tonight at ten, chaos in downing street as four of the most senior advisors to borisjohnson leave number ten. they include one of his longest—serving members of staff, munira mirza, quitting over the prime minister'sjimmy savile attack on keir starmer. the chancellor has also distanced himself from the comments. being honest, i wouldn't have said it and i'm glad the prime minister clarified what he meant. the other aides stepping down are all linked to the controversy over lockdown parties in downing street. losing his staff, or losing his way? we are live in westminster on a night of turmoilfor we are live in westminster on a night of turmoil for number ten. also tonight — a huge rise in energy bills from april, as the government sets out plans to help with the rising

cost of living. northern ireland's devolved government in turmoil, after the first minister quits, angry over post—brexit trading arrangements. ahead of beijing's winter olympics, the tight restrictions on ordinary people in china. and, sir kenneth branagh's memoir of childhood, belfast, gets six nominations for this year's baftas. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel — more changes for england cricket. head coach chris silverwood leaves the men's side following their heavy ashes defeat in australia. good evening. there's chaos tonight at number ten, with four of borisjohnson�*s most senior advisors leaving theirjobs. they were part of his inner circle, with one of his longest serving members of staff, munira mirza, the head of policy,

resigning after criticising him for implying sir keir starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, was personally responsible for allowing jimmy savile to escape justice for sexually abusing children. tonight, the three other aides who are stepping down, jack doyle as director of communications, chief of staff dan rosenfield, and mrjohnson�*s principal private secretary martin reynolds, have all been implicated in the controversy over lockdown parties. with the very latest developments, here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. a warning — this film contains flashing images. borisjohnson boris johnson managed to borisjohnson managed to keep a blackpool tram on track today, but it's not clear tonight where his leadership is really going. that went well, thank god for that, the prime minister said. he might need players to create a sense of stability and his government though.

—— prayers. the communications directorjack doyle walked out of his job directorjack doyle walked out of hisjob tonight, a major role in any number ten but the message had gone badly wrong. the chief of staff, dan rosenfield, who was brought in to create order, is on his bike and going too. the third exit, martin reynolds, the prime minister's senior civil servant, who invited around 100 people to a garden party. and the explosive fourth exit, his friend and political confidant of more than ten years, munira mirza, chief of ideas, boris�*s brain, one former colleague told me. she has notjust gone but has left dynamite in her wake, slamming the prime minister's comments linking the leader of the opposition tojimmy savile early this week. she wrote, it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to an horrendous case of child sex abuse, adding, despite my

urging you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave. this is what he'd managed to say. i’m is what he'd managed to say. i'm talkin: is what he'd managed to say. i'm talking not _ is what he'd managed to say. in talking not about the leader of the opposition�*s personal record when he was dpp, and i totally understand that he had nothing to do personally with those decisions. i was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation. hat point about his responsibility for the organisation.— point about his responsibility for the organisation. not an apology for the organisation. not an apology for the false claim _ the organisation. not an apology for the false claim he _ the organisation. not an apology for the false claim he originally - the organisation. not an apology for the false claim he originally made . the false claim he originally made on monday. the false claim he originally made on monday-— on monday. this leader of the opposition. — on monday. this leader of the opposition. a _ on monday. this leader of the opposition, a former - on monday. this leader of the opposition, a former director| on monday. this leader of the i opposition, a former director of prosecutions, mr speaker, who spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute jimmy savile as far as i can make out. �* . ., ., ., out. an untrue allegation that a- alled out. an untrue allegation that appalled victims _ out. an untrue allegation that appalled victims and - out. an untrue allegation that appalled victims and some . out. an untrue allegation that i appalled victims and some mps out. an untrue allegation that - appalled victims and some mps on the prime minister's own side. keir starmer was the boss of the crown prosecution service whenjimmy savile was not charged, but sir keir had no individual involvement in the case. and unusually the chancellor

