this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 7pm — durham police clear sir keir starmer of breaking lockdown rules. he'd pledged to resign if fined. the labour leader says his party is now ready for an election. if there was a general election, this government will fall. and we've got a plan for the country, we want that fresh start. the former chancellor, rishi sunak, enters the race to be the next leader of the conservative party and prime minister. tributes pour in from around the world forjapan�*s former prime minister, shinzo abe, who has been assassinated while delivering a speech at a campaign event.

the soaring cost of petrol and diesel and the competition watchdog launches an investigation into the way prices at the pump are regulated. way prices at the pump are regulated-— way prices at the pump are reaulated. , ., ., . and in the wimbledon men's semi final, britain's cameron norrie loses in four sets to novak djokovic. and coming up in half an hour, foreign correspondents based in london give an outsider�*s view of events in the uk in dateline. they share their impressions of the reasons for boris johnson's departure and the reasons for who and what come next. welcome to bbc news and apologies for my sneezing fit. really caught

me unawares that time. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, and his deputy, angela rayner, have been cleared by durham police of breaking lockdown rules. the force was looking into an event last april during election campaigning, when sir keir was pictured drinking from a bottle of beer in the office of another labour mp. he'd promised to resign if he was fined. at the time, indoor socialising between different households was banned. but today, the police said there was no case to answer because of an exemption to lockdown rules for "reasonably necessary work". our political editor chris mason is at westminster. april of last year — sir keir starmer is having a beer and a curry. was this in breach of the covid rules at the time? durham constabulary looked into it, and today said no. people said to me i was taking a risk by saying i would step down if i was fined, but it was never about that. for me, it was a matter of principle. it shouldn't be controversial to say that those who make the law can't break the law.

have you heard from durham police, sir keir? any comment on their investigation? it was the day after the local elections in may that keir starmer and his deputy, angela rayner, found out that they were under investigation by the police. it all related to an event in this building, which includes the office of the labour mp for durham. labour always argued they were working at the time. all this was potentially deeply awkward for sir keir because when borisjohnson and former chancellor, rishi sunak, were fined for this birthday gathering in downing street, the labour leader had called for them to resign. the guilty men are the prime minister and the chancellor. they've dishonoured all of that sacrifice. and when durham police started their investigation into him, he said... if the police decide to issue me with a fixed penalty notice, i would, of course, do the right thing and step down.

the investigation effectively hit the pause button on his leadership for two months, with the prospect that his career could be about to be over. sir keir used his words to draw a contrast between what he saw as his integrity and the prime minister's lack of it, but, of course, mrjohnson has now resigned. chris, i think we've got you first. sir keir, while you must be relieved, isn't this the week that your job has actually gotten much harder with the resignation of borisjohnson, the man you've defined yourself against? no, not in the slightest. the contrast between the tory party, which is tearing itself apart with a cast list of wannabe leaders who've all propped up this prime minister for months and months and months knowing he's unfit for office, contrast that to the labour party. keir starmer is staying, his opponent is changing, but who will it soon be? chris mason, bbc news, at westminster.

we know for sure that three mps have entered the race to succeed borisjohnson as conservative leader and prime minister, but more are expected to throw their hats into the ring. it's the group of backbench tory mps, the 1922 executive committee, that formally decides the timescale of the contest. the committee is due to meet on monday, so after that, we should know more about how long the process will take and the rules around it. our political correspondent alex forsyth now reports. the leadership race is on. will you be standing for the leadership? though this morning, potential candidates were keeping quiet. are you going to be the next prime minister? no answer first thing from the former chancellor. and then this afternoon, there was this. i'm standing to be the next leader of the conservative party and your prime minister. rishi sunak, one of the first to quit borisjohnson�*s government, today launched a slick campaign on social media for his job. he's not the only one.

