this is bbc news. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the leaders of france, germany, italy and romania arrive in kyiv for talks, and to show their backing for ukraine. the united states sends a further one billion dollars�* worth of military aid to ukraine and re—affirms its commitment to stand by kyiv. the united nations refugee agency says the number of people forced to flee their homes has risen to more than 100 million for the first time. a man confesses to killing a britishjournalist and his local guide in brazil, and leads police to where he buried the bodies. the american actor kevin spacey has arrived in court in london, charged with sexually assaulting three men. the prime minister's ethics adviser, lord geidt, resigns a day after saying there was a "legitimate

question" over whether borisjohnson broke ministerial rules. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the leaders of france, germany and italy are in ukraine today — the first time any of the men have visited since the start of russia's invasion. italy's mario draghi, france's emmanuel macron and germany's olaf scholz travelled together to kyiv — seeking to counter the criticism of their perceived lukewarm support for ukraine. the visit comes a day before the european commission is set to make a recommendation on ukraine's status as a candidate for eu membership.

president biden has announced an extra one billion dollars in military support for ukraine — the largest single military aid package since russia invaded. the us defense secretary said at a nato meeting on wednesday that he will move "heaven and earth" to ensure ukraine gets the weapons it needs. nato defence ministers are reconvening in brussels for the final day of their summit. let's ta ke let's take you live to kyiv and our correspondentjoe inwood. good morning. two significant developments. those european leaders arriving in the country. but also, that extra military aid, that extra financial support. first of all, your assessment of how significant that visit is from those european leaders? i that visit is from those european leaders? ~ ., , that visit is from those european leaders? ~ . , ., leaders? i think we are seeing two big developments _ leaders? i think we are seeing two big developments and _ leaders? i think we are seeing two big developments and two - big developments and two developments that will be very much welcomed by the ukrainians. it is

worth noting the ukrainians have received large amounts of political support across the west in nato countries, but these three nations, specifically the germans, i think, have often seemed a little lukewarm in their support. warm words, but not always matched with action. so the fact we are seeing the leaders of the three biggest economies in the european union all coming at the same time is going to be warmly welcomed. at the moment, all three men are taking a tour of irpin, one of the towns that was physically badly hit by the russian invasion, it has devastated it on the streets and ruins and they will see the consequences of russia's invasion. the other sub text and background is ukraine is currently pushing for a candidate status for membership of the eu and there has been some resistance among the bigger economies to this happening. they have concerns over corruption here, for example, but the decision on thatis for example, but the decision on that is being made tomorrow. and if they can have this meeting and can

be persuaded by president volodymyr zelensky of the wisdom of that candidacy being approved, well, that will be a big step for the ukrainians.— will be a big step for the ukrainians. ~ . , , ukrainians. we have 'ust been lookin: ukrainians. we have 'ust been looking at t ukrainians. we have 'ust been looking at some _ ukrainians. we have 'ust been looking at some of _ ukrainians. we havejust been looking at some of those - ukrainians. we havejust been looking at some of those live | looking at some of those live pictures of irpin and as you would expect, quite a media scrum and security presence around those leaders as they arrive in the city, given everything of course that is going on. while we continue to look at those pictures, let's talk about this extra $1 billion in military support, as we said, the largest single military aid package since russia invaded. of course designed to send that message that the rest of the world, particularly clearly here in this case the united states, stands by kyiv. do we have any sense of how that money will be used, what difference it will make to this war? it is interesting you talk about sending a message, i think the ukrainians would say, yes, send us messages, but also centres equipment. they need artillery, multiple launch rocket systems,

howitzer pieces, and that is what the americans are promising, as are the americans are promising, as are the nato allies. we have heard of three multiple launch rocket system is promised by the germans, 18 howitzer artillery pieces promised by the americans, and all of that they hope to get as quickly as they can to the east. the problem the ukrainians have is that promises are not the same as delivering this equipment to the front lines and at the moment, they are really struggling there because they cannot match the russian guns. they are simply outgunned. in terms of the quantity of artillery both sides are bringing to the fight. so they will be hoping these premises really materialise quickly and that this equipment can get into the east of the country where it is desperately needed as fast as possible. find needed as fast as possible. and clearl , needed as fast as possible. and clearly. that _ needed as fast as possible. and clearly, that fighting is focused on the east of the country particularly, but there's still a lot of risk to the rest of ukraine. talk to me about where we are in terms of developments in the east. that has been the centre of so much

fighting of late. that has been the centre of so much fighting of late-— fighting of late. yes, absolutely, the focus of _ fighting of late. yes, absolutely, the focus of it _ fighting of late. yes, absolutely, the focus of it is _ fighting of late. yes, absolutely, the focus of it is in _ fighting of late. yes, absolutely, l the focus of it is in severodonetsk, right in the extreme east of the territory of the ukrainians still hold and the russians have been throwing everything at this, we are seeing a fierce street fighting and huge artillery to parishes and they are grinding the ukrainian forces down, really heavy death toll is we understand both sides, but the ukrainians have talked about their losses and they are significant. but it is notjust severodonetsk, russia is trying to cut off the ukrainian forces, cut off the south and then come in through the north coming through warren barguil and create a pocket of ukrainian troops. the ukrainians say they are holding on, they say they will do what they have done throughout this conflict, defend with resolute determination, but there is so much, only so much

they can do in terms of the firepower russia is bringing to bear. ., ~ firepower russia is bringing to bear. . ~ , ., ., firepower russia is bringing to bear. . ~ ., ., bear. thank you from our live correspondent, _ bear. thank you from our live correspondent, joe _ bear. thank you from our live correspondent, joe inwood. l bear. thank you from our live i correspondent, joe inwood. and bear. thank you from our live - correspondent, joe inwood. and we correspondent, joe inwood. and we are looking at those pictures of mario draghi and president macron and olaf scholz owned we will bring you more as that extra funding of $1 billion is pledged coming from the united states. the number of people forced to flee their homes around the world has hit a new record, the un's refugee agency says. the russian invasion of ukraine — which has caused the fastest—developing refugee crisis since world war ii — has pushed the figure over 100 million people for the first time. the unhcr says the number of people displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses has risen every year in the past decade. millions of people from syria, venezuela, afghanistan, ethiopia and myanmar also remain displaced. joining me now is filippo grandi, the united nations high commissioner for refugees.

filippo grandi, thank you for being with us on bbc news. it is an awful milestone to have reached. talk to me if you will about some of the reasons that this is happening and the fact that it has sped up so much more in recent years, given quite clearly events in ukraine. than more in recent years, given quite clearly events in ukraine. an awful milestone. — clearly events in ukraine. an awful milestone, indeed, _ clearly events in ukraine. an awful milestone, indeed, as— clearly events in ukraine. an awful milestone, indeed, as you - clearly events in ukraine. an awful milestone, indeed, as you rightlyl milestone, indeed, as you rightly said. and what is a symptom of the world we are living in. essentially, the rise in this figure is due to the rise in this figure is due to the multiplication of conflicts and to the inability that we seem to be stuck with in sounding existing wars and crisis. and this paralysis which is so evident in the action of the security council of the united nations for example translates into

figures of exiled populations that continue to rise, have continued to rise for the past ten years.- rise for the past ten years. there are uuite rise for the past ten years. there are quite clearly _ rise for the past ten years. there are quite clearly issues _ rise for the past ten years. there are quite clearly issues not - rise for the past ten years. there are quite clearly issues not least| are quite clearly issues not least where people are having to leave for some of those reasons we touched on in the introduction, but quite clearly, the focus is also on where these people are going when they are forced to leave their countries. and it is interesting in your report, you highlight it is low and middle—income countries, not necessarily rich countries, hosting the vast majority. 83% of those hosting refugees are low and middle—income countries, and that is a very dark reminder to many countries around world. absolutely. and there is — countries around world. absolutely. and there is often _ countries around world. absolutely. and there is often a _ countries around world. absolutely. and there is often a perception - countries around world. absolutely. and there is often a perception thatj and there is often a perception that refugee crises affect the rich world mostly and that is actually absolutely not true. most of the movements are from poor countries to poor countries. in fact, most of the countries that receive refugees are those next to where the conflicts

occur. now, this percentage of displaced people in the middle income and low income countries has slightly decreased. why? because we have now a large number of people that have moved into europe. and that have moved into europe. and thatis that have moved into europe. and that is refugees from ukraine. but that, on the other hand, is a reminder that it can happen anywhere and that any country can become a refugee receiving country. that is why the issue has to be resolved collectively through international cooperation. find collectively through international conneration-_ collectively through international coo eration. �* ., cooperation. and i wonder whether the narrative _ cooperation. and i wonder whether the narrative needs _ cooperation. and i wonder whether the narrative needs to _ cooperation. and i wonder whether the narrative needs to change - cooperation. and i wonder whether| the narrative needs to change about the narrative needs to change about the focus, as you said, a lot of rich countries will see this as a huge problem and one that needs tackled by governments and we will maybe get to that in the second. but looking at your list, turkey hosting the vast majority, 3.8 million refugees and that is the largest population around the world. then uganda, pakistan, germany, colombia and venezuela. those countries hosting the vast majority and yet,

it is perhaps in the media, perhaps the debate around migration, that it is rich countries that feel they are so vulnerable and so affected by the migration crisis.— migration crisis. yes, the perception _ migration crisis. yes, the perception is _ migration crisis. yes, the perception is that - migration crisis. yes, the perception is that these l migration crisis. yes, the l perception is that these are migration crisis. yes, the - perception is that these are people that are seeking better lives, where there is more prosperity. that is there is more prosperity. that is the narrative. —— that is the narrative. also because movements are very complex, it is not only refugees moving, it is also economic migrants and people moving for other reasons, taking advantage of a much improved human mobility around the world. but we are talking about refugees, people that do not want, do not choose to leave, but are forced to leave by the circumstances. and they essentially go to the countries closest to them where they can find safety. it is important to restore the sense that refugees flee because they are afraid. and whether they are

ukrainians or whether they are the rohingya minority in myanmar or whether they are people in africa fleeing conflict, all of them deserve the same attention and the same respect and the same space to seek asylum. same respect and the same space to seek asylum-— same respect and the same space to seek as lum. ~ i. ., _, , seek asylum. when you hear countries sa we are seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full. _ seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full, there _ seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full, there is _ seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full, there is most - seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full, there is most of - seek asylum. when you hear countries say we are full, there is most of a - say we are full, there is most of a some there are not the resources or the infrastructure to support an influx of migrants, what do you say to them? ., ~ ., ., , to them? you know, i hear this mostly in _ to them? you know, i hear this mostly in the — to them? you know, i hear this mostly in the rich _ to them? you know, i hear this mostly in the rich countries, i to them? you know, i hear this| mostly in the rich countries, not to them? you know, i hear this i mostly in the rich countries, not in the poor countries. there is more solidarity in africa, in latin america, then there is these days unfortunately in the global north. and i say to that, how come if, for example, europe is full, how come that europe has been able to take in efficiently and without much fuss, frankly, millions and millions of refugees from ukraine? it means that

when there is political will, when there is no manipulation against refugees and migrants, it is possible to receive them in the right manner and in the efficient manner. ., ~ ., ., ,, right manner and in the efficient manner. ., ~ ., . ,, , manner. you will know that issue is a hue manner. you will know that issue is a huge political _ manner. you will know that issue is a huge political issue _ manner. you will know that issue is a huge political issue in _ manner. you will know that issue is a huge political issue in the - manner. you will know that issue is a huge political issue in the uk- a huge political issue in the uk right now. after the aborted take—off of that flight taking migrants from the uk to rwanda, the government says it is important to control our borders in the uk and to make sure that people who are coming here illegally sent away again. what do you make of the government's policy in taking illegal migrants from the uk and sending them to rwanda? , ., ., from the uk and sending them to rwanda? , ., . ~' rwanda? first of all, i think we should speak — rwanda? first of all, i think we should speak about _ rwanda? first of all, i think we should speak about asylum i rwanda? first of all, i think we i should speak about asylum seekers. this is different terminology from illegal migrants. in any case, i have said a lot in the last few days about that, so my position is quite clear that we at the unhcr do not

believe this is the right response to a real problem. so i am not denying the problem, i am simply saying there are other ways to do it. we have been discussing this with the government of the united kingdom, with the government of rwanda and the discussion continues and we continue to be available to provide suggestions and to discuss solutions. �* .., , provide suggestions and to discuss solutions. �* .. , ,., , solutions. because the government is ve keen solutions. because the government is very keen to — solutions. because the government is very keen to point _ solutions. because the government is very keen to point out _ solutions. because the government is very keen to point out that _ solutions. because the government is very keen to point out that this - solutions. because the government is very keen to point out that this is i very keen to point out that this is about a deterrent, about stopping people falling into the hands of illegal people smugglers and that is something you will look at quite closely, the idea that there is a criminal trade behind some of this movement across the world, not those necessarily just fleeing movement across the world, not those necessarilyjust fleeing persecution or war at home, it is about falling into the hands of the wrong people who are trading in this human suffering. who are trading in this human sufferinu. ~ ,,., , who are trading in this human suffering-— who are trading in this human sufferinu. ~ , , , , suffering. absolutely. this is why i think it is very— suffering. absolutely. this is why i think it is very important _ suffering. absolutely. this is why i think it is very important to - think it is very important to multiply what we would call safe and orderly channels. first of all for

migration, for economic migration. economic migration, which is not what might agency deals with, is a necessity, especially for the rich countries. but the more you regulate, you create proper channels, the less people that flee for other reasons, meaning refugees and migrants will be mixed together, creating the confusion. because at the moment, because there is very few legal channels for migration, migrants use asylum as a way to enter countries, and that provokes much of the confusion that we see today. so we need to restore some order. but it would require some courage, political choices that governments are not always able or willing to make these days. it has been fascinating _ willing to make these days. it has been fascinating to _ willing to make these days. it has been fascinating to talk _ willing to make these days. it has been fascinating to talk to - willing to make these days. it has been fascinating to talk to you, i been fascinating to talk to you, thank you for being on bbc news today, that is filippo grandi, the united nations high commissioner for refugees. thank you for your

thoughts. the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey has arrived at westminster magistrates' court. he's appearing in person for his first court hearing since being charged with five sex offences, which he denies. they relate to four counts of sexual assault against three men, and a charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. the british prime minister's ethics adviser lord geidt has resigned — the second to do so in under two years. apart from a brief statement saying he was stepping down "with regret", no explanation has been given for his departure. just two days ago, lord geidt told mps it was "reasonable" to suggest borisjohnson had breached the ministerial code when he was fined over lockdown gatherings at downing street. our political correspondent jonathan blake reports. did the prime minister break- the ministerial code, lord geidt? he may not be a household name, but he had, until yesterday, a crucialjob in government.

we mentioned in my last evidence to this committee... lord geidt, being questioned here by mps earlier this week, advised boris johnson on whether ministers had broken their code of conduct. all i can do is to try — and i do try — to make things work as well as i can. but later, he decided things weren't working and last night, in a brief statement, said... lord geidt used to be the queen's private secretary. in his more recentjob, he oversaw ethics and behaviour in government, amid rows about the prime minister's own conduct and, at times, a strained relationship with number 10. there've been lots of reports, lots of rumours that he was unhappy. there was that suggestion that he was 60—110 in favour of resignation a few weeks ago.

so clearly, it's been put about that he wasn't happy. i think you could also tell from some of the tortured language in some of his reports, his letters to the prime minister, and the statements that were put out around the revisions to the ministerial code recently, that he was dancing around these sorts of ethical issues with a lot of difficulty and some pangs to his conscience. there was a legitimate question, lord geidt said, last month over whether borisjohnson broke the ministerial code by breaking covid laws. but the prime minister insisted he hadn't. ..whether you've contemplated resignation? there are a few instruments available to an independent adviser, and... i am going to take that answer as, at least it was on the agenda. we've mentioned before in evidence that it's always on the agenda as an available remedy to a particular problem, and one that my predecessor indeed exercised. a government spokesperson said last night...

"we are surprised by this decision, given lord geidt�*s commitment to the role. whilst we're disappointed, we thank lord geidt for his public service." the person who should have left downing street tonight is the prime minister himself, and the whole country will be wondering, just how long do they have to wait for those tory mps to do the right thing? lord geidt is the second standards adviser to quit in less than two years, leaving the key role of scrutinising standards in government vacant, once again. jonathan blake, bbc news, westminster. we expect an urgent question in the next few minutes in the house of commons at westminster. our political correspondent nick eardley told me more about what's happened. so we have this short statement that was put on the government's website last night, where lord geidt says "with regret", he's standing down from the position. but the long letter that lord geidt wrote to the prime minister —

which we think sets out his reasons — hasn't been published, so we don't know what his reasons are. we do have those clues from the last few weeks. he's spoken at his frustration over the process around downing street parties, he said it's "reasonable" for people to perhaps conclude that the prime minister could have broken the ministerial code when he broke the law, but we don't know exactly what it was that pushed lord geidt over the edge. so i think there is going to be a lot of pressure on downing street today to come up with an explanation and to publish this letter. but have a listen to the justice secretary. first of all, lord geidt was engaged this week in talking about how he was going to — and asking to — stay on for the six months. i know there was a particular issue, a commercially sensitive issue, so i can't go into it too much, but one in the national interest which he was asked to advise on. i can't say whether that's the issue.

he also gave evidence in front of a committee of mps. look, i think we are still very protective of civil servants. that can be quite bruising. politicians... we in the media are used to that sort of level of scrutiny. whether it's one of those three things, i don't know. but all i can tell you is, my understanding was, as of this week, he had been looking at staying on for a further six months. so that's the justice secretary on lord geidt�*s position. lots of questions, though, today about exactly what went on, exactly why lord geidt quit. i think there'll be something on this in parliament later this morning, though, expecting there to be an urgent question from the opposition parties about lord geidt�*s position, why he's gone, what's going to happen next. remember, ben, that it's only a couple of years ago that the last independent adviser on ministerial interests quit, because he didn't think he could work with boris johnson because boris johnson

decided that priti patel, the home secretary, hadn't broken the ministerial code, despite his adviser finding that she had. so there's a big question about who would take over now and who'd be up for doing thatjob. nick eardley in westminster. police in brazil say they've found what are thought to be the bodies of a missing britishjournalist and his local guide, after one of two men arrested in connection with their disappearance confessed to killing them. dom phillips and bruno pereira were last seen in a remote part of the amazon earlier this month. our south america correspondent katy watson reports from mernauss. it was a hastily organised press conference. a panel of military men delivering the awful news after ten days of searching. translation: the first suspect voluntarily confessed _ at the end of last night. he made the criminal confession, outlining in detail the crime he committed, and indicated the area

where he buried the bodies. early on wednesday morning, he was taken on a boat to help the search teams find the bodies. it was three kilometres from the riverbank in this thick forest that human remains were found. these photos showing the difficult terrain the search teams faced, needing the help of helicopters, sniffer dogs and divers to get to the site. these are the two men as their friends and family want to remember them. dom phillips, an experienced and passionatejournalist, writing a book on saving the amazon. his travelling companion, bruno pereira, was an indigenous expert. he knew this community so well and was loved by so many. the indigenous communities were the first to raise the alarm on the day they disappeared. and they didn't give up, accompanying the authorities, and even leading them to clues. but in the press conference, they weren't mentioned.

