to understand. ., , ., understand. in the meantime, your messate understand. in the meantime, your message to — understand. in the meantime, your message to the _ understand. in the meantime, your message to the kremlin _ understand. in the meantime, your message to the kremlin in - understand. in the meantime, your message to the kremlin in terms i understand. in the meantime, yourj message to the kremlin in terms of any influence they can bring to bear on this? i any influence they can bring to bear on this? ~ . any influence they can bring to bear on this? ,, ., ., , on this? i think that it would be very good _ on this? i think that it would be very good if— on this? i think that it would be very good if russia _ on this? i think that it would be very good if russia can - on this? i think that it would be | very good if russia can influence values to stop doing stupid things. it is simply very dangerous to put hundreds of people in danger, those who are travelling from athens to vilnius. a military plane was

involved. vilnius. a military plane was involved-— vilnius. a military plane was involved. , , ., ., , ., ,, involved. this is dangerous. thank ou ve involved. this is dangerous. thank you very much- — involved. this is dangerous. thank you very much. some _ involved. this is dangerous. thank you very much. some breaking i involved. this is dangerous. thank. you very much. some breaking news. an independent expert panel has concluded that conservative mp robert roberts should be suspended for six weeks for breaching parliament's sexual misconduct policy and that is the finding of the independent expert panel on that. the mp was accused of multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards parliamentary staff but had prior to this face no action from the party. the conservatives are saying they had strongly rebuked rob roberts for his unacceptable conduct, but a woman who said that mr roberts had asked her to fool around with him had said it was like he had gotten away with it. she added that the outcome of the party's investigation brought the party's investigation brought the morals and values of the

conservative party under scrutiny. now an independent expert panel has concluded that conservative mp robert roberts should be suspended for six weeks for breaching parliament's sexual misconduct policy. the director—general of the bbc, tim davie, says the findings of an investigation into how the journalist martin bashir was rehired by the corporation will be published next week. an inquiry by a former seniorjudge last week found the bbc covered up "deceitful behaviour" used by martin bashir to secure an interview with princess diana in 1995. the bbc rehired him as a religion correspondent in 2016, when questions had already been asked about his conduct. let's talk to our media and arts correspondent, david sillito. tell us more about what tim davie has been saying. it sounds like a speedy investigation. last has been saying. it sounds like a speedy investigation.— has been saying. it sounds like a speedy investigation. last week was all about revealing _ speedy investigation. last week was all about revealing the _ speedy investigation. last week was all about revealing the deceit - all about revealing the deceit behind the diana interview and the

bbc saying sorry. this week it's all about what the bbc is going to do about what the bbc is going to do about it. two elements to that. there were people who knew in the 19905 that there were people who knew in the 1990s that martin bashir had lied to them. and there were concerns raised over the years by people within the bbc about martin bashir, so there is an investigation that has been announced today about why he was rehired in 2016 and tim davies says it will be until an investigation and it will be made public and it will be a fairly quick investigation.- will be a fairly quick investigation. will be a fairly quick investitation. ~ ., will be a fairly quick investitation. ~ . , investigation. we are in the course of a tuick investigation. we are in the course of a quick investigation _ investigation. we are in the course of a quick investigation led - investigation. we are in the course of a quick investigation led by i investigation. we are in the course of a quick investigation led by an i of a quick investigation led by an independent within the bbc by kenny mcquarrie who was. we should be subbing _ mcquarrie who was. we should be subbing next week. as mcquarrie who was. we should be subbing next week.— mcquarrie who was. we should be subbing next week. as most people are sa int subbing next week. as most people are saying if — subbing next week. as most people are saying if this _ subbing next week. as most people are saying if this is _ subbing next week. as most people are saying if this is long _ subbing next week. as most people are saying if this is long enough i subbing next week. as most people are saying if this is long enough to i are saying if this is long enough to get to the bottom of it? this is

incredibly speedy. really, this is where all the focus is, isn't it, about the rehiring and what conversation you had? yesterday it was announced _ conversation you had? yesterday it was announced that _ conversation you had? yesterday it was announced that it _ conversation you had? yesterday it was announced that it was - conversation you had? yesterday it was announced that it was going i conversation you had? yesterday it was announced that it was going to be a review of the bbc�*s editorial whistle—blowing policies as well. that's all part of this. there were people within the bbc who raised concerns about martin bashir and why those concerns were not taken more seriously and what he was taking a job again in 2016. there are all part and parcel of the same thing. why did he return to the bbc? there were people in the bbc who knew he had one of the biggest stories of the decade and he had lied about exactly how he got that interview. david, thank you very much. the government had to borrow £300 billion to plug the gap between government income and spending in the year to the end of march. the figures just published by the office for national statistics show the highest public sector borrowing since records

began in 1946, but it's substantially less than was predicted last november. let's get more on this we can speak to our business presenter ben thompson. morning to you, ben. lets put these figures into context please. yes. figures into context please. yes, tood figures into context please. yes, good morning- — figures into context please. yes, good morning. it's _ figures into context please. yes, good morning. it's easy - figures into context please. yes, good morning. it's easy to i figures into context please. 1a: good morning. it's easy to get bogged down in specific numbers here, but what they really tell us is a picture of an economy that is slowly, very slowly on the mend and, yes, the government had to borrow because frankly, it's making less in revenues, those revenues might be things like taxes from business, from us and our earnings and things like vat because we are working less, spending less and is also having to pay out more in the public spending and that includes everything from hospitals and health to roads and railways, but crucially, the furlough schemes, which are still propping up the wages of about 4.2 million people, it is down from the peak of 9 million people at the height of the pandemic when large parts of the

economy were closed, but nonetheless, the economy is not functioning normally and therefore it is having to borrow to prop it up. the big question of course is how long it will need to do that and whether it will need to borrow even more money until the economy is able to fully reopen. so, on that basis, let's get the thoughts of an economist and he is with us this morning. aaron, good morning. these figures that we look at four april, they do paint a picture, don't they of an economy that is slowly mending, but nonetheless the figures are still the highest borrowing figures since records began four april? just talk through the context of that. there are two different numbers there _ there are two different numbers there. one of the £300 billion. a year— there. one of the £300 billion. a year ago — there. one of the £300 billion. a year ago we all went into stasis, iockdown— year ago we all went into stasis, lockdown happened in march and the government over that period has had a bunch _ government over that period has had a bunch of— government over that period has had a bunch of actions done, the pirlo scheme. — a bunch of actions done, the pirlo scheme, support for businesses. those _ scheme, support for businesses. those things obviously cost money.

back when — those things obviously cost money. back when the budget of office responsibility were telling us what they were expecting to see, their first protections —— projections ended — first protections —— projections ended up— first protections —— projections ended up with numbers of around 400 billion _ ended up with numbers of around 400 billion in_ ended up with numbers of around 400 billion. in that context, 300 billion— billion. in that context, 300 billion is— billion. in that context, 300 billion is a lot of money. it is huge — billion is a lot of money. it is huge but— billion is a lot of money. it is huge. but in one sense, it is better than _ huge. but in one sense, it is better than expected. that speaks to the fact that _ than expected. that speaks to the fact that the economy has been stronger— fact that the economy has been stronger than expected, the actions that have _ stronger than expected, the actions that have been taken means that peopie _ that have been taken means that people have stayed injobs, unemployment hasn't risen like it did after— unemployment hasn't risen like it did after the financial crisis. the new number for today was also this number— new number for today was also this number of— new number for today was also this number of 30 billion, which is how much _ number of 30 billion, which is how much you — number of 30 billion, which is how much you borrowjust in the month of aprii~ _ much you borrowjust in the month of aprii~ that— much you borrowjust in the month of aprii~ that is— much you borrowjust in the month of april. that is the second worst on record. _ april. that is the second worst on record. the — april. that is the second worst on record, the worst last year. again, it is better— record, the worst last year. again, it is better than the office for budget— it is better than the office for budget responsibility were forecasting. they had to make the forecast _ forecasting. they had to make the

forecast back in january, forecasting. they had to make the forecast back injanuary, the beginning of the third lockdown, there _ beginning of the third lockdown, there were big worries about how the economy— there were big worries about how the economy to _ there were big worries about how the economy to perform, when we go to -et economy to perform, when we go to get back— economy to perform, when we go to get back to — economy to perform, when we go to get back to doing normal things. spending — get back to doing normal things. spending has been more robust, peopie _ spending has been more robust, people continue to spend money. actually. — people continue to spend money. actually, while at the same time 32 billion— actually, while at the same time 32 billion is— actually, while at the same time 32 billion is a — actually, while at the same time 32 billion is a big number, 500 person for every— billion is a big number, 500 person for every person in the country, it is much _ for every person in the country, it is much better than was forecast. that expected over the coming year, if economic— that expected over the coming year, if economic growth continues to strengthen the way it has been, if the virus — strengthen the way it has been, if the virus continues to peter wright in the _ the virus continues to peter wright in the uk _ the virus continues to peter wright in the uk at least as we continue to vaccinate. — in the uk at least as we continue to vaccinate. it— in the uk at least as we continue to vaccinate, it might be the case that we are _ vaccinate, it might be the case that we are facing less of the big additional debt this year than we had expected. it is additional debt this year than we had expected-— additional debt this year than we had expected. it is worth putting it into the context. _ had expected. it is worth putting it into the context. just _ had expected. it is worth putting it into the context. just a _ had expected. it is worth putting it into the context. just a word i had expected. it is worth putting it into the context. just a word on i into the context. just a word on what happens next. as she touched