tom tugendhat�*s announced his run this morning. the attorney general suella braverman has already thrown her hat in. the possible contenders are piling up, some familiar, some less so. they'll be courting supporters, weighing their chances and preparing their campaigns. and while sme want a quick contest to replace the prime minister, others say it has to be thorough if the party is to rebuild. the conservative party has a choice. it can fall into fractious - infighting, whoever leads it, or it can try and get behind | the new leader and prepare for the general election, | a general election which, by the way, may be beyond any leader winning given the state _ | of the economy and what's happened| over the past few weeks and months. it's in here that the first decisions will be made. mps whittle down the long list to just two candidates. then in theory, it's up to party members, though some have suggested that that process could be cut out. not an idea welcomed by these young conservatives

from around the country. there is more to a party than just what happens in westminster. us people at grassroots level are the ones who perhaps feel the wrath on the doorstep a lot more than those in westminster. to restore the faith in the government, i want to see more integrity, more honesty from leaders. and i don't know, if you don't pass that on to members who are voting, whether you will get that. better to take a bit longer. and have to work something out in the meantime, than choose quickly. and choose wrong. westminster has calmed after the high drama of yesterday. but away from the microphones, there is still manoeuvring. borisjohnson�*s been clear. he's staying as prime minister until a new party leader is chosen even though some of his critics want him out sooner. number 10 says it can keep things running, but it won't introduce new policy or make a big economic decisions. so, the man in the highest office has only limited power. for now, though, he remains in residence behind the famous black door while his party wrangles over

what and who comes next. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. our political correspondent ione wells is in westminster. she was the first to tweet that cabinet members were on their way to number ten to tell the premise for his time was up so what did she tell us now with matt thank you very much for spending time what has been an incredibly busy which look about what is still to come. what can you say about how this contest is shipping up at the moment? it’s shipping up at the moment? it's shaina shipping up at the moment? it�*s shaping up kind of thick and fast really. as you say, it was onlyjust days ago that cabinet members tours members were still in boris johnson's government and some of them are now declaring her believe they would be the new conservative party leader and the latest nasa and we had this evening is from the former chancellor rishi sunak who was second member of cabinet to resign from government and his profile rocketed during the pandemic choosing things like the furlough

scheme and other business support schemes was up however something touched upon a little bit in his resignation letter to borisjohnson resignation letter to boris johnson that resignation letter to borisjohnson that they did disagree on certain illness around the economy and building back from covid—i9 as well. he is now produced a slick and glossy video to launches camping and is now been two other candidates who publicly put themselves forward, the backbench tory mp tom tugendhat as well as the attorney general suella braverman and there are others who are sure up support among conservative mps and suggest extremely they are considering a leadership bid. that includes the transport secretary grant shapps. jeremy hunt, sajid javid and the fourth secretary liz truss and the

chancellor nadhim zahawi. the one thing we can know is that this will be a large list of candidates and will be little doubt over the summer by the conservative party members and then go to the party to get to the final two as well. [30 and then go to the party to get to the final two as well.— and then go to the party to get to the final two as well. do you see as an fear the final two as well. do you see as any fear in — the final two as well. do you see as any fear in western _ the final two as well. do you see as any fear in western to _ the final two as well. do you see as any fear in western to the caput - any fear in western to the caput forward to names to membership and then membership from their perspective could then choose the wrong candidate to be leader and prime minister? that his accusation leveled against having all members of the party in the past that person several given the choice between ken clark who they might not have light ideologically but was very experienced as a politician and audibly was more like to win middle ground voters to keep them on site for the conservatives, they chose the inductance method was much more pure ideologically to the spirit of his party at that stage but who just never really was able to convince a broad enough range of voters that he was the man for the job.—

was the man for the “ob. interesting this discussion, — was the man for the “ob. interesting this discussion, the — was the man for the job. interesting this discussion, the contrast - this discussion, the contrast between and the need to appeal both the tory party members who are voters but also the conservative mps in cells as well. we know in this week actually demonstrated just how many different sort of ideologies that are in the conservative party. we have on the one hand people like the arch brexiteers debugger putting themselves forward and he is somebody who is a member of that european research group, send to somebody on the right of the party, steve baker, try to tap into some of those strong brexiteers voters both of mps and also in the party as well. then you also have contrasting him with somebody who is with himself a word like tom tugendhat camisole to the centre of the party in a one nation conservative chemical because of the splits there is no consensus over who can appeal to both mps but also to the voters themselves and i think there are

certainly some names that have been thrown around they are widely touted as being popular with membership but sincerely don't have the same widespread support among mps themselves will think this is exactly the kind of process that will be whittled down over the next couple of weeks. first as i say bye mps are putting themselves forward and to shore up enough support from their own mps and colleagues but that also eventually with that crucial vote which is usually between the final two from the membership and what i think is striking for the general public to sort of feel about this is that there are really only about 100,000 or 200,000 conservative party members. these people who ultimately will pick the new party leader and by default then pick the new prime minister of the whole of the uk. fastening prospect and it's going to be a very lively numerical two weeks for you down there at westminster and enjoy it. thank you very much. japan's former and longest—serving prime minister has been assassinated during a campaign rally. shinzo abe was shot at close range while making a speech in nara