was happy to show a public split. being honest i wouldn't have said it and i'm glad that the prime minister clarified what he meant. who and i'm glad that the prime minister clarified what he meant.— and i'm glad that the prime minister clarified what he meant. who as well as grappling — clarified what he meant. who as well as grappling with _ clarified what he meant. who as well as grappling with the _ clarified what he meant. who as well as grappling with the economy - clarified what he meant. who as well as grappling with the economy is - as grappling with the economy is grappling with the government's reputation. he lives and works under the same roof where lockdown gatherings took place. for the record, chancellor, you knew nothing of any of these gatherings even when it happened outside that window, you knew nothing? figs it happened outside that window, you knew nothing? $5 i it happened outside that window, you knew nothing?— knew nothing? as i said, people think i'm looking _ knew nothing? as i said, people think i'm looking outside - knew nothing? as i said, people think i'm looking outside the - think i'm looking outside the window, i spent half my time in the treasury as well as working here but what i was focused on at that time, you know, as were many people, is making sure that we can help the country through a period of enormous anxiety. country through a period of enormous anxie . ., . ~' country through a period of enormous anxie . ., ., ~ ., ., , anxiety. you walked into the cabinet room at the — anxiety. you walked into the cabinet room at the end _ anxiety. you walked into the cabinet room at the end of— anxiety. you walked into the cabinet room at the end of boris _ anxiety. you walked into the cabinet room at the end of boris johnson's l room at the end of borisjohnson's cabinets halep —— birthday celebration, did not happen? you cabinets halep -- birthday celebration, did not happen? you are askin: celebration, did not happen? you are asking about — celebration, did not happen? you are asking about something _ celebration, did not happen? you are asking about something over- celebration, did not happen? you are asking about something over two - asking about something over two years ago, i walked into a group of people as i do all the time. do years ago, i walked into a group of people as i do all the time.- people as i do all the time. do you wor this people as i do all the time. do you worry this has _ people as i do all the time. do you worry this has damaged _ people as i do all the time. do you worry this has damaged the - people as i do all the time. do you | worry this has damaged the public's confidence in the government you are

part of a yellow yes, i think it has, and i can appreciate people's frustration and i think it is now the job of frustration and i think it is now thejob of all of frustration and i think it is now the job of all of those in government, all politicians, to restore people's trust. some of your colleagues want the prime minister to go. if that were to happen would you run to replace him? ., �* , to happen would you run to replace him? . �* , ., to happen would you run to replace him? . �*, ., ., �* , ., him? that's not what i'm focused on. that's not my — him? that's not what i'm focused on. that's not my question, _ him? that's not what i'm focused on. that's not my question, would - him? that's not what i'm focused on. that's not my question, would you i him? that's not what i'm focused on. | that's not my question, would you do it? some of your colleagues want you to. �* , , ~ ., it? some of your colleagues want you to. �* , , ~' ., ., to. it's very kind of them to su: est to. it's very kind of them to suggest that _ to. it's very kind of them to suggest that but _ to. it's very kind of them to suggest that but what - to. it's very kind of them to | suggest that but what i think to. it's very kind of them to - suggest that but what i think people want from me and what your viewers want from me and what your viewers want from me and what your viewers want from me as a focus on myjob and the prime minister has my full support. but and the prime minister has my full su--ort.�* , ,,, ., and the prime minister has my full su--ort.�* , ., , support. but support for the bigger of this double _ support. but support for the bigger of this double act _ support. but support for the bigger of this double act may _ support. but support for the bigger of this double act may not - support. but support for the bigger of this double act may not last - of this double act may not last forever, chaotic days are one thing, a loss of credibility quite another. the obvious question, where do all today's events and drama leave the prime minister?— prime minister? clive, in a very, very tricky spot- _ prime minister? clive, in a very, very tricky spot- a _ prime minister? clive, in a very, very tricky spot. a quartet - prime minister? clive, in a very, very tricky spot. a quartet of - prime minister? clive, in a very, i very tricky spot. a quartet of exits from downing street tonight, the prime minister has lost his chief of staff, his policy chief, the chief