on, there are a lot of maybes about how the economy does recover. we know that the jobs market is still sort of artificially supported by that furlough scheme, the big question is when that is phased out will lose jobs to be there. we question is when that is phased out will losejobs to be there. we have talked about economic growth, are there the right people for the jobs? a lot of businesses are saying they are struggling to find the right people that they need. there are also costs that might go up, things like building parts, labour if you can get the right staff, the chancellor will be looking at all of those things. the chancellor will be looking at all of those things-— those things. the chancellor will have to think— those things. the chancellor will have to think about _ those things. the chancellor will have to think about what - those things. the chancellor will| have to think about what support those things. the chancellor will i have to think about what support the chancellor _ have to think about what support the chancellor will provide over the next _ chancellor will provide over the next few — chancellor will provide over the next few months to a year to smooth people _ next few months to a year to smooth people back— next few months to a year to smooth people back into work, trying to quickly— people back into work, trying to quickly support a return to normality in this short term two-year— normality in this short term two—year horizon. the other thing is the longer— two—year horizon. the other thing is the longer term challenge, what kind of skills— the longer term challenge, what kind of skills to _ the longer term challenge, what kind of skills to be need? even before

the pandemic there were a lot of changes— the pandemic there were a lot of changes in— the pandemic there were a lot of changes in the skills that people need _ changes in the skills that people need. those things require people who have — need. those things require people who have additional skills that are not merely the ones out there in the labour— not merely the ones out there in the labour market. there was already a need _ labour market. there was already a need for— labour market. there was already a need for people to retrain. this will accentuate the need to make that move, speed up the timing of that move, speed up the timing of that move — that move, speed up the timing of that move to focus that now because there _ that move to focus that now because there will— that move to focus that now because there will be a lot of people whose 'obs there will be a lot of people whose jobs may— there will be a lot of people whose jobs may not go back to normality. that will— jobs may not go back to normality. that will have an effect. it is really good _ that will have an effect. it is really good to _ that will have an effect. it is really good to talk _ that will have an effect. it is really good to talk to - that will have an effect. it 3 really good to talk to you this morning. thank you for explaining all of that. thank you for painting the picture for us. the latest borrowing figures suggest that the economy is slowly mending after so many months of stasis as a result of that pandemic. latte

many months of stasis as a result of that pandemic-— many months of stasis as a result of that pandemic. we are going straight to the house — that pandemic. we are going straight to the house of— that pandemic. we are going straight to the house of commons _ that pandemic. we are going straight to the house of commons with i that pandemic. we are going straight to the house of commons with the i to the house of commons with the business ministry is talking about the future of the liberty steel stockbridge plant. we need to explore any ideas that can bring those projects to fruition. having said that there is a limited capacity. just fruition. having said that there is a limited capacity.— a limited capacity. just last week the secretary _ a limited capacity. just last week the secretary of _ a limited capacity. just last week the secretary of state _ a limited capacity. just last week the secretary of state accepted l a limited capacity. just last week i the secretary of state accepted the inexcusable costs for scottish renewable projects. notwithstanding the 11 years they have been in government, the government continue to blame offjan while at the same time refusing to accept that they are the ones that set the of gem strategy. can the secretary of state outlined when the consultation detailed in its energy white paper will begin, when it will land on where we will see a real change, or is it simply a case that uk energy ministers are the worst in the

world? ., ~ , ministers are the worst in the world? m , ., , ., ., world? he makes appointed an unfair observation that _ world? he makes appointed an unfair observation that i _ world? he makes appointed an unfair observation that i believe _ world? he makes appointed an unfair observation that i believe his - observation that i believe his dignity. we have worked... he is referring to a classic work published ten years ago. ten years ago as a long time. i don't want to revisit those battles. it was an issue for off gem —— offjan ofgen. because courting is not yet speaking about liberty steel, he said that having a sustainable steel sector is very important, but he's not speaking about the stockbridge just yet. in the meantime, we will catch up yet. in the meantime, we will catch

up with sports. austin has the details for us. we will start with the ball. we are less that 90 minutes away from gareth southgate naming his provisional squad for the euros. he won't name his final squad until next tuesday because there are still players involved in other competitions. he will be desperate for his players to recreate some of their performances from their last major tournament when they got to the semifinals of the world cup in russia. plenty of those players will go along with some new faces, one of them could be phil foden, who start them could be phil foden, who start the season for manchester city. fix, the season for manchester city. lot of players at the moment on top of their game. i think we have a great attack, great all over the pitch. it must be a headache for gareth to pick a team. that shows how many quality players we have got. i think we can start pushing on

to try and win things now. potentially half of his squad will be involved in those european finals this week, so there is no doubt gareth southgate will be worried about injuries. you can follow it all now on the bbc sport website and if you fancy yourself as a manager, you can pick your own squad beforehand on the website, as well. hansie fleck will take over as the new germany manager after the euros, replacing jochen love, winning the world cup alongside him. fleck left hisjob as head coach world cup alongside him. fleck left his job as head coach at bayern munich last week. pep guardiola has been voted the manager of the year by the league managers association. the spaniard led manchester city to their third premier league title in four years. no rest for the wicked, though, his side take on chelsea in the champions league final in portugal

on saturday. it is champions league final in portugal on saturday-— on saturday. it is difficult to stop them with the _ on saturday. it is difficult to stop them with the quality _ on saturday. it is difficult to stop them with the quality that - on saturday. it is difficult to stop them with the quality that they l them with the quality that they have, there are setup is wide, wide in the sides, and depth. they are so close, the distance between the players, it is so close. manchester ci is the players, it is so close. manchester city is the benchmark, _ players, it is so close. manchester city is the benchmark, they - players, it is so close. manchester city is the benchmark, they are i players, it is so close. manchester| city is the benchmark, they are the champions — city is the benchmark, they are the champions in europe, in this league. we are _ champions in europe, in this league. we are the _ champions in europe, in this league. we are the guys who want to hunt them _ we are the guys who want to hunt them and — we are the guys who want to hunt them and close the gap and we are them and close the gap and we are the guys _ them and close the gap and we are the guys to— them and close the gap and we are the guys to challenge them. chelsea boss emma hayes _ the guys to challenge them. chelsea boss emma hayes has _ the guys to challenge them. chelsea boss emma hayes has been - the guys to challenge them. chelsea boss emma hayes has been named. boss emma hayes has been named women's super league manager of the yearfor the second year women's super league manager of the year for the second year and a look. she led the side to a historic campaign with the blues winning back—to—back wsl titles, the continental league cup and reaching theirfirst champions continental league cup and reaching their first champions league final, as well. fran kirby has been named

player of the year. she scored 16 goals in 18 appearances. japan had been assured by the united states that are no travel advisory will not affect american olympians. the tokyo games are just weeks away and on monday the us state department warned americans against travel to japan because of a surging coronavirus case number in the country. they stay they still anticipate american athletes will be able to safely travel and compete. the pga of america has apologised after spectators overwhelmed security officials and swarmed around phil mickelson and brooks kafka on the final hole of the pga championship on sunday. when phil mickelson's approach the green at the 18th at keio island he became surrounded by the crowd as spectators raced to follow him up the fairway. his playing partner, brooks kafka, who is recovering from

a dislocated kneecap, said he had been dented a few times in the knee by the crowd. that is all your support for now. i will have more in the next hour. i think the word tank probably belies how painful that was. i think he was being polite. thank you very much. we have some breaking news coming up. this is in relation to the advice given by the government over guidelines for people living in areas where the indian variance is a variant of concern. the government published its advice online on friday. it says that the areas affected where informed, but the elected mayor of north tyneside said that consistent local messages having the biggest difference to our

communities, but when i find out conflicting messages coming in, i work with local mps and council officers to get clarity for our residents and businesses. she says we receive no consultation or communication about this advice which has implications for people across north tyneside and the wider region. it is essential to the government explain what this advice means in practice. she says we have enhanced testing and extra vaccination services in place and are working hard to keep infection rates down. she is saying she received no consultation or communication about this latest piece of advice. police in london investigating the shooting of a prominent black lives matters activist say there is no information to suggest she was the victim of a targeted attack. sasha johnson, who is 27, remains in critical care in hospital after being shot in the head. commander alison heydari