in the south of the country. he was taken to hospital by helicopter, but doctors were unable to save him. police arrested a 41—year—old man immediately after the attack. there is shock and disbelief injapan, which has low rates of violent crime and tough gun laws. the way he died plus that he was such an elder statesman. violent crime is so very rare. from nara, our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes reports. at 11 this morning, japan's former prime minister was out on the stump giving a speech, just as he has been but lurking a few metres away, this man was caught on camera

by a local tv crew. then suddenly two very loud bangs rang out. mr abe's bodyguards are on the assailant in seconds. bringing him to the ground and knocking at the homemade gun from his hand. the former prime minister is then flown to a nearby hospital, but the news is bad. he's been hit in the back and the neck and his heart has stopped. this is where mr abe was brought and this for hours to try to save his life. and it was from here that a little after 5pm that we got the news that mr abe had died. tonight, the whole ofjapan is in shock. there have been political assassinations here before, but nothing like this, certainly not in more than half a century. translation: l was shocked, - i never thought a gun would be used. using a gun injapan? i've never heard of this.

translation: it seems guns are becoming more common. j that makes me feel very sad. in tokyo, a tearful prime minister fumio kishida expressed his anger and sadness. translation: | prayed that - somehow his life would be spared, but unfortunately he has gone. this is a terrible day, and i have no words. | shinzo abe was a huge figure injapanese politics, serving longer than any other japanese leader. he was a friend of donald trump and broughtjapan and america are closer than ever. he also had his enemies, not least with china's xijinping, who did little to hide his displeasure at this meeting in 2014. this evening, police began searching the suspect�*s home, reportedly finding more home—made firearms. but we have no answer

to the question all here are asking. why? rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, nara, western japan. presidentjoe biden has signed an executive order to help safeguard women's access to abortion. the move follows the supreme court overturning the landmark ruling that made the procedure legal across the united states. speaking at the white house, mr biden condemned the supreme court's decision. this has paved the way for individual us states to decide if and how they will permit abortions to take place. sir mark rowley has been named as the new commissioner of the metropolitan police. he succeeds dame cressida dick, who stood down in february. that came under pressure from the mayor of london who said he no longer had confidence in her leadership. sir mark previously served as head of the met�*s counter—terrorism unit.

that is a nationwide responsibility that will remain with the mat under his leadership. petrol and diesel pricing will be further investigated by the uk's competition watchdog after it found cause for concern in some parts of the industry. the competition and markets authority said it had discovered a sharp rise in prices once fuel had been processed by oil refineries and significant differences in price between forecourts in many rural and urban areas. let's talk now to rod dennis from the rac. we recorded an interview with him for today but i know we have a lot more to tell us. i know it's been a busy day for you on this story. what do you make of the initial announcement by the watchdog authority because they look at this by the governmentjust authority because they look at this by the government just a authority because they look at this by the governmentjust a few authority because they look at this by the government just a few weeks ago. by the government 'ust a few weeks a a 0. , ., ., ., by the government 'ust a few weeks auo. ., ,, .,~ by the government 'ust a few weeks ago. good to speak to you and i think this _ ago. good to speak to you and i think this is — ago. good to speak to you and i think this is needed _ ago. good to speak to you and i

think this is needed from - ago. good to speak to you and i think this is needed from the i think this is needed from the competition market authority. we have been say here to rac for weeks at prices at the pumps are just too high. the wholesale price of fuel, the price which retailers paper, has been falling consistently for around about five or six weeks now and yet pump prices have stayed resolutely hot. in the midst of a cost—of—living crisis in frankly drivers of the moment need some relief at the palms and the way that is going to happen is for major retailers to price the fuel more fairly. you are right in the interim talking about the refinery into the market and there is lots and the fuel supply chains most people watching simply won't understand or all they know is a pay a price of the pumps. some of the good bit more transparency to people can actually understand why they pay with a dupe is extremely welcome. you understand why they pay with a dupe is extremely welcome.— understand why they pay with a dupe is extremely welcome. you made the oint about is extremely welcome. you made the point about the _ is extremely welcome. you made the point about the lower _ is extremely welcome. you made the point about the lower prices, - point about the lower prices, wholesale price is not being reported in the pump price will presumably that might partly at lease be determined by when the fuel was bought unnecessarily when it was delivered but when it was paid for

