this is bbc news. the headlines at seven... the deadline has passed for officials named in sue gray's report into lockdown breaches in downing street to respond or object, ahead of its long awaited publication this week. energy company e.0n is warning that unless the government intervenes, the number of its customers in fuel poverty could reach 40% by the autumn. it's a very, very significant impact, and that's why we've called upon government to take more action. we do need more intervention in october, and it has to be substantial. the ukrainian government says it won't agree to a ceasefire with russia that involves giving up territory, in an apparent hardening of its position. more than 300 scotrail services have been cancelled for the third sunday in a row — it comes on the eve of major timetable cuts across the country

and manchester city win the premier league title byjust one point. the deadline for downing street officials to object to being named in sue gray's report on lockdown parties has passed. the senior civil servant, who has led the investigation, is expected to publish her findings within days. this morning, the education secretary, nadhim zahawi, defended a meeting which took place last month between ms gray and borisjohnson — insisting it would not have influenced the outcome of the inquiry. our political correspondent jonathan blake has the latest. borisjohnson, the prime minister whose political fate could rest

on the findings of a report by the senior civil servant sue gray. weeks ago, the two held a meeting — who called it, what was discussed depends on who you ask. one cabinet minister says the row does not matter — sue gray has complete control over her inquiry, and the prime minister would never interfere. i do not know why they had that meeting. all i can say is, i do not believe it is material to the outcome of the investigation. let me tell you why. the prime minister always said sue gray can take the report wherever the evidence takes her. sue gray is doing this independently. the prime minister will not interfere or intervene. more than 500 photos have been gathered as evidence by sue gray's team investigating how widely rules were broken on boris johnson's watch. some argue it all should be published to show the public inquiry has done itsjob. sue gray makes that decision, sue gray has complete control over this.

i've not seen the report. she will publish that report... but you would welcome it? absolutely. it's the right thing to do. labour are leading calls for all evidence to be put out in the open. sir keir starmer is under police investigation himself for possibly breaking lockdown laws, but his supporters say it can't be compared to what went on in whitehall. the statement he made the other week showed real integrity and leadership. he is a former director of public prosecutions, he takes adherence to the law extremely seriously, and if you contrast that to the culture that has been exposed both by what the met has uncovered and what we're likely to see in sue gray's report, you see the culture comes from the top. the most senior civil servant — cabinet secretary simon case — had to step back from leading the government inquiry after reports of a christmas party in his office. a deadline for officials expected

to be named in the report to challenge its findings have been passed. if there are no objections, it will be released within days. jonathan blake, bbc news. let's talk to political editor of the people and sunday mirror, nigel nelson. he hasjust he has just about recovered, i he hasjust about recovered, i hope, from the paper review on the news channel last night. nice to see you, how gripping will this be? we have waited for such a long time. find waited for such a long time. and certainly the _ waited for such a long time. and certainly the prime _ waited for such a long time. fific certainly the prime minister is waited for such a long time. fific certainly the prime minister is in for a bumpy ride this coming week. however, there is something really devastating in sue gray's report that we don't know about. i think people get away with it. the momentum appears to have gone to try to get rid of him from tory mps, so on the basis of that it is the great phrase that the ministers now use privately, which is whatever

mistakes boris johnson privately, which is whatever mistakes borisjohnson makes, i'm now priced in. so if there is any chance of shifting him, i think mps will have to wait until the next mistake rather than try to push him on this. if mistake rather than try to push him on this. , ., ., _, , on this. if there is one, of course, we don't know— on this. if there is one, of course, we don't know whether _ on this. if there is one, of course, we don't know whether there - on this. if there is one, of course, we don't know whether there willl on this. if there is one, of course, i we don't know whether there will be. what is your view of this meeting borisjohnson had a few weeks ago with sue gray. we talk about the objects, even if it will not have influenced her thinking, objects, even if it will not have influenced herthinking, it objects, even if it will not have influenced her thinking, it does not look great —— we talk about the optics. it look great -- we talk about the o tics. . . , look great -- we talk about the otics. . ., , ., ., optics. it will certainly damage ublic optics. it will certainly damage public confidence _ optics. it will certainly damage public confidence in _ optics. it will certainly damage public confidence in the - optics. it will certainly damage public confidence in the whole | public confidence in the whole integrity of the process. this was meant to be an independent report and it seems odd that the investigator should go and have a secret meeting with the principal person being investigated unless it is to take evidence from him. if they were sorting out logistics like