is from the metropolitan police. from our enquiry so far, we have established that sasha was in a party on sunday at consort road in peckham. this was early on sunday morning and, at about 3.00am, a group of four black men dressed in dark clothing entered the garden of the property and discharged a firearm. they left the scene before police could arrive. we are aware of sasha's involvement in the black lives matter movement and i understand the concern that this will cause some communities, but at this time we have no information that indicates that she was subject to a targeted attack. today is the first anniversary of the murder of george floyd, the black american man killed by a white police officer in minneapolis. mr floyd's death sparked global protests against racism. barbara plett usher reports. in the year since george floyd died, rituals have helped to build

and shape a movement. the standard—bearers drawn by a mix of the political and personal, like cortez rice — a symbolic pallbearer in a never—ending funeral. it's my beloved friend, man. he was like an uncle to me, like i say, i loved him and i miss him dearly. he was a role model to me. let me see all the hands. floyd's violent arrest and death over a minor crime was replayed at the recent trial of his killer — a white police officer convicted of murder. activists believe that pressure on the streets helped secure the guilty verdict. now cortez is focusing on using the law to change the way policing is done. that's why i recentlyjoined the naacp minneapolis chapter so i can be familiarised with the bills that's going on, and to help our people out. so it sounds to me like you're kind of giving yourself, like, a legal education. yeah, definitely. that's quite a change, no? yeah, definitely. that's a big change. many lives have changed,

even if wider reforms have been slow to follow. it activated me. it activated me in ways i didn't know i could be activated. butchy austin lives in the neighbourhood where george floyd was killed. i saw an opportunity to have a deeper community with my neighbours, to have tougher conversations about systemic racism and police brutality. every sunday, he joins this service on the corner of the square where floyd died. faith gives them confidence, but the debate in the city over how to handle policing is messy. and officers say they're under such scrutiny they don't feel free to do theirjobs. it's long overdue that an officer thinks twice before engaging. and i know some people are frustrated about how many officers are leaving the force. and they feel like police are being oppressed. again, if you're doing yourjob right, this shouldn't be happening.

so this anniversary is a chance to reflect on a life lost, on battles won and struggles yet to be overcome. barbara plett usher, bbc news, minneapolis. a survey suggests nearly half of all dentists in england are considering leaving their practice if covid restrictions remain in place. over the past year, most non—urgent medical appointments have been postponed or cancelled. this has led to long waiting lists and frustrated patients, damaging morale. our correspondent dan johnson reports. a year ago, the virtual waiting room was filling up, as dentistry ground to a halt. twelve months on, there's still a big queue to get back in the big chair. clare's been waiting more than two years already. now i'm very, very self conscious and i kind of really, you know, desperately want to have the work done and feel more confident in myself again, because it's knocked my confidence as well. extra measures to guard against the virus have slowed down dental appointments.

so clearing last year's backlog has been near impossible. some patients were told to go private, or forced to travel miles. at some point it got as bad as wanting to bang my head against a brick wall, really. so, yeah. and i'm a complete dental—phobe anyway, so for me to actually want to go to a dentist, that says how bad it was, really. the british dental association says in england there were 28 million fewer appointments in the last year. and a survey of their members suggests things aren't getting better. nearly half of those who responded say they'll change career, or take early retirement in the next year, if working conditions don't improve. a significant number are thinking of changing career, or leaving the profession altogether. really working in the current situation, with the arrangements for the pandemic, with our standard operating procedures that we're working to at the moment,

make delivering dentistry a very difficultjob to do. and it's clearly reflected in the results of our survey. the department for health and social care says it is supporting dentists, and increasing access while protecting patients and staff. but the waiting lists were growing even before the pandemic. and dentists want to know how and when they can get back to something like normal, before more of their colleagues decide they've had enough. the head of the world health organization has said that all health workers and elderly across the world would have been vaccinated against coronavirus by now ifjabs has been distributed equitably. in an appeal for more doses for poorer countries, tedros adhanom ghebreyesus said governments vaccinating low risk groups were doing so at the expense of vulnerable people elsewhere. he was speaking at the opening of the world health assembly in geneva.

australia's second largest city, melbourne, has reinstated covid restrictions after a fresh outbreak of the virus. home gatherings will be limited to five guests, public gatherings will be restricted to 30 people and facemasks will be mandatory indoors. the state of victoria hadn't recorded any covid cases for nearly three months. the headlines on bbc news: anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem in the conservative party and some of the prime minister's comments were "insensitive", according to a review into islamophobia in the party friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten. local authorities insist they weren't informed about new restrictions in eight areas in england, as the government urges people not to travel in or out of the places and avoid meeting indoors there. australia has announced it will shut its embassy in afghanistan this week,

citing fears over the "increasingly uncertain security environment" in kabul as foreign troops continue to withdraw. australia plans to move quickly, with the embassy closing in just three days. our correspondent phil mercer explained the background to the decision. afghanistan was never a popular war here in australia and the closure according to the government, it will be temporary, of its embassy in a few days' time. it's another chapter in australia's involvement with afghanistan. now recently, we've seen the australian foreign minister marise payne visit afghanistan and she has reaffirmed today australia's continued commitment to the people of afghanistan but certainly this is a rapid movement, it will foreshadow the removal of a few dozen remaining australian defence force personnel and if you look at the statement from marise payne, the foreign minister, and her boss the prime minister, scott morrison, here in australia, they do say that in their words,

the security environment in afghanistan is getting worse and if you can read into that, but it's not safe for diplomats to be there. australia is saying that afghanistan will still be serviced by australian diplomats based in another country, possibly nearby. but this is another chapter in australia's involvement in afghanistan. australia leaving the country along with lots of other countries. one of italy's most wanted men, the mafia boss rocco morabito, has been arrested in brazil. morabito is said to be part of a powerful organised crime group and was nicknamed the �*cocaine king of milan'. a warrant for his arrest has been outstanding since 1994. in september 2017 he was arrested in uruguay, but he escaped from prison in montevideo through a hole in the roof of the building. charities working with older people

say demand for video—calling and digital services has doubled over the last year. the bbc has been speaking to one man, ron, who was widowed at the start of the pandemic and says learning to video chat with people was "a godsend". luxmy gopal reports. ron and jean were married for 56 years, but at the start of the pandemicjean died of cancer. three weeks after we got the funeral over with, lockdown came — it couldn't have come at a worse time. stuck shielding at home for months, ron faced his grief alone — until he decided to learn how to video chat. hiya, ron. hello, there. hello again. nice to see you again. to be quite honest, without me ipad, i would have been totally lost. in my particular position it's brilliant, because i can't walk so it's been a godsend to be able to talk to people, you know, without going out of my house. he was remotely taught digital skills by local charities in leeds. after never having touched a tablet

device before last year, he's now used his to find bereavement counselling and chat to people. at least you're not talking to faceless people — when you talk to them on the phone yet, you can't imagine who you're really talking to. i've got in touch with a cousin of mine in kent who i haven't spoken to for 45 years, and i've got through to her on messenger and all you do is press a camera thing and it gets you through — unbelievable. and ron's experience reflects a trend among his generation. an ofcom study found the proportion of over—65s using video calling nearly tripled after lockdown, and the leeds branch of age uk says during the pandemic it's seen a doubling in demand for its digital support services among older people. many charities say the online influx could be beneficial in the long term for delivering services — for example, to those with mobility issues or in bad weather. of course, it's not about replacing face—to—face contact,

but simply offering more options. it's about giving people that choice. we're trying to give people the skills and the access to the devices and the connectivity, which are all challenges that we face. but if we can encourage people to give it a go so they can see what it's like to use it if they need to. do you think this is something you're going to continue with in the future, even after lockdown and the pandemic is over? no doubt about it, no doubt about it. yeah, i'll keep on using it. there's work to be done to ensure wider access to the internet and devices for the older community. but the past year of lockdown has at least encouraged more engagement. and the final thought from ron on zoom. you're never too old to learn. it's as simple as that. i mean, if i can learn, anybody can. luxmy gopal, bbc news, leeds. the lead singer of the italian glam rock band which won the eurovision song contest has returned a negative drugs test. damiano david denied taking drugs following online speculation afterfootage showed him leaning

over a table during the grand final on saturday. the european broadcasting union said the allegation had overshadowed the spirit and the outcome of the contest and unfairly affected the band. finally, something to put a smile on your face. two magellanic chicks have joined the colony at the chicago shedd aquarium in the us. these little penguins, which are a threatened species, hatched within a week of each other. for now, they will be living with an adult pair and will be shown to the public once they hit important growing milestones. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello, again. on the 25th of may last year temperatures were widely from the low 20s to the mid 20s. today, well, we are still struggling to get up to average which is roughly 15 to about 18 or 19 north to south, but we do have sunny spells and scattered heavy showers.

