live from london, this is bbc news. the uk's deputy prime minister dominic raab resigns following an inquiry into bullying allegations. we're live in downing street. we'll have the key details in the report and all the ongoing political reaction. over 400 now killed in fighting between rival military factions in sudan, as the international community pushes again for a ceasefire. western allies meet in germany to discuss further backing for ukraine. and going, going, gone. twitter removes the blue tick from accounts not paying a subscription fee.

welcome to bbc news. we start with a huge political sotry here in the uk, where the deputy prime minister, dominic raab, has been forced to resign. wherever you're watching, this is a story which touches on issues that everyone can understand — from workplace bullying to difficult or domineering bosses. the investigation into the bullying allegations has been going on for months and a report was given to the prime minister, rishi sunak yesterday. in his resignation letter today, dominic raab claimed the inquiry hadn't been fair, calling it �*kafka—esque,�* and saying the threshold for bullying was now so low, it would encourage spurious complaints, against ministers. let's go straight to our political correspondent, david wallace lockhart, live at westminster. talk live at westminster. about a reluctant resignation. that's talk about a reluctant resignation. that's right. dominic raab had pledged to stand down if this independent report upheld complaints

of bullying against him. two of these complaints were upheld and therefore dominic raab has decided to stick by his word. but he is clearly doing it very reluctantly. it talks about how he feels the bath of bullying has been set far too low, he talks about never having been raising his voice of physically intimidating anyone or throwing anything. he was cleared of all of that but still to complaints upheld and he said he had to go. a reluctant resignation. even before we had the full report he had written a piece for the telegraph newspaper once again attacking the process broadly and calling it kafkaesque. so he has stood down. he has left government but clearly very unhappy at doing so.— unhappy at doing so. we've had a cuick unhappy at doing so. we've had a quick reshuffle _ unhappy at doing so. we've had a quick reshuffle but _ unhappy at doing so. we've had a quick reshuffle but there - unhappy at doing so. we've had a quick reshuffle but there are - unhappy at doing so. we've had a| quick reshuffle but there are some fundamental questions still swirling around the rishi sunak and the handling of this.—

around the rishi sunak and the handling of this. that's right. a man called _ handling of this. that's right. a man called oliver— handling of this. that's right. a man called oliver dowden - handling of this. that's right. a man called oliver dowden hasl handling of this. that's right. a - man called oliver dowden has become the deputy prime minister, a strong ally of rishi sunak for a long the deputy prime minister, a strong ally of rishi sunakfor a long time. dominic raab held two positions, he was also justice secretary. dominic raab held two positions, he was alsojustice secretary. alex chalk, another ally of rishi sunak, has taken over that position. questions still held the prime minister handled this because we did know he got this report yesterday and there was not a decision about dominic raab�*s future for 2h hours, that was giving opposition parties the opportunity to accuse him of weakness. rishi sunak has not been prime minister very long and he lost another two government ministers around bullying allegations and one around bullying allegations and one around their tax affairs. so to lose around their tax affairs. so to lose a third now is something he won't be comfortable with. it a third now is something he won't be comfortable with.— comfortable with. it has been a dramatic first _

comfortable with. it has been a dramatic first few _ comfortable with. it has been a dramatic first few hours, - comfortable with. it has been a dramatic first few hours, let's l comfortable with. it has been a . dramatic first few hours, let's hear from our political correspondent on today's events at westminster. let's make him our next prime minister. please welcome rishi sunak. he was a close ally of the prime minister, a key figure in the conservative leadership campaign. but dominic raab has resigned as deputy prime minister and justice secretary, over claims that he bulliedcivil servants. there was a five—month inquiry by a senior lawyer which looks at eight formal complaints from his time at three government departments. the lawyer, adam tolley, upheld some but not all of the allegations, so at the former brexit department he said that mr raab's conduct... but at the foreign office, he found he had acted in a way that was... at the ministry ofjustice, he also found that the deputy prime minister acted

in a manner that was intimidating. dominic raab described the work of some officials as utterly useless and woeful. the prime minister said there had been shortcomings in the complaints process which may have to be addressed in future, but it is very clear from dominic raab's resignation letter to rishi sunak, that the now formerjustice secretary believes he was treated unjustly. he said the senior lawyer, adam tolley had dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against him and then challenged those, claiming he had been exonerated about many allegations about his conduct. not once in four and a half years, he said, had his worn or shout at anyone, let alone thrown anything physically intimidating to anyone, and he issued this warning. in setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.