tightening and so on, there is a parliamentary recess coming up on thursday so the report needs to come before that, or if there was a discussion over whether or not pictures should be published, that could have been done by officials. as parasite can see, there was no reason why sue gray and the prime minister needed to meet —— as far as i can see. and it does not help that there has been no clarity about what there has been no clarity about what the meeting was about. hoar there has been no clarity about what the meeting was about.— there has been no clarity about what the meeting was about. how likely is it that there — the meeting was about. how likely is it that there will _ the meeting was about. how likely is it that there will be _ the meeting was about. how likely is it that there will be another - the meeting was about. how likely is it that there will be another fall - it that there will be another fall quy' it that there will be another fall guy, deputy heads must roll as the cliche bandied about, not so much of a deputy head but the head of the civil service, a deputy head but the head of the civilservice, simon a deputy head but the head of the civil service, simon case, a deputy head but the head of the civilservice, simon case, has a deputy head but the head of the civil service, simon case, has been mentioned as a potential scapegoat. that's right, i don't see why he needs to be a scapegoat. as far as borisjohnson is concerned he does not need a sacrificial lamb because now the police investigation is over, we know what is out of that but again it rather depends on what exactly the criticism is in sue

gray's report. my assumption would be simon —— simon case would have to go if he is having criticised the report, but that is a resignation issue, i don't think it protects the prime minister.— issue, i don't think it protects the prime minister. boris johnson was onl find prime minister. boris johnson was only find once. — prime minister. boris johnson was only find once, only _ prime minister. boris johnson was only find once, only broke - prime minister. boris johnson was only find once, only broke the - prime minister. boris johnson was only find once, only broke the law| only find once, only broke the law once. —— only fined ones. that he might have been involved in other parties which are part of this report. how significant is that for the future?— report. how significant is that for the future? the night police need to be asked these _ the future? the night police need to be asked these questions _ the future? the night police need to be asked these questions and - the future? the night police need to be asked these questions and pay i be asked these questions and pay have been and they have failed to answer —— the metropolitan police need to be asked. borisjohnson was at six of the events that the metropolitan police investigated. i understand he only got questionnaires for two of those, one of which was his birthday party, for which he was fined. the police have not explained why he was at six

events he did not care questionnaires for all of them. you are looking at 83 people who have been fined, some more than once, so the idea he did not even get asked about it seems completely bizarre. but again, the trouble is so much secrecy about the process, the sue gray meeting, and equally the police were not answer basic questions and so they put out a few facts and figures but no detail about how they conduct the investigation, what order it came in and essentially what they were trying to find out. still plenty to pick over for you, me and lots of otherjournalists. thank you forjoining us, nigel nelson. the boss of one of the uk's biggest energy companies, e.0n, has called on the government to take "very substantial action" to help

households struggling with bills — after revealing that 20% of its customers are now in fuel poverty. michael lewis told the bbc�*s sunday morning programme, that recent price increases had led to i million of the firm's accounts being in arrears. what we know is there are around about one million of our eight million accounts that are already in some kind of arrears. now, not all of that turns into bad debt, some people arejust late payers. but we expect that number to increase by about 50% in october when the price rises again. it is a very, very significant impact and that is why we have called upon the government to take more action. we do need more intervention in october and it has to be very substantial. michael lewis from e.0n. i'm joined by david cox, an independent energy analyst. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. if this is happening at e.0n, how likely is it that other energy companies are seeing the same