i asked the man heading the investigation why. the indigenous helped a lot in trying to find the belongings of the two men, but nothing has been mentioned of the help that they gave the forces. translation: actually, it wasl a mistake not to mention them. the work was carried out with the help of river communities and indigenous peoples. a lot of them accompanied us on the boats and in the planes, and so that was fundamental. this crime has horrified people here in brazil and globally. it's brought into sharp focus the dangers faced by those wanting to save the forest. the criminal activity that takes place in this vast, beautiful, yet threatened amazon. dom's wife said this tragic outcome brings an end to the anguish of not knowing dom and bruno's whereabouts. this brings the search to an end and closure for the families, who pushed so hard in trying to find the men.

but of course, it also reveals the brutal criminality in the amazon, and the lack of ability by the state to control it. the families now say they will fight for justice. katy watson, bbc news, manaus. another rise in uk interest rates is expected today. the cost of borrowing is likely to rise from 1% to 1.25%, the highest since january of 2009, in an attempt to control soaring prices. it follows a move from america's central bank announcing its biggest interest rate rise in nearly 30 years. earlier, i spoke to jane foley, head or foreign exchange strategy at rabobank of the predicted interest rate rises. if we look ahead to some of the growth forecasts, for instance, we can look at the oecd�*s forecasts. they see no growth at all for the uk next year. our forecast is a little

bit better at 0.2, but that is very low. now, it might be that the uk avoids a technical recession, partly because growth last year related to the pandemic was so slow that growth this year will look better almost irrespective of what happens. but i think for many, many people, it will feel like a recession, if it doesn't already. jane foley at rabobank. poorer countries attending global climate talks in germany have accused richer countries of betraying the developing world. they say they were promised at last year's climate summit in glasgow that this year, their key demand would be honoured, with a new fund to help them cope with the impact of rising temperatures. our correspondent matt mcgrath is in bonn. well, you might be able to hear in the background, there's a very noisy demonstration going on by environmental campaigners very much concerned about this issue of loss and damage. they're concerned that promises made at cop26 last year haven't been honoured by the richer countries, particularly the european union and the united states. they say that the developing countries were promised

that they would get a new fund that would be operational this year. instead, they've been offered a workshop, which they say is a talking shop and a way of getting out of it. it's tending to sour the relationship here. as you can hear, the protesters are still going on behind me here trying to make their point to the delegates that this is a real issue for millions and millions of people around the world. we're seeing heatwaves in various parts of europe and the united states at the moment, but the poorer countries say that for decades, they've been living with those types of impacts without any funding and they want money from the richer countries, whom they blame for causing these problems in the first place. they want some compensation, if you like, for that type of impact. and so here today, they're hoping to get that kind of issue on the agenda. so far, they've not been successful. a consumer champion has begun a legal claim against the technology giant apple, in which he's seeking damages of more than £750 million for up to 25 million uk iphone users. justin gutmann has accused apple of misleading customers

over a software update, which is said to have slowed down some devices and drained the batteries more quickly. apple insists it would never do anything to intentionally shorten the life of its products. an australian man has gone to new heights to stop his car being stolen — using a forklift to suspend the vehicle and the alleged thief in the air. police said the woman had broken into the man's home in logan, west of brisbane, and was about to make her getaway when the owener, brendan mills, and his family, came home. one of ourtop one of our top stories, the resignation of one of the uk prime minister's ethics adviser, that is lord geidt, the second adviser to quit in two years, he left his role last night and it is understood he sent a letter to the prime minister detailing his reasons for leaving.

we are expecting that that letter will be published a little later today, but we are also expected to hear an urgent question as it is known in the house of commons related to that, so it will be the cabinet office minister, or one of the cabinet office ministers, responding to that urgent question. they are calling for more details about the reasons that lord geidt left his role. and that is just a day after saying he would potentially stay in post. now there are questions of course about whether boris johnson, are questions of course about whether borisjohnson, the prime minister, broke ministerial rules over those parties that were held during lockdown in downing street. lord geidt did not give a specific reason when he announced his departure yesterday, but mounting pressure on number 10 to publish a letter which could give a little more detail about his thoughts and motivations for leaving his post. delays unloading ambulances at busy hospitals are causing

serious harm to patients, according to a warning by the healthcare safety watchdog. 94—year—old kenneth shadbolt waited more than five hours for an ambulance after a bad fall — an accident that proved fatal. our health correspondentjim reed has this story. his only spell out of the country was national service after the war. always lived in that village, which had been camden, all his life. he was very well known. he was very much a character of that town. gerry shadbolt has been trying to piece together what happened on the night his father died. he was looking for the ambulance that never came. kenneth was in good shape for a 94—year—old. a retired carpenter, he lived alone in the cotswolds. on that night, though, the health service was under pressure. the bbc applied to see documents from an inquest into his death. they show that at 2:53 am, ken got out of bed and fell. he collapsed on the floor and called 999 twice from his mobile. transcripts of the calls are spoken by actors. ambulance service. is the patient breathing?

ken was recorded as an urgent category 2 case, meaning an ambulance should have arrived in 18 minutes on average. he's clearly trusting the ambulance service, but it's clear on the second call that his condition is worsening, and he's getting anxious because he's not getting any assurances about an ambulance. ken waited for an hour on the floor before calling a third time. the details are distressing. it took another four hours for an ambulance to arrive. by then, ken was unconscious. he was taken to gloucestershire royal hospital, where he died that afternoon from a bleed to the brain.

he was on his own, and he knew he was on his own. and he must have felt abandoned, you know, alone on his bedroom floor. that's the most troubling part of it for me. as promised, we are going live now to the house of commons regarding an urgent question over the resignation of lord geidt. we are expecting a question from a shadow cabinet office minister. mr question from a shadow cabinet office minister.— question from a shadow cabinet office minister. mr speaker, thank ou. i office minister. mr speaker, thank you- i would _ office minister. mr speaker, thank you. i would like _ office minister. mr speaker, thank you. i would like to _ office minister. mr speaker, thank you. i would like to start _ office minister. mr speaker, thank you. i would like to start by - you. i would like to start by thanking lord geidt for his work as independent adviser on ministers interests. and indeed for his years of public service before he took up this role. i hold him in the highest regard, he has been honoured

multiple times and he is an example of course of excellence in service in public life and i thank all members of this house for their work in regards to this matter but i think all the members of this house will recognise that lord geidt has demonstrated diligence and thoughtfulness in the way he has discharged his role over the course of the past year. we have benefited hugely from this service. the prime minister will issue a letter, mr speaker, in relation to the announcement from lord geidt, both the letter from lord announcement from lord geidt, both the letterfrom lord geidt and announcement from lord geidt, both the letter from lord geidt and the reply from the prime minister will be deposited in the house shortly. as soon as i have those letters, or my office has them, mr speaker, they will be placed in the library. the government is particularly disappointed, of course, that lord geidt has taken this decision, as

only very recently as this house knows from the debate last week, significant changes were made to the role and status of independent adviser on ministers interests. as i set out to the house last week, these changes represent the most substantial strengthening of the role of independent advisers since its creation, the most substantial strengthening of its role, it's obvious, and its remit since that post was created in 2006 so let me set out briefly the reforms to the role that have been introduced by this prime minister. firstly, the independent adviser has a new ability that he and his predecessors did not have before, to initiate investigations in relation to allegations where there has been a breach of the ministerial code, this is a significant change, previously as the house knows, as an advisor, they were not permitted to do this, he and his predecessors. the adviser

will need the consent of the prime minister of the day to start an investigation but as i made very clear last week, this consent would normally be given. and the ministerial code now includes new detail on proportionate sanctions for a breach of the code. previously there was no proportionality in those sanctions and even the smallest of technical breaches to a minister in place might have resulted in enforced resignation. now there is a proportionate range of options and that, by the way, was exactly as recommended by the committee on standards in public life. in future, the independent adviser will be consulted about revisions to the code as recommended ljy revisions to the code as recommended by the committee on standards in public life, the ministerial code now include specific references to the role of the independent adviser on more specific references to the duty on ministers to provide the adviser with all information

reasonably necessary to assist with discharging the role. in conclusion, as lord geidt himself has made clear, the new arrangements are workable and he noted the increased transparency that they bring. the government will, of course, now move to make new arrangements and looks forward to working within the strengthen system i have described. can i say to the minister who i had the greatest respect for, i am sure the greatest respect for, i am sure the team _ the greatest respect for, i am sure the team can manage to get that speach— the team can manage to get that speech in— the team can manage to get that speech in three minutes and i say to all the _ speech in three minutes and i say to all the benches, do not take advantage, there is a lot of business _ advantage, there is a lot of business to follow. right. mr speaker. _ business to follow. right. mr speaker, thank you. i welcome the fact this _ speaker, thank you. i welcome the fact this letter— speaker, thank you. i welcome the fact this letter will— speaker, thank you. i welcome the fact this letter will be _ speaker, thank you. i welcome the fact this letter will be coming, i fact this letter will be coming, it's taken— fact this letter will be coming, it's taken asking _ fact this letter will be coming, it's taken asking an _ fact this letter will be coming, it's taken asking an urgent i fact this letter will be coming, i it's taken asking an urgent question to get— it's taken asking an urgent question to get it _ it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so — it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so i — it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so i glad _ it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so i glad we _ it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so i glad we have - it's taken asking an urgent question to get it so i glad we have been- to get it so i glad we have been able _ to get it so i glad we have been able to— to get it so i glad we have been able to ask— to get it so i glad we have been able to ask this _ to get it so i glad we have been able to ask this question - to get it so i glad we have been able to ask this question but i able to ask this question but clearly— able to ask this question but clearly the _ able to ask this question but clearly the new— able to ask this question butl clearly the new arrangements able to ask this question but i clearly the new arrangements for able to ask this question but - clearly the new arrangements for the independent — clearly the new arrangements for the independent adviser— clearly the new arrangements for the independent adviser are _ clearly the new arrangements for the independent adviser are not - clearly the new arrangements for the | independent adviser are not workable and that— independent adviser are not workable and that is— independent adviser are not workable and that is why— independent adviser are not workable and that is why he _ independent adviser are not workable and that is why he has _ independent adviser are not workable and that is why he has had _ independent adviser are not workable and that is why he has had to- and that is why he has had to

resign — and that is why he has had to resign to— and that is why he has had to resign. to lose _ and that is why he has had to resign. to lose one _ and that is why he has had to resign. to lose one ethics- and that is why he has had to- resign. to lose one ethics adviser was really— resign. to lose one ethics adviser was really an— resign. to lose one ethics adviser was really an embarrassment i resign. to lose one ethics adviser was really an embarrassment but| resign. to lose one ethics adviser. was really an embarrassment but to lose two _ was really an embarrassment but to lose two in— was really an embarrassment but to lose two in two _ was really an embarrassment but to lose two in two years, _ was really an embarrassment but to lose two in two years, days - was really an embarrassment but to lose two in two years, days after- lose two in two years, days after the anti—corruption— lose two in two years, days after the anti—corruption tsar - lose two in two years, days after the anti—corruption tsar of - lose two in two years, days after the anti—corruption tsar of the i the anti—corruption tsar of the prime — the anti—corruption tsar of the prime minister— the anti—corruption tsar of the prime minister walked - the anti—corruption tsar of the prime minister walked out, i the anti—corruption tsar of the i prime minister walked out, it's becoming _ prime minister walked out, it's becoming a _ prime minister walked out, it's becoming a bit _ prime minister walked out, it's becoming a bit of— prime minister walked out, it's becoming a bit of a _ prime minister walked out, it's becoming a bit of a pattern. i prime minister walked out, it'si becoming a bit of a pattern. it's prime minister walked out, it's i becoming a bit of a pattern. it's a pattern— becoming a bit of a pattern. it's a pattern of— becoming a bit of a pattern. it's a pattern of degrading _ becoming a bit of a pattern. it's a pattern of degrading the - becoming a bit of a pattern. it's a l pattern of degrading the principles of democracy _ pattern of degrading the principles of democracy. the _ pattern of degrading the principles of democracy. the prime - pattern of degrading the principles of democracy. the prime ministerl pattern of degrading the principles i of democracy. the prime minister has driven— of democracy. the prime minister has driven out— of democracy. the prime minister has driven out both — of democracy. the prime minister has driven out both of _ of democracy. the prime minister has driven out both of his _ of democracy. the prime minister has driven out both of his hand—picked i driven out both of his hand—picked ethics _ driven out both of his hand—picked ethics adviser— driven out both of his hand—picked ethics adviser is _ driven out both of his hand—picked ethics adviser is to _ driven out both of his hand—picked ethics adviser is to resign - driven out both of his hand—picked ethics adviser is to resign in - ethics adviser is to resign in despair— ethics adviser is to resign in despair in— ethics adviser is to resign in despair in two _ ethics adviser is to resign in despair in two years, - ethics adviser is to resign in despair in two years, it i ethics adviser is to resign in despair in two years, it is. ethics adviser is to resign in despair in two years, it is al ethics adviser is to resign in i despair in two years, it is a badge of shame — despair in two years, it is a badge of shame in— despair in two years, it is a badge of shame inan— despair in two years, it is a badge of shame. in an unprecedented i despair in two years, it is a badge i of shame. in an unprecedented move, the cabinet _ of shame. in an unprecedented move, the cabinet office _ of shame. in an unprecedented move, the cabinet office had _ of shame. in an unprecedented move, the cabinet office had failed _ of shame. in an unprecedented move, the cabinet office had failed to - the cabinet office had failed to publish — the cabinet office had failed to publish the _ the cabinet office had failed to publish the resignation - the cabinet office had failed to publish the resignation letter i the cabinet office had failed to i publish the resignation letter from lord geidt— publish the resignation letter from lord geidt and _ publish the resignation letter from lord geidt and it _ publish the resignation letter from lord geidt and it has _ publish the resignation letter from lord geidt and it has taken - publish the resignation letter from lord geidt and it has taken this i lord geidt and it has taken this urgent — lord geidt and it has taken this urgent question— lord geidt and it has taken this urgent question to _ lord geidt and it has taken this urgent question to get - lord geidt and it has taken this urgent question to get it. i lord geidt and it has taken this urgent question to get it. lordl urgent question to get it. lord geidt — urgent question to get it. lord geidt described _ urgent question to get it. lord geidt described resignation i urgent question to get it. lord geidt described resignation asj urgent question to get it. lord i geidt described resignation as a last resort — geidt described resignation as a last resort to _ geidt described resignation as a last resort to send _ geidt described resignation as a last resort to send a _ geidt described resignation as a last resort to send a critical- last resort to send a critical signal— last resort to send a critical signal to— last resort to send a critical signal to the _ last resort to send a critical signal to the public- last resort to send a critical| signal to the public domain. last resort to send a critical- signal to the public domain. can the minister— signal to the public domain. can the minister confirm _ signal to the public domain. can the minister confirm if— signal to the public domain. can the minister confirm if ongoing - minister confirm if ongoing investigations— minister confirm if ongoing investigations launched i minister confirm if ongoing investigations launched by| minister confirm if ongoing i investigations launched by lord geidt _ investigations launched by lord geidt will— investigations launched by lord geidt will be — investigations launched by lord geidt will be completed, - investigations launched by lord geidt will be completed, will. investigations launched by lord i geidt will be completed, will this be in _ geidt will be completed, will this be in the — geidt will be completed, will this be in the letter— geidt will be completed, will this be in the letter from _ geidt will be completed, will this be in the letter from the - geidt will be completed, will this be in the letter from the prime . be in the letter from the prime minister. — be in the letter from the prime minister. for— be in the letter from the prime minister, for example - be in the letter from the prime minister, for example how- be in the letter from the prime minister, for example how will| be in the letter from the prime - minister, for example how will the shamefut— minister, for example how will the shameful allegations— minister, for example how will the shameful allegations of— minister, for example how will the i shameful allegations of islamophobia experienced — shameful allegations of islamophobia exrrerienced by— shameful allegations of islamophobia experienced by one _ shameful allegations of islamophobia experienced by one of— shameful allegations of islamophobia experienced by one of my _ shameful allegations of islamophobia experienced by one of my honourable colleagues _ experienced by one of my honourable colleagues he — experienced by one of my honourable

