this is bbc news. the headlines dominic cummings gives explosive evidence to parliament claiming the initial response to the pandemic was inadequate and complacent with terrible consequences. he also criticised the delay to an inquiry into the pandemic. i criticised the delay to an inquiry into the pandemic.— criticised the delay to an inquiry into the pandemic. i think the idea of any kind — into the pandemic. i think the idea of any kind of— into the pandemic. i think the idea of any kind of serious _ into the pandemic. i think the idea of any kind of serious inquiry - of any kind of serious inquiry doesn't start until next year is completely terrible. the families of all tens of thousands of people died who did not need to die. quizzed by mps the prime minister's former aide said that people died because of the government's failings during the pandemic. he also apologised for some of the mistakes he made. the truth is some senior advisers

like me felt disastrously short of what to expect. —— felt. earlier today, his evidence led to angry clashes in the commons at prime minister's questions. the prime ministers former advisers said when_ the prime ministers former advisers said when the public needed us most, the government failed. does the prime _ the government failed. does the prime minister agree with that? we with every step try to minimise loss of life, to save lives and protect the nhs and we followed the best scientific advice that we can. fleming there's no the trauma suffered by the people whose unmarried mothers were forced to give them up for adoption as babies what would you have wished for? to have stayed with my mum. to have been _ have stayed with my mum. to have been allowed to stay with the woman who gave _ been allowed to stay with the woman who gave birth to me.

welcome to bbc news at five o'clock. in an extraordinary appearance in front of mps, dominic cummings — the prime minister's former top adviser — has given a damning account of the way the government handled the early stages of the coronavirus crisis, saying people had died unnecessarily because of its failings. mr cummings said the government had failed the public when they needed it most, and he apologised for his own actions. assessing the government's performance, he said �*there's no doubt at all that many senior people performed far, far disastrously below the standards which the country has a right to expect.�* he said �*in february the prime minister regarded this

as just a scare story, he described it as the new swine flu. " on the government's covid preparations in early 2020 he said: there wasn't any plan for shielding, there wasn't even a helpline for shielding, there wasn't any plan for financial incentives, there wasn't any plan for almost anything in any kind of detail at all. on the performance of health secretary matt hancock: �*i think the secretary of state for health should've been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. " mr cummings said he regretted the account he gave of his trip to the north—east of england during the first lockdown. he said he stood by his visit to county durham because his family faced security threats, and that he was extremely sorry for not telling the whole story. he described the prime minister as saying "lockdown was all a terrible mistake, i should have been the mayor from jaws"— the character in the hollywood film who kept the beaches open despite shark attacks. nick eardley has been watching

a day of vivid testimony. untiljust a few months ago, dominic cummings was the prime minister's key adviser. around the downing street table. when crucial pandemic decisions were made. good morning and thank you for appearing. now, he is accusing the government of a list of serious failures in its handling of the crisis. the truth is that senior ministers, senior officials, senior advisers like me, fell disastrously short of the standards the public has the right to expect of its government in a crisis like this. when the public needed us most, the government failed, and i would like to say to all of the families of those who died unnecessarily how sorry i am for the mistakes that were made and for my own mistakes in that. early last year, the world was grappling with the growing covid emergency, but it is claimed that ministers here underestimated what was coming and acted too slowly.

the government itself at number ten was not operating on a footing in april in any shape or form. the prime minister, he said, saw it as a scare story. he described it as the new swine flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but the view of various officials inside number ten was if we have the prime minister chairing covid meetings and he tells everybody it is swine flu, don't worry, i will get chris witty to inject me live on air with coronavirus, everyone will realise it's nothing to be frightened of, that would not help serious planning. as the crisis developed, dominic cummings said he urged the prime minister to tell people to stay at home from the 12th of march. it was more than 12 days later lockdown was introduced.

it was more than 10 days later lockdown was introduced. dominic cummings painted a picture of a chaotic downing street. it sounds so surreal it couldn't possibly be true. that day, the times had run a huge story about the prime minister, his girlfriend, and their dog, and the prime minister's girlfriend was going crackers about this story and demanding the press office deal with that. so we had this sort of completely insane situation in which part of the building was saying are we going to bomb iraq, part of the building was arguing about whether or not we would do quarantine or not, the prime minister has his girlfriend going crackers about something completely trivial. in his long list of explosive claims, dominic cummings said the health secretary should have been sacked, accusing him of not telling the truth, including over the government's early strategy. are you worried about dominic cummings giving evidence today? i think the secretary of state

for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody on multiple occasions in meeting after meeting in the cabinet room and publicly. there was criticism of others. it is completely crackers that someone like me should have been in there, same for borisjohnson being in there. he said some officials had been brilliant, but had this withering conclusion. the problem in this crisis was very much a lions led by donkeys. dominic cummings is no stranger to controversy. his lockdown trip to durham infuriated many in and outside westminster. the list of accusations he has made as someone who was in the room it simply cannot be ignored. that the government was ill—equipped to deal with the crisis. that it acted too slowly. and that that had devastating consequences. did the government for disastrously short? as his former aide continued to give evidence, the prime minister

faced the commons. prime minister borisjohnson. the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most difficult things this country has had to do for a very long time. none of the decisions have been easy. to go into a lockdown is a dramatic thing for a country. to deal with a pandemic on this scale has been appallingly difficult. we have at every stage tried to minimise loss of life, to save lives, protect the nhs, and we followed the best scientific advice we can, mr speaker. does the prime minister accept the accusation that his inaction led to needless death? no, mr speaker, and all of those matters will be reviewed in the course of the public enquiry that i have announced... but serious accusations are being made now, about borisjohnson and his government. dominic cummings left downing street months ago that he still has plenty to say.