today, we are not expecting as many showers as yesterday, low pressure that brought the rain has moved away and we have a little system coming in across the south—west which will introduce some rain through today. after a cloudy start with some patchy rain, sunny spells developing but so are the showers across parts of scotland, northern and eastern england, some of those heavy and thundery with hail. it is breezy so they will move along and we have this rain across the isles of scilly, devon and cornwall and into the channel islands but in between, a lot of dry weather with sunshine and highs between roughly 11 and 17 degrees, cooler on the north sea coast line. this evening, many of the showers will fade, the rain pulls away but in its wake we see some cloud and showers, and more cloud comes in across eastern areas, introducing some patchy rain. temperatures falling away to between [i and 9 degrees, we are not expecting any issues with frost. tomorrow then, we still have all this cloud and patchy rain in the north and east, a lot of dry weather around tomorrow, northern ireland, wales, southern england.

still a bit of cloud left in the south—west, here we have highs of 15 degrees, top temperatures likely to be in london and glasgow, at 17 degrees. as we go through wednesday night into thursday, we start to see some subtle changes. we start with some showers, we may even see a little bit of mist forming but it won't be problematic and then we have a ridge of high pressure building across us on thursday, settling things down so a lot of dry weather, sunshine around. this weather front trying to come from the west will introduce some rain but because it's bumping into the high pressure, the rain will be as intense as it has been and temperatures up a bit, looking at 19, maybe even 20 degrees. friday and into the weekend, high pressure really takes hold, things remain fairly settled and also mostly dry as well. on bank holiday monday, we might see a weather front coming into the north—west bringing some rain but that's a long way off. one thing you will notice is, temperatures are going to get up to possibly 21, possibly 22.

april? just talk through the context of that. this is bbc news. the headlines: local authorities insist they weren't informed about new restrictions in eight areas in england, as the government urges people not to travel in or out of the places and avoid meeting indoors there. we weren't told, and we were in regular communication with the hsc, so you would have expected something like this to have been communicated to our teams. and in the next hour, the vaccines minister nadhim zahawi will appear in the commons answer questions from mps about those local restrictions. anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem in the conservative party and some of the prime minister's comments were "insensitive" according to a review into alleged islamophobia in the party. friends of the journalist being held in belarus after his plane was diverted say he looks like he's been beaten and forced to make a televised confession.

uk government borrowing is down by about £15 billion from this time last year, reaching £31.7 billion last month as parts of the economy reopened. george floyd's family will be welcomed to the white house on the first anniversary of his murder. but many african—americans say police reform has not come fast enough. government advice has emerged warning people not to travel into and out of areas of england hardest hit by the indian coronavirus variant. the guidance was published online without an announcement on friday. councils in some of the areas affected say they weren't told the advice had changed.

the guidance affects bolton, blackburn, kirklees, bedford, burnley, leicester, hounslow and north tyneside. it warns people against travelling into or out of these areas, unless it's necessary, for example to work or go to school, and to meet outside rather than inside where possible. downing street has insisted authorities in the affected areas were informed, and deny the guidance amounts to local lockdowns by stealth. aruna iyengar has this report. if you live in bolton, you might not be aware that current government advice on coronavirus here is different to other parts of the country. on friday, the government issued guidance, urging people in eight council areas not to travel in or out of the area except for essential reasons. the areas are...

residents in these areas are also asked to meet outside and keep two metres apart from those they don't live with. health officials say they weren't told about changes to the advice, with one telling us... he goes on to say that when central government was asked to provide any evidence to support the need for the new measures he did not receive any response. the bbc also spoke to north tyneside council, which said local officials knew nothing about the new guidance until last night. mps say ministers must urgently clarify their advice, saying no announcement about the updated guidance was a recipe for confusion and uncertainty. but the department of health says guidance was needed to encourage people to take an extra cautious approach when meeting others or travelling in areas hit hardest by the new variant, first identified in india.

aruna iyengar, bbc news. councillor david greenhalgh is the conservative leader of bolton council — which is one of the local authorities impacted by the change to restrictions. he told me earlier that the changes on the government website came to his attention last night. i think, like many other authorities, we first became aware of the change in the format almost of the change in the format almost of this advice last night due to press and media enquiries. we first had advice on the cautious approach when we started to see the spike from about the 14th of may, but i immediately and of course, like many other authorities, sought clarification and have now sought clarification and have now sought clarification that this is not in any way additional restrictions in terms of lockdown, which of course i have been very clear that i am fighting against any kind of local

lockdown at the moment. we have been assured that if there were any formal changes to any lockdown restrictions, we would be informed. so, the specific new advice you became aware of the following media enquiries last night. when downing street said that authorities in affected areas were informed by the new advice, is it talking specifically, do you think, about the online advice published on friday? the online advice published on frida ? ~ ., �* , the online advice published on frida 7~ . �*, ., ~ the online advice published on frida t . �*, ., ~ friday? what it's talking about, i believe, friday? what it's talking about, i believe. is _ friday? what it's talking about, i believe, is the _ friday? what it's talking about, i believe, is the advice _ friday? what it's talking about, i believe, is the advice that - friday? what it's talking about, i believe, is the advice that was i friday? what it's talking about, i i believe, is the advice that was sent out on the 14th of may originally, following the prime minister's an announcement about when we started to see the increase in the variant cases and it was advice that, it's advice we have done regularly throughout the pandemic on advice to local authorities and to have caution and for the residents to have caution and to socially

distance. and at the end of that guidance, there was try to avoid nonessential travel in and out of those areas. it then appears that on friday night, that advice was reformatted which tended to give a little bit more emphasis on the travel. this was not notified to us, but i am glad to say and with relief, but this does not mean in any way that we have additional restrictions added on to us as a local authority and that we absolutely have had confirmation from public health england and from government that the advice and the announcement regarding restrictions stands as of the prime minister's statement ten days or so ago. would ou thouah statement ten days or so ago. would you though have _ statement ten days or so ago. would you though have expected _ statement ten days or so ago. would you though have expected and - statement ten days or so ago. would you though have expected and thought it advisable that there should be a specific announcement as well as the online advice that was published on friday, that they should have been a specific announcement, obviously around travel, although there had been indications regarding travel

ploughs but as you said, around people keeping two metres apart and around meeting outside rather than inside were possible? it around meeting outside rather than inside were possible?— inside were possible? it would certainly have _ inside were possible? it would certainly have helped - inside were possible? it would certainly have helped for - certainly have helped for clarification because this is obviously set a lot of hair is running, we have a lot of uncertainty from our businesses now, who say can we still meet inside? restrictions are not there and therefore it needs to be very clear, so clearly, any pre—discussions would be advisable if there was the slight change in the formatting of the advice. and we are not in this position now will we have to clarify so much and not work in the dark. does this leave you playing catch up in the messaging locally? it does this leave you playing catch up in the messaging locally?— in the messaging locally? it does, es, in the messaging locally? it does, yes. without _ in the messaging locally? it does, yes. without a _ in the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt _ in the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it _ in the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it does. - in the messaging locally? it does, yes, without a doubt it does. we l in the messaging locally? it does, i yes, without a doubt it does. we are strongly getting our communication comes out of this morning about there is no change to our local restrictions, things remain as they

are, as they did from the announcement ten days or so ago. councillor from announcement ten days or so ago. councillorfrom bolton announcement ten days or so ago. councillor from bolton council. an independent report into allegations of racial discrimination within the conservative party has found �*anti—muslim sentiment remains a problem'. the inquiry was commissioned by the conservatives following claims of islamophobia among its members. the report says the party recorded more than 1,400 complaints about alleged discrimination over a five year period, and said borisjohnson's past comments about women wearing the burqa gave the impression that the tories are "insensitive to muslim communities". but it said claims of "institutional racism" were not borne out by the way complaints were handled. joining me now from westminster is our political correspondent, chris mason. chris, good afternoon to you. and lord singh, who wrote this report said that he hopes it makes the rank and file uncomfortable and it also spurs them into action and a message to borisjohnson, to lead by example

and accept our recommendations unequivocally and unconditionally. how uncomfortable do you think this report is going to make the party? it is unquestionably uncomfortable for the conservatives. this is the report published by professor singh a couple of hours ago. i have spent the last couple of hours reading about 100 pages of testimony and reflections and interviews, many of them from people who are offering their perspectives on dealings with their perspectives on dealings with their association with the conservative party and these allegations of anti—muslim impression and discrimination in some instances. you ran through there are some of the key numbers attached to this report. let me give you a sense of some of the sentiment and reaction that we have been getting in the last couple of minutes. it does say that the allegation made by the former party chairman that the conservatives were institutionally racist and is a phobic, it concludes that that

