this is bbc news. the headlines at 6pm: rishi sunak officially joins rishi sunak officiallyjoins the race to be the next conservative leader and prime minister. saturn in the culture secretary _ leader and prime minister. saturn in the culture secretary went - leader and prime minister. saturn in the culture secretary went public . the culture secretary went public with her support for him. penny mordaunt is still in the running despite running a distant third. she told the bbc she believes in cabinet led politics. i third. she told the bbc she believes in cabinet led politics.— in cabinet led politics. i have my views and _ in cabinet led politics. i have my views and i _ in cabinet led politics. i have my views and i won't _ in cabinet led politics. i have my views and i won't be _ in cabinet led politics. i have my views and i won't be imposing i in cabinet led politics. i have my - views and i won't be imposing policy in a room that ijust made up by myself. in a room that i 'ust made up by m self. , , in a room that i 'ust made up by m self. , ., myself. does boris johnson have enouah myself. does boris johnson have enough backers _ myself. does boris johnson have enough backers to _ myself. does boris johnson have enough backers to stand - myself. does boris johnson have enough backers to stand as - myself. does boris johnson have | enough backers to stand as well? myself. does boris johnson have - enough backers to stand as well? the enough hackers to stand as well? the labour leader sir keir starmer says

his party hasn't got complacent and repeats cold for a general election. the school is struggling to keep lights and heating on. head teachers warn rising gusts could see most schools run out of money by next year. jodie whittaker is set to make a final appearance as the doctor in doctor who. the first break cards from king charles and the rain concert camilla been sent out to people celebrating their good afternoon. rishi sunak has formally entered the contest to become the next conservative leader and prime minister. the former chancellor says he wants to lead the country with integrity, professionalism and accountability. he already has the required backing of more than 100 fellow tory mps. this afternoon suella braverman, the former home secretary became the lastest high profile mp

to endorse him. writing in the telegraph ms braverman says the tories all need to compromise but that "rishi is the only candidate that fits the bill to deliver unity, stability and efficiency. meanwhile the foreign secretary james cleverly is backing boris johnson. in a tweet he said that mrjohnson had learned lessons from his time in number 10 and will focus on the needs of the country. johnson has yet to declare his candidacy but held talks with mr sunak last night. penny mordaunt is also running but like mrjohnson has yet to achieve the required number of backers. here's our political correspondent helen catt. three potential prime ministers. two of them have officially said they want the job. the former chancellor rishi sunak has confirmed he is running, after getting more than the 100

backers he needs. in a tweet, he said he was standing because he wanted to fix the economy, unite the party and deliver for the country. penny mordaunt had already said she was in the race and is the only contender so far to go in front of the cameras. but she wouldn't be drawn on the detail of the policy she would pursue. yes or no. you stand by what you said a couple of weeks ago? you are trying very hard, laura. she insisted she hasn't done any deals to drop out. i am very confident about the progress we are making and i will say to you that i am in this to win it. it is important for our party, we have a contest and i am very confident about our numbers. the reason why i am doing this is because i think i am best placed to bring the party together. which just leaves borisjohnson to say what he plans to do. allies say he will run and insist he does have the numbers, despite the figure of public backers being just over half

of what is needed. clearly, he's going to stand, there is a great deal of support for him. people have a choice whether to make their names public or not. but the people doing the numbers for boris' campaign tell me they have the numbers, so the 100 that is necessary are there. another supporter said borisjohnson had promised to run a tighter ship if he went back to downing street. an investigation by mps is due to start soon about what he told parliament over the covid rule—breaking last time he was in charge. boris is an amazing figure in our party, an incredible campaigner, he lights up any room and if he was in charge of the campaigning, he could be an incredible asset, but as prime minister, we would be absolutely shackled to somebody who was bound to bring us down. the labour leader again said

there should be a general election to let the public decide. there are worries among tory mps that mr sunak would not be able to win votes in the same way as mrjohnson when the next election is called. but for now, he is the only declared candidate who is certain of a place on the ballot tomorrow. helen catt, bbc news. rishi sunak is the second candidate to declare, following penny mordaunt, who announced her candicacy on friday. mr sunak held talks with borisjohnson last night, who has yet to publically declare that he'll be entering the race. the bbc�*s tally indicates that mr sunak has already received the backing of 146 mps. that's significantly more than the 100 needed, to enter the ballot. borisjohnson has 57 and penny mordaunt has 24. joining me now is our political correspondent jonathan blake.