sorts of arrears? i energy companies are seeing the same sorts of arrears?— sorts of arrears? i think they all will be. essentially _ sorts of arrears? i think they all will be. essentially they - sorts of arrears? i think they all will be. essentially they will. sorts of arrears? i think they all will be. essentially they will all| will be. essentially they will all be suffering. any company selling gas and electricity to consumers is finding that that levels of customers in arrears and bad debt levels are rising and they will go up levels are rising and they will go up even more come 0ctober levels are rising and they will go up even more come october when the next price cut adjustment is made. this is dramatic stuff and all the bad debt eventually has to be recovered and it will eventually be recovered and it will eventually be recovered from consumers. the e.0n bus is calling for the government to intervene, what could or should the government do?— intervene, what could or should the government do?- there - intervene, what could or should the government do?- there was | intervene, what could or should the . government do?- there was the government do? guest: there was the windfall tax on — government do? guest: there was the windfall tax on the _ government do? guest: there was the windfall tax on the energy _ windfall tax on the energy producers, not the energy companies but the oil and gas companies, some sort of windfall tax or windfall profits, using that money to

subsidise consumer bills. we have seen one energy company boss talk about some form of social engineering of tariffs where the richer people using more gas and electricity pay more for their kilowatt—hours of energy and cross subsidise the poorer consumers. i do not think that will work. 0r subsidise the poorer consumers. i do not think that will work. or the government in some wayjust increases... borrows more money and increases... borrows more money and increases benefits for the poorest increases benefits for the poorest in seven direct way allowing them to try to manage and pay their energy bills —— in some indirect way. what bills -- in some indirect way. what about the energy _ bills —— in some indirect way. what about the energy companies, what unilateral action could they take to help customers directly? the unilateral action could they take to help customers directly?— help customers directly? the price ca . help customers directly? the price ca- that help customers directly? the price cap that prevents _ help customers directly? the price cap that prevents them _ help customers directly? the price cap that prevents them from - help customers directly? the price l cap that prevents them from making more than a fairly small profit anyway. we have already seen 20, 30 companies go bust last year because

they were impacted by the higher wholesale prices of gas and electricity. eventually the bigger companies could go bust too if the government does not do anything, if the level of bad debt gets to search levels we could see england the bigger energy companies getting into trouble and so on. they do not have bottomless wallets to pay that consumers and bills, they need their consumers and bills, they need their consumers to pay the bill, and the only way that will happen is if the government in some way gives consumers some money, benefits increases or however it is, to allow them to pay their bills.— them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded _ them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded on _ them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded on a _ them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded on a trip _ them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded on a trip to - them to pay their bills. briefly, we have intruded on a trip to spain i them to pay their bills. briefly, we| have intruded on a trip to spain for you, it is very kind of you to talk to despite that. how are our

european counterparts coping with this global problem? thea;r european counterparts coping with this global problem?— this global problem? they are lookin: this global problem? they are looking at _ this global problem? they are looking at different _ this global problem? they are looking at different weights, l this global problem? they are | looking at different weights, in spain the government had said the price of gas to electricity producers will be capped at about half the wholesale price, meaning the electric electric prices will be lower. it is still being discussed and debated. perhaps capping prices in some way or helping consumers. 0ur in some way or helping consumers. our government will have to do more and take more action like they are. david cox, independent energy analysts, thank you for speaking to us this evening —— independent energy analyst. the ukrainian government says it won't agree to any ceasefire or peace deal with moscow that would involve giving up terrority. a senior adviser to president zelensky said any concessions would backfire because russia would escalate future attacks. from kyiv, joe inwood has the latest. in the donbas, diplomacy