allegation against the party was not borne out by the evidence available to the investigation, but it does say that at several levels, there are a real problems. so problems of perception associated with the prime minister's remarks before he was prime minister, in particular that article he wrote in the daily telegraph in 2018 suggesting that women wearing burke as looked like litter boxes or bank robbers. he told the journalist should be allowed to use language freely but he understands people will be offended by what he said and he wouldn't say it again as prime minister. in addition to that, there is a problem associated with social media and problems associated with local associations, the local grassroots of the conservative party. it emphasises that overall though, the level of compliance is tiny fraction of overall membership, but it does say there is a problem and it doesn't say that things need to change and their arrant adequate measures at the moment for

addressing complaints that the complaint system is inadequately staffed and that not enough people at local level of the party are adequately twined either and it suggests all of that has to change. —— much trained. let me give you an reaction and sajid javid chancellor just tweeting and we can expect to hear more for him as a day goes on. limit put up a treat for you now. my phone has decided to put something else entirely but he basically says in his tweet that it is absolutely important that the party accepts the recommendations are full and without caveat. another member was much more critical in her reflections suggesting that it poses questions that the party so far has singularly failed to answer.— failed to answer. and, chris, does what professor _ failed to answer. and, chris, does what professor singh _ failed to answer. and, chris, does what professor singh have - failed to answer. and, chris, does what professor singh have to - failed to answer. and, chris, does what professor singh have to say. failed to answer. and, chris, does| what professor singh have to say in

his recommendations, does not amount to a recommendation that the conservative party should change its code of conduct?— code of conduct? yes, he says that the existing _ code of conduct? yes, he says that the existing mechanisms _ code of conduct? yes, he says that the existing mechanisms for - code of conduct? yes, he says that| the existing mechanisms for dealing with complaints like this are simply not adequate, that a complaints process is inadequately staffed, that people are inadequately trained at all levels and particularly at a local level as far as obligations on social media are concerned for instance. so, yes, he says that the structures within the party for dealing with allegations of his phobia in particular, because that is the crux of the investigation that he has been conducting, arrant currently up to it. i suspect we will get pretty soon this afternoon reaction from the party itself and the conservative party chair and there is pressure now from senior figures that the party fully and without caveat or exception takes on

board what professor singh is saying and that changes its procedures as the professor articulates are necessary. he acknowledges quite strikingly actually in his report that he was frustrated that it hadn't generated enough and as much attention as he was gathering evidence that he had hoped. perhaps part of that was pulled by the swirl of the pandemic and it meant that he and his team had to outwardly go out and his team had to outwardly go out and seek people's views and opinions rather than what is often the case with these things that are views and opinions afloat in two investigations. perhaps that means it's a little narrower than it might otherwise have been at a different time. there is no question though, it poses significant question to the conservative party's it poses significant question to the conservative pa rty�*s structures it poses significant question to the conservative party's structures and procedures and try to shift the perception that he highlights for some but the party has a significant problem with this area.— some but the party has a significant problem with this area. chris, thank ou ve problem with this area. chris, thank you very much- _

problem with this area. chris, thank you very much- a — problem with this area. chris, thank you very much. a tweet _ problem with this area. chris, thank you very much. a tweet from - problem with this area. chris, thank you very much. a tweet from a - you very much. a tweet from a conservative peer, the details of this are crucial and the headlines do not, each section reveals a deep and embedded issue at pack best unable or at worst unwilling to deal with the issue of racism. you're watching bbc news. a conservative mp faces being suspended from the house of commons for six weeks for breaking parliament's sexual misconduct policy. delyn mp, rob roberts, was found by an independent panel to have made repeated and unwanted sexual advances towards a man, who complained. it concluded there had been "significant" misconduct and that mr roberts mp was in a very powerful position as an employer over the man. the suspension can only be imposed if agreed by mps. supporters of the journalist, roman protasevich, who's being held in belarus, say they believe he's been beaten and compelled to make a televised confession. president biden has accused belarus of a shameful assault on dissent and freedom of the press,

after a ryanair plane carrying the blogger was forced to land in minsk on sunday. in the past few minutes borisjohnson has called for his immediate release. this report from mark lobel. the first image of this person in custody. it's taken from a video we are not showing, it is believed to have been filmed under duress. the opposition activist was arrested after this ryanair flight from after this rya nair flight from greece after this ryanair flight from greece to lithuania was forced to land. western governments have called it air piracy and state terrorism. in protest, last night, eu leaders decided to ban belarussian airlines from european skies and eu airlines will stop flying over belorussia. this outrageous _ flying over belorussia. this outrageous behaviour - flying over belorussia. try 3 outrageous behaviour needs a strong answer and therefore the european council decided that there will be additional sanctions on individuals

that are involved in the hijacking, but this time also on businesses and economic entities that are financing this regime. but economic entities that are financing this regime-— this regime. but will alexander care? their _ this regime. but will alexander care? their authoritarian - this regime. but will alexander - care? their authoritarian president of belarus is feeling emboldened after surviving huge anti—government protests last year. mr lukashenko was accused of stealing an election. previous sanctions failed to stop what has become a brutal crackdown on opponents. vladimir putin has stood by him, its support from the kremlin that has helped to keep lukashenko in power. alexander lukashenko in power. alexander lukashenko doesn't have too many friends left, he is a pariah in the west and that means having to rely more and more on the kremlin for support. and that suits president putin just fine, as moscow pushes for closer ties with belorussia and

greater influence there. the two men are due to meet in russia later this week. criticised by the west, this is one place the leader of belorussia can still expect a warm welcome. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the police have been giving an update this morning o the shooting of the racial equality activist sasha johnson. the 27—year—old was shot in the head in the early hours of sunday. in a news briefing, police called it a shocking incident but confirmed they were yet to find evidence it was a targeted attack. from our enquiry so far, we have established that sasha was in a party on sunday at consort road in peckham. this was early on sunday morning and, at about 3.00am, a group of four black men dressed in dark clothing entered the garden of the property and discharged a firearm. they left the scene before police could arrive. we are aware of sasha's involvement

in the black lives matter movement and i understand the concern that this will cause some communities, but at this time we have no information that indicates that she was subject to a targeted attack. let's cross live to edinburgh — where scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon is about to lead the government's coronavirus briefing i want to convey my condolences to everyone who has lost someone as a result of the virus. let me also briefly gave an update on the vaccination programme. as of this morning, and i will slow down a bit here for the benefit of our signer, as of this morning, 3 million 138,000 366 people have received a first dose of the vaccine and that is an increase of 16400 and 21 cents

yesterday. in addition to that, 29,035 people got a second dose yesterday and that brings the total number of second doses now to 1,000,880 and as those of you who are quick when it comes to adding up different figures, they will have worked out that that means that as of today, more than 5 million doses of today, more than 5 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in scotland. that's a fantastic milestone, but it is also a massive logistical achievement for all of our vaccination teams across the country, so i want to say a big thank you again today to all of them. as indicated earlier on, what i want to do today is really give a brief overview of the current situation, but also a bit of an insight into the factors that we need to weigh up in the days ahead as we try to get glasgow back on to

as we try to get glasgow back on to a similar track to the rest of the country and as we try hopefully to make sure that all of us continue our path out of restrictions and back to something much closer to normality. today's figures show quite a similar pattern to the one we have been seeing now for the past couple of weeks. in some areas we are seeing a rise in cases overall and if you look back over the past 16 days, case numbers, albeit from a very low level, have actually doubled and while some of this will be down to increased testing, the test positivity rate has also been creeping up as well. now, some of the increase in case numbers have been recorded just now will be due to the easing of restrictions over the past month. as we know, when we mix more, the virus does have more opportunities to spread. that is why it is so important as we do ease restrictions that all of us continue

to follow basic public health advice like distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene. but another important factor in the recent rise in cases does seem to be the presence of this april —— variant which is thought to be more transmissible in other variants including the one that was identified in the uk back at the turn of the year. so case numbers are rising just now, but it is important that if we put all of that into context, because although case numbers are rising, we do still remain quite loan relative to the situation we experienced in the early part of this year —— low. in terms of hospital and i see you admissions. numbers are increasing and so last tuesday, there were 70 patients in hospital and four in intensive care and as of yesterday, there are 97 in hospital and six in intensive care. again, though, context is important. back in january, at the peak of the second wave, there were more than 2000

people in hospital as a result of a covid and today that number is 97 and so that gives you a sense of context. and obviously, a really important difference betweenjanuary and now is the scale and the extent of vaccination. and an increasingly vital part of our consideration as we go forward is understanding the impact of vaccination and the extent that this is enabling us to change our response to the virus. up until now, we have sought to respond as quickly as possible to rising case numbers and the reason for that is simple, we have known that increasing —— increasing case numbers will lead in about three or four weeks is now followed days, to significantly increased hospital and i see you admissions and unfortunately to increased numbers of deaths and that means a priority has been to stem increases in case numbers as quickly as possible and that has made top restriction is necessary. of course, while we are still developing our understanding