of communications and the senior civil servant who essentially ran his private office. important to say though there are two different things going on. the first three, well, they were all people who in one way or another were deigned to have had some responsibility for the fiasco in recent weeks and months over allegations of lockdown parties behind downing street's front door, and borisjohnson's allies will use that as evidence of saying, look, he gets it, he knows he has to change, thatis gets it, he knows he has to change, that is a clear out that should mean that is a clear out that should mean that things should work better, evidence that borisjohnson really has understood that his party believes he has to pull his socks up. but the other departure, the dramatic exit of munira mirza, is an altogether different case. she is one of borisjohnson's most long—standing political confidants, political allies, and is seen by some people as his brain, the person with ideas that got him to where he is tonight. and she hasn'tjust gone, she made her reasons for their

disagreement achingly public, chucking a grenade through the downing street door as she actually made her exit and all of that adds up made her exit and all of that adds up to even more of a sense of instability at a time when you already have some conservative mps having put their head above the parapet in recent days and calling publicly for him to quit. it's clear that boris johnson publicly for him to quit. it's clear that borisjohnson will absolutely try to fight to stay on but right now unstable and rocky doesn't begin to cover it. {lilia now unstable and rocky doesn't begin to cover it. ., ., now unstable and rocky doesn't begin to cover it. . . , , , to cover it. ok, laura kuenssberg, live at whence _ to cover it. ok, laura kuenssberg, live at whence thank you. - the chancellor has been setting out plans to help millions of people, after the energy regulator 0fgem, confirmed an increase in what suppliers can charge customers for their gas and electricity. from april, the average bill will rise by almost £700 a year. that's because the energy price cap, the cost for the average household in england, scotland and wales for energy if they're not on a fixed deal, has been increased to almost £2,000. the changes will affect around 22 million households. adding to the rising cost of living,

interest rates have doubled to 0.5%, as the bank of england tries to curb increasing prices, and inflation, which is the rate at which prices are rising, is expected to peak at more than 7% in april, well above the bank's target of 2%. with more details, here's our business editor, simonjack. for households like suzanne's, the news today on energy prices was every bit as bad as feared. from april, fuel bills will rocket, and tighten one of the biggest squeezes on household incomes in decades. it's worrying and difficult at a time when everything seems to be rising at the same time, and it's everything that you have to use, whether it be utilities, interest rates, petrol, food, everything's going up at the same time. suzanne pays just over £1,100 a yearfor her energy. from april, that will rise by over 50%.

and for a household using an average amount of energy, the annual price cap will rise from £1,277 to £1,971, a rise of £693 — nearly £60 a month. thank you, mr speaker. given the sheer size of the shock, the government felt it had little option but to provide some financial support. for me to stand here and pretend we don't have to adjust to paying higher prices would be wrong and dishonest. but what we can do is take the sting out of a significant price shock for millions of families, by making sure the increase in prices is smaller initially and spread over a longer period. a rise of nearly £700 in average annual energy bills as a massive hit to household incomes. the chancellor wants to try and soften it in two ways. first, in april, homes in council tax bands a to d —

that's over 80% of households — will get a £150 rebate funded by central government. and then, in october, £200 will be knocked off everyone's bills, but that money will have to be repaid — £40 a year for the next five years. now, the hope is that, by then, the sky—high gas prices which have created this crisis may have fallen. but even the person who sets the price cap says that is far from certain. the head of 0fgem told the bbc there was no reason to think high prices would be short—lived. it's very hard to predict energy prices at the moment, so the market is incredibly volatile. so it's very hard to say what will happen at the end of this year or early next year, but right now we are not seeing signs that these prices are coming down. visiting a community centre in bletchley today, the labour leader thought the measures were inadequate. it's a dodgy sort of buy— now— pay—later deal that doesn't come anywhere near meeting the cost, or the increase in costs of energy

bills, and it's really such a small response to a very, very big problem, and it's on the minds of so many people. gas, even when liquefied and carried in tankers like this, is the subject of a global bidding war, which could yet intensify — precisely why even energy retailers say we must invest in alternatives. the more we build uk energy independence through renewables, wind and solar, the cheaper our energy gets. every windmill means we use less gas, and will bring our prices down. but here and now, energy prices are sucking money out of household incomes, government coffers, and the economy as a whole. simon jack, bbc news. on top of all that, the bank of england is warning, that the cost of living is going to get worse, with inflation predicted to hit