feels a distant prospect. russian forces are advancing towards the strategic city of severodonetsk, trying to encircle the ukrainian defenders. heavy artillery and overwhelming force, which eventually won them the ruins of mariupol, still their tactic. a senior adviser to ukraine's president says only force of arms will end this conflict. translation: russia sells nothing but war. | it's only interested in expansion. today it attacks ukraine, tomorrow it could attack any other country on the perimeter — georgia, moldova and so on. there is no otherformula but to subdue russia today, to an end to the war on ukraine's terms. but for the last few days, at least, it is the russians who have been getting their way. in the south of the country, the occupation administration there was keen to show off the hydropower dam they now control. and water has played a role

in the build—up to this conflict. for eight years, the annexed crimean peninsula was denied an important supply of it. russia's invasion has got it flowing again. here in the capital, despite russian gains on the battlefield, the mood remains defiant. now that is in no small part due to the horrors that have emerged from areas retaken from the russians. places like irpin, where two thirds of buildings were destroyed. or moschun, once a village, now a wasteland. back in the donbas, even amid the horror, people seem to find a moment to reflect. translation: what are they fighting for? - what are we fighting for? two brotherly people. pull a soldier out of the trench and ask him, he would not even be able to tell you what he's fighting for. but that fighting is continuing, even as they pray, maybe for a peace

that seems as far away as ever. joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. as we've been hearing, eastern ukraine remains where the most intense fighting is taking place — a region which has been ukraine's old industrial heartland. coal mines in the donbas region were crucial for the soviet union during its existence, but the war means most have now closed. our correspondent andrew harding has been to one of the few where miners are still at work — at toretsk, very close to the frontline. it's not what you might expect to encounter, right on ukraine's front lines. an active coalmine. but today, within earshot of the war, the work goes on, at least in a handful of mines. dangerous enough at the best of times, but with missiles now hitting this area every day, it's hard to know which is safer — above ground or below.

"i'm scared like everyone else, but we still need to work," says ira yusko, a medic, waiting beside the lift shaft. wages here are low, but a third of the workforce has chosen to stay on at the toretsk mine, at least for now. the miners here arejust starting their shift. they are going to be heading underground, 800 metres below the surface, to dig for coal. and it's extraordinary to think that the front lines are just four kilometres away from here. there is a mixture of russian and ukrainian speakers at the mine, but they're a close—knit community and prefer to talk about anything rather than president putin and his invasion. "whether you want putin or not, we all need to live and work," says vitaly vahorder. "russians, ukrainians, and those still loyal to the old soviet union, we all share the same sky."

but there are other challenges here in the donbas, a region that once fuelled the soviet union. this mine is 90 years old now, and it shows. many of the ageing mines have now shut down, but the war has made it impossible to maintain them properly. the management are worried that polluted ground water could soon start flooding out. "an ecological threat now hangs over our town," says anatoly sholokhov. "if the water floods to the surface, it will poison the soil and the rivers, it could be catastrophic." but that's a longer term threat. as the morning shift crowds into the cage there are more immediate concerns — the war above ground and the danger still lurking far below.

andrew harding, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. in australia, the new prime minister elect has vowed to take the country in a fresh direction and end what he called the climate wars. anthony albanese — who will be sworn in tomorrow — said australia could become a renewables superpower. after recent bushfires and flooding, climate change was a key concern for voters. mr albanese will head straight to tokyo on monday for a meeting with the leaders of japan, india and the united states. obviously the quad leaders' meeting is an absolute priority for australia and it enables us to send a message to the world that we... there is a change of government, there will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change and our engagement with the world on those issues. our correspondent in australia, shaima khalil, told us about the challenges

mr albanese will face. australians have woken up to a new leadership but also to a huge shift in the political landscape of their country. this was a bruising defeat for scott morrison and his governing liberal national coalition. with voters, especially women, turning their backs on them. the independent candidates did really well in this election, and this is an indication of how frustrated voters have become with the two major party politics. the new leader, anthony albanese, wasted no time in saying that climate action, climate policies, are going to take centre stage for his government. in his acceptance speech, he said that australia could be a renewable energy superpower. it could be a leader in that field. and whether or not he forms a majority or minority government with a coalition, he will have to work with green mps and independents who have put climate action at the centre of theircampaigning. but this is not going