colleagues be preceded? _ experienced by one of my honourable colleagues be preceded? last - experienced by one of my honourable colleagues be preceded? last week, i colleagues be preceded? last week, it emerged _ colleagues be preceded? last week, it emerged lord _ colleagues be preceded? last week, it emerged lord geidt— colleagues be preceded? last week, it emerged lord geidt had _ colleagues be preceded? last week, it emerged lord geidt had been- it emerged lord geidt had been advised — it emerged lord geidt had been advised to— it emerged lord geidt had been advised to give _ it emerged lord geidt had been advised to give advice - it emerged lord geidt had been advised to give advice on - it emerged lord geidt had been advised to give advice on a - advised to give advice on a commercially— advised to give advice on a commercially sensitive - advised to give advice on a - commercially sensitive matter, can the minister— commercially sensitive matter, can the minister confirm _ commercially sensitive matter, can the minister confirm if— commercially sensitive matter, can the minister confirm if this - commercially sensitive matter, can the minister confirm if this relatesi the minister confirm if this relates to a director— the minister confirm if this relates to a director indirect _ the minister confirm if this relates to a director indirect financial- to a director indirect financial interest— to a director indirect financial interest of— to a director indirect financial interest of the _ to a director indirect financial interest of the prime - to a director indirect financial. interest of the prime minister, a family— interest of the prime minister, a family member, _ interest of the prime minister, a family member, friend - interest of the prime minister, a family member, friend or- interest of the prime minister, a family member, friend or donor| interest of the prime minister, a - family member, friend or donor and when _ family member, friend or donor and when witi— family member, friend or donor and when will the — family member, friend or donor and when will the replacement - family member, friend or donor and when will the replacement be - when will the replacement be appointed? _ when will the replacement be appointed? can _ when will the replacement be appointed? can he _ when will the replacement be appointed? can he assure - when will the replacement be appointed? can he assure as| when will the replacement be - appointed? can he assure as there will not _ appointed? can he assure as there will not be — appointed? can he assure as there will not be another _ appointed? can he assure as there will not be another gap _ appointed? can he assure as there will not be another gap although . appointed? can he assure as there will not be another gap although iti will not be another gap although it will not be another gap although it will be _ will not be another gap although it will be a _ will not be another gap although it will be a hard _ will not be another gap although it will be a hard position— will not be another gap although it will be a hard position to - will not be another gap although it will be a hard position to recruit i will be a hard position to recruit for because _ will be a hard position to recruit for because it's _ will be a hard position to recruit for because it's been _ will be a hard position to recruit for because it's been clearly - will be a hard position to recruit. for because it's been clearly shown to be _ for because it's been clearly shown to be an _ for because it's been clearly shown to be an unworkable _ for because it's been clearly shown to be an unworkable position. - for because it's been clearly shown to be an unworkable position. thei to be an unworkable position. the predecessor— to be an unworkable position. the predecessor of _ to be an unworkable position. the predecessor of lord _ to be an unworkable position. the predecessor of lord geidt - to be an unworkable position. the predecessor of lord geidt walked i to be an unworkable position. the i predecessor of lord geidt walked out because _ predecessor of lord geidt walked out because his _ predecessor of lord geidt walked out because his findings _ predecessor of lord geidt walked out because his findings about _ predecessor of lord geidt walked out because his findings about the - predecessor of lord geidt walked out because his findings about the home| because his findings about the home secretary— because his findings about the home secretary 's — because his findings about the home secretary 's bullying _ because his findings about the home secretary 's bullying were _ because his findings about the home secretary 's bullying were excused . secretary 's bullying were excused by the _ secretary 's bullying were excused by the prime — secretary 's bullying were excused by the prime minister, _ secretary 's bullying were excused by the prime minister, the - secretary 's bullying were excused by the prime minister, the prime. by the prime minister, the prime minister— by the prime minister, the prime minister has _ by the prime minister, the prime minister has ridden— by the prime minister, the prime minister has ridden roughshod i by the prime minister, the prime . minister has ridden roughshod over the rules _ minister has ridden roughshod over the rules this— minister has ridden roughshod over the rules. this vacancy _ minister has ridden roughshod over the rules. this vacancy must - minister has ridden roughshod over the rules. this vacancy must be - the rules. this vacancy must be urgently— the rules. this vacancy must be urgently fitted _ the rules. this vacancy must be urgently filled but _ the rules. this vacancy must be urgently filled but the - the rules. this vacancy must be urgently filled but the role - urgently filled but the role urgently— urgently filled but the role urgently reformed - urgently filled but the role urgently reformed as - urgently filled but the role urgently reformed as the i urgently filled but the role - urgently reformed as the committee on public— urgently reformed as the committee on public standards _ urgently reformed as the committee on public standards as _ urgently reformed as the committee on public standards as shown, - on public standards as shown, integrity— on public standards as shown, integrity and _ on public standards as shown, integrity and decency- on public standards as shown, | integrity and decency matters, on public standards as shown, - integrity and decency matters, and i hope the _ integrity and decency matters, and i hope the minister— integrity and decency matters, and i hope the minister will— integrity and decency matters, and i hope the minister will do _ integrity and decency matters, and i hope the minister will do the - integrity and decency matters, and i hope the minister will do the right. hope the minister will do the right thing _ hope the minister will do the right thing and — hope the minister will do the right thing and come _ hope the minister will do the right thing and come clean _ thing and come clean about this resignation _ thing and come clean about this resignation in _ thing and come clean about this resignation in his— thing and come clean about this resignation in his letter. - thing and come clean about this resignation in his letter. find. thing and come clean about this resignation in his letter. and there we believe events _ resignation in his letter. and there we believe events in _ resignation in his letter. and there

we believe events in the _ resignation in his letter. and there we believe events in the house - resignation in his letter. and there we believe events in the house of| we believe events in the house of commons. the shadow cabinet office minister fleur anderson posing that urgent question and you will have heard the response from the cabinet office minister. to bring you up—to—date on what was said. confirmation that the resignation letter from lord confirmation that the resignation letterfrom lord geidt will be published over the course of the morning and the prime minister �*s reply will also be published alongside it. there has been increasing pressure on number ten to publish the letter which may give some detailed reasons as to why lord geidt left when he announced his departure yesterday, it did not give specific reasons and also addressing concerns over the independence of that ethics adviser role. we heard that ethics adviser role. we heard that there are changes to the system but nonetheless still overseen by the prime minister which has prompted a lot of concern about whether the prime minister is able to approve an inquiry into some of his own actions, or those related to partygate as it is known, parties

held during lockdown in number ten downing street. we believe events at the house of commons there but also in the last few minutes we have had news from westminster magistrates' court. you may know the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey has been appearing charged with four counts of assault. kevin spacey appearing in court, he has now been granted unconditional bail after appearing at court. he did not enter appearing at court. he did not enter a plea, he has previously talked on us television about being confident he will be able to clear his name on the charges of sexual assault, one count of engaging in sexual activity without consent. you might know kevin spacey, the actor known for many films, he has i2—macro oscars, starring in films such as american beauty, la confidential and the hugely popular series house of cards. appearing voluntarily at court this morning but confirmation within the last few minutes he has

been granted unconditional bail. sarah campbell is outside court. good morning. confirmation as we just said that he has now been bailed, bring us up to date with what you heard.— bailed, bring us up to date with what you heard. bailed, bring us up to date with what ou heard. ~ , , ., what you heard. absolutely. you saw the pictures — what you heard. absolutely. you saw the pictures of— what you heard. absolutely. you saw the pictures of him _ what you heard. absolutely. you saw the pictures of him arriving, - what you heard. absolutely. you saw the pictures of him arriving, you - the pictures of him arriving, you can see behind me a huge bank of photographers, television cameras, that are waiting for kevin spacey to leave court. now that that initial preliminary hearing here at westminster magistrates' court has finished. he entered the dock, he was known in court as kevin spacey fowler, that being his given name and he was addressed and caught throughout by the magistrate and also about justice apart throughout by the magistrate and also aboutjustice apart from his lawyer who called him mr spacey. the charges were read to him, he was standing, wearing a light blue suit and white shirt and a blue tie. and

he was standing as the charges were read out to him, charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men. and a further charge, sexual offence charge, mr spacey is 62 years of age. he was given unconditional bail and he was told here in court today by the magistrate that his next court appearance will be on the 14th of july at southwark crown court. that is the next time we expect to see kevin spacey in court in the uk. sarah, we have been looking at the pictures of his arrival, we expect him to leave court behind you shortly. kevin spacey saying he would voluntarily appear, he has told good morning america television in the us he was confident he could prove his innocence but there is clearly huge media interest in this and his appearance this morning at court? ~ , ,., ,

and his appearance this morning at court? ~ , , , and his appearance this morning at court? absolutely. his lawyer when he stood pp. _ court? absolutely. his lawyer when he stood pp. he — court? absolutely. his lawyer when he stood up, he reiterated - court? absolutely. his lawyer when he stood up, he reiterated mr - court? absolutely. his lawyer when l he stood up, he reiterated mr spacey strenuously denies all criminality. he said he has returned voluntarily to the court here, he arrived in the uk on monday and his lawyer outlined that he will continue to do so, will continue to appear to establish his innocence and you are right, when the crown prosecution service announced last month that they were going to authorise these charges, that charges would be brought before the court, mr spacey did release a statement at the time saying that he would defend himself on those charges and he would defend himself and was confident, he said, that he could prove his innocence. but going back to his stage and film career, the reason why you are seeing so many members of the press here, not just uk but foreign press as well is because mr spacey, aged 62, has for

decades been a very well—established and successful actor both on stage screen. you mentioned the oscars, the films he won those four, american beauty, usual suspects, backin american beauty, usual suspects, back in the 90s but more recently, he starred as president frank underwood in netflix show house of cards, another very successful tv programme. and he spent a great deal of time in britain because between 2004-2015 he of time in britain because between 2004—2015 he was the artistic director of one of the theatres here in london, the old vic. a very well—known figure. we now know his next court appearance will be on the 14th ofjuly at southwark crown court, just to reiterate that the actor has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men and a further sexual offence. .. . three men and a further sexual offence. ., ., , , three men and a further sexual offence. . . , , . ~ three men and a further sexual offence, . . ,, . ~' offence. sarah campbell, thank you. waitin: for

offence. sarah campbell, thank you. waiting for the _ offence. sarah campbell, thank you. waiting for the departure _ offence. sarah campbell, thank you. waiting for the departure of - offence. sarah campbell, thank you. waiting for the departure of kevin i waiting for the departure of kevin spacey butjust waiting for the departure of kevin spacey but just to waiting for the departure of kevin spacey butjust to confirm what you saw on screen, granted unconditional bail after appearing at westminster magistrates' court, he did not enter a plea to the four charges of sexual assault. more on that as we get it. here in the uk, there's one week to go before the people of tiverton and honiton go to the polls in a by—election that will test the boris johnson and his government. shaun ley is there for us today. good morning. looks glorious there but so many issues to dissect for the by—elections, run us through them. this the by-elections, run us through them. �* . the by-elections, run us through them. . , _ . ., , them. as ever in by-elections, in other words. _ them. as ever in by-elections, in other words, those _ them. as ever in by-elections, in other words, those that - them. as ever in by-elections, in other words, those that take - them. as ever in by-elections, in. other words, those that take place between general elections, caused by resignation or death, in this case resignation or death, in this case resignation of a sitting mp for the governing conservative party, they often attract not just a governing conservative party, they often attract notjust a lot of policies but a lot of candidates. in wakefield, the other parliamentary by—election taking place, to be held next thursday, just as tiverton and

honiton will take place, there are 15 candidates, here, there is a modest eight but you get a broader range of politicians and policy being discussed. with me now is andy foan, the reform uk candidate in tiverton and honiton. it is fairto it is fair to say you are not a politician and you have never stood before. ~ , . politician and you have never stood before. ~ , , ., ., ., before. why this time? not at all. over the last _ before. why this time? not at all. over the last few _ before. why this time? not at all. over the last few years _ before. why this time? not at all. over the last few years i - before. why this time? not at all. over the last few years i have - over the last few years i have sensed — over the last few years i have sensed dissolution with politicians and policies and i sense a lot of people — and policies and i sense a lot of people feel that way and i've heard much _ people feel that way and i've heard much too _ people feel that way and i've heard much too often the words, who will be vote _ much too often the words, who will be vote for. — much too often the words, who will be vote for, what is the point? peopte — be vote for, what is the point? peopte are _ be vote for, what is the point? people are talking about spoiling their ballot papers are not bothering to vote and that is bad so someone _ bothering to vote and that is bad so someone needs to stand up and say if you feet— someone needs to stand up and say if you feet the _ someone needs to stand up and say if you feel the same way, put a vote which _ you feel the same way, put a vote which witt— you feel the same way, put a vote which will send a message to the government and the political establishment that we have had enough. — establishment that we have had enough, we want to be respected. reform _ enough, we want to be respected. reform party, the purpose is a protest vote, but a protest vote in the sense of all the established

parties? the sense of all the established arties? . . . . the sense of all the established arties? , . , , , parties? the established parties have led the _ parties? the established parties have led the country _ parties? the established parties have led the country done - parties? the established parties have led the country done quite| have led the country done quite badly— have led the country done quite badly and — have led the country done quite badly and that shows in their policies _ badly and that shows in their policies. we have policies, they are sensibte _ policies. we have policies, they are sensible and pragmatic policies and they are _ sensible and pragmatic policies and they are policies which respect peopte. — they are policies which respect people, respect the autonomy of the people _ people, respect the autonomy of the eo - le. people, respect the autonomy of the --eole. ., ., , people. fewer regulations, fewer rules. . . people. fewer regulations, fewer rules... politicians _ people. fewer regulations, fewer rules... politicians should - people. fewer regulations, fewer rules... politicians should trust . rules... politicians should trust and respect — rules... politicians should trust and respect the _ rules... politicians should trust and respect the public, - rules... politicians should trust and respect the public, they i rules... politicians should trust| and respect the public, they ask rules... politicians should trust - and respect the public, they ask for trust but _ and respect the public, they ask for trust but we do not get trust by asking — trust but we do not get trust by asking for— trust but we do not get trust by asking for it, you get a trust by giving — asking for it, you get a trust by giving trust, you get respect by giving — giving trust, you get respect by giving respect first. the politicians at the moment do not seem _ politicians at the moment do not seem to — politicians at the moment do not seem to be respecting or trusting the public— seem to be respecting or trusting the public and that is what makes a change _ the public and that is what makes a chance. . ., ., , change. traditionally in by-elections _ change. traditionally in by-elections the - change. traditionally in| by-elections the protest change. traditionally in - by-elections the protest vote has by—elections the protest vote has focused on the liberal democrats and in labour held seats, conservative held seats, they have been the party in government for the last ten years, do you think that changes how they are perceived? in the past they have benefited from being perceived by a lot of people a place you could

protest even if you return to natural loyalties in the general election? , ., natural loyalties in the general election? , . , ., , natural loyalties in the general election? , . , ., election? the liberal democrats are rel in: on election? the liberal democrats are relying on this _ election? the liberal democrats are relying on this protest _ election? the liberal democrats are relying on this protest vote, - election? the liberal democrats are relying on this protest vote, they i relying on this protest vote, they almost _ relying on this protest vote, they almost see it as their right but if you took— almost see it as their right but if you took at— almost see it as their right but if you look at their policies, they are 'ust you look at their policies, they are just as _ you look at their policies, they are just as bad — you look at their policies, they are just as bad as the other main parties — just as bad as the other main parties so _ just as bad as the other main parties so if you want to send a message, — parties so if you want to send a message, the liberal democrats, their— message, the liberal democrats, their policies will not send the message _ their policies will not send the message that needs to be sent. the difference is — message that needs to be sent. the: difference is they could message that needs to be sent. ti9 difference is they could argue they could win, your party with respect cannot? i could win, your party with respect cannot? :. . could win, your party with respect cannot? :. , :, could win, your party with respect cannot? . , :, :, :, cannot? i always go on to win whatever _ cannot? i always go on to win whatever i — cannot? i always go on to win whatever i do _ cannot? i always go on to win whatever i do and _ cannot? i always go on to win whatever i do and every i cannot? i always go on to win whatever i do and every vote | cannot? i always go on to win - whatever i do and every vote counts, especiatty _ whatever i do and every vote counts, especially in — whatever i do and every vote counts, especially in a by—election. your especially in a by-election. your -a has especially in a by-election. your party has never _ especially in a by-election. your party has never stood _ especially in a by-election. your party has never stood here, i especially in a by—election. mt;- party has never stood here, you haven't, there is no existing base? it is a very young party and difficult _ it is a very young party and difficult to get the message across, no doubt _ difficult to get the message across, no doubt. you are probably right, it is a big _ no doubt. you are probably right, it is a big task— no doubt. you are probably right, it is a big task to get the message out there _ is a big task to get the message out there but— is a big task to get the message out there but if— is a big task to get the message out there but if people hear the message and here _ there but if people hear the message and here but we are saying i think they witt— and here but we are saying i think they will fold for us.— they will fold for us. andy, thank ou so they will fold for us. andy, thank you so much- — they will fold for us. andy, thank you so much. there _ they will fold for us. andy, thank you so much. there are - they will fold for us. andy, thank you so much. there are eight i you so much. there are eight candidates in all. and, of course, we'll be speaking

to candidates from the larger parties throughout the day. here is a full list of candidates standing in the tiverton and honiton by—election, which you can also find on the bbc website. i will be back here in around an hour and we hope to be talking to the conservative party candidate. thank you. as you've been hearing, we're expecting another rise in uk interest rates, following hot on the heels of that decision by the us central bank to raise rates. joining me now is linda yueh, oxford university economist and author. good to see you. yesterday, a big iump good to see you. yesterday, a big jump in us borrowing costs. a similar move perhaps not expected to such an extent here but nonetheless a rise in the cost of borrowing to try and keep a lid on prices, rising prices we have talked about. explain the link between them. what prices we have talked about. explain the link between them.— prices we have talked about. explain the link between them. what the bank of encland is the link between them. what the bank of england is hoping _ the link between them. what the bank of england is hoping to _ the link between them. what the bank of england is hoping to do _ the link between them. what the bank of england is hoping to do is _ the link between them. what the bank of england is hoping to do is raise i of england is hoping to do is raise interest rates for the fifth time in a row to try and give i think

assurance, to try and manage expectations of inflation is going because ultimately as the bank of england governor says, 80% of inflation comes from global factors, it's not within the control of the bank of england. but what they can manage is to say, we are trying to get inflation back to the 2% target and you can expect us to do that, then that could help people settle on where they think price rises are going to be and it probably explains why the us central bank did a massive increase yesterday, 75 basis points, 0.75% taking the right to i.75%. the points, 0.75% taking the right to i.75%. the bank of england is as beck did to raise rates by a normal quarter of a percent up to 1.25% but we would not rule out and i think some expect they may also make a bold gesture to try and manage expectations and take the right up

to 1.5% which would match were the fed is at now. to 1.596 which would match were the fed is at now— fed is at now. these things take time to filter _ fed is at now. these things take time to filter through, _ fed is at now. these things take time to filter through, to - fed is at now. these things take time to filter through, to make i fed is at now. these things take | time to filter through, to make a difference and we know inflation, prices rising so quickly but regardless of the efforts the banks make today, it is going to take time until we start to feel an impact? yes, absolutely. it takes probably about two years for an interest rate change to feed into prices because expectation is going to help company pricing is, how people look at their wages and income but the impact on the economy gdp should come in about one year and that is the big challenge for them. if they were to raise interest rates, the cost of borrowing for mortgages, companies loans, if they raise it by too much and make it too expensive for people, you can damply economic activity so they are walking the fine line between needing to manage inflation and raising the cost of borrowing too much, the economy is

already contracting and that could move us into an economic downturn or close to a recession which is what the bank of england is forecasting because as you know, gdp has already been contracting, output contracting for two months in a row so even though the first three months of the year there was a slight growth of 0.2%, the economy is actually not growing. 0.296, the economy is actually not curowin. :. 0.296, the economy is actually not curowin. . ., ~ 0.296, the economy is actually not curowin. . ., ,, i” 0.296, the economy is actually not ..rowin, ., ., ~' a, :, 0.296, the economy is actually not curowin. :. :. :, growing. linda, thank you for your thou~hts. growing. linda, thank you for your thoughts. really _ growing. linda, thank you for your thoughts. really interesting i growing. linda, thank you for your thoughts. really interesting and i growing. linda, thank you for your| thoughts. really interesting and of course we will get the interest rate decision in around an hourfrom now, round about midday in the uk. the uk health security agency has issued a level three alert for southern england for friday and saturday, where the temperature could get reach sa celsius. in europe, spain's second heatwave in less than a month is dragging on with temperatures expected to top 40 degrees celsius

in parts of the country — that's 104 fahrenheit. the mass of hot air is also pushing into france — and there are warnings of water shortages in italy. joining us now dfrom his home in east sussex richard clayson — who's built a sustainable home that keeps out the heat good morning. tell us about your home and how you're coping with high temperatures. ma; home and how you're coping with high temperatures-— home and how you're coping with high temeratures. y :, .,, _, , temperatures. my home was completed in 2015. temperatures. my home was completed in 2015- only — temperatures. my home was completed in 2015- only the _ temperatures. my home was completed in 2015. only the seventh _ temperatures. my home was completed in 2015. only the seventh of _ temperatures. my home was completed in 2015. only the seventh of its - in 2015. only the seventh of its type built this country. it is a passive house, standard, for building an existing building so the conversion, built with very well insulated walls, airtight construction, ventilation system that brings in fresh air but extracts of warm air going out of the building. the whole point being it is a comfort standard, the whole design, the whole house was designed before we build anything and it includes particularly for the summer

