tonight at ten — just two weeks after taking office — rishi sunak suffers his first cabinet resignation. sir gavin williamson has faced growing claims of misconduct, including bullying and harrassment of colleagues and officials. he was appointed to the cabinet, despite the prime minister being aware of some of the complaints against him. just two weeks into office commit serious questions for rishi sunak about hisjudgment. we'll have the latest from westminster where two investigations into sir gavin's conduct are already underway. also tonight...

in qatar, a senior football ambassador says homosexuality is "damage in the mind" — and that visitors to the world cup will have to respect the country's laws. the fight for power in the us congress — as trump and biden rally the party troops for the mid—term elections. ding—dong, you're not wrong! and leslie phillips — best known for his roles in the carry on films — has died at the age of 98. and coming up on the bbc news channel: a losing start for britain in the billiejean king cup, in their opener with kazakhstan. it means they could face an early exit in glasgow. good evening. it's taken just two weeks to prompt the first cabinet resignation of rishi sunak�*s premiership.

a short while ago sir gavin williamson resigned as a senior minister following days of allegations about his conduct. he said he aimed to clear his name "of any wrongdoing." downing street was already investigating accusations of bullying and harrassment and sir gavin has also been reported to the parliamentary authorities over allegedly abusive messages to a conservative colleague. earlier today downing street insisted the prime minister had full confidence in sir gavin. but rishi sunak, who promised a government of "integrity and accountabililty," now faces more questions about his decision to appoint sir gavin in the first place. our political correspondent damian grammaticas has the latest. it was exactly two weeks ago that gavin williamson was brought back into government on the very first day rishi sunak was prime minister. a controversialfigure, but day rishi sunak was prime minister. a controversial figure, but mounting bullying accusations have now forced to resign. in his letter tonight, he

wrote... on the steps of downing street rishi sunak had made this pledge... this government — sunak had made this pledge... “m 3 government will have sunak had made this pledge... “m 1 government will have integrity, professionalism, and accountability at every level. but professionalism, and accountability at every level-— at every level. but he was criticised _ at every level. but he was criticised for _ at every level. but he was criticised for having - at every level. but he was | criticised for having around at every level. but he was - criticised for having around his cabinet table gavin williamson and others thought to be there as a reward for supporting rishi sunak�*s a bid to be party leader. negations of bullying have mounted since the weekend against williamson, that he sent expletive laden text messages to the then chief whip, that he made bullying comments to a civil servant, and both figures have lodged complaints, and his former deputy whip tonight claimed he acted

unethically and in a threatening manner. as they arrive for their cabinet meeting this morning, ministers said the complaints process should run its course. there is a process going — process should run its course. there is a process going on, _ process should run its course. there is a process going on, as _ process should run its course. there is a process going on, as you - process should run its course. there is a process going on, as you know. | is a process going on, as you know. the claims snowballed throughout the day and that was short—circuited, and in his reply rishi sunak tonight said... the opposition party says rishi sunak�*sjudgment has the opposition party says rishi sunak�*s judgment has been the opposition party says rishi sunak�*sjudgment has been poor. it sunak'sjudgment has been poor. it is right he resigned but this is another example of rishi sunak�*s weak leadership and poorjudgment. weak leadership and poor judgment. he weak leadership and poorjudgment. he appointed gavin williamson despite knowing the serious allegations about his conduct and yet he repeatedly expressed full confidence in him.— yet he repeatedly expressed full confidence in him. gavin williamson was brought — confidence in him. gavin williamson was brought into _ confidence in him. gavin williamson was brought into government - confidence in him. gavin williamson was brought into government first l confidence in him. gavin williamson| was brought into government first by david cameron but he was sacked as theresa may's defence sector e—a lakes and seek to gain as the education secretary under boris

johnson and now he has gone for a third time —— defence secretary for leaks and sacked again as the education secretary.- leaks and sacked again as the education secretary. rishi sunak has not m education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number— education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number if— education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number if he _ education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number if he wants - education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number if he wants to - education secretary. rishi sunak has got my number if he wants to know. got my number if he wants to know who to appoint next. last got my number if he wants to know who to appoint next.— got my number if he wants to know who to appoint next. last week rishi sunak faced — who to appoint next. last week rishi sunak faced attacks _ who to appoint next. last week rishi sunak faced attacks in _ who to appoint next. last week rishi sunak faced attacks in parliament. sunak faced attacks in parliament for his appointment of suella braverman as home secretary and tomorrow he is back in the chamber and facing no doubt more criticism of his choices. the difficult question for rishi sunak tonight is that one that he knew there was a complaint against gavin williamson before he appointed him, that day two weeks ago, but he had not inquired about the substance, and that is why opposition parties are saying there is little difference between rishi sunak and his predecessors borisjohnson and liz truss, so he will face questions about that and questions as well about that and questions as well about suella braverman who remains in the cabinet but had had to resign just a week before rishi sunak brought her back in. studio: thanks