to be an easy task. remember, australia is a country that has been on the front line of climate disasters, whether that be the bush fires of 2019—2020, or the catastrophic floods that happened a couple of months ago. but it is also a country that is still very much economically wedded to fossil fuels. so to convince people, especially in the mining industry in regional australia, that have been economically dependent on this industry, is going to be difficult, but anthony albanese has called for change, has called for safe change, and i think it was a message for those areas as well that this is not going to happen overnight, there is going to be a plan to phase out fossil fuels. shaimaa khalil in sydney. events are being held to mark the fifth anniversary of the manchester arena bombing. 22 people died when a suicide bomber blew himself

up outside an ariana grande concert on 22 may 2017. the names of the victims were read out at commemorations at victoria station, which is next to the arena, and at manchester cathedral. the senior us congressman richard neal has urged the uk to have "good faith" talks with the eu to find "durable solutions" for post—brexit trade involving northern ireland. mr neal met the foreign secretary, liz truss, yesterday for what he said was a frank discussion. live to belfast and our correspondent, julian fowler. tell us more about what the congressman said?- tell us more about what the congressman said? tell us more about what the concressman said? , , _, , congressman said? this visit comes at a time of — congressman said? this visit comes at a time of political _ congressman said? this visit comes at a time of political crisis _ congressman said? this visit comes at a time of political crisis here - at a time of political crisis here in northern ireland surrounding the northern ireland protocol. last week the foreign secretary liz truss to nudge the government is planning to introduce new legislation to make changes to the post—brexit trading

arrangements concerning goods travelling across the irish sea from england, scotland and wales to northern ireland, saying she wanted to free them from what she described as unnecessary bureaucracy and regulatory barriers. that prompted the us house speaker nancy pelosi to express concern that the uk was acting unilaterally to discard the protocol, and she warned the us congress would not support any trade deal if the uk undermined the northern ireland peace process, and that message has been reinforced by this bipartisan congressional delegation which arrived in ireland, in county kerry, today. richard neal said nothing could jeopardise the good friday agreement or any sort of return to a hard border in ireland and said washington intend to express its unwavering support of necessary.

we are back from some very hard conversations in the uk with the political— conversations in the uk with the political leaders there, and from brussels, — political leaders there, and from brussels, where we had the conversation. we make the argument that the _ conversation. we make the argument that the good friday agreement has worked _ that the good friday agreement has worked and worked quite well, america — worked and worked quite well, america is a guarantor of the good friday— america is a guarantor of the good friday agreement and we do not want to see _ friday agreement and we do not want to see it— friday agreement and we do not want to see it disturbed. were now coming up to see it disturbed. were now coming up on _ to see it disturbed. were now coming up on the _ to see it disturbed. were now coming up on the 25th anniversary of the good _ up on the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement and will recall_ good friday agreement and will recall that everybody gave up something to put your best understanding political dispute in the history of the western world. i recanted _ the history of the western world. i recanted that the foreign secretary liz recanted that the foreign secretary liz truss _ recanted that the foreign secretary liz truss yesterday, and with the other _ liz truss yesterday, and with the other secretary and the leader of the labour— other secretary and the leader of the labour party and in brussels. what significant progress made by pm talks with the parties in northern ireland? ,, ., ., ireland? the us delegation will well rehearsed arguments, _ ireland? the us delegation will well rehearsed arguments, last - ireland? the us delegation will well rehearsed arguments, last week - ireland? the us delegation will well. rehearsed arguments, last week prime minister borisjohnson and the irish prime minister micheal martin were both in belfast to meet the local