has been communication between the proposed candidates today? it has been communication between the proposed candidates today?— proposed candidates today? it does seem that way- _ proposed candidates today? it does seem that way. it's _ proposed candidates today? it does seem that way. it's reported - proposed candidates today? it does seem that way. it's reported boris i seem that way. it's reported boris johnson had a conversation with penny mordaunt earlier this afternoon in which he asked her to stand aside and support him for the leadership, but i'm told by one senior supporter of penny mordaunt thatis senior supporter of penny mordaunt that is not going to happen. in their words, that is not going to happen. in theirwords, penny that is not going to happen. in their words, penny mordaunt can't see how he can in any way bring this ability we now urgently need. attempts to do some sort of a deal or a fit, but as things stand, rishi sunak and borisjohnson met yesterday. it doesn't seem like anything was agreed there is far as we could tell, but we have three contenders who are all saying, apart from borisjohnson hasn't said anything, but the supporters are saying, they are all in it to win it. we await that deadline of 2pm

tomorrow afternoon when a maximum of three of them would be able to submit 100 to formally enter the contest. ~ , ., , submit 100 to formally enter the contest. , ., , , submit 100 to formally enter the contest. , ., , ~ , contest. why does boris johnson keep hanuain contest. why does boris johnson keep hanging on? — contest. why does boris johnson keep hanging on? you _ contest. why does boris johnson keep hanging on? you does _ contest. why does boris johnson keep hanging on? you does that. _ contest. why does boris johnson keep hanging on? you does that. we've - hanging on? you does that. we've seen that ever _ hanging on? you does that. we've seen that ever since _ hanging on? you does that. we've seen that ever since les _ hanging on? you does that. we've seen that ever since les truss - seen that ever since les truss resigned. it would be an incredible comeback. his campaign are adamant that he has the required level of support needed and at some point you would think you will hear from the man himself. will that be at the last minute at some point maybe tomorrow morning before that deadline approaches when the campaign can be absolutely certain that they have the numbers required and that he has decided. he may not yet have come to the view that he's going to enter the contest and take probably rishi sunak.— probably rishi sunak. we've had several endorsements _ probably rishi sunak. we've had several endorsements today - probably rishi sunak. we've had. several endorsements today from former and serving cabinet ministers

former and serving cabinet ministers for the various candidates, all post candidates. how significant have they been?— candidates. how significant have the been? ,, ., . ., they been? significant once a day were suella _ they been? significant once a day were suella braverman _ they been? significant once a day were suella braverman coming i they been? significant once a day. were suella braverman coming out they been? significant once a day - were suella braverman coming out to support rishi sunak being the most significant endorsement so far really in the contest certainly today. she is a key figure on the right of the party and in normal times you might have expected her to be a natural supporter of boris johnson. she wrote a piece for the telegraph this afternoon about the conservatives facing a possible wipe—out in the next general election and stability is needed and can be provided by rishi sunak. that he is the clear front runner in the contest. another key brexiteer on the right of the party throwing his weight behind rishi sunak. the foreign secretary backing boris johnson and he has several high figure profile supporters, so the

numbers continue to tech up, but as i say, borisjohnson in terms of public support is quite a long way short. i public support is quite a long way short. ~ ., i. public support is quite a long way short. ~ ., ,, , public support is quite a long way short. ~ ., , ~ , short. i know you will be keeping oure es short. i know you will be keeping your eyes on _ short. i know you will be keeping your eyes on the _ short. i know you will be keeping your eyes on the numbers. - short. i know you will be keeping | your eyes on the numbers. thank short. i know you will be keeping - your eyes on the numbers. thank you. paul bristow is the conservative mp for peterborough. he's supporting boris johnson. how confident are you that boris johnson will officially declare his running? i’m johnson will officially declare his runninu? �* ., , , johnson will officially declare his runninu? �* , running? i'm absolutely confident he has the sunport _ running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to _ running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to do _ running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to do so _ running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to do so and - running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to do so and i - running? i'm absolutely confident he has the support to do so and i fully l has the support to do so and i fully expect borisjohnson to be on the ballot paper tomorrow and hopefully borisjohnson will be the next prime minister? boris johnson will be the next prime minister? ~ ., boris johnson will be the next prime minister? ~ . ., ~ , boris johnson will be the next prime minister? . .,~ boris johnson will be the next prime minister? ~ . .,~ , minister? what makes you so confident that _ minister? what makes you so confident that he _ minister? what makes you so confident that he has - minister? what makes you so confident that he has the - minister? what makes you so - confident that he has the requisite number of mps and why aren't they coming forward publicly and backing him? ., ., ., , ., ., him? you have to understand that several of them _ him? you have to understand that several of them are _ him? you have to understand that several of them are whips - him? you have to understand that several of them are whips and - him? you have to understand that| several of them are whips and that means you have to be neutral during this contest, you have to have a functioning government. several of