more than 7% in april, the highest rate for more than 30 years. however the governor, andrew bailey, has told the bbc, that workers shouldn't ask for higher pay rises, in order to help bring inflation under control. he's been speaking to our economics editor faisal islam. prices rising everywhere — in our bills for food, in the price of used cars and, of course, so much of it brought in on record shipments of tankers full of imported natural gas, piped straight into our bills. today, the bank of england forecast that, within weeks, the rate of inflation will hit 7.25% before falling, driven by those energy price hikes. that's well above the bank of england's target, the highest level in a generation. so today, the bank again raised interest rates to 0.5% to try to temper the rise in inflation. it's the second in what will be a series of rate rises this year, though rates remain low by pre—financial crisis standards. those rate rises are having a real impact, for example, on naomi mellor trying to get a mortgage to buy a house, as incomes are generally

squeezed. it's been a long and drawn—out process since last year, and it's looking likely that we're probably going to be ending up paying £100—200 a month more for a mortgage than we would have done prior to a rate rise, and when you couple that with rising energy bills, we've had a doubling of our energy bills in the last three months. at the bank, what they're trying to do is stop expectations of rising prices becoming self—fulfilling, filtering longer—term into prices and wages. they very nearly raised rates even higher today. normally we get interest rate hikes like this to calm down a booming economy. the bank of england's job is to take the drinks bowl away from the party. but there is no party here, nor in millions of households up and down the country. the bank of england has lowered its forecast for the economy this year and next. and rising energy prices and food prices, and taxes too, are outweighing the rise in wages. this is a black day for living standards. the bank's forecasts showed that factoring in prices and taxes,

the average take—home pay of households, which normally goes up, was going down by the largest amount since these figures began in 1990. and yet, it is high rises in wages that the bank of england is most concerned about. what we can do is try to prevent it becoming — it spreading — inflation spreading, and inflation becoming more ingrained. so you're trying to get into people's heads and ask them not to ask for too—high pay rises? is that what you're trying to do? well, broadly, yes. really? i will say that — in the sense of saying we do need to see moderation of wage rises. now, that's painful. an unusually blunt acknowledgement of tricky balancing acts for a bank trying to tame inflation and for households trying to make ends meet. faisal islam, bbc news. and if you have any queries on energy prices, there's more information on the bbc news

website, bbc.co.uk/news. northern ireland's first minister, paul givan, of the democratic unionist party, has resigned, over the implementation of the northern ireland protocol. that's the mechanism governing the flow of goods between great britain and northern ireland, and was negotiated as part of the brexit deal. products crossing the irish sea into northern ireland, are subject to new checks on entry, and this was meant to avoid the need for checks on goods reaching the irish republic. but unionists argue this effectively creates a border between northern ireland and the rest of the uk. mr givan's resignation means the deputy first minister, sinn fein's michelle 0'neill, loses her position. here's our ireland correspondent, emma vardy. political paralysis returns to stormont. something the dup have been threatening since last year. today, as the first minister stepped down, it was delivered. 0ur institutions are being tested once again and the delicate balance

created by the belfast and st andrews agreements has been impacted by the agreement made by the united kingdom government and the european union, which created the northern ireland protocol. it means the power—sharing executive in northern ireland will cease to function. decision—making affecting thousands of people's lives on hold. for some time this storm has been on the horizon. the new border checks on goods which cross the irish sea represent for unionist parties a deep betrayal and a threat to their position in the uk. last night, the dup ordered civil servants to stop carrying out these checks but there's disagreement over whether that order is lawful. well, ideally businesses, we don't want any checks on goods coming from great britain into northern ireland and we really want minimal administration as well. what we are calling for is both the eu and uk to come down and negotiate it out.