and it's possible where the light gas prices where you kind of biogas in advance in the hope that you are buying a cheaper than if you try to buying a cheaper than if you try to buy at the last minute and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose what if you lose your about to pass it on to the consumer. i if you lose your about to pass it on to the consumer.— to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think— to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think i _ to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think i would _ to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think i would say _ to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think i would say we - to the consumer. i think that's fair and i think i would say we have . and i think i would say we have got and i think i would say we have got a lot of him of the four small and independent fuel retailers in particular who don't sell as much fuel and are not selling as much as we move to the pandemic and we have got the increase in home—working and things like that and they don't buy fuel asked regularly. so i think for those retailers it will take much longer than to be able to reflect falls in the holes a market that is not the case of some of our major retailers who were buying fuel on a weekly basis was would benefit it at the moment from biofuel in a much cheaper rate today than they were four or five or six weeks ago and yet they are charging the same price at the pump and as a sent we've got at the pump and as a sent we've got a crisis in the government have started to look at this and we have a duty cut back in march and has not

gone far enough. enough is enough really for drivers. we are going to actually expensive summer and we need to be done and i think the further review by the competition market authority is very welcome and we hope it does not take too long. if changes are made which benefit drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ii drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ii think drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ~ drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ~ ., drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ~ ., ., drivers, they come in sooner rather than later. ~ ., ., ., than later. i think we have to leave it there but — than later. i think we have to leave it there but thank _ than later. i think we have to leave it there but thank you _ than later. i think we have to leave it there but thank you very - than later. i think we have to leave it there but thank you very much i than later. i think we have to leave | it there but thank you very much for talking to us more about that and i know it's a story we will have to come back to not least because everybody watching is very interested in it. thank you very much. at 7:30pm, it's dateline london, but first a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. i will bejoined by a team of luminaries for dateline and what they make about the departure of borisjohnson after he held out was that much of his government resigning and that is coming up

after the sport and the weather but let's go to now the bc sports here is austin. how are you? iam very i am very good and i hope you are too. we start with tennis because cameron norrie's dream run at wimbledon has come to an end. the british number one was beaten in four sets by defending champion novak djokovic. he'll now face nick kygrios in sunday's final, as he looks to seal a seventh title at the all england club. joe wilson reports. what steps these were for cameron norrie, following just three british men — roger taylor, tim henman and andy murray — who'd done this before him in the professional era. now it was his wimbledon semifinal. oh, and his, too. novak djokovic was the overwhelming favourite, with the experience, with the titles, with his very first service game broken. norrie burst into the match

with a roar of possibility, and in a flash... won the first set 6—2. honestly, it's there in black and white. then djokovic put on a cap and got his head into the game. norrie scrambled, stumbled and got up, but lost the second set. and now the reigning champion was reaching everything. with norrie 2—1 down, the crowd got chanting. crowd: let's go, norrie, let's go! and norrie did not give up. he's given wimbledon a great run. but 6—4 in the fourth and match to djokovic, a look towards a critic in the crowd and then words for his opponent. cameron didn't have much to lose. he was playing probably. the tournament of his life

and obviously playing at home is never easy, but i— wish him all the best. he's a great player, _ and i have a lot of respect for him. and those steps off the court are tough ones to take. there was better news for britain's alfie hewitt. he produced a remarkable comeback to reach his first wimbledon men's, wheelchair singles final. he came from a set and two breaks of serve down to beat gustavo fernandez of argentina. world number two hewitt meets japanese top seed shingo kunieda in sunday's final. at the women's european championship, favourites spain have got off to a winning start. they had an early scare against finland, though. linda sallstrom putting the underdogs ahead after less than a minute. but spain, one of the favourites for the title, recovered to lead at half—time after this, the second of their goals. this stoppage time penalty from mariona caldentey sealing a li—1win.

formula 1's budget cap has been increased by 3% to help teams cope with the inflation crisis. this year's figure was $140 million. mercedes will welcome the increase after both lewis hamilton and george russell crashed in the final session of qualifying in austria. they'll start tomorrow's sprint race from tenth and fifth respectively. red bull's max verstappen bounced back from a disappointing race at silverstone last weekend to claim pole, ahead of ferrari's charles leclerc and carlos sainz. there was a thrilling finish in the latest stage at the tour de france as defending champion tadej pogacar showed his class once again. in the first summit finish of this year's tour, the riders bided their time before making their move. but with the line approaching, pogacar managed to close down jonas vingegaard and claim his second stage win in as many days.