them are on the executive of the 1922 committee, coming up with rules to do this and they say it wouldn't be right to openly declare. several of them are officials with the conservative party, the conservative party officially had to be neutral. i am confident boris has the numbers and will be in this contest and in it to win it. if and will be in this contest and in it to win it-_ and will be in this contest and in it to win it. ., , .,, ., ., it to win it. if he does drop out or doesnt it to win it. if he does drop out or doesn't declare, _ it to win it. if he does drop out or doesn't declare, i _ it to win it. if he does drop out or doesn't declare, i suppose - it to win it. if he does drop out or doesn't declare, i suppose a - it to win it. if he does drop out or i doesn't declare, i suppose a better way of putting it, how will that make you feel, will you feel like he's led you off the top of the mountain and had to come back down again? i mountain and had to come back down auain? ., �* ~' mountain and had to come back down auain? ., �* ~ ., again? i wouldn't feel like that. when i realised _ again? i wouldn't feel like that. when i realised that _ again? i wouldn't feel like that. when i realised that liz - again? i wouldn't feel like that. when i realised that liz truss . again? i wouldn't feel like that. l when i realised that liz truss had resigned, i said when i realised that liz truss had resigned, isaid borisjohnson should return and stand as prime minister. i did that without any back channel to borisjohnson. i did it without any conversation with him, i did it because i felt it

would be best for the conservative party, but most importantly our country. borisjohnson has a mandate. he won convincingly that 2019 government. that was an exciting 2019 manifesto and we have to get on with that. we have covid to get on with that. we have covid to deal with, brexit, a war in ukraine, we need to charge on with that 2019 manifesto and hopefully we will see a conservative majority in the next general election. lets will see a conservative ma'ority in the next general election. lets talk about that- — the next general election. lets talk about that. having _ the next general election. lets talk about that. having the _ the next general election. lets talk| about that. having the governments priorities changed since then? he was elected to get brexit done, which he did, but now the priority is the cost of living crisis, isn't it? ., ., w ., it? you are right, he faced an extraordinary _ it? you are right, he faced an extraordinary time _ it? you are right, he faced an extraordinary time as - it? you are right, he faced an extraordinary time as prime l extraordinary time as prime minister. he got brexit done when lots of people said that was impossible. he got that brexit deal done. he got that covid situation

and brought together the international coalition with the war international coalition with the war in ukraine. were in a different position since brexit with extra nurses and gps being recruited, we built a new university in my situation see, that wouldn't have happened had borisjohnson not one and if i hadn't returned as the mp for peterborough. there's so much more to do. yes, were in choppy time is caused by the covid pandemic and the war in ukraine, but we need to get through those times and come out the other side better and more successful. to the other side better and more successful-— the other side better and more successful. ., , , ., ., successful. to pick you up on one other thing _ successful. to pick you up on one other thing you — successful. to pick you up on one other thing you said, _ successful. to pick you up on one other thing you said, you - successful. to pick you up on one other thing you said, you said - successful. to pick you up on one l other thing you said, you said boris johnson is best for the conservative party and the country, how can that be when he is under investigation by the commons privileges and centres agency about whether he lied to parliament. how big can he be the fit and proper person to take high office again?—