the impact of vaccination and given people's health and in some cases lives are at stake, a significant degree of caution is still appropriate and that's why so far, we have opted to keep glasgow in level three. but, increasingly, we are monitoring weather and to what extent vaccination might be breaking that link between rising case numbers and significantly rising cases of serious illness and death. and if that does prove to be the case, as we hope it will, then we hope that our response to this virus can increasingly evolve as well. in short, while care will still be needed because there will always be needed because there will always be needed to require hospital treatment, it might mean that we don't need to react so aggressively with tough restrictions in the face of rising case numbers. instead, we hope that we will be able to rely more on enhanced public health interventions like testing on vaccination and of course and good public health practices on the part of the public. so i am setting this

out really to help all of us understand that this will be a key factor in our decision—making in the coming days and indeed beyond that, both in relation to glasgow but also in relation to the country more generally. i now want to give a quick update on the situation in glasgow and east and i'm pleased to say that there is some signs for cautious optimism here. it appears that the situation may have stabilised and indeed case numbers may have fallen slightly. that said, it's too early to be absolutely certain and so it remains important that residents can turn you to come forward for testing and vaccination and everyone continues to exercise care. in glasgow, the seven day average for new cases has increased from friday, from 112 new cases per 100,000 people to 137. that said, it's important to recognise that the

extensive public health efforts are under way in glasgow will take time to work through given the scale and complexity of the city and its important that we don't lose heart and in fact, just in the past two days or so, we do think we may have started to see signs that case numbers in glasgow are stabilising and test positivity has also remained fairly stable over the past few days at around 4%. and that will be another reason to be cautiously optimistic that we are not seeing test positivity shoot up on an ever increasing basis. so all of that means the enhanced testing and contact tracing and acceleration of vaccination is all, we think, having an effect and so it's really vital to stick with it. these are big community efforts and i want to thank everyone who has played a part, i know for example that in my own constituency that health teams have been going door—to—door to encourage testing and many thousands of testing kits have been

distributed and additional vaccination clinic has been established in glasgow glasgow central and that point highlights that the community faith groups are making and i know that imams have been demonstrating how to use lateral flow tests during prayers and i hope and expect that all of these community efforts will continue to have an impact. we will continue to have an impact. we will continue to have an impact. we will continue to monitor the latest data for these areas and returning to what i said earlier, we will be looking notjust at case numbers but also at the data on hospitalisation and i see you admission before making the next decision on levels this week. the final point i want to make here today is that all of us continue to have a part to play and in particular, let me emphasise once again the input portions of vaccination. latest info shows are two doses of vaccine offer high levels of protection against this new variant. we also expect that vaccines will offer even higher levels of effectiveness against

hospitalisation and the risk of dying. so we are currently working to accelerate the programme is far and as fast as supplies allow and that includes speeding up a second doses. obviously, we can only vaccinate if everyone comes forward when they get their appointment letter. at some sites over the weekend, we saw quite a high level of nonattendance for appointments, which had been scheduled, although, it is important to stress that overall, uptake rates remain incredibly high. it's also important to say that when people don't attend, there will be a via a variety of reasons for this and some of them will not be down to the individual as a nobody is pointing any fingers here. on the contrary, we all have to work together to make sure we get uptake rates and keep uptake rates as high as we need them to be. for all of us, that means recognising the getting vaccinating is about protecting ourselves, but it's also about part of our civic duty to help each other and are wider communities. the government is trying to make vaccination as easy

as possible and we will continue to explore and implement all possible ways of doing that. today, briefly before i finish, there are two asks that i want to make. the first is for anyone who thinks they should have had an appointment but hasn't and in some cases this might be because you have moved house recently for example. please go on to the nhs website to arrange an appointment. the vaccination section of the site has a section on missing appointment details which provides a form you can submit. alternatively, you can call the hotline on oh 8000308 013. in doing that means that if your appointment has been missed because of wrong address details, it can be rearranged. and secondly, if you're aged between 18 and 29, you can now register online for a vaccination. that helps to ensure your details are correct and up—to—date. you can register at this

address w w w dot vax dot nhs dot scott. the first eight hours of this online system over 22% of everyone in that age group registered and thatis in that age group registered and that is brilliant. if you're in that age group and if you haven't done so, please register now and if you're watching and you know someone in that age group, please make sure they're aware of this new online system and just reminder of the. and that's the note i want to end on. this is a bump in the road with this new variant. there are some positive signs in these outbreak areas and we need to stick with what we are doing to make sure that they continue, but overall, we all have a part to play in making sure we keep this under control, so continue to follow all of the advice, continue to take all of the advice, continue to take all of the advice, continue to take all of the necessary precautions and mitigations and... and if we all support this incredible work the public health teams across the

country are doing and then i do remain confident that we will stay over all on the right track and that is a path back to the normality that we all crave. so thank you very much again for listening and bearing with me through that update, we will move on to questions now and gregor will add to some of the information i have given as we go through the questions. the first today, from the bbc. back to the situation at the hydrom _ hydro... nicola sturgeon there hydro... — nicola sturgeon there is saying that more than 3 million people have received the first dose of the covid vaccine, and one point 8 million have received both doses. she says there is a rise in cases overall just now, some of this due to an increase in testing of the indian variance.

there is cause for cautious optimism in east renfrewshire where they think the situation may have stabilised, or even fallen slightly in the number of cases. today is the first anniversary of the murder of george floyd, the black american man killed by a white police officer in minneapolis. mr floyd's death sparked global protests against racism. here, the labour party has promised to continue campaigning to tackle racial injustice. we're joined by the shadow women and equalities secretary, marsha de cordova. tell us more about labour's plans to tackle racial injustice one year on from the killing of george floyd. good afternoon and thank you for having me on today. for labour, we take the issues of structural and institutional racism seriously and thatis institutional racism seriously and that is why we have committed to ensuring that we will introduce a

race and equality act that will tackle once and for all the structural inequalities that exist across our society, and the work for that begins now with having those conversations across the country with individuals, with business and with individuals, with business and with civil society to understand some of those real deep—rooted issues that need to be addressed. one of the things that we saw last year from one of the things that we saw last yearfrom black one of the things that we saw last year from black lives matter was it was quite a moment in the context of we haven't seen tens of thousands of people come onto our streets in a time the mountain and entry injustice, demanding an end to inequality, so we have been trying to galvanise and capture that moment because one of the things i'm really keen to see is how young people have really engaged, demanding an end, demanding radical action and change. i want to come onto the school curriculum in a minute, but when you

talk about structural inequalities, to any of our viewers who are unclear what that is, describe that. when we talk about inequalities, disparities or differences, if we think about it say in the context of education, for instance. if you are black or mixed race, you are more than five times more likely to be excluded from school in comparison to a white child. that is that difference or a disparity. when we think about childbirth, if you are a black woman you are four times more likely to die in childbirth. that shows you there are deep—rooted issues within the health system that need to be addressed. when we talk about addressing a structural inequalities, it is within health, education, within the criminal justice system, where we are seeing an overrepresentation of black and ethnic minorities that are stopped and searched. if you think about the labour market, we know that there is

still a gap in terms of the pay gap between different ethnic groups. we want to see action to close those gaps and when we think about the labour market, for example, we have been calling on the government to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting, as is the case around gender pay reporting, to ensure that we can improve pay conditions for our workers, we can improve pay conditions for ourworkers, but we can improve pay conditions for our workers, but obviously close to spgy our workers, but obviously close to spay disparities that exist. fin our workers, but obviously close to spay disparities that exist.- spay disparities that exist. on the issue of diversity _ spay disparities that exist. on the issue of diversity within _ spay disparities that exist. on the issue of diversity within the - spay disparities that exist. on the | issue of diversity within the school curriculum, what can you tell us about what is happening to make that curriculum more diverse, to teach children about the history of the slave trade, to teach them about the contribution of people to the uk who aren't white? hate contribution of people to the uk who aren't white?— aren't white? we want, we are callin: aren't white? we want, we are calling for— aren't white? we want, we are calling for a — aren't white? we want, we are calling for a more _ aren't white? we want, we are calling for a more diverse - calling for a more diverse curriculum, telling our rich history, the good parts and bad parts. at the moment but we are

saying is not all schools are teaching our rounded black history in their schools, i can point to welsh labour, who are already doing this and they will introduce their curriculum this year in september, which is a huge step forward. nobody should be leaving school without having really studied or any literary black author. the slave trade is just one example of how we can really broaden out our diverse curriculum. it is very important to reflect on those that have gone before us and have made significant advances within this country. we should be able to teach that. thank ou ve should be able to teach that. thank you very much- _ you very much. let's step back into the house of commons where the vaccine minister