and assessment on overheating. and in the winter, they act as radiators, in the summer, they can cause the temperature to rise, 27 or 28 celsius. :. �* . :. cause the temperature to rise, 27 or 28 celsius-— 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask. it 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask- it works _ 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask. it works in _ 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask. it works in the _ 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask. it works in the summer i 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to ask. it works in the summer to i 28 celsius. that's what i wanted to | ask. it works in the summer to cool you down but keep you warm in the winter so it works both ways? in the winter so it works both ways? in the summer it warms _ winter so it works both ways? in the summer it warms up _ winter so it works both ways? in the summer it warms up more - winter so it works both ways? in the summer it warms up more slowly. l winter so it works both ways? in tri9: summer it warms up more slowly. and the sort of strategy with passive houses as you open the windows, most of the time we have cooler night times, sometimes it is in the 20s throughout the night but you open the windows, you switch on the ventilation system at night time to cool it down during the day and even shut the day and if necessary, put lines on the outside of the windows so the glass does not get hot. you are nicely cool throughout the day for then the whole thing to repeat itself during the night. but it is

mainly because of the insulation, that was in the walls, the roof, and the triple glazed windows that means it does not heat up so much. and the design to make sure the glazing is protected from excessive amounts of sunlight. protected from excessive amounts of sunliuht. �* , i. ., protected from excessive amounts of sunliuht. �* , ., :, sunlight. briefly, if you are not buildin: sunlight. briefly, if you are not building a _ sunlight. briefly, if you are not building a has _ sunlight. briefly, if you are not building a has from _ sunlight. briefly, if you are not building a has from scratch, i sunlight. briefly, if you are not i building a has from scratch, what top tip would you share with anyone who is trying to keep cool at home over the weekend?— who is trying to keep cool at home over the weekend? what top tip? it is possible. — over the weekend? what top tip? it is possible, there's _ over the weekend? what top tip? it is possible, there's lots _ over the weekend? what top tip? it is possible, there's lots of - over the weekend? what top tip? it is possible, there's lots of talk i is possible, there's lots of talk about retrofitting. about increasing insulation either on the inside the outside of buildings. butjust generally, i think it's more a case of trying to take it easy, do not too much. because things can get very hot. too much. because things can get ve hot. : :. too much. because things can get ve hot. : . ., very hot. richard, we are so grateful- — very hot. richard, we are so grateful- i— very hot. richard, we are so grateful. i would _ very hot. richard, we are so grateful. i would love i very hot. richard, we are so grateful. i would love to i very hot. richard, we are so| grateful. i would love to talk very hot. richard, we are so i grateful. i would love to talk some more about this but time is against us. thank you for talking us through what sounds like an amazing house. you are up—to—date with the

headlines. we will have more next. see you soon. goodbye. hello. this current hot spell of weather is going to continue for another few days across england and wales. things a little cooler for scotland and northern ireland. high pressure with this at the moment as we head through the weekend. low pressure at sweeping southwards and eastwards, bringing a thundery breakdown by the time we get a saturday. for the here and now, lots of long spells of sunshine across the bulk of england and wales, clad bubbling up for northern england, the south—west of england, there could be an isolated shower here but most places avoiding them. drizzly rain at times in scotland

and northern ireland, temperatures here 15—20 , in the south—east we are likely to see 29 degrees. very high levels of pollen for much of england and wales, moderate to high for scotland and northern ireland in places. a sneezy day, high levels of uv out there as we approach the longest day of the year. tonight, the rain becomes heavier and more persistent for parts of scotland and northern ireland, england and wales stays dry, hot, humid and sticky for sleeping into the early hours of friday. another hot and sunny day for the bulk of england and wales, train for scotland and northern ireland clearing south through the day, sunny spells in the afternoon, low cloud in the south—west of england and wales but look at the temperatures, 32 possibly 33 in some spots. taking a look at the forecast temperatures for friday, compared to what we should seek this time of year on average, between about 5—12 above average at the moment. hot

spells certainly through the day for much of england and wales on friday, on saturday we see a change as this frontal system introduces outbreaks of rain, they could be some thunderstorms as well as cooler and fresher air. still thunderstorms as well as cooler and fresherair. still quite thunderstorms as well as cooler and fresher air. still quite out in the south—east, high 20s, possibly 30 degrees but we are generally looking at the high teens further north across the uk. some sunshine returning. heading into sunday, thunderstorms and heavy showers across parts of southern england, perhaps southern wales, but further north staying dry, cooler and fresher day across the board with temperatures 14—20 . goodbye for now.

this is bbc news. i'mjoanna i'm joanna gosling. the headlines at 11. the prime minister's ethics advisor, lord geidt, resigns a day after saying there was a "legitimate question" over whether borisjohnson broke ministerial rules. the government says it is 'suprised' by the decision. all i can tell you is, my understanding was, as of this week, he had been looking at staying on for a further six months. a man confesses to killing a britishjournalist and his local guide in brazil, and leads police to where he buried the bodies. long queues of ambulances outside a&e departments in england are causing serious harm to patients, according to a health care safety watchdog. and the american actor kevin spacey has appeared in court in london, charged with sexually assaulting three men. landlords are to be prevented

from evicting tenants without giving a reason, under government plans to make the private rental market in england fairer. i'm in the devon constituency which has voted conservative for 100 years. is there a change in the air? find this hour. good morning and welcome to bbc news. events are moving swiftly this morning after the resignation yesterday of boris johnson's former adviser on the ministerial code, lord geidt. speaking within the last half hour, the government minister michael ellis confirmed that lord geidt�*s resignation letter will be published shortly. he is the second ethics adviser that the prime minister has lost in under two years.

apart from a brief statement saying lord geidt was stepping down "with regret", there has so far been no explanation for the peer�*s departure. just two days ago, lord geidt told mps it was "reasonable" to suggest borisjohnson had breached the ministerial code when he was fined over lockdown gatherings at downing street. in the past half hour, the cabinet office minister michael ellis made this statement to mps in the commons. the government is particularly disappointed, of course, that lord geidt has taken this decision, as only very recently as this has magners from the debate last week, significant changes were made to the role and status of independent adviser on ministers' interests. as i sit at the house last week, these changes represent the most substantial strengthening of the role of independent advisers since its creation. the most substantial

strengthening of its role, its office and its remit. since that post was created in 2006. the labour mp fleur anderson was allowed to ask an urgent question about lord geidt�*s resignation. clearly the new arrangements for the independent adviser are not workable and that's why he has had to resign. mr speaker, to lose one ethics adviser is really an embarrassment but to lose two in two years, just days after the prime minister's own anti—corruption tsar walked out on him, it's becoming a bit of a pattern, mr speaker. it is a pattern of degrading the principles of our democracy. the prime minister has driven out both of his hand—picked ethics advisers to resign in despair in two years, it's a badge of shame for this government. in an unprecedented move the cabinet office had failed to publish lord geidt�*s resignation letter and it has taken a certain question to get it.

we think it is being published around 15 minutes or so, so as soon as we get it, we will bring it to you. let's speak now to dr catherine haddon, a senior fellow at the institute for government. thank you forjoining us. going back to basics in a moment to talk about thejob and the to basics in a moment to talk about the job and the significance of it but first of all, and this business of the delayed publication of the letter, what do you read into that? it is a bit of a strange one. normally, these are released when it is announced that somebody is resigning. we think in this case, it was partly about that it was quite a sudden resignation, it seems to have taken downing street and the prime minister by surprise yesterday evening when it happened. so therefore, the prime minister had not yet written his response. but also, there seems to be something about the reasons why lord geidt resigned and a particular case that he was looking into which the government described as commercially sensitive. so it might be that they were being cautious about what was

revealed in that. hopefully, this isn't a matter of what lord geidt has had to say, the criticisms that he may be making about the government of the reasons why he is resigning. taste government of the reasons why he is resiuanin. ~ , :, resigning. we will hopefully not want to find _ resigning. we will hopefully not want to find out _ resigning. we will hopefully not want to find out exactly - resigning. we will hopefully not want to find out exactly what i resigning. we will hopefully not want to find out exactly what is| resigning. we will hopefully not i want to find out exactly what is in it. just remind us what the job is, what his role is. it it. just remind us what the 'ob is, what his role is.i what his role is. it is one of these 'obs that what his role is. it is one of these jobs that a _ what his role is. it is one of these jobs that a lot _ what his role is. it is one of these jobs that a lot of _ what his role is. it is one of these jobs that a lot of people - what his role is. it is one of these jobs that a lot of people wouldn't| jobs that a lot of people wouldn't have heard about, until the last year or so, when it has really come to the forefront and it was only april last year after a long hiatus before the previous person resigned, it was only april last year that lord geidt took over. it effectively is about policing the ministerial code. that is something that sets out principles of the constitution go far beyond just the rules that a minister might put in place, the conduct of his ministers. so we have seen, because of these questions

about the standards of this government and particularly the actions of the prime minister, that this role had really come into the spotlight because it is the only way that we get investigations into some of the wrongdoing that ministers are accused of, and making sure that the principles within the ministerial code are upheld. and that's why it has become such an important role in why we are at this very difficult position and the person holding the job says he can't do the job. obviously, you say a very important role, but in terms of how it interacts with the prime minister, if you have got the person in that role saying it is reasonable to suggest that boris johnson breached the ministerial code when he was fined over lockdown gatherings at downing street, what actual power does he have? it is downing street, what actual power does he have?— does he have? it is very limited. that has been _ does he have? it is very limited. that has been one _ does he have? it is very limited. that has been one of _ does he have? it is very limited. that has been one of the - does he have? it is very limited. i that has been one of the criticisms of the role that has come up in recent months, because lord geidt himself admitted on tuesday that he

wasn't able to look into these parties in number ten, you know, the standards issue that the prime minister has been scrutinised over by others over the last eight months or so, the one person who is supposed to look into ministerial standards wasn't able to do an investigation into that, unless the prime minister gave him permission, and the prime minister didn't. and that's an extraordinary situation to be in, when the watchdog who is supposed to do this job isn't able to do it. and that's why the powers of the job have really come under scrutiny, and these question marks about whether it works in its current format. 50 about whether it works in its current format.— about whether it works in its current format. so what happens auoin current format. so what happens going forward? _ current format. so what happens going forward? to _ current format. so what happens going forward? to have - current format. so what happens going forward? to have been i current format. so what happens| going forward? to have been two current format. so what happens i going forward? to have been two now in short space of time, will there be people queueing up to do it? i be people queueing up to do it? i think there will not. they will probably have a very short list of people that they can turn to and it's worth remembering, lord geidt

took some persuasion to take on the job in the first place. so it is going to be a tricky position. in orderfor thejob to work, going to be a tricky position. in order for the job to work, the person needs to have integrity, credibility, to be trusted by the public, but as lord geidt has shown, if you don't have the powers to do the job, if you don't have the powers to do thejob, then if you don't have the powers to do the job, then why would a person who is concerned about their integrity and credibility want to take it on in these circumstances? so the reality is, the job in these circumstances? so the reality is, thejob needs in these circumstances? so the reality is, the job needs to in these circumstances? so the reality is, thejob needs to be reformed, the way in which the ministerial code operates needs to be reformed but the government have refused to do so and do not show any signs of doing so in the near future. so we will continue in this difficult situation. we will have to find somebody to do the job but it could take months. whether or not that person then public trust, or whether the standards system will generally have the public trust, i sincerely doubt that will fix the problems. fin sincerely doubt that will fix the roblems. , ., _, problems. on the ministerial code itself, because _ problems. on the ministerial code itself, because some _ problems. on the ministerial code itself, because some of _ problems. on the ministerial code itself, because some of the i problems. on the ministerial code| itself, because some of the reform

that was suggested was that perhaps the prime minister would actually rewrite it so it wasn't curtains for someone once... if they discovered they had breached the ministerial code. just explain what exactly it is, how it works, because we were using all this language, which is not all familiarfor using all this language, which is not all familiar for everyone. {lit not all familiar for everyone. of course. effectively, there are various rules, principles, standards that you expect from people in power, politicians and so forth, and some of these are set out in the rule of law, which is part and parcel of the ministerial code, talks about the need to uphold it. some of it is things like parliament likes to uphold, so the big question we have been talking about, misleading parliament, that is in the ministerial code as a resignation matter. if somebody does that knowingly. but it is also part of parliament's own rules effectively, saying that ministers should not do that and parliament has its own ability to take action

on that. but the ministerial code is basically the document that sets out a lot of those rules, those principles, those expectations on ministers that exist elsewhere but they are set out in the ministerial code so that they are in one place for, in theory, the prime minister to be able to hold his own ministers to be able to hold his own ministers to account and ask for their resignation if they don't live up to those standards. in order to do that, he has an investigator who can transparently come in theory, undertake investigations, look into it and makejudgments undertake investigations, look into it and make judgments and advise the prime minister. but as i say, what we've been seeing is a tension in that where the very person being investigated is the prime minister. thank you very much. we are still waiting for the release of the letter. let mejust waiting for the release of the letter. let me just tell you, the transport secretary grant shapps has been speaking, in answering questions after giving a speech, was

asked about this issue of the letter, and in response to it, he said, there are issues of commercial sensitivity with releasing the letter in full. let me just tell you what it was last night that a government spokesman said. they said that this week, lord geidt was asked to provide advice and are commercially sensitive matter in the national interest which has previously had cross—party support. no decision had been taken pending that advice. so it was all that we had in the absence of a resignation letter by way of any sort of clue as to why there was this sudden resignation last night, this commercially sensitive matter being raised. and grant shapps has confirmed that there are issues of commercial sensitivity with releasing the geidt letter is in full. so that sounds like they might

be redacted, when we do get it, but it's not clear. we are keeping our eyes peeled for it and we will bring it to you as soon as we get it. the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey has been given unconditional bail after appearing at westminster magistrates' court, charged with five sex offences, which he denies. thejudge said he had cooperated with the authorities in new york, and that there would be no real risk he would fail to surrender. the next hearing has been set for the 14th ofjuly. our correspondent sarah campbell is outside westminster magistrates' court. tell us more about what happened. good morning. mr spacey left about ten minutes ago after the relatively brief hearing, of course it is his initial preliminary hearings of the first time he has appeared before a british court on these charges. and there are five charges, so he arrive, you will see behind me some remaining members of the press, but when he arrived herejust remaining members of the press, but

when he arrived here just before ten o'clock this morning, there was a huge amount of interest. mr spacey, a very well—known actor both on stage and screen, which explains the interest not only from uk press but from foreign press as well. he was in court one of westminster magistrates court, he spoke really only to confirm his name, which was given in court as kevin spacey fowler, and to give a london based addressed all of his permanent addressed all of his permanent address is in the united states. then the five charges which are being put to him were read out to him. these are four counts of sexual assault on three separate men and a further sexual offence. he was at the end of the hearing given unconditional bail, this was after his lawyer had said that mr spacey strenuously denied all the allegations, and the magistrate was minded to give him unconditional

bail. he will return to court on the 14th ofjuly, but will be to southwark crown court. thank you, sarah. another rise in interest rates is expected at lunchtime. the cost of borrowing is likely to rise from 1% to 1.25%, the highest since january 2009. the rise is seen as a tool to deal with the rising cost of living. it comes after the us central bank announced its biggest interest rate rise in nearly 30 years. we can now talk to to our economics correspodent, andy verity. is there pretty much no doubt that the rate will go up?— the rate will go up? well, it would be very surprising _ the rate will go up? well, it would be very surprising if _ the rate will go up? well, it would be very surprising if it _ the rate will go up? well, it would be very surprising if it doesn't. i the rate will go up? well, it would be very surprising if it doesn't. we can never quite tell. they are capable of surprises at the bank of england. but right now, preparation is going on to announce the fifth consecutive interest rate rise we have had to stop its a long time since that happened in succession of

meetings, they have been raising rates in fact right now already, ten times what they were when they were 0.1% just after the times what they were when they were 0.1%just after the pandemic, the bank of england slashed them in order to trice and support the economy. at the thinking here is that inflation is at its highest in 40 years and even of the causes of that inflation are global causes which can't be much affected by rises in interest rates, the concern is that domestically, the expectations are that inflation will stay high and that could increase pressure on wages and that could in turn increase pressure on prices. so the bank of england wants to head that off. they came down in 2009 in response to an emergency. they only stayed down as an emergency but there has been such a need throughout the last ten years to support the economy that the bank of england's interest

rate setters on the monetary policy committee haven't been able to raise them significantly but have now been forced to because other central banks by the us central banks are being quite aggressive, raising interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point. if they are to follow that example, they will raise them by perhaps half a percentage point and that would be the first time that's happened since february 1995. :, time that's happened since february 1995. ., ., , , time that's happened since february 1995. ., ., _ , ., y 1995. the idea obviously is to try to control inflation _ 1995. the idea obviously is to try to control inflation by _ 1995. the idea obviously is to try to control inflation by reducing i to control inflation by reducing demand, stopping people spending as much as they are spending. the other aspect of that is, at a time with little economic growth, does it perhaps because more recessionary problems? perhaps because more recessionary roblems? . perhaps because more recessionary roblems? , ., . problems? there is a concern. normally _ problems? there is a concern. normally we — problems? there is a concern. normally we talk _ problems? there is a concern. normally we talk about - problems? there is a concern. | normally we talk about cutting interest rates when the bank of england wants to support the economy because it is in trouble. if there is a recessionary pandemic on. we talk about raising rates when the economy is overheating, in order to

tame inflation. right now, and away we have built this situation at once. you wouldn't quite call it a recession but the economy has been shrinking, the last figures show the economy shrank in april by 0.3%. it's very unusualfor the it's very unusual for the policymakers here to have this dilemma that if they raise interest rates too fast, they could make that shrinkage in the economy worse. on the other hand, they leave them on the other hand, they leave them on the floor and inflation keeps running away, they will get the blame for it. running away, they will get the blame for it— running away, they will get the blame for it. :. ~ : , ~ blame for it. thank you, andy. we will be there _ blame for it. thank you, andy. we will be there at _ blame for it. thank you, andy. we will be there at midday _ blame for it. thank you, andy. we will be there at midday when i blame for it. thank you, andy. we will be there at midday when the l will be there at midday when the announcement happens. delays unloading ambulances at busy hospitals are causing serious harm to patients, according to a warning by the health care safety watchdog. 94—year—old kenneth shadbolt waited more than five hours for an ambulance after a bad fall — an accident that proved fatal. our health correspondent jim reed has this story. his only spell out of the country was national service after the war. always lived in that village, which had been camden, all his life. he was very well known. he was very much

a character of that town. gerry shadbolt has been trying to piece together what happened on the night his father died. he was looking for the ambulance that never came. kenneth was in good shape for a 94—year—old. a retired carpenter, he lived alone in the cotswolds. on that night, though, the health service was under pressure. the bbc applied to see documents from an inquest into his death. they show that at 2:53 am, ken got out of bed and fell. he collapsed on the floor and called 999 twice from his mobile. transcripts of the calls are spoken by actors. ken was recorded as an urgent category 2 case, meaning an ambulance should have arrived in 18 minutes on average. he's clearly trusting the ambulance service, but it's clear on the second call

that his condition is worsening, and he's getting anxious because he's not getting any assurances about an ambulance. ken waited for an hour on the floor before calling a third time. the details are distressing. it took another four hours for an ambulance to arrive. by then, ken was unconscious. he was taken to gloucestershire royal hospital, where he died that afternoon from a bleed to the brain. he was on his own, and he knew he was on his own. and he must have felt abandoned, you know, alone on his bedroom floor. that's the most troubling part of it for me. we can't be sure if a faster response time would have saved ken's life. but a five hour wait for an ambulance is certainly far

higher than the target for a call like this. and it's certainly not an isolated incident. across the country, waiting times for ambulances are far higher than they should be. that's down to rising demand, and because busy hospitals are finding it hard to discharge patients into social care. in gloucester this week, these ambulances were having to queue outside before they could unload their patients, rather than getting back on the road quickly. the health care safety watchdog has now launched an investigation into what's a national problem. so harm is happening on a daily basis, and that harm is everything from the patients deteriorating and ambulances waiting to go into emergency departments, patients acquiring hospital acquired infections because they're staying in hospital longer than they may necessarily need to. so we are seeing harm happening. university hospital- in the north midlands. you can see now, 23 ambulances. paramedics, meanwhile, say long waits outside hospital are making it far more difficult

to do the job they trained to do. it's very draining to continually go out to patients in the community, who are really cross and really frustrated with the paramedic crew and with the technicians, with the call handlers. and that really takes its toll. it has a real high moral injury for our membership. ken's family say they've lost faith in the ambulance service to be there when they need it. how many other people, right now, are being made to wait four or five hours for an ambulance, and it's having a detrimental effect on their prospects to survive, you know? southwestern ambulance service describes long delays as an unacceptable risk to patients, and says it's working to get crews back out on the road as quickly as possible. gloucester hospital says that health care nationally is under intense pressure, but staff are working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for. jim reed, bbc news.