we just hope that basically there is no rash reactions to this from either side. this kind of political crisis is not new in northern ireland. when something similar happened in 2017, there was no government for three years. this time different departments will continue to function, but what they can do will be limited. for example, northern ireland's budget now can't be approved, meaning planning ahead for many public services will be on hold. what will happen with the remaining covid restrictions is unclear, and a planned apology to victims of historical abuse is also now likely to be postponed. it's very clear that there are catastrophic impacts in terms of the dup's action today and there are many, many casualties, as a result of their political opportunism. not least the victims of historical institutional abuse. this is being seen as a tactical move by the dup in the run—up to the may elections. the orange order, which has significant influence, has been collecting tens of thousands of signatures from people opposing the northern ireland protocol,

and it's voters like this the dup wants to keep on side. and that election the party has in its sights may now happen even earlier. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. the government's latest coronavirus figures show more than 88,000 new cases were recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average, 88,500 new cases were reported per day in the last week. the number of people in hospital with covid has fallen to 111,816. there were 303 deaths — that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, though some will have died of other causes. on average in the past week, 256 deaths were announced every day. senior officials in washington say the leader of the islamic state group has been killed in a us special forces raid in north—western syria.

abu ibrahim al—hashimi al-qurayshi, who is one of the world's most wanted men. he died in a pre—dawn raid on a house in the syrian village of atme, just south of the turkish border. he is understood to have blown himself up during the raid, in which 13 other people are thought to have died. the scottish football club, raith rovers, has announced that the striker, david goodwillie, won't be playing for them, and that the club "got it wrong" in signing him in the first place. goodwillie was the subject of a court ruling in a civil case five years ago, that found he'd raped a woman. our sports news correspondent, chris mclaughlin is in kirkcaldy. they chris mclaughlin is in kirkcaldy. admit they got it v for they admit they got it wrong? yes, for the past — they admit they got it wrong? yes, for the past five _ they admit they got it wrong? yes, for the past five years _ they admit they got it wrong? is: for the past five years david goodwillie has been playing pretty successfully at scottish league 1 side clyde but when he moved here to raith rovers earlier this week it led to a furious backlash, sponsors walked away, we had directors quitting, even the women's team

cutting all ties. everyone from the stadium announcer here to the first minister have been talking about this. the club were initially digging in their heels but today a u—turn and a pretty blunt statement from the chairman, we got it wrong, he said. we focused too much on footballing matters, we have all learned a hard and valuable lesson. two things to take from this this evening. number one, david goodwillie found to be a rapist in a civil court is now looking for another club. will he find one? will he be allowed to find one? and two, the people who brought him here are desperately trying to prove to the people who walked away that they shouldn't be following him out of the door. , ., ., ., the door. chris, thanks for that. chris mclaughlin _ the door. chris, thanks for that. chris mclaughlin in _ coco —— kirkcaldy.

two men and a teenage girl have been found guilty of murdering a doctor, in a homophobic attack in a park in the centre of cardiff. jason edwards who's 25, 36—year—old jason strickland and dionne timms—williams who was 16 at the time, killed garyjenkins, in the city's bute park injuly last year. they'll be sentenced next month. polls have closed in the southend west by—election in essex. the seat became vacant after the death of the conservative mp, sir david amess, who was stabbed during a constituency surgery last october. none of the main parties are challenging the tory candidate. the result is expected overnight. the 2022 winter olympics are getting under way in beijing. almost 3,000 athletes from 91 nations will compete — with over 100 gold medals on offer across seven sports. the opening ceremony will take place tomorrow in the famous bird's nest national stadium, with the curler eve muirhead and dave ryding, who made history last month in kitzbuhel as the first british athlete to win an alpine skiing world cup, sharing flag—bearing duties for great britain. but it's been a troubled build—up to the games —

with china dealing with the covid pandemic and accusations of human rights abuses. 0ur china correspondent robin brant has the latest. she is one of china's 0lympians of tomorrow — maybe. she hadn't even been born the first time the olympics came to town. but now the six—year—old skater is inspired by the games. translation: it's very - exhausting but she presses on. she won't leave until she's learned how to do all the moves. she doesn't quit. she can't go to any of the events though. she can't get close. the winter olympics is happening in beijing, but almost everyone here is excluded from it. china is in the middle of a renewed battle to try to maintain zero covid in this country, and it's decided not to sell any tickets for the games to members of the general public, so everyone who queues outside venues like this in the weeks ahead is going to be hand—picked —

a member of the ruling communist party, or someone who works at a government—controlled company. it's notjust covid measures keeping people away. there's confrontation over china's human rights record. senior officials from the us, the uk and more than a dozen other governments aren't coming to the ice rinks. the olympics is just sport though, say some looking on. translation: | think sports . are sports and they shouldn't be messed with politics. the games belong to everyone and we should all participate and watch. politics is just politics. this is the official slogan of the games. and these children are singing about it in this propaganda video, released last month by the government in xinjiang, a place where china denies it's committed genocide.