is answering an urgent question. the average number of daily deaths is now six, the lowest number since the middle of march. on top of this positive news, our vaccination programme is accelerating at pace. over 72% of all adults have now been given their first dose and 43% of all adults have the protection of two doses. this weekend we reach the milestone of 60 million vaccines administered across the united kingdom. this weekend public health england also published new research showing that the effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the variant first discovered in india is similar after two doses when compared to the p 117 similar after two doses when compared to the p117 variant dominant in our country. that, as

with other variants, are expected against hospitalisation and death. this is encouraging data. it reinforces once again the importance of our vaccination programme in giving us a path out of this pandemic, as well as showing just how important it is that everyone comes forward for both injections when the call comes through. it is the progress made by the british people in following the rules and the protection offered to our vaccination programme that means we were able to take step three in a road map last week, but we take these steps with vigilance and with caution, staying alert to new variants that can jeopardise the advances we have made. we have come down really hard on the variant first identified in india wherever we have pointed, searching testing capacity and vaccines for those eligible. over the past few days we

have extended this rapid approach to even more areas, so as well as and darwen, which the prime minister spoke about in his press conference on the 14th of this month, we are taking rapid action in bedford, hounslow, kirklees and north tyneside. as the prime minister set out two weeks ago, we are urging people in these areas to take extra caution when beating anyone outside their house or support bubble, including meeting outside rather than inside when possible, keeping two metres apart from people you don't live with and that people should try to avoid travelling in and out of the affected areas, unless it is essential, for example, for work if you can work for home or for work if you can work for home or for education. as the prime minister said, we want the whole country to move out of these restrictions together and we are trusting people together and we are trusting people to be responsible and to act with caution and common sense as they

have done throughout this pandemic, and to make decisions about how best to protect themselves and their loved ones, informed by the risks, thatis loved ones, informed by the risks, that is exactly what we should be doing. we are always looking to see how we can communicate more effectively with local authorities and we will take on board the views expressed by the house over the course of this debate, through acting quickly whenever the virus flares up and protecting people through our vaccination programme, we can guard the incredible gains we have all made and get ourselves on the road to recovery.— the road to recovery. secretary of state -- shadow— the road to recovery. secretary of state -- shadow secretary - the road to recovery. secretary of state -- shadow secretary of - the road to recovery. secretary of. state -- shadow secretary of state, state —— shadow secretary of state, jonathan _ state —— shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth. state -- shadow secretary of state, jonathan ashworth.— jonathan ashworth. does he appreciate _ jonathan ashworth. does he appreciate the _ jonathan ashworth. does he appreciate the cities - jonathan ashworth. does he appreciate the cities like - jonathan ashworth. does he i appreciate the cities like mine, leicester, or towns like burnley, batley and blackburn, have borne the brunt of this crisis in the last 15 months? we have often been a lockdown longer than elsewhere. at

times we didn't feel supported. families did their best but they struggled. can the minister understand how upsetting it is, how insulting it is to have new restrictions imposed upon us, local lockdowns by stealth, by the back door, and the secretary of state doesn't even have the courtesy to come and tell us? why was this guidance plonked on a website on friday night and not communicated to anyone? why were local directors of public health and local authority leaders not consulted? why weren't mps informed? what is a timing for our constituents? what does it mean for the family in leicester who have booked a few days next week by the coast school half term, do they have to cancel that break? what does it mean for university students in leicester when they finished their exams? can they go home, can prospective students look at the

campus? what is a need for the parent simpleton who are planning to take their children to see grandparents on the other side of greater manchester this bank holiday monday? should they rearrange their plans? what does it mean for the young couple in burnley or blackburn or batley who have postponed their wedding for over a year and have invited friends and family from across the country to come and celebrate their special day with them? is the message to them that they have to delay their wedding again? can the minister answered his questions today? can you take a message from me as the mp for leicester south back to the secretary of state, this guidance now and convene a meeting this afternoon of the relevant directors of public health to produce a plan involving isolation support, enhance contact tracing casinos from his own work as vaccine minister, that a single dose of the vaccine is less effective against this particular variant, will he produced a plan with local directors of public help

to rule out vaccinations to everybody and look at including bringing forward the second dose for a larger cohort of people? in closing, a year ago ministers like him were detained in dominic cummings on twitter. now mr cummings tweets about the lack of competent people in charge. many of our constituents, looking at the state lockdown fiasco, will think that mr cummings has a point. i lockdown fiasco, will think that mr cummings has a point.— cummings has a point. i thank the honourable _ cummings has a point. i thank the honourable member _ cummings has a point. i thank the honourable member for _ cummings has a point. i thank the honourable member for his, - cummings has a point. i thank the honourable member for his, i - cummings has a point. i thank the i honourable member for his, i hope, honourable memberfor his, i hope, equally supportive comments when it comes to supporting his constituents and others around the country in bedford, blackburn, bedford, kirklees and leicester, his own patch, hounslow and tyneside. the one thing i would urge, and i spoke to the metro marys this morning, the ten metro marys, is that we all work

together and take the politics out of this. our constituents deserve that, as i said in my opening statement, what we are asking people to do in those affected areas is to be cautious, is to be careful, so i'm visiting family that he asked about, meet outside rather than inside. meeting indoors still allowed as a group of six or two households, but meeting outside is safer. meet two metres apart. so, yes, people can still visit family in half term if they follow social distance and guidelines. the guidelines include specific sections on meeting friends and family. avoid family in and out of the affected areas, as the prime minister said on the 14th, unless it is essential for work purposes. the whole principle here, mr speaker, is that we need to work together. he has a

responsibility, as i do, as the metro marys, to communicate to our residents, our constituents, that this is a time to be vigilant, to be careful. we are putting more search vaccination and search testing and turbo—charging vaccination, i should say, in those areas to make sure that we do the work with local directors of public health, and absolutely i hope you will agree we have had that plan in place and we have had that plan in place and we have seen it operate in bolton, and blackburn, and we will see it operate in his constituency and other parts of the country, as well. jeremy hunt. flan other parts of the country, as well. jeremy hunt-— other parts of the country, as well. jeremy hunt. can i congratulate the minister for — jeremy hunt. can i congratulate the minister for the _ jeremy hunt. can i congratulate the minister for the outstanding - jeremy hunt. can i congratulate the minister for the outstanding ruler i minister for the outstanding ruler to the vaccination programme, which is a source of enormous pride to all of us on all sides of the house. as we emerge from lockdown, we all wanted to be a permanent change, and for most families the biggest priority is to make sure that

schools remain open, even if we find that new variants arrive in the uk in the course of the autumn. we know that children do tend to get bad symptoms, but they can spread the virus. is it time to look at vaccinating the over twelves, as they are doing in the united states? is it time to look at whether we can use some of the fta analysis to speed up that decision—making process, sold by the time children come back in the autumn schools are protected and we can be confident they will be able to stay open? i am they will be able to stay open? i am crateful they will be able to stay open? i am grateful for — they will be able to stay open? i am grateful for the _ they will be able to stay open? i —n grateful for the question. he is gratefulfor the question. he is absolutely right to focus on the protection of children, but also of families and their community. the clinical decision has not been taken in the united kingdom. he will be aware, as well as the us regulator, the canadian regulator has improved pfizer for 12—15 —year—olds. we will

operationally be ready, but ultimately the decision has to be a clinical one, and our regulator will have to be satisfied that the vaccines are extremely safe, because when you are vaccinating children where essentially you are offering some protection to them, and children can be affected with covid and there is some evidence of long covid among some children, on the whole it is really to protect their families and the transmission in communities, the vaccines have to be incredibly safe before we administer them to children. we have the infrastructure in place to be able to do that as and when that regulatory and clinical decision is made. ., , regulatory and clinical decision is made. ., . ., can made. doctor philippa whitford. can the minister — made. doctor philippa whitford. can the minister explain _ made. doctor philippa whitford. can the minister explain if _ made. doctor philippa whitford. can the minister explain if these - made. doctor philippa whitford. can the minister explain if these new - the minister explain if these new restrictions for areas like bolton are only advisory, will hast —— will hospitality companies affected still

be eligible for financial support? why the public health england and reports on variants was snuck out at 11pm on saturday during the eurovision final and minus the promise data on school breaks? the p 1617.2 variant appears to be 50% more infectious and is affecting even younger children, so can the minister explain why on earth the government ended the wearing of face coverings in schools? well it is good that two doses of the vaccine still provide good protection from this variant, testing shows one dose is only 33% effective. the gap between doses has been shorted from 12 down to eight weeks, but with less than half of those between 15 -- 50 less than half of those between 15 —— 50 and 65 years of age having their second dose, other plans to close the gap further? i am