in response, the department of health says: "the nhs has allocated £150 million of additional funding to address pressures on ambulance services, with the number of ambulance and support staff increasing by almost 110% since february 2010." the number of people in england waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a new record high. according to the nhs, a total of 6.5 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of april. this is up from 6.11 million in march and is the highest number since records began in august 2007. joining me now, our health editor hugh pym that picture in the report tells an extraordinary story, doesn't it? all those ambulances just waiting outside, unable to and help anybody else. it outside, unable to and help anybody else. :, , ., ,, , , else. it does, and i think this is the issue. _ else. it does, and i think this is the issue, that _ else. it does, and i think this is the issue, that ambulance i else. it does, and i think this is | the issue, that ambulance crews else. it does, and i think this is - the issue, that ambulance crews are desperate to do what they have to do, to get to patients in need, but

actually they are stuck outside hospitals with patients who just need to be handed over safely to hospital staff. need to be handed over safely to hospitalstaff. because need to be handed over safely to hospital staff. because of the crowded nature of end eh, the huge pressure hospital suffer under, they can't do that so they are stuck. a really harrowing story thatjim told eyre about this long wait for an ambulance which resulted in a tragic loss of life. the health care safety regulator says that there are serious —— mothers serious harm being caused. the latest figures we have got for england for category two causes as they are known, heart attacks and strokes, high serious cases, should be reached in 18 minutes by ambulance staff but actually, the average now is around 40 actually, the average now is around a0 minutes. slightly better than before, but still a long wait, and really, really difficult situation. i mentioned otherfigures on waiting

times for other things, tells a bit more about all these stats that have come out. , , ., ,, ., come out. this is from nhs england, the monthly — come out. this is from nhs england, the monthly release _ come out. this is from nhs england, the monthly release of _ come out. this is from nhs england, the monthly release of statistics - the monthly release of statistics and it paints this picture of a whole system under pressure. those ambulance crews are just one part of it. in a&e, that for our benchmark of people being treated or assessed within four hours, there was a target of above 90%, but that was long left behind, the figure was 73% in the latest month, for may. so pressure there in a&e units, hospital beds are very fully occupied at the moment, and there is difficulty finding beds so patients get stuck in a&e and the net result of that for all those waiting for routine operations, hip replacements, knee replacements, cataracts and song, is a longer and longer waiting list. that is now is hit 6.5 million routine surgery in england in april. the two year long

waits, totally unacceptable that anyone should wait that long for a routine operation in england, that has come down a bit. there is not a target to reduce that to zero by july and some progress has been made. —— but there is now a target. but overall, the picture of a health service and intense pressure. we had yesterday from the head of nhs england that this is as pressurised and difficult as some of the most winter months before the pandemic. i winter months before the pandemic. i mentioned the government said £150 million has been made available to expand ambulance services, and of course across the nhs there is going to be more money, the national insurance has gone up to mean that there is more money for the nhs, but that's not going to change anything quickly, is it? it that's not going to change anything quickly. is it?— quickly, is it? it takes time to feed through _ quickly, is it? it takes time to feed through and _ quickly, is it? it takes time to feed through and of— quickly, is it? it takes time to feed through and of course, l quickly, is it? it takes time to - feed through and of course, social care is another part of this and if social care isn't getting enough funding, some would argue, yes, the government plan for england includes some of the tax revenue going to

social care but not for a couple of years. if there are problems in social care, it's harder to hospitals —— and harderfor hospitals —— and harderfor hospitals to discharge their patient�*s safely so they are stuck in hospital and that is causing the logjam that we have been describing. the workforce is another issue, it is accepted that there are shortages in some areas, vacancies are as high, again we are expecting our first plan for the government and nhs england but once you have a plan, you then need to recruit and train and that's five years or more. thank you. there's one week to go before the people of tiverton and honiton and separately wakefield go to the polls in two by—elections that will test the popularity of the prime minister and his government. we were in wakefield yesterday — shaun ley is in devon for us today. good morning. welcome to... they did call it glory is given for a reason,

never more glorious than this lovely summer's day but not much time for the politicians and their supporters to enjoy the sunshine, because —— not because there is an intense amount of political activity. 0n amount of political activity. on paper you might be surprised why. tiverton and honiton is usually seen as a sleepy opportunity during a general election, a seat were generally the conservatives have been able to market as a hold pretty much as the campaign began. this is a by—election, so notoriously unpredictable. what is making the conservatives nervous is that even though the retiring mp won 35,000 votes at the last general election, with labour in second on 11,000, so he had 60% share of the vote, last year the conservatives lost two seats that they would also have thought of as safe constituencies, one of them with a 62% share of the vote of the previous general election so in other words the swing away from the governing party during this by—election could be significant and serious. my

colleague helen catt has been examining what the issues are and why the lib dems in particular are feeling increasingly confident. the bennett family have been running a dairy farm in huntington for 50 years. agriculture mainly livestock farm, is a major industry in this very rural constituency. we farm, is a major industry in this very rural constituency.- farm, is a major industry in this very rural constituency. we are a minority business _ very rural constituency. we are a minority business but _ very rural constituency. we are a minority business but we - very rural constituency. we are a minority business but we are - very rural constituency. we are a - minority business but we are coming into very important business for the country. they produce feed four people. it would be nice for our farmers to be heard. like other industries, they're being hit by rising costs. but they say there's also too much legislation around farming, which should be cut. see, if you've got all these barriers and restrictions holding you back, as a business, you're not actually going to be able to move forward, as we have done in previous years, sort of thing. and do you know which way

you're going to vote? i'm going to vote for lib dem. i think we've been a conservative constituency for a long time. in the young farming community there's a lot of us who feel like the government hasn't gone far enough. i'm between conservative and lib dem. my thoughts are, i'm looking for an mp who's going to look at farming on a more food security, and not so much on the environment. . i'd rather have the conservative . party, even though they've received a lot of bad press in the last two or three years _ we've probably gone through some of the worst times we've ever beenj through with covid etc, - and i think borisjohnson's done a damn good job, really. just the same. and yeah, swings and roundabouts whether i'll even vote. but if i do, it would probably go conservative. so a lot to chew over there. and that's interesting in itself, because this is a seat that has been

conservative since its creation in 1997, and most of it has been tory for decades before that. last time, neil parish, the former mp, won by 2a,000 votes over his nearest rival. under the normal rules of politics, this isn't a by election that would usually even raise an eyebrow. but the lib dems are pushing hard here, despite coming third behind labour in 2019. in the constituency�*s other main town of tiverton, opinion is also divided. so if liberal democrats win it, then boris is in trouble. hopefully, all us tories will come out and vote and keep it a tory area. i have always voted conservative and i've liked a lot of what they've delivered in the past. but at the moment, i'm so appalled by the government at the moment. so that's probably why i'm looking more locally than government. so who i vote for, i don't know. but it won't be boris.

to be honest, i'm a labour supporter, but it's not very labour sort of country here. so i think tactically i'll be voting lib dem. the leadership's a mess _ at the moment and something needs to be done to change it. yeah, i'm slightly disillusioned with the way that things are being done at the moment, and choices are being made that i don't really feel comfortable with, and i think a change might be necessary. what people here decide next week could have consequences which stretch to the rest of the country. a big moment for a part of devon that perhaps never expected to find itself in the political limelight. heaven cat reporting there. we are ljy heaven cat reporting there. we are by the river exe so joining me from the university of exeter is hannah bunting. thank you for talking to us

today about this fascinating by—election. one thing that makes it more unpredictable than it has been in the last century that the conservatives have held this seat is how much the population has been changing in the last few years. a constituencies are drawn than by size, so we have a large area here in tiverton and honiton geographically, so we have pockets of populations who are maybe lower on the socioeconomic scale but then you go outside and the houses get thicker will get wealthier we you go outside and the houses get thicker will get wealthie- you go outside and the houses get thicker will get wealthier we have a 5000-house _ thicker will get wealthier we have a 5000-house estate _ thicker will get wealthier we have a 5000-house estate being - thicker will get wealthier we have a 5000-house estate being built - thicker will get wealthier we have a 5000-house estate being built by| 5000—house estate being built by d—link road that connects to the motorway and then via exeter to bristol and then on to london. with that number of people coming into the area, some have already... that makes the task for the politicians that much harder.— that much harder. were used to havin: that much harder. were used to having an _ that much harder. were used to having an ageing _ that much harder. were used to

having an ageing population - that much harder. were used to l having an ageing population here, people tend to stay here, if you compare this to other areas, people tend to be older, and then have declining health because of that. so once you have this new influx of younger people who might work in a city such as bristol or even london, thatis city such as bristol or even london, that is going to change the demographics and therefore change what parties can rely on.— what parties can rely on. labour took second _ what parties can rely on. labour took second place _ what parties can rely on. labour took second place at _ what parties can rely on. labour took second place at the - what parties can rely on. labour| took second place at the general election quite a long way behind the conservatives, i didn't look a winnable seat then but the lib dems think it could be winnable this time? , ., , ., think it could be winnable this time? , ., , time? they do. if you combine the labour time? they do. if you combine the labour and — time? they do. if you combine the labour and liberal _ time? they do. if you combine the labour and liberal democrat - time? they do. if you combine the labour and liberal democrat vote | labour and liberal democrat vote last time, to get at the get quite close to the conservative majority and it seems labour aren't particularly campaigning here, they are concentrating on wakefield, which is a rational choice for them, it but the lib dems are prominent here and there are internal polling seems to think it will be quite

close. , �* ., close. even if they didn't win, how much of a — close. even if they didn't win, how much of a scare _ close. even if they didn't win, how much of a scare would _ close. even if they didn't win, how much of a scare would it _ close. even if they didn't win, how much of a scare would it be - close. even if they didn't win, how much of a scare would it be for. close. even if they didn't win, how| much of a scare would it be for the conservatives? it much of a scare would it be for the conservatives?— conservatives? it would be really remarkable _ conservatives? it would be really remarkable if _ conservatives? it would be really remarkable if the _ conservatives? it would be really remarkable if the conservatives i conservatives? it would be really i remarkable if the conservatives lost this seat. throughout the boundary changes, whatever make up this constituency area has been, they have held it since 1923, so that would be remarkable and unlikely but it is about to close it will get, that will be the story. if it's close here, there are a lot of constituencies in this area for a general election and it other areas, if they lose that vote share here, once established met elsewhere in the general election, the government are in trouble. the the general election, the government are in trouble-— are in trouble. the conservatives want people _ are in trouble. the conservatives want people to — are in trouble. the conservatives want people to think— are in trouble. the conservatives want people to think of- are in trouble. the conservatives want people to think of this - are in trouble. the conservatives want people to think of this as i are in trouble. the conservatives want people to think of this as a | want people to think of this as a government that is quite new, only 2.5 years old, but they can have beenin 2.5 years old, but they can have been in power continuously since 2010 and presumably it gets harder to make the case why people should keep on voting for you because there

are more 20 people, this is the nature of politics.— are more 20 people, this is the nature of politics. another brexit is less of a _ nature of politics. another brexit is less of a salient _ nature of politics. another brexit is less of a salient issue - nature of politics. another brexit is less of a salient issue and - nature of politics. another brexit| is less of a salient issue and most people feel like it's done and people feel like it's done and people are feeling the cost of living crisis, the strain on the nhs and all those kinds of things, it's going to be difficult for the conservatives.— going to be difficult for the conservatives. ., ~ , ., conservatives. thank you. in the course of — conservatives. thank you. in the course of the — conservatives. thank you. in the course of the rest _ conservatives. thank you. in the course of the rest of _ conservatives. thank you. in the course of the rest of today - conservatives. thank you. in the course of the rest of today in - course of the rest of today in tiverton, we will talk to a number of candidates and also to one of our local democracy reporters in the region about the impact this is having and also some of the issues, in particular the fate of tiverton school, which is one of the big issues affecting people right now are looking for a new home, built on are looking for a new home, built on a flood plain, so those problems will get worse as climate change has a greater impact in coming years, and also is at full capacity when there are 5000 new homes are being built in the area. let me remind you that a full list of candidates is

available on the bbc website, we will have more from tiverton in the next hour. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. good morning. the first groups tee off at brookline in the next 15 minutes at the us open. john rahm is the defending champion, rory mcilroy is the favourite after his win at the canadian open last weekend, but also in the field are those rebel golfers who have signed up to the multi—million—dollar breakaway liv series. they've been suspended by the pga but are free to compete in boston. patrick gearey reports. brookline in the sunshine, but this is a tournament shrouded in shadow. it takes place at a time of revolution. the likes of phil mickelson and dustinjohnson arrive in boston fresh from hertfordshire and the first event of the breakaway liv tour, backed by saudi cash. mickelson in particular has been front and centre for the rebels and now he will play alongside those

who stayed behind. i've been disappointed with how he went about what he has done. but i think he has come back and shown some remorse about how he has handled some things, so i think he has learned from that and who am i to sit up here and give phil a lesson on how to do things? of course, the clue is in the name. the us open is open to all entrants who qualify, but some other big tournaments might not be. at the heart of this is big money and big questions. i want to play against the best in the world in a format that's been going on for hundreds of years. yeah, money is great, but when this first happened, would my life change if i got a00 million? no. others want to block it out and focus on the greens and fairways ahead, to make talk of a new tour out of bounds. i'm trying to focus on the us open. i legitimately don't get it. i'm tired of the conversations

and tired of there being a black cloud on the us open. i think that sucks. the scenes are rather silly. brookline is a place of strong emotions. in 1999, perhaps the most boisterous and rancorous of all ryder cups was played here. 23 years on, this week, you will struggle to find much peace next season's premier league fixtures have been published this morning. it's an earlier start to the season because of the winter world cup, in qatar. it gets going on a friday night, with palace taking on arsenal on the 5th of august. champions manchester city are away at west ham on the opening weekend, as they go for a fifth premier league title in six seasons. none of the so—called big six clubs will play each other on the weekend of november 12th/13th, that's at the request of the fa to protect the core of the england squad before heading to qatar on the 15th. elsewhere, liverpool

travel to fulham. elsewhere, liverpool it's the fourth season in a row thatjurgen klopp's side open the season against the championship winners. newly promoted bournemouth start at home to aston villa, and nottingham forest's first premier league match this century will be away at newcastle united. an independant report into allegations of abuse at all levels of british gymnastics is going to be published this afternoon. it's been two years in the making and contains testimony from hundreds of gymnasts, from the elite level down to grassroots. a former gymnast and founder of the organisation gymnasts for change says she hopes that today is a turning point for the sport. todayis today is an unprecedented opportunity to address the historic wrongs that have gone on in gymnastics and to reform the sport that we love for the better. we hope that we love for the better. we hope that today is going to bring about various recommendations that will be

acted on by uk sport, sport england and british gymnastics to improve training conditions and competition conditions for gymnasts in the future. britain's katie boulter is having an excellent week at the birmingham classic. she had the biggest win of her career earlier this week, knocking out second seed alison riske, and yesterday, the world number 1a1 saw off caroline garcia, of france, in another straight—sets victory. she has a really tough quarterfinal opponent later today, though, the former world number one simona halep. that's after the romanian beat britain's harriet dart in straight sets. that's all the sport for now. we've gut lord geidt�*s resignation letter, so let me read that to you. dear prime minister, i appeared before the public administration and constitutional affairs committee in parliament yesterday. it was glad

for the opportunity to give an account of the recent changes to the ministerial code to the terms of reference to the independent adviser and the support for the office of independent adviser. i was asked at length about my recent annual reports. i alluded to my frustration, is made clear in my preface, that you've not made any public reference to your own conduct under the ministerial code in a period since inquiries were under way. this would be especially important in the event that the metropolitan police found against you, which they did, and saw that sue gray's port included criticism of behaviour within the scope of the ministerial code, which it did. your letter in response to my and eurosport was welcome, and to address the absence of comment by you under the obligation under that ministerial code up to that point. explained that by paying a fixed time penalty, you had not breached the ministerial code. the letter did not, however, address specifically the criticism in sue gray's report

about your adherence to principles of leadership, in particular. neither did the letter make a mention that, despite being repeatedly questioned in the house of commons about your obligations under the ministerial code, after paying a fixed penalty notice, your responses again made no reference to it. i reported to the select committee yesterday that i was satisfied that you had responded to my annual report to explain your position. and disappointed, however, that your account was not fuller, as noted above, and moreover i regret the reference to miscommunication between our offices with the application that i was somehow responsible for you not been fully aware of my concerns. these inconsistencies and deficiencies notwithstanding, i believed it was possible to continue credibly as independent adviser, albeit by a very small margin. this week, however, i was tasked to offer a view about the government's

intention to pursue measures which rest a deliberate and purposeful breach of the ministerial code. this request is placed me in an impossible and odious position. my informal response on monday was that you and any other minister should justify openly your position vis—a—vis the code in such circumstances. however, the idea that a prime minister might, to any degree, be in the business of deliberately breaching his own code is an affront, a deliberate breach or even an intention to do so, would be to suspend the provisions of the code to suit a political end. this would make a mockery not only of respect for the code but at length on the suspension of its provisions in governing the conduct of her majesty's ministers. i can have no part in this. because of my obligation as a witness in parliament, this is the first opportunity i have had to act on the government's intentions. i therefore resign from this appointment with immediate effect. so, that is the