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. bringing your statement that's just been issued by the spokesman for matt hancock the secretary of state for health who came in for some lacerating criticism from dominic raab —— dominic cummings. drugs pandemic, the secretary of state for health and social care and everyone has worked incredibly hard and unprecedented circumstances to protect the nhs and to save lives. we absolutely reject his claims about the health secretary. in the health secretary will continue to work closely with the prime minister to deliver the vaccine roll—out, tackled the risks of variance and support the nhs and care sector to recover from this pandemic. support the nhs and care sector to recoverfrom this pandemic. that support the nhs and care sector to recover from this pandemic. that is the initial plan from the health

secretary. you will be giving evidence to that same committee in a couple weeks' time. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyjoins me now perhaps we can break down a little bit. asking you about the governments handling of the pandemic and mr cummings bitter criticism across the board incompetence from the government. it painted a picture of chaos at various points. we first got the impression from mr cummings evidence that back in march last year the issue of coronavirus just was not taken seriously and borisjohnson was too late to listen to some of the advice about how devastating the impact of covid—i9 could be in the country. you got the impression from

mr cummings that he was genuinely sorry that the government had not done more to protect the country to protect some of the most vulnerable people in the uk from the disease. but whether a standout moments from his seven hours of evidence for me was when he spoke about the need for an inquiry and suggested that had different decisions been taken by the government, better decisions been taken by the government, that could have saved thousands and thousands of lives, have a listen. the idea of any kind of inquiry or decisions — the idea of any kind of inquiry or decisions until next year is completely terrible. the families of tens of— completely terrible. the families of tens of thousands of people died who did not— tens of thousands of people died who did not need to die. there's absolutely no excuse for delaying that because a lot of the reasons for why— that because a lot of the reasons for why that happened is still in place _ for why that happened is still in place now. look at the whole debate about _ place now. look at the whole debate about variance. this has to be

honestly — about variance. this has to be honestly explained. if number ten today— honestly explained. if number ten today will— honestly explained. if number ten today will not tell the truth about the official plan which they briefed the official plan which they briefed the media about an scope on tv a year— the media about an scope on tv a year ago. — the media about an scope on tv a year ago, what on earth else is going _ year ago, what on earth else is going on— year ago, what on earth else is going on there now? the year ago, what on earth else is going on there now?— year ago, what on earth else is going on there now? the other part ofthe going on there now? the other part of the evidence _ going on there now? the other part of the evidence which _ going on there now? the other part of the evidence which was - going on there now? the other part of the evidence which was perhaps | of the evidence which was perhaps even more critical of borisjohnson in particular was the evidence on the delay in the second lockdown when many were calling for a circuit breaker like the one we saw in wales, which were perhaps sheds things down. —— shut things down. he things down. -- shut things down. he was things down. —— shut things down. he: was not prepared to listen, that is in the relationship between the two completely fell apart but it was absolutely clear in the evidence that mr cummings is furious about the fact that the prime minister would not listen to some the people around him, including the health secretary matt hancock to that circuit breaker was needed in the

prime ministerjust waited too long before tackling that outbreak. we not before tackling that outbreak. we got the impression of a relationship between dominic cummings and boris johnson which have been so politically close and just deteriorated rapidly over the covid—i9 crisis. and yet, in the case of his resignation did not appear to be over covid—i9. case of his resignation did not appear to be over covid-19. you're absolutely — appear to be over covid-19. you're absolutely right _ appear to be over covid-19. you're absolutely right that _ appear to be over covid-19. you're absolutely right that the _ absolutely right that the relationship between the two, certainly the way in which it was presented, completely fell apart over the issue of coronavirus. it was clear that he was angry at the way things are being dealt with in downing street. it is clear boris johnson, saw that anger when he dealt with, the reason why they said it really matters is this is the first on the record public full and frank account of what was going on

in downing street by people who were involved in the more significant decisions made by the uk government over the last year or so in the pandemic crisis. and another point that really struck me was when mr cummings said that by october 2020, a few months ago, when mrjohnson was resisting the second lockdown, mr cummings decided that he wasn't fit to be prime minister. have a listen to what he said. to make it was clear that our relations were very far from where they had to be. and they took another terrible dive after the second lockdown in october because the prime minister knew that i blamed him for the whole situation. and i did. by the 31st of october, our relationships were 0ctober, our relationships were already finished. the fact that his girlfriend, it was relevant but not

the heart of the problem. fundamentally, i regarded him as unfit for thejob and fundamentally, i regarded him as unfit for the job and i was trying to create a structure around him to try and stop what i thought were extremely bad decisions and push other things through against his wishes and he had the view that he was prime minister and i should just be doing what he wanted me to do. and that is not sustainable for very long. and that is not sustainable for very lon. _ . :, ., and that is not sustainable for very lon.. ., ., ., long. excoriating about the health secretary and _ long. excoriating about the health secretary and about _ long. excoriating about the health secretary and about many - long. excoriating about the health secretary and about many other . secretary and about many other people and systems within government. but may have surprised people was that he was quite apologetic himself about his own feelings. he apologetic himself about his own feelin . s. :, , apologetic himself about his own feelinas. :, , ., , apologetic himself about his own feelins. ., , ., , ., feelings. he was. certainly at the start with the _ feelings. he was. certainly at the start with the feelings _ feelings. he was. certainly at the start with the feelings of - feelings. he was. certainly at the start with the feelings of many i start with the feelings of many people with some of the things that he felt very bad about and pretty frank apology at the start. some of those apologies were caviar to it, saying that i wish i had acted sooner to persuade borisjohnson to do the thing that i thought he

should have done. lockdown earlier. the argument that mr cummings made was that he was frightened but smooth things going on in government and that is why he did not act. it was interesting that mr cummings, there were a lot of people in westminster who, to put it politely, are not fans of mr cummings. he thought his trip to durham during lockdown really affected public trust in the government and he was self—indulgent and a bit of a narcissist and i was about the issue of that lockdown trip to durham came up, it is interesting that mr cummings evolved, but a year ago when he was in the rose garden at downing street, he told us all that he took his family up to the north of england during lockdown we may be with that he was breaking the rules