their second dose, other plans to close the gap further? i am grateful for the question. _ close the gap further? i am grateful for the question. public _ close the gap further? i am grateful for the question. public health - for the question. public health england make those decisions for themselves and it is not up to the minister when they release their data. on pubs in hospitality, indoor areas can be open and any premises serving alcohol, customers will still be required to order and be served and eat and drink while seated. venues are prohibited from providing smoking equivalents just to make sure that we do everything we can to limits the ability for the virus to infect others and within that's reducing that social contacts is incredibly important. some businesses such as nightclubs must remain closed and follow restrictions. it is very much about making sure we work together to

control this variant, exercising the common sense that the prime minister spoke about, and the guidance is there. people on the who have been following that guidance. of course on transmission and the effectiveness of the two doses, and her question around accelerating the vaccination programmes, the whole idea of us following thejcvi guidelines and advice on vaccinations means we have been able to vaccinate at scale. we have two big rigs coming ahead of us and we will continue to focus on the second dose, so when people get that text message or call to bring forward their second dose, please take that “p their second dose, please take that up because it is incredibly important in controlling this variant. it important in controlling this variant. , ., , , ., variant. it is tremendous news that the vaccines _ variant. it is tremendous news that the vaccines that _ variant. it is tremendous news that the vaccines that have _ variant. it is tremendous news that the vaccines that have been - variant. it is tremendous news that the vaccines that have been so - the vaccines that have been so successfully rolled out across our united kingdom are highly effective guests at the very first identified

in india, but many businesses continue to be delicately balanced on a cliff edge of either a successful summer or bankruptcy. does my honourable friend agree with me that we need a positive message of hope and certainty, but all the evidence does continue to back up the complete end of all restrictions of social distancing by the 21st of june? i of social distancing by the 21st of june? ., ., of social distancing by the 21st of june? . ., ., june? i am grateful for the question- _ june? i am grateful for the question. it _ june? i am grateful for the question. it is _ june? i am grateful for the question. it is good - june? i am grateful for the question. it is good news i june? i am grateful for the - question. it is good news from public health england on the p 1617 public health england on the p1617 variant, that the two doses are as effective on infection and very likely to be even more effective on serious illness and hospitalisation in real—world circumstance. ultimately, we are effectively pursuing an evidence led strategy, the five week interval is for us to be able to assess the data and share it with parliament and with the

nation. at the moment i would say i am cautiously optimistic that we are in a good place. we have to be vigilant and work together, take the politics out of this and make sure that all of our constituents are careful and we will get there together. careful and we will get there to . ether. �* , careful and we will get there touether. �* , ~ , together. i'm sure the minister will arree together. i'm sure the minister will a . ree that together. i'm sure the minister will agree that throughout _ together. i'm sure the minister will agree that throughout the - together. i'm sure the minister will| agree that throughout the pandemic are community pharmacists have performed magnificently on the front line of the health service. unfortunately, there still seems to be institutionalised bias against them in the health department. even now, only a couple of pharmacies in sandwell have been authorised for covid vaccines. can i urge you to get a grip of your bureaucrats and get a grip of your bureaucrats and get vaccines rolling through our sandwell pharmacies before the bank holiday? i sandwell pharmacies before the bank holida ? ., sandwell pharmacies before the bank holida ? . ., ., holiday? i am grateful for the question- _ holiday? i am grateful for the question- i — holiday? i am grateful for the question. i know— holiday? i am grateful for the question. i know he - holiday? i am grateful for the question. i know he is - holiday? i am grateful for the question. i know he is a - holiday? i am grateful for the - question. i know he is a passionate advocate for community pharmacists. i don't recognise his characterisation of the nhs team

that i absolutely know everyday work with community pharmacies. we are not up tojust with community pharmacies. we are not up to just over 500 community pharmacies and independent pharmacies and independent pharmacies as part of the vaccine deployment. they have proved themselves in phase one to be excellent at reaching out to their communities, given that confidence to their communities and getting people vaccinated. they have stepped up people vaccinated. they have stepped up in phase two as well to fill the gaps where primary care has decided not to carry on with phase two. i will absolutely look at his constituency to see if we can do some more. constituency to see if we can do some more-— some more. the record vaccine roll-out has — some more. the record vaccine roll-out has vindicated - some more. the record vaccine roll-out has vindicated the - some more. the record vaccine - roll-out has vindicated the decision roll—out has vindicated the decision by mike constituents to say that our country can stand on its own two feet. can i ask him what work he is doing around localised infrastructure going forward to ensure that as we have to continue

our vaccination roll—out we have to look for strike —— localised infrastructure to do that? i absolutely agree. if the virus was designed to test liberal democracies because the only way we could combine —— combat it was to withdraw people's freedoms, then the vaccine has played to the real strength of the poorer nations make up of the people of the south, in the sense of the dunkirk spirit, coming together, the dunkirk spirit, coming together, the volunteer vaccinated, the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, our armed forces and local government colleagues who have stepped up in terms of identifying communities we need to protect. we are already making plans for the boosterjab, the clinical decision has not been made as yet. i would remind the house. when it is made we will be ready to go. we are already planning as to how it dovetails with the flu

vaccination programme, to see how we can increase the uptake of the flu vaccination programme because the worst of all worlds is due to well against covid and then you're hit by heavy flu season in the autumn. thank you. last evening i learnt the government had sneaked my brother into local lockdown without even bothering to warn the public outing. the minister knows that for almost two weeks i have been calling for search vaccines in bedford for over yet until last friday many of my constituents have been forced to travel miles to access the pfizer vaccine. the variant first identified in india has been imported here because of the government's lack support to border control. can i ask the minister why the people of bedford are playing for his government's gross negligence and incompetence once again? i am grateful. we discussed

the turbo—charging of the vaccination programme in bedford, which i knew that he every stage. the real difficulty is if you begin to vaccinate people that are 18 years old now and outside of the advice, you're taking vaccine away from others who are eligible are neither protection. the strategy we are pursuing is to turbo—charge, i need to explain that a little bit, in the sense that we are putting more resource, later opening, mobile vaccination centres, expanding vaccination centres, expanding vaccination centres, expanding vaccination centres so that those who are eligible but have not been able to access the vaccine... are pretty wide—ranging discussion on vaccines in the house of commons. the vaccines minister responding to an urgent question. after his initial response, jonathan ashworth,

the shadow vaccines minister, said that the minister understand how insulting it was that local authorities currently affected by the new guidance, new advice around the new guidance, new advice around the so—called indian variant, hadn't been consulted. he said why was this guidance plonked on a website on friday night without consultation? he replied by saying let's all work together on this and take the politics out of it. that was the vaccines minister responding to that urgent question from the shadow health minister. the new that one will be in a few minutes. let's have a look at the weather. the stark contrast between this may and last may could perhaps not be greatest. last may with the sunniest month on record, we saw temperatures above 20 degrees on 21 days. this may has been far different. it has been raining relentlessly and only

one day so far above 20 celsius, but thatis one day so far above 20 celsius, but that is likely to change. later this week we could see temperatures climb quite rightly above the 20 degrees mark, something for some of you to look forward to. this afternoon, 15 or16 look forward to. this afternoon, 15 or 16 degrees at the very best, but some more sunshine in central, southern england, wales, compared to yesterday. a cool breeze to go with it. the strongest winds of more persistent rain in devon and cornwall and into the channel islands through the first part of the night. overnight, we will continue with showers over eastern parts of scotland and into the north—east of england, most other areas becoming dry with clear skies. temperatures down towards two or three degrees. a bright start here across much of the country. cloudy for northern england, eastern scotland with some outbreaks of rain or drizzle. the odd rumble of thunder. more of you will have a dry day tomorrow and it may start to

feel a touch warmer in southern and western areas with temperatures around 16 or 17. we will finish the day with heavy showers —— the heavy showers in the north—east of england will fade away. some cloud bubbling up, but it will be fair weather clock for many. showers few and far between, most will be dry and it will feel warmer. by thursday we could start to see a few spots about 20 celsius. this weatherfront could start to see a few spots about 20 celsius. this weather front will move in on friday. because it is running into high pressure they will not be huge amounts of rain, but there will be lots of mist, low cloud and a great day for someone friday. some spots of rain or drizzle in scotland and northern areas. furthersouth drizzle in scotland and northern areas. further south and east, sunshine breaking through the cloud and more likely to see temperatures above 20 degrees. increasing amounts of sunshine through saturday and sunday. the bank holiday weekend could see some areas of rain on

monday, but much drier and warmer than of late.

local authorities in england hardest hit by the indian variant say they weren't consulted about new covid restrictions in their areas advice appeared on a government website last week urging people not to travel in and out of the areas, and to avoid meeting indoors. local leaders say they were not informed. actually i was watching the news and i heard it on the news so there was no forewarning about what was going to happen, apparently it was on the website on friday evening, of all times. it's caused a lot of confusion, we were only alerted to it byjournalists last night, late last night. but downing street insists they were warned — we'll have all the latest. also this lunchtime. a report into how the tory party handles claims of discrimination criticises borisjohnson over his comments —