letter that initially number 10 wasn't going to publish following this are resignation of lord geidt yesterday. it was reference to the issue that had caused concern and we thought perhaps the letter would be redacted as a result of that but it hasn't been redacted and there is a powerful letter of condemnation of what lord date had seen in terms of the approach to the ministerial code in number 10, the approach to the ministerial code in number10, and he has the approach to the ministerial code in number 10, and he has said that he was concerned that what was being done would make a mockery not only of respect for the code but with line since the suspension of its provisions in governing the conduct of her majesty's ministers and he said he could have no part in that. we have not had borisjohnson's apply published yet, not sure if and when we will get that, but did say

that the letter that lord geidt had been sent would be published. and as he set in the letter, it had been speculated for some time that he was on the brink of resigning because of what had happened once a boris johnson was sent off over the parties at downing street and whether that was a breach of the ministerial code. lord geidt said it was reasonable to suggest that boris johnson breached the ministerial code when he was thanked leonardo over the downing street parties. borisjohnson said he did not breach the ministerial code, there was no breach of science, and in reference to that, lord geidt has said that, despite his concerns, he had believed it was possible to continue credibly as independent adviser, albeit by a very small margin, but it is this latest concern that he had around what was being done with the ministerial code that led him to

resign. circuit is borisjohnson's letter, let me read this one to you. i was sorry to receive your letter of resignation yesterday. i want to thank you for your service. when we spoke on monday, you said you were content to remain until the end of the year, so your letter came as a surprise. you say you were put in an impossible mission in regards to mean seeking your advice and potential future decisions relating to the trade remedies authority. my intention was to seek your advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry which is protected in other european countries and would suffer material harm if we do not continue to apply such tariffs. this has in the past had cross—party support. it would be in line with domestic law but might be seen to conflict with our obligations in the world trade organization. in seeking your advice before any decision was taken, i was looking to make sure we rented properly in regard to the material code. you carried out your duties admirably in difficult

circumstances, we discussed the burdens placed upon you by this increasingly public role and the pressures that would be felt by anyone in your position. behalf of the government, i would like to renew my thanks for all your work. so, that now is the exchange that was and the tone of that letter at odds with the tone of lord geidt�*s letter, when he described what he saw as an intention by the government to risk a deliberate and purposeful breach of the ministerial code. he makes clear his anger at that. he says, he said in his letter, the request of put in an impossible and odious position. so, where this leaves the situation is that obviously, as we knew yesterday, the government has lost its ethics adviser and it's the second ethics adviser that has gone

under the prime minister in less than two years. i was speaking earlier to an expert on these matters, saying that she's not sure there will be people queueing up for there will be people queueing up for thejob after this. there there will be people queueing up for the job after this. there are questions around how the ministerial code works. we will get more reaction to that but we have now had that letter we were waiting for, which is the resignation letter of lord geidt, we will see if any more reaction come in. no more reaction just yet to bring you but those key documents, the resignation letter of lord geidt and the response from the prime minister, and will bring you more on that as we get it. members of the rmt union working for network rail are due to take action next tuesday, thursday and saturday, with major disruption to transport networks across the uk expected the entire week. earlier today, the transport secretary grant shapps said that the strike "couldn't have been done in a more damaging way".

the railway, just beginning to recover from the pandemic, the railway, just beginning to recoverfrom the pandemic, and we're on the verge of a national strike. three strikes and not only a bid to derail reforms that are critical to the network's future and assigned to inflict damage at the worst possible time, but they are also an incredible act of self—harm by the union leadership. make no mistake, unlike the past 25 years, when rising passenger demand year after year was taken for granted by the industry, today, the railway is in a fight. it's not only competing against other forms of public and private transport, it's any battle with zoom and team spurn and remote working. in case the unions haven't noticed, the world has changed. many commuters who years ago had no alternative but to take the train today have the option of not

travelling at all. wave them goodbye and we will endanger the jobs of thousands of rail workers, the last thing the union should be doing right now. it's alienating its passengers and the very customers with long and damaging strikes. unions claim these strikes are about a pay freeze. this is wrong. we're not imposing a pay freeze now covid is in the past. so, i say to be workforce, your union bosses have driven you to the verge of a national strike under false pretenses. in rather than protect yourjobs, they are actually threatening yourjobs. the german, french, italian and romanian leaders are in kyiv for talks with president zelensky. here you can see emmanuel macron and olaf scholz being taken through the heavily bombarded suburb of irpin. kyiv has previously criticised

france and germany for alleged foot—dragging in their support for ukraine, accusing them of being slow to deliver weapons and putting their own prosperity ahead of ukraine's freedom and security. president biden has announced an extra $1 billion in military support for ukraine, the largest single military aid package since russia invaded. the us defence secretary said at a nato meeting on wednesday that he will move heaven and earth to ensure ukraine gets the weapons it needs. nato defence ministers are reconvening in brussels for the final day of their summit. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. this is the kind of military aid that ukraine says it desperately needs. a $1 billion package that includes longer—range rocket and missile systems. the goal — to help target russian troops and locations from farther away and bolster ukraine's embattled defence forces in the eastern donbas region. it's a pivotal moment

in the war, according to the us defense secretary lloyd austin, who's been speaking to a meeting of nato defense ministers in brussels. we're going to continue to work hard to move as much capability as we can, as fast as we can, and to ensure that ukraine can be successful on the battlefield. he said russia had shifted its focus to the donbas but the challenge facing ukraine could not be underestimated. the stakes, he said, were high and the western alliance could not afford to let up. translation: the united states announced the strengthening - of our defences, an extra $1 billion support package. it is coastal defence, artillery and modern rocket systems. we are waiting. i'm extremely grateful for the support, which is especially important for our defence forces in the donbas. the war is at a critical stage in eastern ukraine, but the latest us assessment of russia's advances suggests moscow's forces are facing a raft of problems.

the advances that the russians have made have been very slow, a very tough slog, a very severe battle of attrition, almost world war i like. and the russians have suffered tremendous amounts of casualties. the white house has also announced an additional $225 million in humanitarian aid for ukraine, including supplying safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and food. the us says it's also trying to resolve some of the wider problems caused by the war. i think we're working real hard, not just with the leadership in ukraine, but in the region, to try to relieve the pressure that has resulted from mr putin literally weaponising food. and so, the president's looking at a range of options here to try to see if we can get grain out and into the market, and that's a tricky business. a tricky business all around. the us has now committed more

than $6 billion in security assistance to ukraine since the beginning of the biden administration. but this is a country facing its own financial crisis. news of a higher than expected hike in interest rates and talk of a possible recession are a greater concern for some than a potentially protracted war in europe. a political tightrope forjoe biden to navigate... thank you. ..in the months ahead. police in brazil say they've found what are thought to be the bodies of a missing britishjournalist and his local guide, after one of two men arrested in connection with their disappearance confessed to killing them. dom phillips and bruno pereira were last seen in a remote part of the amazon earlier this month. in the past half hour, the family of dom phillips have said they are heartbroken. our south america correspondent katy watson reports from manaus. it was a hastily organised press conference. a panel of military men delivering the awful news after ten days of searching.

translation: the first suspect voluntarily confessed _ at the end of last night. he made the criminal confession, outlining in detail the crime he committed, and indicated the area where he buried the bodies. early on wednesday morning, he was taken on a boat to help the search teams find the bodies. it was three kilometres from the riverbank in this thick forest that human remains were found. these photos showing the difficult terrain the search teams faced, needing the help of helicopters, sniffer dogs and divers to get to the site. these are the two men as their friends and family want to remember them. dom phillips, an experienced and passionatejournalist, writing a book on saving the amazon. his travelling companion, bruno pereira, was an indigenous expert. he knew this community so well and was loved by so many.

the indigenous communities were the first to raise the alarm on the day they disappeared. and they didn't give up, accompanying the authorities, and even leading them to clues. but in the press conference, they weren't mentioned. i asked the man heading the investigation why. the indigenous helped a lot in trying to find the belongings of the two men, but nothing has been mentioned of the help that they gave the forces. translation: actually, it was| a mistake not to mention them. the work was carried out with the help of river communities and indigenous peoples. a lot of them accompanied us on the boats and in the planes, and so that was fundamental. this crime has horrified people here in brazil and globally. it's brought into sharp focus the dangers faced by those wanting to save the forest. the criminal activity that takes place in this vast, beautiful, yet threatened amazon. dom's wife said this tragic outcome brings an end to the anguish of not

knowing dom and bruno's whereabouts. this brings the search to an end and closure for the families, who pushed so hard in trying to find the men. but of course, it also reveals the brutal criminality in the amazon, and the lack of ability by the state to control it. the families now say they will fight for justice. before the weather, a reminder of the breaking news on the publication of the resignation letter of lord geidt in his role as advisor on the ministerial code and it is quite an excoriating letter in terms of his decision. he accuses the prime minister of putting in an impossible and odious position which would have risked a breach of the ministerial code. the question he was being

asked to consider by the prime minister was an issue relating to the trade remedies authority, which investigates whether new trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to uk industry is caused by unfair trading practices. we don't know the nature of the conversation but lord geidt says he was put in an odious position. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. hello. another hot and humid day ahead. for much of england and wales today, it's likely to be the hottest day of the year so far. just as yesterday was. scotland, northern ireland a little bit cloudier and cooler, a few splashes of light rain moving their way eastwards through the day. but towards the south in that sunshine, temperatures 28, possibly 29 degrees for the likes of london and the south east, typically around 22 to 25 for england and wales. but the mid to high teens further north. and we've got very high levels of pollen today, particularly again across england and wales, very high levels of uv too. overnight, the rain will be more persistent at times for northern ireland

and for scotland. still dry, hotand humid, quite uncomfortable for sleeping further south across england and wales, with temperatures sitting in the mid teens. through tomorrow, another hot day, the peak of the heat likely down towards the south east, we could see temperatures of 33 degrees. things turning cooler, fresher and breezy from the northwest through the day with temperatures here around 16 to 20 degrees. bye— bye.

we are expecting to hear at any moment from the bank of england on its decision on interest rates. currently at 1% but expected that the rate will increase by a quarter of 1% at midday when the bank of england's decision is announced. let's go to andy verity. any news yet? let's go to andy verity. any news et? ~ ., . let's go to andy verity. any news et? . . , . ., let's go to andy verity. any news et? . . , ., ., ., yet? we are 'ust waiting to hear the news. either— yet? we are just waiting to hear the news. either expected _ yet? we are just waiting to hear the news. either expected to _ yet? we are just waiting to hear the news. either expected to be - yet? we are just waiting to hear the news. either expected to be a - yet? we are just waiting to hear the news. either expected to be a rise l news. either expected to be a rise of a quarter or a half percentage point about the news hasn't quite broken to us yet. we should have it any second. 50. broken to us yet. we should have it any second-— broken to us yet. we should have it any second-_ it - broken to us yet. we should have it| any second._ it has any second. so, as you say... it has one u- any second. so, as you say... it has gone up by — any second. so, as you say... it has gone up by a _ any second. so, as you say... it has gone up by a quarter— any second. so, as you say... it has gone up by a quarter of— any second. so, as you say... it has gone up by a quarter of a _ any second. so, as you say... it has| gone up by a quarter of a percentage point, the 1.25%. 50

gone up by a quarter of a percentage point, the 1.25%.— point, the 1.25%. so that had been exected? point, the 1.25%. so that had been expected? it _ point, the 1.25%. so that had been expected? it was _ point, the 1.25%. so that had been expected? it was widely _ point, the 1.25%. so that had been expected? it was widely expected | expected? it was widely expected the would expected? it was widely expected they would raise _ expected? it was widely expected they would raise rates _ expected? it was widely expected they would raise rates by - expected? it was widely expected they would raise rates by a - expected? it was widely expected | they would raise rates by a quarter or half a percentage point, but after the us central bank of the us central reserve, hiked rates by three quarters of a percentage point last night, there was speculation that the bank of england would want to follow the lead and make a bigger rise than they have done so far. what you have now is the fifth consecutive rise in interest rates that we have had. they started raising them in december and now they are about 1.25%, the highest since 2009, but that's because rights have been so low for so long. the reason being that the bank of england had been trying to support the economy through a decade of weak growth and stagnant living standards, they hadn't felt able to raise rates to their normal level so they have stayed at those emergency loans but it's interesting they held back from doing half a percentage point this time, which was what a lot of people were expecting the

stop is probably concerned about economic growth. let stop is probably concerned about economic growth.— stop is probably concerned about economic growth. let me 'ust come on, we are economic growth. let me 'ust come we getting _ economic growth. let me 'ust come on, we are getting a _ economic growth. let me 'ust come on, we are getting a little]— economic growth. let me just come on, we are getting a little bit - on, we are getting a little bit about the thinking behind this, and as you say, widely expected the bank of england will put out its notes, and we're just the first comments saying that the bank has said it was ready to act forcefully to stamp out the dangers posed by an inflation rate heading above 11%. so that translates to that increase of 0.25%. you'rejust translates to that increase of 0.25%. you're just talking about the complicated economy that we are looking at currently, which is economic growth slow, prices going up economic growth slow, prices going up dramatically, inflation rate heading to above 11%, and in a position where interest rates have gone up five times and yet they are still incredibly low because of where we've been.—

still incredibly low because of where we've been. exactly right and i think that language, _ where we've been. exactly right and i think that language, saying - where we've been. exactly right and i think that language, saying they i i think that language, saying they will act forcefully, as may be a little at odds to some in the city, they will be saying they should have raised rates by half a percentage point if they wanted to act forcefully. there has been concern on the monetary policy committee in the discussions of the pasta to four hours that if they raise the rates too quickly, it could dampen down demand in the uk economy too fast. there are signs it has already been dampened. rising energy bills have a similar effect to rising interest rates. just in the sense that if people have to spend more on energy, they have less to spend on everything else. so it dampens down demand for non—discretionary purchases, stuff you don't have to buy, and that's already happening even with the interest rates still so low, even though they have been rising, it is still already happening that consumers are pulling their horns in and signs of weakness in consumer spending, signs of shrinking economy, it will be that i

think that has put the bank of england off from raising rates more aggressively than this, whatever language they may use. just hearing that actually. _ language they may use. just hearing that actually, six _ language they may use. just hearing that actually, six members - language they may use. just hearing that actually, six members voted - language they may use. just hearing that actually, six members voted for a quarter of a point increase but three did actually vote for that half a percent increase. the three did actually vote for that half a percent increase. the no vote was for no — half a percent increase. the no vote was for no rise _ half a percent increase. the no vote was for no rise at _ half a percent increase. the no vote was for no rise at all, _ half a percent increase. the no vote was for no rise at all, that's - was for no rise at all, that's because it was felt that the interest rates should be normalised. when we have the highest inflation we have had since the early 1980s, you can't sit on your hands if you are a central bank and do nothing about it. those ultra low interest rates we had for the last 13 years arguably have caused economic distortion. you have super cheap borrowing to support the economy, it means that you can borrow money to buy assets and it pumps up assets like houses and share prices and that's not necessarily a good thing but it's fine if you have them, you can watch the prices rise but if you

don't have them, if you can't get a house or have no hope of buying shares, that puts them more beyond your reach and it has what is called a regressive effect, it entrenches inequalities of wealth. so arguably the interest rates being that low for that long hasn't necessarily been a good thing. you can see it is good that they are returning to normal but you will not if you're one of the people on variable rate mortgages. they are a small minority of the population, less than 10% but if you do have one, this is another water point of paying for you. thank ou ve water point of paying for you. thank you very much. _ water point of paying for you. thank you very much, and _ water point of paying for you. thank you very much, and day. _ water point of paying for you. thank you very much, and day. that - you very much, and day. that breaking news that interest rates have gone up by a quarter of 1%, to 1.25%. let's get the thoughts now... joining me now is kallum pickering, a senior economist at berenberg bank. do you think that's about right? i think i would have preferred the bank of england to move for 50 points at this stage but the bank of england have signalled that 25 was going to come in. the bank has had a bit of a challenge communicating with the markets recently, so

probably the bank of england didn't want to give a surprise butjudging by the language as you described it, the bank of england is currently warning that higher interest rates may be needed, so that basically primes markets for potentially a 50 basis point hike in the future. what basis point hike in the future. what is our basis point hike in the future. what is your thinking _ basis point hike in the future. what is your thinking on _ basis point hike in the future. what is your thinking on how _ basis point hike in the future. what is your thinking on how this will play out? there are obviously so many different factors in the economy to balance. interest rates are often described as a blunt tool to try to hold back inflation, particularly when it's coming from the global pressures that we see. what impact do you think it will have? �* . ., ' . what impact do you think it will have? '. , ., what impact do you think it will have? �*, . '. , ., ., have? it's a difficult question to answer because _ have? it's a difficult question to answer because unfortunately, | have? it's a difficult question to i answer because unfortunately, it's hard to be optimistic about the current situation. notjust hard to be optimistic about the current situation. not just the hard to be optimistic about the current situation. notjust the uk but the western world made the mistake last year of over stimulating the economy is. then when we suffered these supply shocks, which have been amplified by the war in ukraine, chinese lockdowns, we have had this additional inflation. so what we

were looking forfor the additional inflation. so what we were looking for for the last few months is one of two things happening. eitherthat months is one of two things happening. either that prices were going up so much the people were stopping spending, and you would expect inflation to moderate, or despite being very unhappy about the rising prices, we were holding our noses and continuing to spend. for all the evidence that in real terms the economy is slowing, in cash terms it is still growing quite fast so it looks like by and large, people are spending through this. so the bank of and has to rest this process. the risk here is that the only way the bank of england can now get rid of the inflation is by triggering a recession. sojust to get this over and done with, that's why markets and are favouring the steeper path for interest rates in the uk and elsewhere.— steeper path for interest rates in the uk and elsewhere. when you talk about people — the uk and elsewhere. when you talk about people continuing _ the uk and elsewhere. when you talk about people continuing to _ the uk and elsewhere. when you talk about people continuing to spend, i about people continuing to spend, presumably in large part because they have got no choice, because the things that are becoming more expensive that you have to spend money on the essentials of life?

well, and this is politically very difficult to deal with from a policy perspective because what you have is a good chunk of the population towards the lower end of the income spectrum that are really suffering from higher prices, but the bigger majority actually are seeing their wages rise quite fast, they still have savings or humility during the pandemic, credit is still quite favourable, so people are finding the cash to pay these higher prices. the bank of england and the minutes inflation by essentially bringing that process to an end, by making saving more attractive highest —— much higher interest rates, by making credit to expensive, and that adjustment historically has been quite painful, but it is less painful if you do it quickly because the recession that you require to get rid of the inflation tends to be short, doesn't tend to be making much damage in the labour market but if we wait until next year, by then the recession you would need to remedy it would be much more severe. thank you very much forjoining us.

in the past half hour — the government has published the resignation letter from boris johnson's former ethics adviser lord geidt, in which he said he had been put in "an impossible position". the peer said he was asked to consider measures that risked "a deliberate and purposeful breach of the ministerial code". in response, the prime minister said lord geidt�*s decision came as a surprise — but thanked him for his service. just two days ago, lord geidt told mps it was "reasonable" to suggest borisjohnson had breached the ministerial code when he was fined over lockdown gatherings at downing street the prime minister because my letter does should simulate an issue. there was a request for advice on potential future decisions relating to the trade remedy authority, the body that investigates whether new trade remedies are needed to prevent damage to uk industry is caused by unfair trading practices. the bbc understands the prime minister was considering ways to support british industry which lord geidt says would have breached the ministerial code.

before the letters were published, the cabinet office minister michael ellis made this statement to mps in the commons. the government is particularly disappointed, because that lord geidt has taken this decision, as only very recently, as this house notes on the debate last week, significant changes were made to the role and status of independent adviser on ministers' interest. as i set out to the house last week, these changes represent the most substantial strengthening of the role of independent adviser since its creation, the most substantial strengthening of its role, its office and its remit since that post was created in 2006. and this was the response from labour's shadow cabinet office minister. clearly the new arrangements for the independent adviser are not workable and that's why he has had to resign. mr speaker, to lose one ethics adviser is really an embarrassment, but to lose two in two years, just days after the prime minister's

own anti—corruption tsar walked out on him, it's becoming a bit of a pattern, mr speaker. it is a pattern of degrading the principles of our democracy. the prime minister has driven out both of his hand—picked ethics advisers to resign in despair in two years. it's a badge of shame for this government. the cabinet office had failed to publish lord geidt�*s resignation letter and it has taken this urgent question to get it. now with us is aubrey allegretti, political correspondent at the guardian. what's your reaction now you have seen both letters?— seen both letters? well, it's quite cunous seen both letters? well, it's quite curious because _ seen both letters? well, it's quite curious because lord _ seen both letters? well, it's quite curious because lord geidt, - seen both letters? well, it's quite curious because lord geidt, who l seen both letters? well, it's quite i curious because lord geidt, who only was found out last night resigned, uses a lot stronger language than we might have expected. this is a civil servant who usually uses quite sort of veiled words to describe his happiness and unease, which we have seen before in previous letters. but he's really come out and made some

quite strong criticisms of boris johnson, saying he has been put in an odious and a possible position, effectively being told that the prime minister wanted him to deliberately breached the ministerial code. also saying he has effectively had enough of protecting the prime minister's reputation, that he doesn't think it's right that he doesn't think it's right that the prime minister previously described, blamed a mystery medication between the two offices for a previous row about the partygate scandal, and lord geidt saying he was convinced to stay on by a very small margin in the aftermath of those released findings, borisjohnson being found to have broken the law is one of the covid parties. so it looks like the straw that broke the camel's back for lord geidt but he doesn't go into too much detail, it is actually the prime minister's letter that sheds a bit more light on the situation and says it is something that he asked lord geidt to consider and wasn't actually something the government had specifically said it was going to do. 50 government had specifically said it was going to do— was going to do. so on that point, how do you _

was going to do. so on that point, how do you see — was going to do. so on that point, how do you see this _ was going to do. so on that point, how do you see this potentially i how do you see this potentially playing out? because of course, the role of an adviser is to be there to be asked when there is a question, and been asked the question given an answer doesn't necessarily indicate which way something will go. and also, what the government is talking about, it seems, is something under the trade remedies authority, which investigates whether a new trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to uk industries caused by unfair trading practices. which looks like the government saying basically it was trying to do something to support british industry. something to support british indust . . something to support british indust . , ., something to support british indust. , . . ., , industry. yes, that will certainly be the government's _ industry. yes, that will certainly be the government's defence i industry. yes, that will certainly l be the government's defence and industry. yes, that will certainly i be the government's defence and they were quite surprised to be honest overnight when they found out lord geidt had resigned because they didn't realise he would really press the nuclear button when it came to consulting him on this idea but he says effectively being asked to do this will consider the request suggests the prime minister was deliberately intending breached the ministerial code and he said that made an entire mockery of the system. so that's why he felt he had to resign, and i think really, we

can take this is probablyjust the latest in a series of issues that lord geidt has felt that really he is having to protect his own reputation... is having to protect his own reputation. . .— is having to protect his own reutation... ~ �* ., ., , reputation... we're out of time, but thank ou reputation... we're out of time, but thank you very _ reputation... we're out of time, but thank you very much. _ reputation... we're out of time, but thank you very much. more - reputation... we're out of time, but i thank you very much. more questions to be answeredyou're watching bbc news. the oscar—winning actor kevin spacey has been given unconditional bail after appearing at westminster magistrates' court, charged with five sex offences, which he denies. thejudge said he had cooperated with the authorities in new york, and that there would be no real risk he would fail to surrender. the next hearing has been set for the 1ath ofjuly. our correspondent sarah campbell is outside westminster magistrates' court. it is his initial preliminary hearing, so the first time he has appeared before a british court on these charges. there are five charges. you can see here behind me some remaining members of the press, but when he arrived here just before ten o'clock this morning there was a huge amount of interest. kevin spacey is a very well—known

actor, both on stage and screen, which explains the interest, not only from the uk press, but from the foreign press as well. he was in court one at westminster magistrates' court. he spoke only to confirm his name, which was given in court as kevin spacey fowler, and his address. he gave a london based address, although his permanent address is in the united states. then the five charges which are being put to him were read out to him. these are five, four counts rather, of sexual assault on three separate men and a further sexual offence. he was at the end of the hearing given unconditional bail. this was after his lawyer had said that kevin spacey strenuously denies all the allegations and the magistrate was minded to give him unconditional bail. he will return to court on the 1ath ofjuly and that will be to southwark crown court.

the number of people in england waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a new record high. according to the nhs a total of 6.5 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of april. this is up from 6.a million in march and is the highest number since records began in august 2007. sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. good morning. next season's premier league fixtures have been published this morning. it's an earlier start to the season because of the winter world cup in qatar. it gets going on a friday night, with palace taking on arsenal on the 5th of august. champions manchester city are away at west ham on the opening weekend, as they go for a fifth premier league title in six seasons. none of the so—called big six clubs will play each other on the weekend of november 12th and 13th, that's at the request of the fa to protect the core of the england squad before heading

to qatar on the 15th. elsewhere, liverpool travel to fulham. it's the fourth season in a row thatjurgen klopp's side open the season against the championship winners. newly promoted bournemouth start at home to aston villa, and nottingham forest's first premier league match this century will be away at newcastle united. it's a big day ahead for the ryan peniston, ranked 180 in the world — the british no seven beat the french open finalist casper ruud at queens on tuesday and today in the second round he faces world number a6 francisco cerundolo. pretty sunny day in london. just getting under way. this is in the second round match, you can watch this on the bbc iplayer, the red button for the bbc sport app site or the app right now, it's on bbc two from one o'clock. an independant report into allegations of abuse at all levels of british gymnastics

is going to be published this afternoon. it's been two years in the making and contains testimony from hundreds of gymnasts, from the elite level down to grassroots. a former gymnast and founder of the organisation gymnasts for change says she hopes that today is a turning point for the sport. today is an unprecedented opportunity to address the historic wrongs that have gone on in gymnastics and to reform the sport that we love for the better. we hope that today is going to bring about various recommendations that will be acted on by uk sport, sport england and british gymnastics to improve training conditions and competition conditions for gymnasts in the future. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. andy first round of the us open golf is getting under way. they have only

been going for about half an hour or so. be back after the one o'clock news. the american—canadian author ruth ozeki has won this year's women's prize for fiction for her fourth novel. the book of form and emptiness tells the story of a teenage boy who finds solace in reading after the death of his father. ozeki, who won a £30,000 prize, was praised byjudges as a "truly original and masterful storyteller." ruth is now with us in the studio. welcome. thank you so much. congratulations! _ welcome. thank you so much. congratulations! let's - welcome. thank you so much. congratulations! let's talk i welcome. thank you so much. l congratulations! let's talk about benny and his mum, annabel and what happens after the death of benny's father when he was 13.— happens after the death of benny's father when he was 13. welcome his father when he was 13. welcome his father dies in _ father when he was 13. welcome his father dies in a _ father when he was 13. welcome his father dies in a really _ father when he was 13. welcome his father dies in a really kind _ father when he was 13. welcome his father dies in a really kind of - father dies in a really kind of tragic and sort of stupid way, it seems very unnecessary. and benny is quite traumatised by this. in the wake of his father's death, for a while he hears his father's voice

talking to him, and from that, it sort of morphs into hearing the voices of objects in his house speaking to him. he doesn't quite understand what this is about, he doesn't understand what they're saying but he hear their voices and he can kind of sensitive feeling and this gets him into all source of trouble, the voices follow him out of the house and to school, he gets in trouble at school, and eventually he found refuge in a large public library, where of course there are objects and they speak more books speak to us after all, but they speak to us after all, but they speak to us after all, but they speak to him.— speak to us after all, but they speak to him. speak to us after all, but they seak to him. ., i. ~ ., speak to him. how did you think of this as something _ speak to him. how did you think of this as something that _ speak to him. how did you think of this as something that might i speak to him. how did you think of l this as something that might happen to this little boy after going through trauma?— to this little boy after going through trauma? to this little boy after going throuuh trauma? �* , ., ., through trauma? after my own dad died, for about _ through trauma? after my own dad died, for about a _ through trauma? after my own dad died, for about a year— through trauma? after my own dad died, for about a year after- through trauma? after my own dad died, for about a year after he i died, for about a year after he died, for about a year after he died, i would from time to time hear his voice speaking to me. it was always very specific, it was as if he was standing behind me and he would clear his throat and he would say my name and every time that happened i would turn around expecting to see him. and of course

he wouldn't be there. that kind of hit of sadness and grief all over again. it happened so quickly, so it barely even registers. but that happened maybe five or six times and thenit happened maybe five or six times and then it stopped. and i remembered this experience and i was thinking about it when i was thinking about the kinds of voices that is a novelist, hearvoices the kinds of voices that is a novelist, hear voices but it's not the same kind of experience. so i was thinking about this array of voices that we hear in life, and the character kind of came from that. i saw also that you have said before that as a child, you related to some objects as though they were sentience? that's what happens to him. was it to a greater extent than happened to you? i him. was it to a greater extent than happened to you?— happened to you? i think as children. — happened to you? i think as children, we _ happened to you? i think as children, we all— happened to you? i think as children, we all relate i happened to you? i think as children, we all relate to i happened to you? i think as i children, we all relate to objects as if they are sentience. that's why children play with dolls and trucks. they come to life when we leave the

room! {iii they come to life when we leave the room! . ., , . they come to life when we leave the room! .., , ., i. they come to life when we leave the room! .., , . y., . they come to life when we leave the room! , ., ., ., room! of course, and you have to kee an room! of course, and you have to keep an eye _ room! of course, and you have to keep an eye on — room! of course, and you have to keep an eye on them _ room! of course, and you have to keep an eye on them because i room! of course, and you have to j keep an eye on them because you never know when they're going to start talking to you. i think that's very natural for children. that kind of sense that matter is vibrant and there is a kind of life force and there is a kind of life force and the things around us, i think that's at the heart of our culture and we certainly see that in anime, you know, the japanese cartoon. so it's getting back in touch with that spirit of relating to the physical world. ., ~' spirit of relating to the physical world. ., ~ , ,., ., ~' world. the new york times book review said _ world. the new york times book review said there _ world. the new york times book review said there is _ world. the new york times book review said there is powerful- world. the new york times book i review said there is powerful magic here. we have also been described as one of our era's most compassionate and original minds. the book has been described as being carefully celebrating difference, not patronising dysfunction. so there are a lot of elements that come into my mind in terms of what the genre is here. thoughtful, emotional,

deep, also funny, magical. i is here. thoughtful, emotional, deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funn , deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funny. yeah- _ deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funny. yeah- i— deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funny, yeah. i mean, _ deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funny, yeah. i mean, i— deep, also funny, magical. i hope it is funny, yeah. i mean, i always i is funny, yeah. i mean, ialways feel that, and we all know this, that on the flip of tragedy there is always comedy and on the flip side, gee there is always tragedy for that we see those things as being very separate, but shakespeare knew better, he always put plans in his strategies. so there is always —— eos put clowns in his tragedies. so there is always underlying humour, or the opposite emotion, and it's the contrast the two that i think really strengthens the emotion and makes the characters come to life. we haven't talked about benny's mum, because her instinctive response once she loses her husband and she is facing all of the pressures that come with the responsibility that china has, is that she starts to hoard. �* ., �* , ., ., ~ , hoard. and for benny, the max makes life even worse _ hoard. and for benny, the max makes life even worse because _ hoard. and for benny, the max makes life even worse because there - hoard. and for benny, the max makes life even worse because there are i life even worse because there are even more objects speaking to him. yes and it is it is if the objects

his mum hoards, thomas is no she has a relationship with these objects too, it's as if the objects are speaking to her too. she has that kind of sensitivity to the material world that very much i think she shares with him. i world that very much i think she shares with him.— world that very much i think she shares with him. i 'ust want to talk a little shares with him. i 'ust want to talk a tttte about — shares with him. i just want to talk a little about something _ shares with him. i just want to talk a little about something else i shares with him. i just want to talk a little about something else that. a little about something else that you do, a huge part of your life aside from the writing, that's that you are a zen buddhist priest and i expect that means you're very good at silencing the voices and channelling the creativity, which is hard to do sometimes in this world where we are constantly glued to our phones. exactly. the first thing i do is turn off my phone! i do. i meditate a lot and the meditation isn't so much silencing the voices, as being aware of them and being aware of the kinds of stories that are constantly churning in our minds. if we sit quietly in meditation, little by little those voices quietened down. and that

enables and really helps me as a writer because it allows me to focus on the voices, the characters, the book itself, and a lot of those voices —— and allow those voices to rise to the surface. voices -- and allow those voices to rise to the surface.— voices -- and allow those voices to rise to the surface. who do you want this book to — rise to the surface. who do you want this book to speak _ rise to the surface. who do you want this book to speak to, _ rise to the surface. who do you want this book to speak to, what - rise to the surface. who do you want this book to speak to, what he i this book to speak to, what he wanted to say? i this book to speak to, what he wanted to say?— this book to speak to, what he wanted to say? i think that the relationship — wanted to say? i think that the relationship between - wanted to say? i think that the relationship between writers i wanted to say? i think that the l relationship between writers and readers is a kind of magic. i do my part and the leader brings her life experiences to the page, his life experiences to the page, his life experiences to the page, his life experiences to the page, and together, we co—create this book. it's not really up to me to put my expectations on a reader. the reader helps me create this fictional world. and that to me is the magic. thank you very much indeed forjohn s and congratulations. time for a look at the weather with elizabeth.

lots of blue sky and warm sunshine across england and wales at the moment for the further north and west, it is cloudier and cooler, there is a weather front across northern ireland and scotland giving some patchy light rain and drizzle. sunny spells were not eastern areas of scotland. most of the sunshine in england and wales, highs of the mid to high 20s. 2829 in london and the south—east. overnight tonight it will start to be quite humid, sticky and uncomfortable for sleeping for much of england and wales. as the weather front gives persistent rain for much of scotland, northern ireland. these will be the lows. we move into friday, that this is when the heat is likely to peak across the heat is likely to peak across the south is that there is a cold front introducer more fresh air and epics of patchy rain and drizzle, weakening as it goes. highs on friday higher than this 32 33,. along with all of that heat comes high pollen levels and there will be some thundery downpours over the weekend.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: the bank of england raises interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, to 1.25%. the government has published the resignation letter from borisjohnson's former ethics adviser lord geidt, in which he said he had been put in an impossible and odious position. a man confesses to killing a britishjournalist and his local guide in brazil, and leads police to where he buried the bodies. long queues of ambulances outside a&e departments in england are causing serious harm to patients, according to a health care safety watchdog. landlords are to be prevented from evicting tenants without giving a reason, under government plans to make the private rental market in england fairer. there's one week to go before

the people of tiverton and honiton, and separately wakefield, go to the polls in two by elections that will test the popularity of the prime minister and his government. we were in wakefield yesterday, shaun ley is in devon for us today. the constituency has traditionally been a conservative safe seat tiverton and honiton used to be separate constituencies and have beenin separate constituencies and have been in conservative for a hundred years by now. is that going to change next week? by—elections are difficult to predict and although he had a large majority at the last general election, that was 60% of the vote, last year in shropshire a 62% share of the vote was overturned by the liberal democrats. the lib

dems hope to win here too put the conservatives have not given up the seat by a long chalk. helen catt has been looking at the details. the bennett family have been running their dairy farm near honiton for 15 years. agriculture, mainly livestock farming, is the major industry in this very rural constituency. we are a minority business, but we're actually fundamentally a very important business to the country. we produce food for our people, so it would be nice forfarmers to be heard. like other industries, they're being hit by rising costs. but they say there's also too much legislation around farming, which should be cut. see, if you've got all these barriers and restrictions holding you back, as a business, you're not actually going to be able to move forward, as we have done in previous years, sort of thing.