fit and proper person to take high office again? reactive respect that rocess office again? reactive respect that process and _ office again? reactive respect that process and boris _ office again? reactive respect that process and boris has _ office again? reactive respect that process and boris has said - office again? reactive respect that process and boris has said that. i process and boris has said that. there are differing views about that and how it will play out. most people in my city are telling me they want us to focus on that levelling up agenda. remember boris johnson started that agenda and that's why it's so important. they want us to focus on getting nhs waiting lists down, focus on the cost of living crisis and boris johnson in my mind is best placed to deliver against all of those. lets leave it there. _ deliver against all of those. lets leave it there. good _ deliver against all of those. lets leave it there. good to have you with us, many thanks stop leave it there. good to have you with us, many thanks sto this morning there was a stark warning from the former governor of the bank of england, lord king. he said whoever

is in power will need to impose public spending cuts or tax rises in order to tackle inflation. mervyn king said central banks had got it wrong by printing money — to support people during the pandemic. i think all central banks made the mistake during the lockdown period of thinking that they should print a lot of money to support the economy. whereas in fact, with the economy contracting under lockdown, that was the wrong policy. and all central banks, not just ours, but the federal reserve, the european central bank are all facing now, very high inflation rates of close to 10%. that was a former governor of the bank of england. our business correspondent marc ashdown has been following this. quantitative easing, or qe, it's one of those big, scary sort of confusing phrases, but it is actually quite simple. it's when central banks buy government bonds to stimulate their economies, but because the money doesn't really exist you can say they are printing money. now, it is happening all over the world, it has done since the financial crisis, but the problem, lord king says, happened during the covid lock downs. the covid lockdowns. money was already being pumped into the economy via furlough to help people and businesses, and he says egged on by economists

the banksjust kept on doing it. and he said that was a mistake. and it contributed to inflation going up. now he says it is time for politicians to front up, to start bringing down inflation with policies that lead to slow growth over many years. but they also need to be honest with the public about the scale of tax rises and spending cuts that might require. he says, actually, there is a case now for more money to go into public spending because of the damage done by the pandemic. we all know cuts are probably on their way. he warns that that could spell a period of austerity which could be even more difficult than the last. ukraine's army claims that russian forces are continuing to retreat from the city of kherson in the south. defending troops are maintaining their counter—offensives towards the west of the regional capital — and they say that invading forces are setting up new positions across the dnipro river. moscow has been accused of placing explosives on a key dam as it pulls out — which it denies. 0ur ukraine correspondent

james waterhouse has been to some of the recently liberated villages in the area. in the kherson region, there is activity, military movements back and forth from ukraine's counter—offensive, a logistical artery weaving through recently liberated villages. after months of shelling, it's finally quiet. ukraine is back in control. but of what? communities like khreshchenivka looted and destroyed. there have been times when 69—year—old fedir thought he was going to starve to death. "we lived under explosions and shelling", he says. "those russians said they were liberators. in reality, they started robbing us. it's not why i'm crying.

i'm crying because we spent half a year under explosions". outside the nursery, there are holes, one from a shell and more from shrapnel. all that's left of the pupils are their names. they left long ago. translation: when i came here for the first time after liberation, | ijust stood here and cried. it is really hard. so there's nothing left? aliona's own home was looted after she escaped. they took almost everything. you learn a lot about the russian occupiers just by looking around. this school was their headquarters, supplies and rubbish scattered everywhere. not the footprint of a disciplined force, but of one fighting in squalor, which left in a hurry. there are endless moments when this war feels pointless, and this is one of them.

whether villages like this are occupied or liberated, the result is the same. communities are destroyed. but there is relief here, and a belief that people can one day heal. and those are the reasons why ukraine continues to fight. liberation in this region is fiercely contested. if achieved, it doesn't bring instant normality either. but in the words of one ukrainian soldier, what choice do they have? james waterhouse, bbc news, kherson region. head teachers in england say 9 out of 10 schools will have run out of money by the next school year due to the cost—of—living crisis and spiralling energy prices. the teaching profession is calling on the government to stand by its 2019 election pledge to restore education spending to what it was in 2010, before public spending was cut under austerity. before public spending kathryn stanczyszyn reports.