forjoining us. with just 12 days to go to the start of the football world cup in qatar there are renewed doubts about the suitability of the arab state to host the tournament. sepp blatter, the former president of fifa, football's governing body, said he'd always been of the view that awarding the world cup to qatar had been a "mistake" as the country was "too small" to host the event. and there's been worldwide criticism of remarks by khalid salman — a former qatari professional footballer — now a world cup ambassador — who said homosexuality was "damage in the mind" and warned gay people that they would have to accept the country's rules when they visited. qatar has been consistently criticised for its stance on same—sex relationships, its record on human rights, and its treatment of migrant workers. our sports correspondent jane dougall reports. in qatar this could see you in prison or even given the death penalty.

this protest is to pressure fifa ahead of a world cup in a country where same—sex relationships are illegal. and just days before the tournament begins an ambassador for the world cup, khalid salman, has told a german broadcaster that homosexuality is "haram", which means forbidden. but he went further, denouncing same—sex relationships. but do you think gay is haram? it's haram, because why is it haram? i am not one big muslim, but it's haram why? because it's damage in the mind. at this point, a world cup official steps in to bring the interview to an abrupt halt. his words have upset many, including helen hardy, founder of lgbt football team manchester laces. it was so definite, what was said, and so deeply offensive, and i don't think it could be taken any other way, so we're quite clear on how they feel about lgbtq+ people.

the 2022 fifa world cup is qatar! it's been controversial from the start. there was widespread criticism 12 years ago when qatar was announced as the hosts. the then fifa resident sepp blatter has since been banned from football over a corruption scandal. speaking to the bbc for an upcoming 5live podcast, blatter admitted it had been a mistake, not because homosexuality is outlawed or their poor human rights' record, but because of the size of the country. it's a big, big organisation which needs also a big country. qatar is too small to do that, i said to myself. i was right at a certain time to say it is... we should not go there. the danger to lgbt people has prompted england captain harry kane to join with wales captain gareth bale in announcing they will wear a "one love" armband for the tournament. it has prompted a wider debate

about sportswashing. as an england supporting homosexual it is not safe for someone like me to watch the world cup in qatar. because of the human rights abuses of migrant workers and qatar's lgbt population, i personally don't think qatar should ever have been awarded a major sporting competition. more than a million visitors are expected to travel to the world cup. organisers have said everyone is welcome, but khalid salman's contradictory words have raised more questions over the safety of lgbt supporters. jane dougall, bbc news. tens of millions of americans are voting in the midterm elections in which the republicans are hoping to gain a majority in the us congress, which could put a block on president biden's agenda, and quite possibly pave the way for donald trump to run again for the presidency. congress is made up of two houses — the house of representatives

and the senate. lower house and upper house. currently the democrats have a majority in both. every seat in the house is up for election with polls suggesting the democrats could lose control, and a third of the senate seats are being contested. what about the topics of discussion? the cost of living, abortion rights, immigration and crime are issues that have dominated the campaign. the us senate is particularly tight — it's split 50/50 between republicans and democrats — with the vice president kamala harris holding the deciding vote. these are six of the key races to watch — with most too close to call. if any of these seats change hands — it could decide who controls

the senate. in a moment we'll talk to our north america editor sarah smith in washington — but first our correspondent john sudworth is in philadelphia in the state of pennsylvania. pennsylvania is such an important battleground? it pennsylvania is such an important battleground?— battleground? it is. i'm in an old ale house _ battleground? it is. i'm in an old ale house in _ battleground? it is. i'm in an old ale house in downtown - battleground? it is. i'm in an old i ale house in downtown philadelphia and people will be turning up here and people will be turning up here and they can watch the results unfolding on the big screens and they will be watching from a pub that dates back to 1860, the eve of the american civil war and an event that some people see dark echoes of intraday�*s to divided political landscape. it has been in evidence in this state throughout this campaign is specially in a key senate race that pits dr oz, a republican, against his democratic opponentjohn fetterman who has been living out his own personal health crisis that is campaign after suffering a stroke earlier this year

and that has complicated the race and that has complicated the race and left the polling too close to court so this is one state, one of the few which could have a real bearing on congress —— too close to call. will president biden be able to govern effectively or will he be left as a lame duck president for the remainder of his term? one final detail, there is a legal wrangling in the courts in pennsylvania over a small section of mail in ballots which tells you how things are very close but also how politicised the process has become.— process has become. sarah is in washington- _ process has become. sarah is in washington. that _ process has become. sarah is in washington. that is _ process has become. sarah is in washington. that is the - process has become. sarah is in washington. that is the scene l process has become. sarah is in | washington. that is the scene in pennsylvania, but what about in washington in terms of the importance? what is at stake in this set of elections?— set of elections? president biden sa s set of elections? president biden says nothing _ set of elections? president biden says nothing less _ set of elections? president biden says nothing less than _ set of elections? president biden| says nothing less than democracy itself is on the ballot this year, in a country where many people still believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen. republicans are

convinced voters are more concerned about the economy than democracy and they are confident they will win a majority in the house of representatives, and the senate is too close to call at the moment. evenif too close to call at the moment. even if the republicans only when the house they will still be able to block almost every piece of legislation that president biden proposes and they will also try to impeach him even though they have not decided what they want to impeach him for yet, and we will start getting results tonight but we won't get all of them and it is important to remember that because a lot of postal votes can be counted until the polls have closed and it will be a few days before we know the final results. it was a delay like that in 2020 which led to the claims of electoral fraud because at first the results which came in on the night donald trump was ahead and then when they counted more of the mail in a ballotsjoe biden overtook him and that is where the claims of fraud came from. we have heard of cases in arizona where voting

machines have not been working which have now been fixed but this has already set off claims of fraud and cheating in this election.— cheating in this election. to both of ou, cheating in this election. to both of you. thanks — cheating in this election. to both of you, thanks for _ cheating in this election. to both of you, thanks forjoining - cheating in this election. to both of you, thanks forjoining us. - and you can watch all the results as they come in tonight on our us mid—terms election programme beginning on bbc two on our us mid—terms election from 11:15pm or on the bbc iplayer app. job vacancies in adult social care are at record levels. the alzheimers' society says the system in england is in gridlock and there are concerns that the welfare of those living with conditions like dementia is being put at risk. one in ten carejobs is currently vacant — a rapid rise since last year. wages for people working in social care start at the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour and many find themselves overstretched and doing overtime for no pay.

the shortages mean that more than half a million adults are still waiting for the care support they need. earlier this year, our correspondent jeremy cooke went to visit drjo wilson, who is in her 60s and has dementia. she is looked after by her husband bill at their home in newcastle. they have now lost the support that home carers had been providing. jeremy has been back to find out how they're coping. up, stand up. we first met bill and jo back in the summer. no, don't sit down again, stand up. she is living with alzheimer's. both are living with the impact. their story struck a chord. i had the most phenomenal worldwide response to that. people will be thinking that things couldn't have got worse for bill and jo. i'm sitting here today, jeremy, saying things have got dramatically worse. worse because the carers who were coming in twice a day

are not now coming at all. and the sad thing was, they had onlyjust recognised that we needed more care. they actually withdrew all care? everything, everything. newcastle city council tell us the care provider they use simply doesn't have the people to care forjo. the system has writtenjo off. for bill, it's a new low. joe but bev reed, ceo of the bradbury centre, has come to the rescue. they stepped in with extra help. they get her dressed for bed but after that, they get her dressed for bed but afterthat, it they get her dressed for bed but after that, it is back in the car. every night bill copes alone. things have got to the point where i really have to consider... ..residential care forjo.

it's not what i ever wanted to happen. i wantjo here with me. but the bradbury has its problems, too. they have prepared a new residential care bedroom perfect forjo but still empty. we can't have jo here as a resident until all the approvals process is complete. frustrating delays at a time of national shortages of care home beds. it's just... ..a sin, really. approval comes from the care quality commission, which says it cannot compromise safety for speed. we can put a respite bed in here... but the bradbury also has two respite rooms, also empty, also waiting for the paperwork. space that could help free up desperately needed hospital beds. when you see a queue _ of ambulances, think social care.

that simple? it's that simple, because it is. social care that is blocking those beds or preventing those beds being reused for— medically urgent cases. the dramatic changes in government mean still more uncertainty. for the care sector, for bill and jo, and for so many families like them. unless we can actually do something and force that change to start happening now, we are going to be talking about this very same problem in 20 or 30 years' time. goodnight, then. there's no tomorrow forjo and me. our tomorrow has come and gone. jeremy cooke, bbc news, newcastle. at the cop27 climate summit in egypt, china has said it will plant 70 billion trees by the end of the decade to help counter climate change. but a report backed by the un has made it clear that developing countries and emerging economies will need far more to slow

the rate of global warming and to cope with its impact. in 2009, richer countries agreed to provide $100 billion a year to developing nations for climate action by the end of 2020. as you can see, by the end of that year, the total had only reached $83.3 billion. the goal is expected to be reached in 2023. not only are the existing promises of climate finance not currently being met, but developing countries argue that these targets are too low. and today, a new report from the un says developing countries needed $2 trillion annually by 2030 to tackle global warming. our climate editor justin rowlatt reports. you can't move for global leaders here in egypt. there'sjohn kerry, the us climate envoy,

and the former governor of the bank of england. billionaire philanthropist michael bloomberg isn't talking, but nicola sturgeon is. she says developed countries have a duty to help on climate. i don't think any of us are doing enough yet. island nations in places like the caribbean are already battered by hurricanes. climate change is likely to make those storms even more intense. producers of fossil fuels have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilisation. the prime minister of barbados is leading efforts to reform international financial institutions, like the world bank and the international monetary fund, to make it easierfor developing nations to access cash for climate. justice and solidarity. justice is simply about fair play and solidarity... without solidarity, small countries, small people like me can't make it.

i believe that this is a conversation whose time has come. today, the work of the conference begins in earnest, an army of diplomats and lawyers seeking agreements. this is the main conference hall where the leaders speak, and as you walk around this truly vast convention centre, you get an idea of the range of issues under discussion. there are lots of representatives of the fossil fuel industry here too. there is pressure to have gas defined as a green fuel — yeah, because its lower carbon than coal and oil — and there are hundreds of businesses here too. today, the un announced an effort to stop greenwashing, companies pretending to be environmentally friendly when they're not really. with so many issues on the agenda and so many opposing views, finding compromises is going to be hard. but it will be the only way to make progress here in the desert sands. justin rowlatt, bbc news, egypt.

more than 70,000 lecturers and other staff at 150 universities across the uk will strike for three days later this month. the university and college union said the walk—outs would take place on november the 24th, 25th and 30th. the union is involved in a long—running dispute about pay, working conditions and pensions. the united nations has called for the "immediate release" of the british—egyptian pro—democracy activist alaa abd el—fattah from prison near cairo. mr abd el—fattah, who's 40, has escalated his hunger strike by refusing to drink water since the cop27 summit opened. our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley has the story. alaa abd el—fattah is egypt's foremost human rights defender. his family say he looks nothing like this any more, that months of hunger strike have left him skin on bone. he rose to prominence

during the arab spring of 2011, and became an icon of the revolution, but hopes that this would be a turning point that ushered in a proper democracy were thwarted. this was alaa abd el—fattah in 2013, holding his son khaled, surrounded by supporters. the following year he was jailed for allegedly organising a protest. he was released in 2019 but was back in jail within months after sharing a facebook post about the torture of another prisoner. he's spent most of the past decade behind bars. this is where he is now being held. his family have had no news of him since his last drink of water, on sunday. his younger sister sanaa flew to sharm el—sheikh from london to lobby for his release. we don't know anything. i don't know if he's alive or not but i'm telling myself he can't be dead. what is your message - to the british government? do your best. do your best and show that it's serious and that it will affect the relationship.

and do your best. you have a duty to your citizen and this is also insulting for you. yesterday rishi sunak met egypt's president sisi. downing street said he stressed the uk's deep concern about alaa abd el—fattah. egyptian officials say they are offering him food, drink and medical treatment, but are still refusing to allow the british embassy access to him. abd el—fattah is in great danger. his dry hunger strike puts his life at acute risk and there is a lack of transparency as well around his current condition. there has been silence today from the foreign office. britain and egypt are important allies with trade and military ties and the government has been criticised by both opposition politicians and former diplomats for not putting more pressure on egypt over his case. his family no longer believe he has a future in egypt. they nowjust want him safely out ofjail, out of the country, and in the uk with his ten—year—old son. caroline hawley, bbc news.