a former 0lympian, who's close to america's athletes this time, told me why some of them are nervous about sharing this moment. i don't think a single athlete is going to speak out at the games — and nor do i think they should. if i were there i would be keeping my mouth shut because the risk is just too great, and this is really a failure of the international olympic committee. it's a failure of leadership that athletes are in this position. china's leaders have promised to deliver an efficient, safe olympic games. but what is always a cold gathering feels much more frosty this time round. this is a games defined by the big fissure on the world stage, with china on one side and the us on the other. and inside the bubble, athletes trying to get on with their sport. robin brant, bbc news, beijing. chris silverwood has stepped down as the head coach of the england men's cricket team. it follows the 4—0 ashes series

defeat in australia. an interim coach will be appointed to oversee next month's tour of the west indies. this year's bafta nominations for the film awards have been announced. the sci—fi epic dune leads the way, with 11 nominations including best film. but the power of the dog, a 1920s western starring benedict cumberbatch, is also in the running for eight awards. and belfast — sir kenneth branagh's semi—autobiographical coming—of—age film — is up there too. is up there too with six nods. our culture editor katie razzall is in belfast where she has been talking to one of the film's youngest stars. belfast is bafta's most garlanded british film, with six nominations, including for best film. we all have a story to tell. this story is kenneth branagh's, set in the city he grew up in. when i grow up i want to marry her. jude hill plays nine—year—old buddy who is a fictionalised version of the young ken, which could have been a challenge but clearly worked out.

i don't think a lot of other 11—year—olds can say that kenneth branagh and judi bench and ciaran hinds are my best friends. some will see a snub in kenneth branagh missing out in the best director category. ciaran hinds wins a best supporting nomination, as does caitriona balfe, in a film set against the backdrop of the troubles. i didn't know what they were and a kid my age probably wouldn't know about them either unless their parents or grandparents were affected by the troubles in any way. so this city has its moment in the sun. for a film about the troubles, yes, but through the eyes of a child more focused on family and love. but it's sci—fi blockbuster dune that has the highest number of nominations, 11. i wonder what little lady made these. period western the power of the dog, has eight, including best actor for benedict cumberbatch and best directorforjane campion. half of bafta's directing nominees are women this year.

i have to say, it's personally- a real thrill to see so many women recognised across so many fields, and particularly, for example, - in the best director category. this baftas aims to put rows over diversity behind it. you wanna show them how dangerous you are? yeah. will smith is nominated for the first time ever in king richard. but there are upsets too. nothing for 0livia colman, nicole kidman or denzel washington. why don't you and my mom act like brother and sister? the youngest nominee is another 11—year—old woody norman for best supporting actor in indie road movie c'mon c'mon. it was like the biggest rush when he said woody norman, so me and mum just started screaming and jumping in the air. it was amazing. as for this 11—year—old, he's just enjoying the ride. if it ends up getting some 0scar nominations, what will your face look like then? probably the exact same way when i found out that i got the role. katie razzall, bbc news, belfast.

that's it. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night. this is bbc news.

the headlines. four seniorfigures at downing street have resigned within hours of each other. dan rosenfield quit as chief of staff, martin reynolds as principal private secretary, jack doyle as head of communications and munira mirza as head of policy. president biden says the leader of the islamic state group abu ibrahim al-qurayshi has been killed during a raid by us special forces in the syrian province of idlib. reports say he detonated a bomb at the start of the operation. the us says the kremlin were planning to broadcast fake images of the ukrainian army shooting russian sympathisers, as a pretext for an invasion. the first minister of northern ireland has resigned in protest at post—brexit trade rules which his democratic unionist party bitterly opposes.