before public spending an unprecedented funding crisis in education as the everyday gets more expensive. that's the warning from many who work in schools who say the reality is stark. a recent survey indicates the burden of rising energy costs as well as salary increases means nine out of ten schools could run out of money by next september. i know of one colleague who has been round his school and taken out all of the light bulbs that he doesn't think are essential. i have talked to school leaders that are not putting their heating on until absolutely necessary. things like trips and visits and all the extra things that sometimes schools put on are not going to be happening this year. it comes as 13 education bodies have written an open letter to conservative mps urging them to put the issue at the forefront of their minds when choosing a new prime minister. they say current forecasts show a £2 billion black hole by 2024, a desperate situation that will severely impact the quality of education.

steve chalke says energy costs for the 52 schools in his academy chain havejumped from £26,000 a year to just under 90,000. we are paying three times as much for our energy, even after government support, three times as much as we were this time last year. that means we are spending through our reserves so that the situation cannot continue forever. you cannot do that and survive. the department for education says it is increasing budgets this year and that all schools will benefit from the government scheme to discount energy costs. the national association of head teachers has announced it is balloting members for strike action over funding for the first time in its 125—year history. as the cost of living crisis deepens, schools are finding their financial balancing acts even more precarious. kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.

king charles and the queen consort have sent their first ever cards to hundreds of people celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays across the united kingdom. irene lloyd, who worked on a dairy farm during the second world war, was one of the first people to receive the new cards to mark her 100th birthday last month. the tradition dates back to 1917, when those celebrating big life milestones were sent a telegram of good wishes from king george v. and mrs lloyd's son, ian, who is her carer, joins us now. first of all, happy birthday to your mum who turned 100 last month. tell me what her reaction was. thank ou. we tell me what her reaction was. thank you- we got — tell me what her reaction was. thank you- we got it _ tell me what her reaction was. thank you- we got it on _ tell me what her reaction was. thank you. we got it on saturday _ tell me what her reaction was. thank you. we got it on saturday and - tell me what her reaction was. thank you. we got it on saturday and it - you. we got it on saturday and it was a surprise in the end because we thought it was never coming. her

birthday was the 25th of september and i had a letter that i had to contact an office to do with the government in that office was closed the moment the queen dies, so i couldn't get in touch with anybody. and eventually i did and i was told it would come through possibly in another few weeks, so we weren't given a date so rather than waiting for the day, her birthday was the 25th of september, it could come any day. it came on saturday and it was a delight amongst all the bills and paraphernalia. my mum was really pleased. it's a great delight. tell us about the _ pleased. it's a great delight. tell us about the card. what does it look like? , ., us about the card. what does it look like? , . . ., ., like? yes, we have the card. one of the thins like? yes, we have the card. one of the things i — like? yes, we have the card. one of the things i presume _ like? yes, we have the card. one of the things i presume was _ like? yes, we have the card. one of the things i presume was that - like? yes, we have the card. one of the things i presume was that with l the things i presume was that with the things i presume was that with the death of the queen, it would be photographs ofjust thinking. an

elderly man in a suit. so after all the years of the queen it was nice that camilla is with him and if you see inside you can see it is signed auto pen, i suppose, see inside you can see it is signed auto pen, isuppose, but see inside you can see it is signed auto pen, i suppose, but it is signed by both of them. the greeting is from both of them and i think it's very nice and as part of that warmer culture we have with the monarchy in the last few weeks. the walkabout outside the palace and things like that. it's slightly less formal than we are used to. it’s formal than we are used to. it's interesting _ formal than we are used to. it's interesting that the queen consort features on the card, because when the queen sent her birthday cards to people 100 and over the only featured her, they didn't feature prince philip.— featured her, they didn't feature prince phili. , ., , prince philip. never. her christmas cards dead. — prince philip. never. her christmas cards dead. but _ prince philip. never. her christmas cards dead, but not _ prince philip. never. her christmas cards dead, but not the _ prince philip. never. her christmas cards dead, but not the greeting. l