because i want to make sure there was childcare for his family if he and his wife fell ill. there was a bit more to the story that we found out today which was that he had discussed before that, with the prime minister, the idea that he would move his family out of london for security reasons and was worried about the number of people turning up about the number of people turning up in the street and giving him and his family abuse of the governments actions. so there was a bit more to the story than we back at the time that be suspect there will be some more questions over that over the next few days. but the big question the government is going to face her the government is going to face her the next few days about mr cummings accusations and that he was ill—equipped to deal with this crisis and after the first and the second lockdown, they acted too slowly and did not listen to advice to move more quickly and senior ministers were in a very bad position in the prime minister and mr cummings words were unfit for

office in the health secretary should have been sacked on numerous occasions. we will start to hear some of that defence tomorrow and understanding is that the health secretary will deliver a press conference about the wider covid—i9 picture in downing street and i suspect this would dominate for days to come. , , , suspect this would dominate for days tocome. , , _ :, suspect this would dominate for days tocome. __ :, , to come. very busy day for you but it's auoin to come. very busy day for you but it's going to _ to come. very busy day for you but it's going to continue. _ joining me now is peter cardwell, former special advisor to four conservative cabinet ministers between 2016—2020. what did you make of what you heard. seven hours of quite riveting testimony. what did you think? i think it is very damaging for boris johnson for his government. i think it's damaging for matt hancock as well and as there is saying, we're going to hear more from him at a press conference and also an urgent question in parliament those done by

labour and the shuttle health secretary. he is essentially trying to force matt hancock to parliament tomorrow to answer a lot of these very serious allegations that dominic cummings is made. this is going to going today does make ill going to going today does make ill go on for many days. of the trauma will continue. go on for many days. of the trauma will continue.— will continue. how did you feel about the _ will continue. how did you feel about the fact _ will continue. how did you feel about the fact that _ will continue. how did you feel about the fact that mr - will continue. how did you feel l about the fact that mr cummings might have been out to certainly set the record straight as far as he was concerned and potentially be trying to get revenge for the better way in which she was eventually ejected from government? which she was eventually e'ected from government?�* from government? everyone in westminster _ from government? everyone in westminster has _ from government? everyone in westminster has an _ from government? everyone in westminster has an agenda - from government? everyone in westminster has an agenda of| from government? everyone in - westminster has an agenda of some description. dominic cummings side of my sacking and he was sexually borisjohnson. i think perhaps we all have an agenda essentially and in terms would dominic cummings was saying today. he said was a full and frank explanation of what went on. it wasn't because it was only has

perspective, it was certainly frank but there'll be other bits of information that will come around that as well and we think it may be the full version of the truth but my understanding is that it is completely true and there are very worrying questions for the government. i also think it's really quite startling that dominic cummings was attempting to run almost a parallel operation excluding the prime minister was the democratically elected leader of our country which i think it is very interesting that he will did such power and when i saw him in downing street, he had huge amount of power and he has apologised. sorry is not and he has apologised. sorry is not a word referred a lot from them but that came out today and the number of issues. as well as that, it's the fact that he lost confidence in borisjohnson was so critical of him. why stay for someone that you do not believe us up to the job. that is the question that i would

ask but certainly these allegations are really serious and theorists many things we can talk about in this discussion. 50 many things we can talk about in this discussion.— many things we can talk about in this discussion. so interesting that what ou this discussion. so interesting that what you say _ this discussion. so interesting that what you say would _ this discussion. so interesting that what you say would you _ this discussion. so interesting that what you say would you sell - this discussion. so interesting that what you say would you sell is - this discussion. so interesting that what you say would you sell is the | what you say would you sell is the dominic copies had a huge amount of —— cummings had such a huge amount of power. he -- cummings had such a huge amount of ower. of power. he never took the traditional _ of power. he never took the traditionaljob _ of power. he never took the traditionaljob title - of power. he never took the traditionaljob title that - of power. he never took the i traditionaljob title that existed since the days of margaret thatcher, the reason why he didn't take the title is because he did not need to and those lines of accountability to run up to him. thejob title he said he had was special for student to the prime minister did not really matter what hisjob the prime minister did not really matter what his job title was. the fact was he was in control he was the senior aide was inextricably involved in all of these decisions and he has apologised for a lot of that. he said tens of thousands of people data should not have died and this a lot more than any

backstabbing or score to settle, but that's part of it too. i think there are thousands of people who will watch all of the seven hours of this orjust watch all of the seven hours of this or just clips watch all of the seven hours of this orjust clips of this will be extremely annoyed at how the government has acted how it's not on the lessons to be learned but what could happen sooner. the picture he paints a borisjohnson at downing street is not a happy one, some of the complementary one and i think there will be a lot of annoyance, frustration that dominic cummings has spoken so frankly today within downing street and wider width in political circles, but also civil service circles because he was extremely critical of many aspects of the civil service, particularly the cabinet office and across the department of health. he the cabinet office and across the department of health.— department of health. he prides himself as someone _ department of health. he prides himself as someone who - department of health. he prides himself as someone who doesn't department of health. he prides - himself as someone who doesn't play by the rules but do you think of any otherformer senior by the rules but do you think of any other former senior political adviser, top political adviser who has spoken quite frankly in this