parties. nobody is expecting there to be any sort of breakthrough in the coming week. the nationalists and subsequent parties including sinn fein, which won the largest number of seats at the recent northern ireland assembly macro elections, support the protocol, they feel it necessary to avoid a hard border on the island of ireland but it is opposed by unionists who feel undermined northern ireland's relationship with the rest of the uk. the democratic unionist party particular, which has refused to return to the power—sharing government at stormont until changes to the deal are made, have accused washington of completely misunderstanding the protocols, saying the protocol is undermining the good friday agreement. democratic unionist party say devolved government in northern ireland can only return with the support of both unionists and nationalists.— support of both unionists and nationalists. ., ~ , ., , . nationalists. thank you very much, jufian nationalists. thank you very much, julian fowler _ nationalists. thank you very much, julian fowler in _ nationalists. thank you very much, julian fowler in belfast. _

prince charles and the duchess of cornwall are to appear in a special platinum jubilee episode of eastenders. they visited the set of the bbc soap in march — it's now emerged while there they were filmed for an episode to be broadcast on the second ofjune. rhaya barton reports. eastenders theme. when tv royalty meets real—life royalty. this was the duke and duchess of cornwall visiting albert square back in march. but it wasn't just a social visit. we now know the royal couple will be starring in a specialjubilee episode of eastenders to celebrate the queen spending 70 years on the throne. cheering. they won't be tangling with the mitchells or setting up on the market, though. they will be dropping in on a street party celebration as themselves. it's one of the best days of my life, honestly. and i mean that. i'm such a royalist anyway, personally. so yeah, it was just wonderful. we are quite used to filming two months ahead, so for us we're often

pretending it's summer when it's not summer. yeah, if you get some shots of the trees you'll see - that the leaves are stapled on. it's not the first time royalty has graced the square. back in 2001, the queen paid a visit to the queen vic. i was lucky enough to meet her majesty last time she was here. accidentally came out of the tunnel and bumped into her as barbara windsor was bringing her behind the bar. and from the square to the cobbles, prince charles made his soap debut 22 years ago. we'll never hear the last of this. on the live 40th anniversary episode of coronation street he was seen in footage on a fictional news bulletin. we just give this onej a good yank, do we? camilla is also familiar with corrie. here she is in 2010 channelling her inner landlady, pulling pints in the rovers. cheers! you're a natural. back to the square, though. the duke and duchess will be

making their starring role onjune the 2nd at the start of the long bank holiday weekend. rhaya barton, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen. hello there. a cooler day in the offing tomorrow because we've got two areas of low pressure, one that's been across the north today, the other one drifting up from france. so we are going to see some rain. we're already seeing that rain across the north and west of scotland that continues through this evening, the odd drizzly shower elsewhere and some late sunshine. and then overnight, the potential for some rain to drift up from france. our rain further north starts to pull away, but leaves still quite a legacy of showery rain. so it's a relatively mild night, a little bit of mist and fog, particularly over the hills. so for monday, we've got our two areas of low pressure. as this one moves into the north sea, the northwesterly will bring a real rash of showers to many areas. could be heavy, could be thundery as well.

and then we've got rain potentially drifting up from the south and it's how far north and west that gets that's the main uncertainty. but it looks like an unsettled day with showers or some longer spells of rain. temperatures a few degrees down on those of today as well. and we've got more of those showers to come through the night tomorrow night and into tuesday. this is bbc news, i martine croxall with the headlines. the deadline has passed for officials named in sue gray's report into lockdown breaches in downing street to respond or object, ahead of its long awaited publication this week. energy company eon is warning that unless the government intervenes, the number of its customers in fuel poverty could reach 40% by the autumn. the ukrainian government says it won't agree to a ceasefire with russia that involves giving up territory in an apparent hardening of its position. more than 300 scotrail services have been cancelled for the third sunday in a row. it comes on the eve of major timetable cuts across the country.

sportsday is coming up, but now on bbc news, it's time for click. no, this isn't some kind of sea monster, but an autonomous machine which aims, perhaps, to make working at sea that little bit safer. with an ever—growing demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources, the infrastructure that provides that energy is becoming increasingly critical. now, at present, those facilities are often maintained by human divers

working in challenging and hazardous conditions.