—— did. i think before the rain of the queen, i don't think they sent photographs, it wasjust queen, i don't think they sent photographs, it was just the greeting. photographs, it was 'ust the aareetin. ~ ., , photographs, it was 'ust the rureetin.~ . , photographs, it was 'ust the aareetin. ~ ., , ., ., greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? i — greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? ithink— greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? i think keep _ greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? i think keep it _ greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? i think keep it to - greeting. what is your mum going to do with it? i think keep it to show i do with it? i think keep it to show --eole. do with it? i think keep it to show people- it's _ do with it? i think keep it to show people. it's quite _ do with it? i think keep it to show people. it's quite an _ do with it? i think keep it to show| people. it's quite an achievement. the great thing is she's part of that generation the queen was which is the world war ii generation. some arguably say it is the best generation that's ever been. it's a lovely keepsake to show people. we are out of time am afraid, but many congratulations to you and your family. thank you again for talking to us. jodie whittaker will make her final doctor who appearance in a 90—minute special on bbc one later. the actress made history in 2017 as the first woman to take on the lead role

in the long—running sci—fi drama. her last epsiode airs at 7:30pm this evening — and here's a snippet of the trailer. welcome to the end of your existence. a dozen of the world's leading - seismologists have gone missing. 15 of the world's most valuable paintings have disappeared. i what a landing! can i let you in on a little secret? a dalek incursion - on earth is imminent. has it never occurred to you that it could be a trap? josh rom is a freelance entertainment correspondent — and a fan of the show. i'm very much looking forward to this evening. this last episode named the power of the doctor will see jodie whittaker go up against daleks, cybermen and also the master — three of the most iconic villains of the franchise. i'm expecting big things from the episode tonight. how would you assess her?

i think she's done a remarkable job. before her, there were 12 incarnations of the doctor. all male. even though there were plot points in the series for the doctor to be a female character, we saw this with michelle gomez as the master. it was always open for the doctor to be a female. butjodie made it possible. jodie was the one that broke that barrier, broke that glass ceiling and said to girls up and down the country, yes, i can play a male dominated character. that has been male dominated for generations, decades back. she was the first female. she had a good tenure. if we compare it to other doctors. very similar to david tennant who played the doctor from 2010 to 2015. he's widely considered to be

one of the most popular doctors of all time. the longest serving doctor was tom baker who plagued him for seven years, so even comparatively, jodie has had a very good run. lots of people think she's great. there are some armchair critics and critics who are paid for a living history she hasn't necessarily been helped by the storylines and also having a lot of different companions she had tojuggle. what are your thoughts on that? you make a very valid point. some of the companions are some of the most important characters in doctor who franchise. in my formative years, i remember catherine tate playing donna noble and she was one of my favourites. they are very important figureheads

in the franchise itself, but we are seeing the return to native to historical companions. we are seeing ace and tegan returning to the franchise. they haven't appeared since the 1980s. we are going to see some throwbacks to salvage our into episode. listen, the choice to cast a female lead in the role of the doctor which was previously, historically played by men, that was always going to be a controversial move. this is a franchise that a lot of people care very passionately about. as i said before, jodie whittaker has had a very good run of five years, broken down barriers for girls up and down the country, and i think she gave the franchise a much—needed boost. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello.

two areas of rain to look out for. much of the thundery element now pushing into scotland and clearing from northern ireland, so heavy, thundery showers pushing up from the south and those will continue to work their way north and eastwards through england and wales for this evening and overnight. that band of rain weakening as it pulls its way northwards. clear spells developing behind that band of rain and quite gusty showers for coasts. reaching 55 mph. another mild night. showers will clear through the morning to leave sunshine behind, some showers pushing in from the west as the day moves on. hitand miss. not everyone will see them. feeling mild if not warm in the sunshine, 15 up to 18 celsius. staying mild day and night. drier and sunnier spots but also further spots of rain for

these early headlines... rishi sunak officiallyjoins these early headlines... rishi sunak officially joins the these early headlines... rishi sunak officiallyjoins the race to be the next conservative leader and prime minister. this afternoon, the culture secretary has gone public with her support for him. penny mordaunt is still in the running despite running a distant third in declared mp nominations. she told the bbc she believes in cabinet lead to politics. the question now, does borisjohnson to politics. the question now, does boris johnson have to politics. the question now, does borisjohnson have enough backers to politics. the question now, does borisjohnson have enough hackers to stand as well? the labour leader says his party hasn't got complacent and repeats calls for a general election. more headlines at 7pm. now on bbc news, it's time for sportsday. hello, and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun.