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.

he says borisjohnson was fundamentally "unfit for the job" — but the prime minister defends his record. we've at every stage tried to minimise of loss of life, to save lives, to protect the nhs and we have followed the best scientific advice that we can. we'll be looking at what lessons have been learned. also tonight. the aftermath of the hillsborough disaster — the families�* anger after three men are acquitted of altering police statements. police arrest five as they investigate the shooting of the black lives matter activist sasha johnson. our special reports on forced adoptions — we hear from those who've lived their whole lives in shadow of shame. covid wasn't going to stop them — the manchester united fans in gdansk, hoping for a first major trophy in years. coming up on the bbc news channel. the final comes 22 years after ole gunnar solskjaer�*s goal helped united lift the champions league as a player. will this be his first european

trophy as a manager? good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. once they were the closest of political allies, but today dominic cummings has delivered the harshest of criticisms against his old boss, borisjohnson. in a withering seven hour session in front of a commons committee, mr cummings — who left downing street last november — said thousands of people have lost their lives in the pandemic because of the failure of leadership in government. he admitted making mistakes himself, but didn't spare those around him. dominic cummings described borisjonhson as unfit to lead the country. as for matt hancock, he accused the health secretary of lying and said he "should

have been fired". and he described failures right from the start of the pandemic, saying "there was no lockdown plan". our first report is from our political editor, laura kuenssberg, on revelations that give us a glimpse into the heart of government during the pandemic. reality or revenge? delving back into troubled recent history. dominic cummings�*s day to give his version of events. a verdict of failure. and an apology for his part. failure. and an aolo: for his art. ,, ., and an apology for his part. senior minister, senior _ and an apology for his part. senior minister, senior officials, - and an apology for his part. senior minister, senior officials, senior. minister, senior officials, senior advisers 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. and i would like to say to all the families of those who died, unnecessarily, how sorry i am for the mistakes made and my own mistakes at that. the government's ublic mistakes at that. the government's public position _ mistakes at that. the government's public position had _ mistakes at that. the government's

public position had been _ mistakes at that. the government's public position had been it - mistakes at that. the government's public position had been it was - mistakes at that. the government's public position had been it was well| public position had been it was well prepared but he revealed now the second week of march last year senior officials suddenly realised that just wasn't the case. that 'ust wasn't the case. someone said that just wasn't the case. someone said i that just wasn't the case. someone said i have — that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come _ that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come through _ that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come through the - said i have come through the mistakes made and my own mistakes at that. ,., �* , , , . that. the government's public osition that. the government's public position had — that. the government's public position had been _ that. the government's public position had been it _ that. the government's public position had been it was - that. the government's public position had been it was well| position had been it was well prepared but he revealed now the second week of march last year senior officials suddenly realised that just wasn't the case. that 'ust wasn't the case. someone said that just wasn't the case. someone said i that just wasn't the case. someone said i have — that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come _ that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come through _ that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come through to - that just wasn't the case. someone said i have come through to tell- that just wasn't the case. someone | said i have come through to tell you all "i think we are absolutely expletive. i think this country is headings for disaster, think we are going to kill thousands." protecting the most vulnerable. _ going to kill thousands." protecting the most vulnerable. but _ going to kill thousands." protecting the most vulnerable. but as - going to kill thousands." protecting the most vulnerable. but as flaws l going to kill thousands." protecting| the most vulnerable. but as flaws in the most vulnerable. but as flaws in the numbers emerged how rapidly plans were sketched out on white boards to accelerate to lockdown. showing if nothing changes the nhs would collapse and the poignant line, who do we not save? and why did it take him so long to ask the prime minister to change his mind? do you not recognised that that was a massive failure on your part, as his chief adviser, that you took so long to come to him, with advice to change tack?— change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge — change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge failure _ change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge failure of _ change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge failure of mine. -