and do you know which way you're going to vote? i'm going to vote for lib dem. i think we've been a conservative constituency for a long time. in the young farming community, there's a lot of us who feel like the government hasn't gone far enough. i'm between conservative and lib dem. my thoughts are, i'm looking for an mp who's going to look at farming on a more food security, and not so much on the environment. i i'd rather have the conservative i party, even though they've received a lot of bad press in the last two or three years _ we've probably gone through some of the worst times we've ever beenj through with covid etc, - and i think borisjohnson's done a damn good job, really. just the same. and yeah, swings and roundabouts whether i'll even vote. but if i do, it would probably go conservative. so, a lot to chew over there. and that's interesting in itself,

because this is a seat that has been conservative since its creation in 1997, and most of it has been tory for decades before that. last time, neil parish, the former mp, won by 2a,000 votes over his nearest rival. under the normal rules of politics, this isn't a by election that would usually even raise an eyebrow. but the lib dems are pushing hard here, despite coming third behind labour in 2019. in the constituency�*s other main town of tiverton, opinion is also divided. so, if liberal democrats win it, then boris is in trouble. hopefully, all us tories will come out and vote and keep it a tory area. i have always voted conservative and i've liked a lot of what they've delivered in the past. but at the moment, i'm so appalled by the government at the moment. so that's probably why i'm looking

more locally than government. so, who i vote for, i don't know. but it won't be boris. to be honest, i'm a labour supporter, but it's not very labour sort of country here. so i think, tactically, i'll be voting lib dem. the leadership's a mess _ at the moment and something needs to be done to change it. yeah, i'm slightly disillusioned with the way that things are being done at the moment, and choices are being made that i don't really feel comfortable with, and i think a change might be necessary. what people here decide next week could have consequences which stretch to the rest of the country. a big moment for a part of devon that perhaps never expected to find itself in the political limelight. with me now is the conservative candidate, helen hurford. you're local, you wouldn't have expected this vacancy to come about, because of circumstances which led

new parish to resign, but you are in a party that has been in power since 2010, how difficult is it though, because i know your literature talks about what the local conservatives want to do, is government a bit of her liability in by—elections? i think all by—elections happen for a reason, this is a little different but i feel very fortunate that i and the person chosen to represent the conservatives for this by—election by monks of the plan i have is to deliver what matters for the people of tiverton and honiton. i am born and raised here, my family and business is here, so i want to deliver the priorities that matter most to whom i love and represents. you are a head teacher until 2019, rules matter a lot in schools, rule breaking is a problem in schools, is itjust more acceptable in government? because were talking today with lord geidt�*s resignation

with perceptions at least about rule breaking. ii with perceptions at least about rule breakint. , ., with perceptions at least about rule breakint. i. ~ ~ with perceptions at least about rule breakint. ~ ~ ., with perceptions at least about rule breakint. ~ ., , breaking. if you knocked on doors around here _ breaking. if you knocked on doors around here you _ breaking. if you knocked on doors around here you will _ breaking. if you knocked on doors around here you will find - breaking. if you knocked on doors around here you will find one i breaking. if you knocked on doors around here you will find one of. breaking. if you knocked on doors. around here you will find one of my old pupils or at least a parent and i will tell you that i was a very strict teacher, so yes, i think this should abide by our laws. but people around here are more concerned about the cost of living, that's whether parties are and they want us to deliver and make sure the nhs has improved in the next few years, with 36 million coming its way, they want to make sure that tiverton and honiton we get their fair share of. this is a very different constituency time, say, exeter, and we want to make sure our money is delivered in the right places. i5 we want to make sure our money is delivered in the right places. is a delivered in the right places. is a sa , the delivered in the right places. is a say, the conservatives have been in power since 2010, it takes enormous building work going on behind the link road with a new estate of 5000 houses, you have a school which is already at capacity, build on a

flood plain, and yet there are still waiting for their new school and the conservative party has been in government for more than a decade. that's the sort of thing where people can say, the party hasn't delivered for us. the people can say, the party hasn't delivered for us.— delivered for us. the party as a whole has _ delivered for us. the party as a whole has been _ delivered for us. the party as a whole has been through - delivered for us. the party as a whole has been through a i delivered for us. the party as a j whole has been through a huge delivered for us. the party as a i whole has been through a huge battle with unprecedented times. we can't ignore the facts were still in the recovery from a global pandemic that is affecting our cost of living. but it will not stop me delivering a new high school for tiverton and making sure we have someone who is in government that is going to work with the government. and the only person i can work with this government to deliver for tiverton and honiton. iwill government to deliver for tiverton and honiton. i will not be going to westminster to play party politics because i am invested in this community, completely invested, my family, my friends, what happens here and matters to me to. i will go to westminster to make sure we do get quite a relief road, that we do get quite a relief road, that we do get tiverton high school, that we do

make sure that our nhs gets their fair share of make sure that our nhs gets their fairshare of funding make sure that our nhs gets their fair share of funding to the communities that need them. you say confidently. — communities that need them. you say confidently. i— communities that need them. you say confidently, iwill— communities that need them. you say confidently, i will be _ communities that need them. you say confidently, i will be going _ communities that need them. you say confidently, i will be going to - confidently, i will be going to westminster, the fact is that nobody knows until the ballot is closed. on paper, you shouldn't have to worry, but on paper and what happened last yearin but on paper and what happened last year in both cheshire and amersham and north shropshire it suggest that conservatives in any seat, even in quite prosperous parts of the country, have to be worried. absolutely, and this will be very close, don't get me wrong, i am on the doorsteps of the time to know this will be closed. of ii the doorsteps of the time to know this will be closed. 0— this will be closed. of if you win and ou this will be closed. of if you win and you are _ this will be closed. of if you win and you are the _ this will be closed. of if you win and you are the mp _ this will be closed. of if you win and you are the mp on - this will be closed. of if you win and you are the mp on friday, l this will be closed. of if you win i and you are the mp on friday, there are a lot of people say, if she wins by a small majority, your colleagues may be saying they will be in trouble next general election? isplints. trouble next general election? wins a win, and trouble next general election? wins a win. and if— trouble next general election? wins a win. and if i _ trouble next general election? wins a win, and if i win, _ trouble next general election? wins a win, and if i win, it— trouble next general election? wins a win, and if i win, it will— trouble next general election? “is a win, and if i win, it will be a winfor a win, and if i win, it will be a win for tiverton and honiton. bend a win, and if i win, it will be a win for tiverton and honiton. and if the don't win for tiverton and honiton. and if they don't win. _ win for tiverton and honiton. and if they don't win, will _ win for tiverton and honiton. and if they don't win, will be _ win for tiverton and honiton. and if they don't win, will be a _ win for tiverton and honiton. and if they don't win, will be a rejection i they don't win, will be a rejection of you or the prime minister? that

would have — of you or the prime minister? that would have to _ of you or the prime minister? that would have to be _ of you or the prime minister? that would have to be analysed afterwards to see why the outcome was so, but what i will say is, please, let's not take this for granted, this is not take this for granted, this is not a dead cert, i need every single vote i can get, and fighting for every single vote i can get, and if you want someone to go to westminster and represent tiverton and honiton to bring back as much as we can to continue in this beautiful place, you have to vote conservative.— place, you have to vote conservative. ., .. , . place, you have to vote conservative. . ~ , . . conservative. thank very much. we already heard _ conservative. thank very much. we already heard of _ conservative. thank very much. we already heard of two _ conservative. thank very much. we already heard of two of _ conservative. thank very much. we already heard of two of the - conservative. thank very much. we already heard of two of the eight i already heard of two of the eight candidates, will have another three this afternoon. if there is a full list of the candidates on the bbc website as well as all the details about this by—election and the one taking place at the same time in wakefield, in yorkshire. back to you. delays unloading ambulances at busy hospitals are causing serious harm to patients, according to a warning by the health care safety watchdog. 9a—year—old kenneth shadbolt waited more than five hours

for an ambulance after a bad fall, an accident that proved fatal. our health correspondent jim reed has this story. his only spell out of the country was national service after the war. always lived in that village, which had been camden, all his life. he was very well known. he was very much a character of that town. gerry shadbolt has been trying to piece together what happened on the night his father died. he was looking for the ambulance that never came. kenneth was in good shape for a 9a—year—old. a retired carpenter, he lived alone in the cotswolds. on that night, though, the health service was under pressure. the bbc applied to see documents from an inquest into his death. they show that at 2:53am, ken got out of bed and fell. he collapsed on the floor and called 999 twice from his mobile. transcripts of the calls are spoken by actors. ambulance service. i is the patient breathing? i need an ambulance. i'm unable to move. i don't want you to try- and move either, sir, 0k? how long will it be? i don't know, unfortunately.

we will try our best to get someone there as soon as we can, 0k? - ken was recorded as an urgent category 2 case, meaning an ambulance should have arrived in 18 minutes on average. he's clearly trusting the ambulance service, but it's clear on the second call that his condition is worsening, and he's getting anxious because he's not getting any assurances about an ambulance. ken waited for an hour on the floor before calling a third time. the details are distressing. i need an ambulance because i'm going to fade away quite quickly. the ambulance service isjust under a lot of pressure at the moment. i we are doing our best. i shall very soon be needing a coffin, i think. if this goes on another half an hour, i'll probably be dead. send somebody quick. it took another four hours for an ambulance to arrive. by then, ken was unconscious. he was taken to gloucestershire royal hospital, where he died that afternoon from a bleed to the brain. he was on his own, and he knew he was on his own. and he must have felt abandoned, you know, alone on his bedroom floor.

that's the most troubling part of it for me. we can't be sure if a faster response time would have saved ken's life. but a five—hour wait for an ambulance is certainly far higher than the target for a call like this. and it's certainly not an isolated incident. across the country, waiting times for ambulances are far higher than they should be. that's down to rising demand, and because busy hospitals are finding it hard to discharge patients into social care. in gloucester this week, these ambulances were having to queue outside before they could unload their patients, rather than getting back on the road quickly. the health care safety watchdog has now launched an investigation into what's a national problem. so, harm is happening on a daily basis, and that harm is everything from the patients deteriorating and ambulances waiting to go into emergency departments, patients acquiring hospital acquired

infections because they're staying in hospital longer than they may necessarily need to. so we are seeing harm happening. ken's family say they've lost faith in the ambulance service to be there when they need it. how many other people, right now, are being made to wait four or five hours for an ambulance, and it's having a detrimental effect on their prospects to survive, you know? southwestern ambulance service describes long delays as an unacceptable risk to patients, and says it's working to get crews back out on the road as quickly as possible. gloucester hospital says that health care nationally is under intense pressure, but staff are working tirelessly to ensure patients are cared for. in response, the department of health says... the nhs has allocated £150 million of additional funding to address pressures on ambulance services, with the number of ambulance and support staff increasing by almost a0% since february 2010.

the transport secretary grant shapps has described the planned rmt strikes as an incredible act of self—harm. half of britain's rail lines will be closed during stoppages next tuesday, thursday and saturday in a dispute about pay and conditions. mr shapps said the strikes were designed to inflict damage at the worst possible time. the railway, just beginning to recoverfrom the pandemic, and we're on the verge of a national strike. these strikes are not only a bid to derail reforms that are critical to the network's future and designed to inflict damage at the worst possible time, but they're also an incredible act of self—harm by the union leadership. make no mistake, unlike the past 25 years, when rising passenger demand year after year was taken for granted by the industry, today, the railway is in a fight. it's not only competing

against other forms of public and private transport, it's in a battle with zoom and teams and remote working. in case the unions haven't noticed, the world has changed. many commuters, who three years ago had no alternative but to take the train, today have the option of not travelling at all. wave them goodbye and they'll endanger the jobs of thousands of rail workers, the last thing the union should be doing right now. it's alienating its passengers and freight customers with long and damaging strikes. unions claim these strikes are about a pay freeze. this is wrong. we're not imposing a pay freeze now covid is in the past. so i say to be workforce, your union bosses have driven you to the verge of a national strike under false pretenses.

and rather than protect your jobs, they are actually threatening yourjobs. the headlines on bbc news: the bank of england raises interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, to 1.25%. the government has published the resignation letter from borisjohnson's former ethics adviser lord geidt, in which he said he had been put in an impossible and odious position. a man confesses to killing a britishjournalist and his local guide in brazil, and leads police to where he buried the bodies. police in brazil say they've found what are thought to be the bodies of a missing britishjournalist and his local guide —— after one of two men arrested in connection with their disappearance confessed to killing them. dom phillips and bruno pereira were last seen in a remote part in the past half hour, the family of dom phillips have said

they are heartbroken. our south america correspondent katy watson reports from manaus it was a hastily organised press conference. a panel of military men delivering the awful news after ten days of searching. translation: the first suspect voluntarily confessed _ at the end of last night. he made a criminal confession outlining in detail the crime he committed, and indicated the area where he buried the bodies. early on wednesday morning, he was taken on a boat to help the search teams find the bodies. it was three kilometres from the riverbank, in this thick forest, that human remains were found. these photos showing the difficult terrain the teams faced, needing the help of helicopters, sniffer dogs and divers to get to the site. these are the two men as their friends and family want to remember them. dom phillips, an experienced and passionatejournalist, writing a book on saving the amazon.

his travelling companion bruno pereira was an indigenous expert. he knew this community so well and was loved by so many. the indigenous communities where the first to raise the alarm on the day they disappeared. and they didn't give up, accompanying the authorities, and even leading them to clues. but in the press conference, they weren't mentioned. i asked the man heading the investigation why. the indigenous helped a lot in trying to find the belongings of the two men, but nothing has been mentioned of the help they gave the forces. translation: actually, it was| a mistake not to mention them. the work was carried out with the help of river communities and indigenous people. a lot of them accompanied us on the boats and in the planes, so that was fundamental. this crime has horrified people here in brazil and globally. it has brought into sharp focus the dangers faced by those wanting to save the forest. the criminal activity that takes

place in this vast, beautiful, yet are threatened amazon. dom's wife says... this brings the search to an end and closure for the families, who pushed so hard in trying to find the men. but, of course, it also reveals the brutal criminality in the amazon and the lack of ability by the state to control it. the families now say they will fight for justice. online, self—guided therapy is just as effective in treating people with ptsd as face—to—face cognitive therapy, according to a new study by cardiff university. researchers say this new care could save the nhs time and money. our wales correspondent tomos morgan has the details. i just began to feel very anxious, very withdrawn. i couldn't settle, sleepless nights.

usually an upbeat, positive person, serious personality and life completely changed after being assaulted. although my physical injuries healed quite quickly, it took longer to sort of get over the emotional impact of everything. how did it affect your relationship with your daughter? i suppose ijust became very protective, even more protective. i started to restrict our sort of our social activities. i remember her saying to me, "mummy, why are you so sad"? and, you know, that's hard when a small child says that to you. you recognise that, yes, i'm not myself. the gp diagnosed sarah with ptsd and with the waiting list for therapy so long she was offered the chance to be part of a new treatment that was being trialled. sarah took part in a study by cardiff university that included 196 patients and spanned

over four years. now the cohort was split into two groups — sarah and one half were given a new online guided self—help treatment and the other half were given regular face—to—face, cognitive—based therapy. by 16 weeks, more than 80% of people in both groups no longer had ptsd. evidence the authors of this new study suggest that points towards the fact this new treatment is just as effective as cognitive based therapy for those with ptsd. audio: step one - i learning about my ptsd. authors say the treatment in its entirety can take around a third of the time of therapy—only care and the online program called spring can be used by patients from the comfort of their own home. a few face—to—face or zoom meetings with a therapist are still part of the process, but far less than what's usually needed, meaning the cost and time pressures on the nhs could be vastly reduced.

i think this has a potential to make a great difference to people - with ptsd and also to the nhs. we'd be able to treat more people in a shorter amount of time - and therefore the waiting list i for such treatments would reduce. the nhs in wales has already begun using this method and spring could be due to start rollout across other parts of the uk's health service soon. although the study�*s authors say this treatment may not be suitable for all, for people like sarah, whose illness was sparked by a single incident, it could be life changing. i've been completely match fit since i did the programme. it's given me sort of techniques that are so useful in just everyday life, really. the german, french and italian leaders have arrived in kyiv for talks with president zelensky. the visit has taken weeks to organise, with the men looking to overcome criticism within ukraine over their response to the war. kyiv has criticised france, germany and, to a lesser extent, italy for alleged foot—dragging

in their support for ukraine, accusing them of being slow to deliver weapons and putting their own prosperity ahead of ukraine's freedom and security. the uk health security agency has issued a level three alert for southern england for tomorrow and saturday, where the temperature could get reach a scorching 3a celsius. fiona lamdin's been in eastbourne, finding out what you need to do to stay safe in the heat. it is 15 degrees in the sun this morning but let's talk to gaby from the rnli. this lot are here, swimming this morning, but you think people must be careful if they are not used to swimming? absolutely, the temperature is rising, but the water remains dangerously cold and there is a risk of shock. it's important people understand cold water shock can increase your heart rate, your breathing, enter the water slowly, acclimatise and it is under 15 degrees at the moment so cold.

what should people do if they get into trouble? remember float to live. we see that going on. lay on your back and use your arms and legs to float, do not thrash around, control your breathing and call for help or swim to safety if you can, but float to live if you get into trouble. demonstrating that beautifully, and up the coast we see beachy head behind us. some pictures, we can see those now, the cliffs are beginning to crack. what advice do you have people walking out and about? if you're heading to the coast it's important to plan yourjourney, understand the risks of the environment you're heading to, stay back from the cliffs and go to a lifeguarded beach if you're going to the coast, and if you are in an emergency call 999. lynn, you have lots of advice for us, how much should be be drinking in the heat? it's difficult to tell, we know it is a lot more,

everybody is different, please stick to water rather than alcohol. you will have a good idea as to whether you're drinking enough if you go to the bathroom and you see your urine is pale yellow. keep an eye on children if they are not going to the bathroom as often as normal, they may be excited to play outside but make them drink on a regular basis. sun cream? the easiest thing is a spray with children, spray it on nice and thick, rub it in, do not worry if it's rubbed in all the way or not. at least factor 30, factor 50 for the face, do not put it in your eyes, and remember to reapply it if you have got wet. an australian man is going to new heights to stop his car being stolen, using a forklift truck to suspend the vehicle and the alleged faith in the air. he said the alleged teeth had broken into his home and had a shower installed in

close before she broke into the car. wow, that took a turn i wasn't expecting! now it's time for a look at the weather with elizabeth rizzini. hello there. plenty of blue sky and warm sunshine again today across england and wales, but it's here where we'll see the peak of the heat tomorrow. it will feel hot and increasingly more humid and muggy, too. further north and west, it's cooler, it's cloudier, there'll be some outbreaks of rain, and that's because there's weather fronts draped across scotland and northern ireland. this front will gradually sink southwards throughout the course of the weekend, introducing those fresher conditions eventually for all, but also some heavy, thundery downpours too, particularly across southern areas, and the winds will start to pick up as well. let's take a look in a bit more detail, then. so, overnight tonight, it's a lovely evening to come across england and wales. further north, then, there's some outbreaks of quite heavy, persistent rain moving into western scotland, eventually pushing eastwards throughout the night. it's feeling muggy, humid, uncomfortable for sleeping. for much of england and wales,

temperatures won't drop much below 1a to 16 degrees celsius. and then into friday morning, a cold front is thinking southwards, that's going to introduce some outbreaks of light, patchy rain and drizzle for many across southern scotland, the borders, into northern england as we head through the afternoon, but some sunny skies developing behind it. further north, the temperature peaks in the south, lots of sunshine, 32 or 33 degrees celsius. watch out for some low cloud, misty conditions towards north devon and cornwall, the coasts here, possibly the coastal areas of pembrokeshire as well. so, here are the highs for tomorrow. they are a good 12 degrees celsius in many cases above the seasonal average. but it's quite a brief peak of the heat because temperatures will be dropping, remember, over the weekend. along with all of that sunshine come some very high pollen levels and of course, the uv levels will also be high. so, this is what happens on saturday. our cold air towards the north meets warm air pushing in from the south. lots of instability, strong winds and some heavy, thundery downpours probably in this sort of position.

sunshine behind further north. towards the far south east, the heat may well hang on for another day. the focus of those heavy, thundery downpours will be a little further south, probably, on sunday. still some uncertainty. it remains quite windy towards the south. further north, fresher conditions, yes, but there will be some sunny spells on and off throughout the day, too. temperatures generally peaking on sunday between 16 and 20 degrees.

boris johnson's former ethics adviser says he resigned last night because the prime minister put him in an "impossible and odious" position over a plan to risk breaking the ministerial code. in his resignation letter, lord geidt says he came close to quitting over the partygate scandal, but it was a request for advice on a separate matter that left him with no choice but to go. lord geidt says the request would have meant a deliberate breach of the ministerial code, which he could have no part in. we'll be analysing the implications of his letter with our political correspondent live at westminster. also this lunchtime... interest rates up again — to 1.25%, the highest in more than a decade. the the highest in more than a decade. leaders of fran

italy the leaders of france, germany and italy are in ukraine today in a show of