now, the former fifa president sepp blatter and vice—president michel platini have both been found not guilty following a fraud trial in switzerland. they were both on trial for a payment of around £1.6 million mr blatter made to platini when he was head of world football's governing body. they argued successfully that the transfer was a belated payment to mr platini. here's their reactions after the verdict. now it's finished, so i am happy. i am happy also for international football, and i think this court protects this matter very seriously and together with my lawyer... i5 protects this matter very seriously and together with my lawyer... is at and together with my lawyer... is of the biggest — and together with my lawyer... is of the biggest win _ and together with my lawyer... is of the biggest win of _ and together with my lawyer... is of the biggest win of your life? biggest victory of your life? it’s biggest victory of your life? it's 'ust us biggest victory of your life? it's just us but _ biggest victory of your life? it's just us but is — biggest victory of your life? it�*s just us but is a victory for me definitely, sure. it's what i said, is not a decision is important _ it's what i said, is not a decision is important but i speak about that and i_ is important but i speak about that and i tell_ is important but i speak about that and i tell the truth. football never

believe _ and i tell the truth. football never believe me kim if and this institution of fait accompli, they never_ institution of fait accompli, they never trusted me. institution of fait accompli, they nevertrusted me. but institution of fait accompli, they never trusted me. but now they trust me and _ never trusted me. but now they trust me and it's _ never trusted me. but now they trust me and it's a — never trusted me. but now they trust me and it's a great victory for me. that's all the sport for now. we'll have more for you on the bbc news channel later on. hello. the technical definition of a heatwave is for three consecutive days of temperatures above a certain threshold, which differs in different parts of the country. and it does look as if, as high pressure moves right across the uk this weekend, some spots in wales, not widely, but more of england from sunday will hit those thresholds and for three consecutive days — sunday, monday, tuesday. so, we are looking at a heatwave developing in some spots. scotland and northern ireland will warm up a bit, but briefly, and this is where we've been seeing over recent days quite a lot of cloud and some patchy rain and drizzle at times. and there'll still be a fair amount of cloud out there as we go through the night and into tomorrow morning. and particularly towards northern scotland, we'll see things

turning wetter on saturday. in fact, by the end of the day, some of these outbreaks of rain you see moving in will be getting heavier. but elsewhere, in the clouds towards the north and west of scotland, for northern ireland, you could see a spot of light rain. sunny spells eastern and southern scotland and across much of england and wales, though not necessarily clear blue sky. it's here temperatures after heating up on friday will take a little bit of a step backwards, but still feel very warm. not the hottest finals week at wimbledon, but it will feel hot. certainly on centre court, there will be plenty of sunshine. it will be dry out there, and this is the area of high pressure slap bang across us on sunday. deflecting rain—bearing weather fronts even further to the north, it's really towards northern isles on sunday, especially into shetland by the afternoon. not as breezy as it's been in scotland, more places here and in northern ireland seeing some sunny spells and feeling warmer as a result. and temperatures on the up again through england and wales, near 30 in the hot spots here. so, that heatwave starting and lasting through monday and tuesday in many areas of england, parts of wales,

as we see another day of lots of sunshine. we will see a weather front approaching north west scotland late on monday, eventually bringing some outbreaks of rain here. and it's that weather front which eventually is going to sweep southwards and take cooler air southwards as the week goes on. but for monday into tuesday, we are talking about a couple of days of temperatures into the low 30s towards the south east of england before this weather front eventually moves on through. so, a very warm start actually to the week, too, across parts of scotland and northern ireland. turning cooler here, temperatures dipping below average for the time of year. cooler, too, for wales and england eventually, although the further south you are, it'll stay very warm.

hello and welcome to the programme that brings together leading uk columnists with foreign correspondents who write, blog and broadcast from the dateline: london. britain's conservatives like to think of themselves as belonging to the natural party of government. this week, it's looked more like the natural party of farce. two cabinet ministers announced publicly they'd had enough. of of boris 0f borisjohnson. of boris johnson. mrjohnson 0f borisjohnson. mrjohnson had not had enough of himself.