way. because usually these things are kept professionally quiet. there are kept professionally quiet. there are --eole are kept professionally quiet. there are people who _ are kept professionally quiet. there are people who write _ are kept professionally quiet. there are people who write books, - are kept professionally quiet. it” are people who write books, i wrote one myself but there are people who are chiefs of staff for senior aides who have been mavericks. david cameron have one with steve hilton, theresa may had a long serving aide in downing street nick timothy, but none of these people lasted about longer than two or two and a half years. the dominic cummings tried to do was stick on the system of 96 civil service who work in whitehall, but he was one man with a few of his acolytes and he was not going to turn that ship completely, he's obviously been very critical of machines and he was not planning a lot of lockdown and having it be thrown together by people and i would imagine that the house never will be. i think steps will be taken to make sure that there won't be someone who can speak as frankly as critically as this in the future. the civil service and said no one is

allowed to sign a nondisclosure agreements and they've been controversial in many fields of life notjust politics. but in terms what can be said within the law in the realms of confidentiality, i think are probably not going to see a figure like dominic cummings again. and this could just be the start. you will call for the inquiry longer than the seven hours today and he will have even more details and even more to say when that happens in a year's time, however long it takes for them to be called out and i bet she'll be by the very first witnesses.— she'll be by the very first witnesses. :, ~ , :, . witnesses. thank you so much. the disute witnesses. thank you so much. the diapute peter _ witnesses. thank you so much. the dispute peter caldwell. _ witnesses. thank you so much. the dispute peter caldwell. former - dispute peter caldwell. former adviser. former director of the world health organization. good afternoon to you. you have listened to dominic cummings. did you hearanything you have listened to dominic cummings. did you hear anything that you did not expect to hear word that you did not expect to hear word that

you didn't already know? abs, you did not expect to hear word that you didn't already know?— you didn't already know? a little bit, he you didn't already know? a little bit. he did _ you didn't already know? a little bit, he did throw _ you didn't already know? a little bit, he did throw some - you didn't already know? a little bit, he did throw some light - you didn't already know? a little bit, he did throw some light on | you didn't already know? a little i bit, he did throw some light on the initial herd immunity policy of the government, why they delayed lockdown and we are talking about more than hundred 30,000 deaths a year and it's a serious issue. at the end of january 2020, they said suppress the virus. you have to act fast and have no regrets. and keep it suppress and we have a vaccine thatis it suppress and we have a vaccine that is exactly what they stated. they have been scarred by it the previous experience. we did not know what our government was doing because there was great secrecy in february and he thought, different cummings, dominic cummings had groupthink and they said that you cannot suppress this based on the pandemic plan. they did not scale up

testing and the contin treatises elsewhere but in fact, they stopped the tracing on march the 12th where they only had ten deaths. so, those in important point and i was set up independence to bring the public health and get the voices to the public. health and get the voices to the ublic. ~ :, ,, health and get the voices to the ublic. ~ :, i. , health and get the voices to the ublic. ~ :, , :, health and get the voices to the public_ yes- i health and get the voices to the i public._ yes. and public. would you sit on? yes. and another thing _ public. would you sit on? yes. and another thing was _ public. would you sit on? yes. and another thing was that _ public. would you sit on? yes. and another thing was that by - public. would you sit on? yes. and another thing was that by the i public. would you sit on? yes. and | another thing was that by the time, evenin another thing was that by the time, even in early march, already suspect —— suppressing, they said that there will be a huge second wave which has not happened at the moment. we have 1870 deaths in china has 3 million. taiwan and vietnam have less than one. these herd immunity policies that came in were the explicit

intention of government, whatever they say and he said that the cabinet secretary had been talking about in the middle of march, chickenpox policies which was a kind of fundamental misunderstanding of the severity of this disease and we had already had italy and iran in chaos the delays in the first lockdown did lead to 60,000 deaths and in many ways, the government has persisted with this no suppression idea and have never really taken a trade test tracing isolation things seriously and i think that's the that's the question. the policies that's the question. the policies that they have done well in lockdowns for us would argue, should been suppression of vaccines because none of these state that they affect national lockdowns.— national lockdowns. there was so much evidence _

national lockdowns. there was so much evidence today. _ national lockdowns. there was so much evidence today. listening i national lockdowns. there was so | much evidence today. listening to national lockdowns. there was so i much evidence today. listening to a dominic cummings had to say about what was revealed, which been done differently? should the government have been much more open, should they have been much more open to different voices and other expertise? different voices and other exnertise?_ different voices and other exertise? , ., :, , expertise? they had no independent health person _ expertise? they had no independent health person on _ expertise? they had no independent health person on stage _ expertise? they had no independent health person on stage and - expertise? they had no independent health person on stage and so i expertise? they had no independent health person on stage and so is i health person on stage and so is being driven by a modelers and academics. i'mjust astonished being driven by a modelers and academics. i'm just astonished that they did not listen to who and that they did not listen to who and that they didn't listen, according to dominic cummings, voices coming from singapore, hong kong. china and south korea. and on february the 24th, very detailed report was released by who about the china crisis and how they responded and how many people they've mobilised for contact tracing and all of this was ignored. they also said they did

things, and on the procurement vaccines and the nhs primary care roll—out of vaccines. and the chancellor on furlough skiing. but he was very critical of the prime minister and secretary of state. but i think the most important thing is the systems problem that he touched on in whitehall and the general principle that you need to make these scientific discussions more open and ended a great pandemic team with leadership which was rather missing from the department of health, he said.— health, he said. thank you very much. health, he said. thank you very much- that _ health, he said. thank you very much. that is _ health, he said. thank you very much. that is anthony - health, he said. thank you veryj much. that is anthony castella, protector of global health at university college you for your time. now it's time for a look at the weather. aftertoday, it looks like the weather wants to settle down, thanks to high pressure

building in, we should see increasing amounts of sunshine and it will feel warmer, certainly warmer than what may has been so far. we will start to see the condition is improving through thursday and into friday for many of us. the heavy, thundery showers which we have had today across parts of scotland and northern england will fizzle out overnight. most places will be dry in fact, a legacy of cloud across northern and eastern areas, a bit of mist and fog here and there, temperatures no lower than 47 degrees. tomorrow, stats a rather grey across northern and eastern areas but should turn four to seven degrees. then a much drier day, because the broad, the odd shower around to stop this new weather front brings thickening cloud across the west of the uk later in the day and we could see temperatures top 20 degrees across the sunny spots of the south, 18 or 19 in the central belt of scotland. we can see a little bit of rain across the west on friday. otherwise, into the bank holiday week it looks fine and settled for of us. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: dominic cummings gives explosive evidence to parliament — claiming the government's initial

response to the pandemic was inadequate and complacent — with terrible consequences. he also criticised the delay to an inquiry into the pandemic. i think the idea that that any kind of serious inquiry and lessons learned of the starting the next year is completely terrible, the families of all tens of thousands of people died who didn't need to die. quizzed by mps the prime minister's former aide said that people died because of the government's failings during the pandemic. he also apologised for some of the mistakes he made. the truth is that senior ministers and senior officials, senior advisers like me fell disastrously short of the standards the public has a right to expect. earlier today, his evidence led to angry clashes in the commons at prime minister's questions. this morning, the prime minister's form closest adviser said when the public needed us most, the

government failed. thus the prime minister agree with that? at every stage we have tried to minimise — at every stage we have tried to minimise loss of life to save lives and protect— minimise loss of life to save lives and protect the nhs and we have followed — and protect the nhs and we have followed the best scientific advice that we _ followed the best scientific advice that we can. three men have been acquitted — as the judge rules there's no case to answer in the hillsborough disaster trial. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's austin halewood. hi rita, good afternoon... there's only one place to start. because we're less than three hours away now from kick—off in the europa league final. manchester united against spanish side villereal in gdansk. and today is a special date for one man in particular. 22 years ago ole gunnar solskjaer scored the winning goal as united stunned bayern munich to win the champions league final — tonight he'll lead the team as their manager in another european final. and the 26th of may has long been a special date for united fans.

it was also the birthday of their legendary manager sir matt busby. hopefully this is the start of something more. we know, sir alex is with us, we know the 26th of may is sir matt's birthday, but the players, when they sign for united, they signed to win trophies. they signed to accept the challenge of being the best because this is the best club in the world. so manager ole gunnar solskjaer quietly confident ahead of the game. but while he's improved performances on the pitch, united are still without a trophy in four years. and former united goalkeeper peter scheichel says now�*s the time to win one. i think he needs to win one out. that would be good for him. as a manager, ifelt that that would be good for him. as a manager, i felt that he gets an incredible amount of unfair criticism. i don't think he has

acknowledged as a manager who is supposed to manage one of the beer club. he has done really well with difficult circumstances. —— he doesn't get acknowledged as a manager who is was to manage one of the better clubs. and there'll be up to two thousand fans of each club at the game and plenty of united supporters are expecting a positive result. they need a trophy under the belt and then they can start winning things again. hopefully some massive steps for us and we can get winning titles again. that is the plan anyway. i titles again. that is the plan an a . : , titles again. that is the plan an a , :, , : :, , titles again. that is the plan an a. anyway. i was considering cancelling because i thought _ anyway. i was considering cancelling because i thought they _ anyway. i was considering cancelling because i thought they might i anyway. i was considering cancelling because i thought they might not i anyway. i was considering cancelling because i thought they might not be any of— because i thought they might not be any of this— because i thought they might not be any of this and were no fun. i'm so glad— any of this and were no fun. i'm so glad i_ any of this and were no fun. i'm so glad i didn't— any of this and were no fun. i'm so glad i didn't cancel. i'm here now and i_ glad i didn't cancel. i'm here now and i feel— glad i didn't cancel. i'm here now and i feel a — glad i didn't cancel. i'm here now and i feela bit glad i didn't cancel. i'm here now and i feel a bit blessed to have this opportunity because not many united _ this opportunity because not many united fans will get to see this game — united fans will get to see this came. ~ , , ., united fans will get to see this tamer ,, ._ ., united fans will get to see this amer ,, .,y ., united fans will get to see this ame.: ,, .,y ., , game. we spent a year locked up. that is what _ game. we spent a year locked up. that is what we _ game. we spent a year locked up. that is what we that _ game. we spent a year locked up. that is what we that we _ game. we spent a year locked up. that is what we that we been i game. we spent a year locked up. l that is what we that we been locked up that is what we that we been locked up solo so long. that is what we that we been locked op solo so long-— up solo so long. having been there 14 months- — up solo so long. having been there 14 months. minutes _ up solo so long. having been there 14 months. minutes ago _ up solo so long. having been there 14 months. minutes ago last i up solo so long. having been there 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have _ 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have to — 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have to take _ 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have to take it. _ 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have to take it. ten— 14 months. minutes ago last week. just have to take it.— just have to take it. ten days between friends? _

big ending kicks off at eight o'clock tonight. away from football. surrey wicketkeeper ben foakes has been ruled out of england's upcomming test series with new zeland, after tearing his hamstring. he was set to make his home test debut but now looks like he'll be out for three months. it means that gloucestershire wicketkeeperjames bracey is now set to make his england debut in his place. meanwhile nottinghamshire batsman haseeb hameed has been brought back into the squad, as cover, for the first time since 2016. and wicketkeeper batsman sam billings of kent, who's an established member of the white ball side, has also been called up. egan bernal is still in the leader's pinkjersey with four stages to go at the giro d'italia. but for the first time, in this afternoon's stage, he's lost time... ireland's dan martin broke away impressively to win stage 17 — he's now won stages at the tour de france, the vuelta a espana and the giro. he's no threat to the overall standings — but simon yates has moved up from fifth to third,

after attacking and dropping bernal on the final climb. the colombian is still in the lead, by two minutes 23 seconds, but there are still two mountain stages to go. and royal ascot will have 60 thousand spectators, over the five days of the festival in june. 12 thousand will be allowed in each day, after the meet was selected to be a dedicated test event. precise details of what will be trialled, and what the requirements from visitors to the racecourse are, is yet to be confirmed. ascot says 2020 bookings can now be accommodated — with some tickets on sale this friday. and there's much more on all of those stories, including plenty more build—up to manchester united's europa league final tonight, on the bbc sport website. but rita, that's all your sport for now. thank you, austin. back to our top story. let's return to our top story

and dominic cummings' explosive appearance in front of mps. the prime minister's former top adviser has given a damning account of the way the government handled the early stages of the coronavirus crisis. let's speak now to the science writer tom chivers. good afternoon to you. what did you learn from it all? i good afternoon to you. what did you learn from it all?— learn from it all? i think i learned it was kind _ learn from it all? i think i learned it was kind of _ learn from it all? i think i learned it was kind of chaotic _ learn from it all? i think i learned it was kind of chaotic in _ learn from it all? i think i learned it was kind of chaotic in number. learn from it all? i think i learned i it was kind of chaotic in number ten at the beginning of all this which i suppose makes sense. i suppose what we don't learn is whether or not the public will care about this but i suppose what i would say is i don't think that matters. the point is not whether this is a politically, has a political impact or changes votes come i think it is did we learn where things go wrong. for a senior adviser is saying tens of thousand people died who didn't have to come that really matters. there was some serious things here he said that boris johnson's serious things here he said that borisjohnson's unwillingness to like down a september and the lack of border policy and people not taking it seriously when they should've done that struck me is

pretty important and hopefully will be able to teach us serious lessons if there is another pandemic at another time. if there is another pandemic at anothertime. i if there is another pandemic at another time.— if there is another pandemic at another time. i want to ask you about some _ another time. i want to ask you about some of _ another time. i want to ask you about some of the _ another time. i want to ask you about some of the startling i about some of the startling attitudes toward the virus in the early days of pandemic and government, so dominic cummings said that borisjohnson had said that he thought it was like swine flu and that he would be injected with the virus on tv to prove that it was nothing very sinister. he called to be cabinet secretary referring to chickenpox parties, winning people to get the virus. when you heard these things, reflected a real misunderstanding of the seriousness of the virus. it misunderstanding of the seriousness of the virus. misunderstanding of the seriousness of the virus-— of the virus. it did. the chickenpox -a and of the virus. it did. the chickenpox party and injecting _ of the virus. it did. the chickenpox party and injecting a _ of the virus. it did. the chickenpox party and injecting a live _ of the virus. it did. the chickenpox party and injecting a live tv - of the virus. it did. the chickenpox party and injecting a live tv in i party and injecting a live tv in particular was remarkable to hear. you have to remember, this was a lot of people felt like that. i'm sure we all remember conversations in february and early march last year

with people who were blase and saying, a lot of fuss for the flu. but this was the government. the ublic. but this was the government. the public- you _ but this was the government. tue public. you would but this was the government. tte public. you would think the government would know better. the evidence was there from and italy over that this was not the flu and it was probably 20 times as deadly as the flu. and itjust come and strikes me as startling that this knowledge in this information did not make it to the people who are making decisions for the there is a question over how much of this we should trust from dominic cummings what a lot of what he was saying was fitted stuff that was on the record. it certainly made sense of timing and fitted what a lot of people expected from how the decision—making was going on inside number ten at this point. i was willing to believe a lot of it and yes, it was startling to learning

people were not taking it seriously. what wise i think even more startling, there's an element of you can forgive me to some degree in february and march last year, people going skiing and a public crisis but i was talking about his unwillingness to lockdown again in september which surely by then we knew that things were, how serious it was and we also had clear evidence of the problems of failing to lockdown quickly the first time and ensure that we would get the hang of exponential growth by then and how things get out of hand very quickly and yet they seem to have been this ongoing refusal to lockdown quickly and instill this failure to understand that it wasn't a trade—off between the economy and lives that covid would destroy the economy and these two policy director points have been same direction, i thought that was almost

the most surprising bit, this image of a coming out in september that there was still this reluctance to take swift and decisive action. thank you very much indeed. two retired police officers and an ex—solicitor accused of altering police statements after the hillsborough disaster have been acquitted. they were accused of trying to minimize the blame on south yorkshire police in the aftermath of the 1989 disaster. mrjustice william davis ruled they had no case to answer. judith moritz reports. hillsborough is a double tragedy. the disaster itself, 96 lives lost when the football terraces became overcrowded at the sheffield wednesday ground. and its aftermath, as fans were unjustly blamed for their own deaths. the families of those who died have spent 32 years fighting forjustice.

# walk on, walk on...#. in 2016, they celebrated inquest verdicts, which found that those who died were unlawfully killed and the fans were not to blame. but now, there will be no convictions for an alleged police cover—up. although your mind is telling you it's going to be thrown i out, it still hurts. you know, 32 years now, and we've campaigned for all this time. - i'm angry at the system in this country that is so morally wrong. because to me, what has gone on today was a cover—up over a cover—up. that's the way i look at it. the former bishop of liverpool, jamesjones, says it's important that victims of other disasters don't have the same long struggle as the hillsborough families. the result of the present

proceedings leaves the families wondering about accountability, and especially in the aftermath of the disaster. my concern is the government should learn from the experiences that the families have endured over the past 32 years. former solicitor peter metcalfe, and former senior police officers donald denton and alan foster, were all charged with perverting the course ofjustice by amending officers' accounts of what happened during the disaster. the case against them has been dropped. this is the former headquarters of the south yorkshire police. back in 1989, officers met here to organise the syp response to the disaster. the police statements ended up being used for three purposes, the public enquiry, the first set of inquests, and the original criminal investigation into hillsborough. the officers had written notes in their pocket books, before writing up their statements. many of the statements were later

discovered to have been altered, and some negative comments about the police removed. professor phil scraton found them inside the reading room at the house of lords. i was overwhelmed. came back to liverpool, with those reviewed and altered statements in my bag. but i also realised that i was sitting on a whole range of material here that i had never envisaged. it was my worst fears had been realised, that it was endemic, that it was institutionalised. though it is not disputed that the statements were changed, the courts found it didn't amount to a crime. the judge accepted that the defendants didn't know the statements were going to be used for anything other than the taylor enquiry, which was not a court of law. for many of the survivors and families of the 96 men, women and children who were unlawfully killed, it will feel like a devastating end to the fight for justice.

and judith also explained what the response had been from the defendants. lawyers representing the three defendants came outside court and said that they believed this proved there was no hillsborough cover—up, and that this prosecution was an enormous waste of public money. jonathan goldberg qc represents peter metcalf, the former south yorkshire police solicitor. my client is grateful that a high courtjudge has held he does not even have a case to answer, at the end of what is said to be the longest and most expensive series of criminal investigations ever mounted in britain, apparently costing into the hundreds of millions of pounds. hillsborough is probably the most investigated disaster in british history. that money would have been better spent on building new hospitals or schools, perhaps in liverpool. my client is acutely sad about the suffering of the bereaved families.

the crown prosecution service has defended its decision to bring this trial, saying that it was right for a jury to hear the evidence, and has said its decision not to appeal is something it has reached after long consideration. the cps has also pointed to the fact that people they say may find it surprising there is no legal duty on a public authority like the police to stop them from withholding information to a public enquiry, and they say that that is something which should be looked at with scrutiny. that's also, by the way, something which campaigners want now to see a change in the law. they wanted to be called the hillsborough law. mike rainford is the lawyer representing former police officer donald denton — he spoke outside court earlier. the trial, which came to an end just now, with not guilty verdicts for all defendants, should never have taken place, at all.

three men, including our 83—year—old client, have finally been cleared, after years of lies, half—truths, myths, rumours, often repeated in the media, with no critical analysis or research. sadly, the iopc and the cps failed in their duties to apply a higher standard of analysis of the evidence in making the decision to bring these charges over three years ago. paul harris, solicitorforformer police officer alan foster, read a short statement on his behalf: his sympathy today remains, i as it always has, with the families of those who lost their lives on 15th april 1989 in- the hillsborough tragedy.

such sympathy, though, - cannot be extended to the ipcc, now the iopc, who pursued a man, i now aged 75, of good character, i with weak evidence, designed to fit a predetermined narrative. - this narrative, of an alleged i cover—up, when every document was meticulously preserved i and maintained, was not borne out by the evidence. three people have been arrested after the cable car crash in italy. the men have been charged on multiple counts including

manslaughter. they include the owner and two senior managers of the company which operated the cable car. the three have reportedly confessed to knowing that emergency brakes on the car had been deactivated nearly a month ago to overcome a problem.the men have been charged on multiple counts including manslaughter. a landmark ruling — affecting climate change — has been handed down, this afternoon. judges in the netherlands have delivered their verdict in a case against royal dutch shell — ruling that the oil giant has a legal duty to do more, to tackle climate change. shell was sued by the environmental campaign group, friends of the earth, for undermining targets set by the paris agreement. the decision is only binding in the netherlands, but it could influence judges in similar cases elsewhere. shell says it will appeal. our correspondent in the hague — anna holligan — gave us this update a little earlier. these campaigners are now packing up their banners. friends of the earth, their banners. friends of the earth, the netherlands, six of climate groups, plus more than 17,000 that citizens who brought this case against shell. the result has been president they call it the ground—breaking case in which it is now. it started in 2019, they accused shell of violating human

rights by continuing to invest in fossil fuels, rights by continuing to invest in fossilfuels, billions in fossil fuels and they say that companies a transition to clean energy should go further and faster, the judge transition to clean energy should go further and faster, thejudge here at the district court in the hague agreed, the corporation had a responsibility to cut its carbon footprint. in they ordered schell to reduce its omissions 45% by 2030 compared to the 2019 levels. this? there's notjust but around the world because climate activists will be saying this, the courts as their new frontier and their battle to protect the planet and also organisations will now realise that judges have the power to force them to change their policies. this really is a ground—breaking and historic case we are witnessing here in the hay and the activists are clearly delighted. shall have always said they are making efforts to

reduce their carbon footprint and they will continue to do so. —— shell have said. we've had a statement from shell in which they said urgent action is needed on climate change which is why we have accelerated our efforts to become a net zero emissions energy company by 2050. the bbc has been reporting on the hundreds of women in the uk who are campaigning foran hundreds of women in the uk who are campaigning for an apology to the prime minister. after being forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s to 70s because they were unmarried. but its notjust the birth mothers who say they were left traumatised — many of their children — who were adopted — say they ve also suffered. duncan kennedy reports. marriage was essential to the creation of families in the 1950s and 60s. it was the structure around which moral standards were based. to

become pregnant outside of wedlock was to invite condemnation from all sides. my mum was 16 years old. she got sent to a mother and baby home because it was a disgrace. that disgrace was something she had to live with. she was adopted into a new family in 1963 but the shame of the legitimacy followed her through childhood. what would you have wished for? to have stayed with my mum. been allowed to have been kept by the lady, the woman, that gave birth to me. ok, she was only a girl, but she was still with my dad. gaynor�*s mother was one of around a quarter of a million unmarried women in britain forced into giving up their babies for adoption in the three decades after the second world war.

i was 18. i don't think i want to believe i was pregnant for a long time. , , , ., believe i was pregnant for a long time. i, , ., "~ time. judy became pregnant in 1967. one of the unmarried _ time. judy became pregnant in 1967. one of the unmarried women - time. judy became pregnant in 1967. one of the unmarried women to i time. judy became pregnant in 1967. | one of the unmarried women to pasty pressure to give up her baby for adoption. she says the worst day with the handover. she adoption. she says the worst day with the handover.— adoption. she says the worst day with the handover. she was asleep. she never woke _ with the handover. she was asleep. she never woke up. _ with the handover. she was asleep. she never woke up. they _ with the handover. she was asleep. she never woke up. they took i with the handover. she was asleep. she never woke up. they took her l she never woke up. they took her from me. i gave her to the people waiting next door to a doctor. and that was it. —— and they gave her to. —— to a doctor. how could that have happened to me? —— to adopt her. but my mum was waiting for me downstairs. and we were —— we went shopping. we went shopping. but

downstairs. and we were -- we went shopping. we went shopping. but not all adoptions — shopping. we went shopping. but not all adoptions from _ shopping. we went shopping. but not all adoptions from that _ shopping. we went shopping. but not all adoptions from that era _ shopping. we went shopping. but not all adoptions from that era went i all adoptions from that era went badly. t all adoptions from that era went badl . : , all adoptions from that era went badl. .,, : all adoptions from that era went badl. :,, ., all adoptions from that era went badl. ., ., ., , badly. iwas lucky. i had a really aood badly. iwas lucky. i had a really good parents- — badly. iwas lucky. i had a really good parents. many _ badly. iwas lucky. i had a really good parents. many children i badly. iwas lucky. i had a really| good parents. many children like rachel were _ good parents. many children like rachel were adopted _ good parents. many children like rachel were adopted by - good parents. many children like rachel were adopted by loving . rachel were adopted by loving family. she was brought up in canada, but says her birth mother did suffer. t canada, but says her birth mother did suffer. , , did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow _ did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow for _ did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow for her _ did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow for her and _ did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow for her and it - did suffer. i felt terrible empathy and sorrow for her and it is i and sorrow for her and it is terrible. but you certainly should apologise for any heinous things that you have done. fish apologise for any heinous things that you have done.— apologise for any heinous things that you have done. an apology is at the heart of — that you have done. an apology is at the heart of the _ that you have done. an apology is at the heart of the story. _ that you have done. an apology is at the heart of the story. both - that you have done. an apology is at the heart of the story. both the i the heart of the story. both the birthmothers and the children say britain should now follow what is happened in other countries, like australia. :, , ., ., ., australia. today this parliament on behalf of the _ australia. today this parliament on behalf of the australian _ australia. today this parliament on behalf of the australian people i behalf of the australian people takes responsibility and apologises.

the birthmothers and their children in britain have now written the borisjohnson urging him to agree to a government apology here. to help put right what they say is in its historical injustice. t do put right what they say is in its historical injustice.— put right what they say is in its historical injustice. historical in'ustice. i do think the ado tion historical injustice. i do think the adoption apology _ historical injustice. i do think the adoption apology as _ historical injustice. i do think the adoption apology as western i adoption apology as western australia would help a great deal. at least it is been recognised. it is never going to put it all right for people, but i think it helps. the government has expressed his sympathy to be saying it can't undo the past, but has not offered an apology. the events surrounding forest adoption the may have taken place 50 years ago, but those who have lifted say it is now time. it is time to say sorry. —— those who have lifted say it is now time to say sorry. ina in a moment it is the bbc news at six with george. but first it is

time for a look of the weather. hello there. so far this month has been pretty disappointing. it's been cool and a wet for many of us but there are some improvements on the horizon. the last few days of may are looking warmer and drier. not completely dry but certainly drier than what we've been experiencing of late. we had a few showers across northern and eastern areas. these will fade away the first part of the night. many places will be dry throughout the night although there will be a legacy a cloud across scotland and england and if you miss patches. temperatures not falling much below to the 7 degrees. still some cloud across the very far south air. we start tomorrow on a dry sunny notes for many. early cloud across scotland in northern england, that should melt away and we should see good amount of sunshine. the odd shower likely of a higher ground across northern and eastern areas but most places will be dry and it will be warm. 20 celsius finally across the south. warm in the north but this weather front opening

figure in our brexit ring rain to northern ireland and western fringe of the britain moving through the course of the night. further east it should stay dry and that will be building cloud. slightly milder night across the board, six to 11 degrees. heading client to friday, we have this building area of high pressure, the weather front and the west which will be moving into it, it will get squeezed out by the area of high pressure which will continue to build but it will be quite great, quite damp across and western areas on friday morning and slashes of rain around which will tend to ease down and it will turn drier, probably the best of the search across northern and eastern areas that we could see the odd shower around on the heavy side in many places will say drive in temperatures a degree or so down on thursday because we will have more cloud around. for the weekend, it looks like high pressure will dominate, mainly dry and it will feel warm it's well with high winds. saturday looks good. a lot of cloud across western areas, fairweather cloud building up but most places

will be dry and let the spells of sunshine to an temperatures responding because 20 degrees to the central belt of scotland, 20 or 21 across seven in southeast england. it could be warmer heading onto the bank holiday weekend with sunday, looking really warm and below 20 celsius across southern areas. if few showers on the bank holiday monday.

today at six — a no—holds—barred attack on the government's handling of covid from borisjohnson's former chief adviser. dominic cummings says thousands of lives were lost needlessly — he admits to making mistakes — but blames his political masters. senior ministers, senior officials, senior advisors like me fell disastrously short of the standards that the public has a right to expect. when the public needed us most the government failed. mr cummings accuses matt hancock of "criminal. disgraceful behaviour". i think that the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things, including lying to everybody, in multiple occasions.