tonight has seen the highly—anticipated gala premiere for the latest season in the netflix series the crown. part of the pre—season material shows events leading to the tumultuous break—up of the marriage between charles and diana. our arts correspondent david sillito has more details. a netflix tv series with the full hollywood glitz of a red—carpet premiere. the crown has become landmark television. but the reason this forthcoming series has been so talked about is because this is the story of when media attention on the royal family was at its peak, the turbulent years of charles and diana. come on then, let's blow them away. sirjohn major said one episode is malicious nonsense. damejudi dench asked for the series to make clear it was fiction. and official royal biographer william shawcross is simply appalled by its portrayal of events.

it's a beautifully produced, very lavish and expensive piece of propaganda directed against the monarchy. this forthcoming series has attracted particular press attention. because it's dealing with people's lives now. all of the most hurtful times of their lives and particularly their divorces. and especially of course the divorce of the then prince of wales and princess diana, which it goes into in painful detail, always accepting the diana side of the story and portraying prince charles as really a nasty piece of work. i don't know how the world has changed and everyone's just i blaming everyone else. the team behind the crown disagree. dominic west, who plays prince charles, feels opinions will change once people see the series for themselves. a lot of people are very. sensitive about the show, especially since the queen died, and i think a lot of people - are worried about what might be

in the show but i don't think- there's any need to be. i do think it is fair to both sides and i think it is sort of extremely empathetic of both camps. royal divorce, the annus horribilis — this was always going to be uncomfortable for the royal family. but this is more than history. it is about today, and reputations. david sillito, bbc news. the actor bill treacher, who played arthur fowler in the first decade of eastenders, has died at the age of 92. he was one of the first actors to be cast in the soap, appearing in the first episode in february 1985. in one memorable scene, he explored the nature of mental illness when he admitted stealing money. have you robbed a bank? no. where did you get it? it's _

have you robbed a bank? no. where did you get it? it's the _ have you robbed a bank? no. where did you get it? it's the christmas - did you get it? it's the christmas club money- _ did you get it? it's the christmas club money. i'll— did you get it? it's the christmas club money. i'll pay _ did you get it? it's the christmas club money. i'll pay it _ did you get it? it's the christmas club money. i'll pay it back, - did you get it? it's the christmasl club money. i'll pay it back, every last penny— club money. i'll pay it back, every last penny i'll pay it back somehow. his family said he was a brilliant actor, a wonderful husband and father, and a very fine human being. the actor leslie phillips, best known for many appearances in the carry on films, has died at the age of 98 after a long illness. phillips was also familiar to younger fans as the voice of the sorting hat in the harry potter films. our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba looks back at his long life and career. # take a look at me...# hello. hello! he was the cad, the bounder, the ladies' man. it made him a star. hi, girls. i'm available. mr bell? ding—dong! you're not wrong! this way, please. his comic technique developed in the theatre, but it worked just

as well in three early carry on films, on television and on radio. surely i don't have to go to bye—byes? the navy lark ran for 18 years from 1959. the navy lark, with our three stars, stephen murray, jon pertwee - and leslie phillips. upa bit. to me. to you. think of a number and double it. despite the posh accent, he'd been born a cockney, before achieving huge success with his rakish on—screen persona. but he felt he became typecast. it was marvellous, really, to get those sort of roles, and they seemed important then. it was only later that i realised i was getting into a kind of a rut. i'm sorry to know that kenya will be losing you. in his mid—50s, he reinvented himself as a serious actor... if i were in a hole, you'd be the sort of chap i'd turn to. ..and also delighted a new generation of fans as the voice of the sorting hat in harry potter.

well, if you're sure, better be...gryffindor! but for many, he'll always remain the old—fashioned flirt... ding—dong! ..with a twinkle in his eye. oh, you sexy beast. the actor leslie phillips, who's died at the age of 98. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. good evening, if you can open the curtains before going to bed, you might get a glimpse of the amazing full moon at the moment. clear skies for some but not all, we still have a few scattered showers around, most of them to the far north and west and they will tend to linger going through the night along that south coast. but we keep clearer skies, the wind direction changing a little in the last day and that will allow

temperatures to cool down to single figures. a bit more chilly first thing tomorrow and hopefully a bit drier as well put the lighter