change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge failure of mine. and - change tack? yes, it was a huge, it was a huge failure of mine. and i l was a huge failure of mine. and i bitterly— was a huge failure of mine. and i bitterly regret i didn't hit the emergency panic button earlier than i emergency panic button earlier than i did~ _ emergency panic button earlier than i did~ but _ emergency panic button earlier than i did~ but i _ emergency panic button earlier than i did. but i was incredibly... frightened, i guess is the word, about_ frightened, i guess is the word, about the — frightened, i guess is the word, about the consequences of me kind of pulling _ about the consequences of me kind of pulling a _ about the consequences of me kind of pulling a massive emergency string, and saying. — pulling a massive emergency string, and saying, the official plan is wrong — and saying, the official plan is wrong and it will kill everyone and you have — wrong and it will kill everyone and you have to— wrong and it will kill everyone and you have to change track, because what _ you have to change track, because what if _ you have to change track, because what if i _ you have to change track, because what if i am — you have to change track, because what if i am wrong?— what if i am wrong? number ten sometimes _ what if i am wrong? number ten sometimes sonned _ what if i am wrong? number ten sometimes sonned on _ what if i am wrong? number ten sometimes sonned on chaos, - what if i am wrong? number ten sometimes sonned on chaos, on| what if i am wrong? number ten - sometimes sonned on chaos, on one day grappling with the potential of lockdownped, strikes in iran and the number ten dog taste lockdownped, strikes in iran and the number ten do— number ten dog we had this insail situation where _ number ten dog we had this insail situation where part _ number ten dog we had this insail situation where part of— number ten dog we had this insail situation where part of the - number ten dog we had this insail| situation where part of the building was saying are we going to bomb iraq, part of building was arguing about whether we were going to do quarantine, the prime minister has his girlfriend going crackers about something trivial. and his girlfriend going crackers about something trivial.— something trivial. and a prime minister unwilling _ something trivial. and a prime minister unwilling to _ something trivial. and a prime minister unwilling to take - something trivial. and a prime minister unwilling to take the l minister unwilling to take the disease seriously in.

minister unwilling to take the disease seriously— minister unwilling to take the disease seriously in, the prime minister regarded _ disease seriously in, the prime minister regarded this - disease seriously in, the prime minister regarded this as - disease seriously in, the prime minister regarded this as a - disease seriously in, the prime l minister regarded this as a scare story, if we have the prime minister chairing cobra meetings and he is telling erne it is entire flu, don't worry, i will get chris whitty to inject me live on tv with covid, so people realise i is noting to frightened of. that would not help serious planning. finir; frightened of. that would not help serious planning.— frightened of. that would not help serious planning. only happen way throu~h. serious planning. only happen way through- first _ serious planning. only happen way through. first call— serious planning. only happen way through. first call the _ serious planning. only happen way through. first call the prime - through. first call the prime minister to _ through. first call the prime minister to answer. - through. first call the prime minister to answer. the - through. first call the prime l minister to answer. the prime minister to answer. the prime minister had _ minister to answer. the prime minister had to _ minister to answer. the prime minister had to defend - minister to answer. the prime minister had to defend the - minister to answer. the prime i minister had to defend the claims next door. , ., next door. this morning the prime minister's former _ next door. this morning the prime minister's former closest - next door. this morning the prime minister's former closest adviser l minister's former closest adviser said, when the public needed us most, the government failed. does the prime minister agree with that? the handling of this pandemic has been _ the handling of this pandemic has been one — the handling of this pandemic has been one of the most difficult thinge— been one of the most difficult things this country has that had to do for— things this country has that had to do for a _ things this country has that had to do for a very long time. none of the decision— do for a very long time. none of the decision have been easy, to go into a lockdown— decision have been easy, to go into a lockdown is a traumatic thing for a lockdown is a traumatic thing for a country~ — a country. mr- a country. mr cummings vitriol was a country. — mr cummings vitriol was saved for the health secretary. who may not just be able to runway from a long list of accusations. i just be able to runway from a long list of accusations.—

list of accusations. i think that the secretary _ list of accusations. i think that the secretary of _ list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state - list of accusations. i think that the secretary of state for - list of accusations. i think that l the secretary of state for health should have been fired for at least 15, 20 thing, including... find 15, 20 thing, including... and ”uttin 15, 20 thing, including... and putting people _ 15, 20 thing, including... and putting people in _ 15, 20 thing, including... and putting people in care homes in danger. putting people in care homes in dancer. ., . .,, danger. the government rhetoric was we ut a danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield _ danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield round _ danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield round care _ danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield round care home, - danger. the government rhetoric was we put a shield round care home, it l we put a shield round care home, it was nonsense. quite the opposite of putting a shield round them, we sent people with covid back to the care homes. ., ,, . ., j , people with covid back to the care homes. ., ,, . ., ., , homes. the health secretary's teams has rejected — homes. the health secretary's teams has rejected claims _ homes. the health secretary's teams has rejected claims but _ homes. the health secretary's teams has rejected claims but there - homes. the health secretary's teams has rejected claims but there were i has rejected claims but there were accusations that the prime minister wouldn't listen to mr cummings or the to sign tests to bring back lockdown to save lives in the autumn. ~ .,, lockdown to save lives in the autumn. ~ ., . lockdown to save lives in the autumn-— lockdown to save lives in the autumn. ., . autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't taking _ autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't taking any _ autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't taking any advice _ autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't taking any advice he - autumn. whose advice was he taking? it wasn't taking any advice he was - it wasn't taking any advice he was making _ it wasn't taking any advice he was making his — it wasn't taking any advice he was making his own decision. did it wasn't taking any advice he was making his own decision.- making his own decision. did you hear him say _ making his own decision. did you hear him say let _ making his own decision. did you hear him say let the _ making his own decision. did you hear him say let the bodies - making his own decision. did you hear him say let the bodies pile i hear him say let the bodies pile high in their thousands. i hear him say let the bodies pile high in their thousands.- high in their thousands. i heard that in his _ high in their thousands. i heard that in his study. _ high in their thousands. i heard that in his study. innocence - high in their thousands. i heard that in his study. innocence a i that in his study. innocence a direct blast — that in his study. innocence a direct blast at _ that in his study. innocence a direct blast at the _ that in his study. innocence a direct blast at the man - that in his study. innocence a direct blast at the man he - that in his study. innocence a - direct blast at the man he helped put in downing street r 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 round him to try and stop what i thought were extremely bad decisions. but after hours, for those _ extremely bad decisions. but after hours, for those who _ extremely bad decisions. but after hours, for those who lost - extremely bad decisions. but after hours, for those who lost family, i hours, for those who lost family, for those who suffered, perhaps this

most important verdict. tens for those who suffered, perhaps this most important verdict.— most important verdict. tens of thousands _ most important verdict. tens of thousands of _ most important verdict. tens of thousands of people _ most important verdict. tens of thousands of people died - most important verdict. tens of thousands of people died who l most important verdict. tens of - thousands of people died who didn't need to die. for thousands of people died who didn't need to die. ., , thousands of people died who didn't need to die-— need to die. for the first time, someone _ need to die. for the first time, someone who _ need to die. for the first time, someone who was _ need to die. for the first time, someone who was involved - need to die. for the first time, someone who was involved in l need to die. for the first time, - someone who was involved in making the decisions during this crisis has come to that conclusion in public. a claim the government's disputed or tried to ignore, but one day, will have to answer in full. now, you may remember that one of the most controversial events during the first lockdown was dominic cummings' trip to county durham. today he again defended the trip, but said he should have been more open about the security reasons that prompted it. here's our deputy political editor vicky young. we'd all been told to stay at home, but dominic cummings didn't. he in fact travelled to his parents' home in durham. before setting off, he was seen rushing out of downing street after discovering his wife had covid. weeks later, in the rose garden at downing street, he was forced to explain. i was worried that if my wife and i were both seriously ill, possibly hospitalised,

there was nobody in london that we could reasonably ask to look after our child and expose themselves to covid. but today he revealed another version of events. my wife called saying, "there's a gang of people outside saying they're going to break into the house and kill everybody inside." so it was actually repeated security threats which prompted the move to durham. but when the story erupted, mr cummings decided not to mention that. now, at this point i madejust a terrible, terrible, terrible mistake, which i'm extremely sorry about. so i ended up giving the whole rose garden thing where what i said was true, but we left out a kind of crucial part of it all. and just the whole thing was a complete disaster, and the truth is, it undermined public confidence in the whole thing. the most bizarre part of mr cummings�*s original story was the now infamous drive to barnard castle to test his eyesight after being ill with covid. if i was going to make up a story,

i'd have come up with a hell of a lot better story than that one, right? you were testing your eyesight with your wife and child in the car with you? it didn't seem crazy at the time. obviously i wish i had never heard of barnard castle and i wish i'd never gone, and i wish the whole nightmare had never happened. after his evidence today, it's his colleague still in government who will be having nightmares. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. let's return now to our political editor laura kuenssberg. laura, a day of revelation, as i was sayings but it is worth remembering that dominic cummings left number ten under a cloud. that that dominic cummings left number ten under a cloud.— ten under a cloud. that is right. georae ten under a cloud. that is right. george and _ ten under a cloud. that is right. george and dominic _ ten under a cloud. that is right. george and dominic cummingsl ten under a cloud. that is right. | george and dominic cummings is someone who in this square mile is never going to win a popularity contest and he didn't leave out much of this square pile from his strong criticisms today. yes, his relationship with the prime minister is now very bitter, and very broken, and clearly, over a time they had a

very serious parting of ways and some very very serious disagreements over covid policy. that said, despite the fact that mr cummings�*s reputation itself and his reputation with boris johnson reputation itself and his reputation with borisjohnson isn't spotless. i don't think it is possible for downing street to dismiss this as sour grapes or to erase everything he said. has left the health secretary matt hancock with difficult questions to answer. he will pop up at a press conference tomorrow where he is bound to have some of it put to him. it has given borisjohnson's political opponents plenty of ammunition too and lastly and think maybe most importantly tonight, after months of the government trying to say they were well prepared for this, trying to say that lessons will be learned in time when they have a public inquiry, we have had someone today who was intimately involved in making the decisions is at the beginning of this emergency, saying in the full glare of the public spotlight, that tens of thousands of people in this country died unnecessarily, and if the government

had taken different decisions there might be families listening to this tonight, who might still have loved ones at home with them. that is a claim that downing street can'tjust ignore for ever. at some point before or when the public inquiry finally comes they are going to have to answer that in full. thank you laura. during prime minister's questions in the commons borisjohnson repeated what he's said many times before — that in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic his government has, at all times, followed the scientific advice. 0ur health editor hugh pym looks now at what we learnt from dominic cummings about the scientific and health assessments that were available to the prime minister through the crisis. some will contest it, but today's drastic evidence shines new light on the government's handling of the biggest peacetime crisis in modern times. dominic cummings' account of the first covid wave in 2020 is highly critical of ministers and officials.

british people back from wuhan in china were quarantined in late january, but until the end of february, he said, there was no attempt to get on a war footing. some key players even took skiing holidays. all this as italian hospitals were being overrun with seriously ill covid patients. mr cummings argues there should have been a lockdown by early march. but big sporting events like the cheltenham racing festival went ahead. he said experts thought closing sports events would mean people went to pubs instead, but this was completely wrong. now is the time for everyone to stop nonessential contact with others. by march the 16th, he says, there had been a big change in thinking, with the start of restrictions, though a full lockdown was delayed another week. but a medical expert on one of the main advisory groups says none of the options were clear—cut. really urgent action needed to be taken, but that was very difficult, ithink, for the politicians

to balance all the different inputs they were getting from the scientist on one hand and from those who really felt that this was going to be very damaging to the economy on the other. mr cummings slams the lack of preparation, including shortages of ppe. he alleges even with virus cases surging, there were no urgent plans to secure more supplies. by september, the second wave of the virus was developing. mr cummings says action should have been taken then. the testing system was coming close to being overwhelmed, and he claims the prime minister rejected the idea of a short circuit breaker lockdown in england. some experts agree that was a mistake. there was a lot of arguments in favour of taking early action in the autumn, in september, when we could see that cases were rising again and we didn't have vaccines. people had been able to travel, and we had reimported infection back into the country, people moving around. we should have done something earlier.

the number of uk deaths is one of the highest of leading industrialised nations. mr cummings said mistakes had been made, and he was sorry for his part in them. adrian hamer died with covid on boxing day aged 55. his widow, lisa, says today's developments provide no comfort. mistakes have been made. people need to be accountable for their actions. and they need to take accountability. they all need to take accountability and learn, because if this ever happens again, god help us. more chances to learn will come with a public inquiry next year. others will give their version of events. some may well differ from those of mr cummings. hugh pym, bbc news. and the latest government figures on coronavirus show 3,180 new infections and nine deaths in the latest 24—hour period. cases have been rising slowly over the past week, and the number of people who have

now died is 127,748. in the vaccine roll—out, 186,147 people have received a first vaccine dose in the last 2a hours. in total, more than 38 million people have now had their firstjab. that's nearly 73% of the uk adult population. nearly 388,000 people had their second dose in the past 2a hours. and it takes the overall number in that group to more than 23.5 million people — that's almost 45% of the adult population. the time is just after a quarter past six. our top story this evening. the prime minister's former top aide, dominic cummings, says thousands of lives were lost needlessly during the pandemic — and he blames his political bosses. manchester united are warming up for their europa league final chasing their first major trophy

in years coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel. find out why the ioc are facing growing pressure from athletes fearful that heat and humidity could pose a significant threat at this summer's olympic games in tokyo. yesterday we brought you the story of the hundreds of unmarried british women who were forced and shamed into handing over their newborn babies for adoption in the 19505, 60s and 70s. they're now campaigning for an apology from borisjohnson. but it's notjust the birth mothers who say they were left traumatised. many of the children who were adopted say they, too, have suffered. duncan kennedy reports. jan is one of the children at the heart of this story. i jan is one of the children at the heart of this story.— heart of this story. i had an identity- — heart of this story. i had an identity- 0n _ heart of this story. i had an identity. on me. _ heart of this story. i had an identity. on me. i- heart of this story. i had an identity. on me. ifeel- heart of this story. i had an identity. on me. ifeel like| heart of this story. i had an | identity. on me. ifeel like i heart of this story. i had an - identity. on me. ifeel like ijust identity. 0n me. ifeel like ijust wasn't the person i was meant to be.

she was born in 1960. her mother was 18 and unmarried, and was forced to give her up for adoption. jan says it has caused lifelong pain. i am an: for it has caused lifelong pain. i am angry for the — it has caused lifelong pain. i am angry for the system _ it has caused lifelong pain. i —n angry for the system allowing me to be given to those people. i'm angryfor... i'm angry for... for the trauma and pain caused to my birth mother. in the 50s, 60s and 70s, unmarried pregnant women faced intense pressure to give up their babies for adoption. i

pressure to give up their babies for ado tion. . , pressure to give up their babies for adotion. .,, ' pressure to give up their babies for adotion. ., ' , . , pressure to give up their babies for adotion. ., ' , ., , ., pressure to give up their babies for adotion. ' , ., , ., ~ adoption. i was 17 years old, 1963, when i adoption. i was 17 years old, 1963, when i found _ adoption. i was 17 years old, 1963, when i found myself _ adoption. i was 17 years old, 1963, when i found myself pregnant. - adoption. i was 17 years old, 1963, when i found myself pregnant. pat felt that when i found myself pregnant. iisgt felt that pressure and remembers the cruelty she faced in hospital. i remember one particular nurse who seems _ remember one particular nurse who seems to— remember one particular nurse who seems to enjoy being quite rough when _ seems to enjoy being quite rough when she — seems to enjoy being quite rough when she examined me, and i remember hersaying— when she examined me, and i remember her saying to _ when she examined me, and i remember hersaying to me, when she examined me, and i remember her saying to me, how did you get like this— her saying to me, how did you get like this if— her saying to me, how did you get like this if you don't like somebody doing _ like this if you don't like somebody doing this — like this if you don't like somebody doing this to you? it was really quite _ doing this to you? it was really quite abusive, they were quite abusive — quite abusive, they were quite abusive. that was horrid, it really hurt _ abusive. that was horrid, it really hurt me — abusive. that was horrid, it really hurt me i— abusive. that was horrid, it really hurt me. i was a human being, you know? _ hurt me. i was a human being, you know? why— hurt me. i was a human being, you know? why can't they be accepted for that. know? why can't they be accepted for that all_ know? why can't they be accepted for that all i_ know? why can't they be accepted for that. all i had done was, i was having — that. all i had done was, i was having a — that. all i had done was, i was having a baby, made a mistake. around — having a baby, made a mistake. around a — having a baby, made a mistake. around a quarter of a million unmarried mothers were forced to give up their babies in the years after the second world war. the harshness towards them was reflected in documents at the time. in one, an official wrote the baby is beautiful, unlike its mother. the women were seen as a baby supply

chain, unworthy of dignity or respect. some birth mothers have cast doubt on the legality of the adoption consent forms they had to sign. that is reflected in this letter from an sign. that is reflected in this letterfrom an adoption sign. that is reflected in this letter from an adoption hearing, which quotes thejudge letter from an adoption hearing, which quotes the judge saying he was doubtful about the validity of the jp or magistrate's signature on the consent form. i jp or magistrate's signature on the consent form-— consent form. iwas lucky. i had reall consent form. i was lucky. i had really good _ consent form. iwas lucky. i had really good parents. _ consent form. iwas lucky. i had really good parents. many - consent form. i was lucky. i had i really good parents. many children born to unmarried _ really good parents. many children born to unmarried mothers - really good parents. many children born to unmarried mothers did - really good parents. many children| born to unmarried mothers did end really good parents. many children . born to unmarried mothers did end up in loving families. rachel lang was taken to live in canada as a baby. but she still says her birth mother suffered. i but she still says her birth mother suffered. , , suffered. i feel terrible empathy, ou suffered. i feel terrible empathy, you know. _ suffered. i feel terrible empathy, you know. and — suffered. i feel terrible empathy, you know, and sorrow _ suffered. i feel terrible empathy, you know, and sorrow for - suffered. i feel terrible empathy, you know, and sorrow for her. i suffered. i feel terrible empathy, | you know, and sorrow for her. it's terrible. but you certainly should apologise for any heinous things that you have done.—

that you have done. tonight, following _ that you have done. tonight, following the _ that you have done. tonight, following the bbc's - that you have done. tonight, following the bbc's reports l that you have done. tonight, l following the bbc's reports on following the bbc�*s reports on forced adoptions, mps from all sides havejoined calls for an forced adoptions, mps from all sides have joined calls for an official government apology to the birth mothers. , ., ., ., ., mothers. there is a huge amount of su ort mothers. there is a huge amount of support for— mothers. there is a huge amount of support for this _ mothers. there is a huge amount of support for this motion, _ mothers. there is a huge amount of support for this motion, and - mothers. there is a huge amount of support for this motion, and we - support for this motion, and we expect— support for this motion, and we expect they will be a great deal of support— expect they will be a great deal of support within government for an apology— support within government for an apology to be issued. every day these _ apology to be issued. every day these women have been told, you gave your baby _ these women have been told, you gave your baby up _ these women have been told, you gave your baby up for adoption. they didn't, — your baby up for adoption. they didn't, they were forced. the children of— didn't, they were forced. the children of the _ didn't, they were forced. iie: children of the birth didn't, they were forced. tie: children of the birth mothers didn't, they were forced. ti2 children of the birth mothers agree that it children of the birth mothers agree thatitis children of the birth mothers agree that it is now time to act. shah that it is now time to act. an a olo: that it is now time to act. an apology is — that it is now time to act. in apology is warranted. but that it is now time to act. jifi apology is warranted. but of course it can't ever take away the pain and trauma that has been suffered. the government — trauma that has been suffered. the government says it sympathises with the birth mothers, but has stopped short of an apology. those who have lived through forced adoptions say an injustice has been done. duncan kennedy, bbc news. police investigating the shooting of the black lives matter activist sasha johnson have

arrested five men. msjohnson was shot in the head during a party in south london in the early hours of sunday morning and remains in a critical condition in hospital. adina campbell is outside new scotland yard for us. what more do we know? five people are being held in police custody tonight on suspicion of attempted murder. the men are aged between 18 and 28, as well as a 17—year—old boy who has also been arrested on position of possessing an offensive weapon and supplying class a drugs. 0ne an offensive weapon and supplying class a drugs. one of the arrest involved a police chase. sasha johnson, who is a well—known antiracism campaigner, who organised antiracism campaigner, who organised a black lives matter protest in oxford last year, she remains in a 0xford last year, she remains in a critical condition in hospital after undergoing successful surgery. vigils have been held in the last couple of days in oxford where she is from and also here in london, where she is being treated. as well as the five arrests, police are searching two properties in the pack

area of south london and say they're in the early stages of their investigation.— in the early stages of their investigation. in the early stages of their investiuation. . ~ , ., ., ., investigation. thank you for that u date, investigation. thank you for that update. adina — investigation. thank you for that update, adina. _ the survivors and families of the victims of the hillsborough disaster have reacted with anger and disappointment after two retired police officers and a former solicitor accused of altering police statements were acquitted. 96 liverpool fans died as a result of the crush at the fa cup semifinal match at sheffield wednesday's ground on 15 april 1989. judith moritz has the story. 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. today came the end of the legal road at the last trial collapse. it

doesn't mean that there wasn't a cover—up, just means that the law as it is today is not fit for purpose. there needs to be recognition that the 96 were failed and everybody else is getting shafted by the establishment.— else is getting shafted by the establishment. former police officers and _ establishment. former police officers and a _ establishment. former police officers and a retired - establishment. former police officers and a retired police i officers and a retired police officers and a retired police officer were accused of falsifying statements to mask the police response to the disaster. but the judge ruled they have no case to answer. , . , ., judge ruled they have no case to answer. , ., ., answer. this false accusation of cover-up _ answer. this false accusation of cover-up has — answer. this false accusation of cover-up has been _ answer. this false accusation of cover-up has been whipped - answer. this false accusation of cover-up has been whipped upl cover—up has been whipped up continuously over the years. there was no _ continuously over the years. there was no cover—up at hillsborough. though— was no cover—up at hillsborough. though it — was no cover—up at hillsborough. though it is — was no cover—up at hillsborough. though it is not disputed that the statements were changed, the courts found it didn't amount to a crime. thejudge accepted that 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 1989 public

inquiry, which was not a court of law. this is the former headquarters of south yorkshire police. back in 1989, officers met he to organise the response to the disaster. the police statements ended up being used for three purposes, the public inquiry, the first set of inquests and the original criminal investigation into hillsborough. despite a string of inquiries, inquests and trials, the hillsborough families and survivors don't feel they have had accountability. as culture secretary, andy burnham back their campaign in 2009. today he called for a change in the law. i campaign in 2009. today he called for a change in the law.— for a change in the law. i propose to the hillsborough _ for a change in the law. i propose to the hillsborough bill— for a change in the law. i propose to the hillsborough bill when - for a change in the law. i propose to the hillsborough bill when i- for a change in the law. i propose | to the hillsborough bill when i was in parliament to give families like margaret and others parity of legal funding when they are at an inquest where the state is involved. that is the very minimum we should be demanding. the the very minimum we should be demanding-— the very minimum we should be demandinu. . , ., demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations— demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations are _ demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations are said _ demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations are said to _ demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations are said to have - demanding. the recent hillsborough investigations are said to have been| investigations are said to have been the longest and most expensive ever

mounted in britain. the crown prosecution service has defended its decision to bring this prosecution, saying it was important for a jury to test the evidence, but the bereaved say it has been a farce. judith moritz, bbc news. in a speech at the scottish parliament, nicola sturgeon has set out her plans for the first 100 days of her new government, following the recent national election. the first minister told fellow msps the most important priority was to lead the country safely out of the pandemic. but she also raised the prospect of much closer co—operation with the greens, including positions in government, if talks go well. it is not inconceivable that a cooperation agreement could lead in future, to a green ministers or ministers being part of this government. the key point for today is that we are both agreeing to come out of our comfort zones to find new ways of working for the common good, to change the dynamic of our politics for the better, and give meaning to the founding principles of our parliament.

let's talk now to our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon. lorna, the greens are important for a future referendum as they too are in favour of it? yes, they are. the snp are just short of a majority here at the scottish parliament. they have governed as a minority administration before, with the informal support of the pro—independence scottish greens, but nicola sturgeon said today that for the first time, they have entered into structured talks with the scottish green party with a view to reaching what she is calling a formal cooperation agreement. weeks of talks still lie ahead while the two parties look at areas where they can find common ground, but remember both parties are in favour of a second independence referendum which the first minister would like to hold once the covid crisis is over. nicola sturgeon has said this is all potentially ground—breaking, and that if talks are successful, it could eventually mean ministerial

jobs for green msps. she also said she wasn't being driven by parliamentary arithmetic, but if it did happen it would serve to highlight that a majority of msps here are favour in favour of another referendum. here are favour in favour of another referendum-— manchester united are in the polish city of gdansk, as they take on spanish side villareal in the europa league final this evening. a win would give united its first major trophy in four years. 2000 fans will be at the match despite covid protocols making travel to poland far from straightforward. 0lly foster is there for us. for over a year football has found a way, and so have these manchester united fans. covid tests to get in, quarantine on return. it's on the amber list of countries, but given the green light, the reds are in poland. a bit more stressful in the planning side of it, but i'll be honest with you, once all that's done, you've planned it and printed your paperwork off, it's worth it. i had a wobble earlier as to do, i'm fortunate i've had both my covid jabs. everyone was tested on the flight,

you know, everyone was going to be covid free, so we were pretty comfortable in the end. the uk government has advised against all but essential travel to poland, but manchester united have used up their full allocation of tickets, and they are paying half the cost for four of their own charter flights arriving into gdansk this morning, and hundreds more will make their own way here. united trained in an empty stadium last night. their injured captain harry maguire watched from the stands. he's unlikely to play any part. but at least these stands will be partly full for the game. we know our fans are important, because we have seen less here, more than here, football without fans is such a different sport. fernandes will probably skipper united this evening. he has been a key playerfor them, driving them towards their first final in four years. the opposition, villarreal, are underdogs, their manager unai emery, sacked by arsenal not

so long ago, has a brilliant record in the competition. he's won three of them. united fans have reasons to be wary. ten days' isolation, wondering what might have been when they get home would be tough to take. 0lly foster, bbc news, gdansk. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. hi there, george. thank you very much. after what has been a disappointingly cool and wet may so far, the end of may is looking much better. high pressure is building in, bringing noticeably drierand warmer weather. in, bringing noticeably drierand warmerweather. not in, bringing noticeably drierand warmer weather. not completely dry, there will still be some rain around too. heavy showers will tend to fade away this evening, many places turning dry but they will be a legacy of cloud, mist and fog across many northern and eastern areas. for most, dry with temperatures falling not much below for — 7