senior civil servants are calling for a new independent complaints process but did dominic raab have a point about the way he was treated? isn't he right that ministers cannot do the job if they are facing spurious complaints because makea is not right, the complaints we were involved in were significant complaints from individuals, multiple instances that people were complaining about, and they had a devastating effect on the individuals involved. this was not some spurious snowflake, these were serious complaints. sir gavin williamson resigned over bullying allegations. nadhim zahawi was dismissed for not being transparent over his tax affairs. and labour are questioning the prime minister's judgment in reappointing dominic raab to government. what i think this shows

is a continual weakness of the prime minister. there is a double weakness here. you should never have appointed him in the first place along with other members of the cabinet who should not have been appointed, and then he didn't sack him. even today, it is dominic raab who resigned rather than the prime minister who axed. rishi sunak said he would restore integrity into the heart of government but his personal and political alliances have come under strain. rachel cunliffe is senior associate editor at the new statesman and joins us from westminster. thank you for being on the programme. i was reading your twitter feed earlier programme. i was reading your twitterfeed earlier and it was interesting how you were underlining just how undermining behaviour like this can actually be. yes just how undermining behaviour like this can actually be.— this can actually be. yes and i think it's _ this can actually be. yes and i think it's important. - this can actually be. yes and i think it's important. dominicl this can actually be. yes and i - think it's important. dominic raab saysin think it's important. dominic raab says in his resignation letter that the report found never that —— no evidence he had shouted or sworn or throwing things at civil servants as

though that means he had never bullied them. workplace bullying can come in many forms. often it's a case not of shouting or swearing but of undermining individuals, of setting expectations that change or that can never be met and then harassing people to getting things wrong in front of their colleagues. colleagues being criticised in front of other civil servants. possibly the criticisms were valid or possibly not that that can create a culture where people just come to work in fear. since i tweeted those things i've had lots of comments from people working in all kinds of fields from politics and journalism to the nhs and education and all kinds of fields, all saying this is behaviour they recognise in their own experience. 50 behaviour they recognise in their own experience.— behaviour they recognise in their own experience. so many people can look at a story _ own experience. so many people can look at a story like _ own experience. so many people can look at a story like this _ own experience. so many people can look at a story like this and - own experience. so many people can look at a story like this and it - look at a story like this and it echoes with people's experience all over the world. we have your twitter

feed on the screen at the moment but take us through some of the things that have happened to you. i should sa m that have happened to you. i should say my employer — that have happened to you. i should say my employer now— that have happened to you. i should say my employer now is _ that have happened to you. i should say my employer now is a _ that have happened to you. i should| say my employer now is a wonderful place to work and none of these examples come from there. but i have had managers who changed their minds constantly and when i wasn't able to pre—empt those changes that were seen is my fault. i was told off for using a photocopier in the wrong room. little things like that. i also had the experience of being told i was taking a lunch break at the wrong time or that i had sent an e—mail on the wrong way. when you are starting out in the newjob there are all kinds of errors you might make as you are getting used to that workplace and its the role of a manager to talk you through it. if you come to work and immediately feel terrified of ever making an error that is obviously going to impact the quality of the work you are able to do and therefore it is going to cause problems for the

future. it is a self—perpetuating issue. future. it is a self-perpetuating issue. ., ., ~ ., ., issue. the union talk about one in six civil servants _ issue. the union talk about one in six civil servants having _ issue. the union talk about one in six civil servants having issues - six civil servants having issues related to this sort of thing and thatis related to this sort of thing and that is an alarming number if it that is an alarming number if it thatis that is an alarming number if it that is the case. there are so many serious questions that have to be answered in terms of the way this has been handled, we didn't have a publication of the report initially, there has been no actual decision from the prime minister and that allowed dominic raab 2a hours to basically undermine the whole process. basically undermine the whole rocess. ., u, basically undermine the whole rocess. ., ., ., process. you can read from the fact that dominic _ process. you can read from the fact that dominic raab _ process. you can read from the fact that dominic raab has _ process. you can read from the fact that dominic raab has resigned - process. you can read from the fact| that dominic raab has resigned that it was in part due to pressure from the prime minister. if rishi sunak had begged him to stay he probably would have found a way to do that. he published his resignation letter and his article in the telegraph where he says essentially that the report and what has happened to him sets the dangerous precedent for the future of governance in general. he

did all of that before rishi sunak issued his own letter and indeed before the report was published. so giving him the chance to set the agenda. and you do have to wonder what was going on yesterday, rishi sunak of this report before midday when it was only at 10am this morning that we finally got an idea of what was going to happen. home of what was going to happen. how damauuin of what was going to happen. how damaging the _ of what was going to happen. how damaging the end you think it is for the prime minister because he talked about restoring integrity to government on his first day, he has lost his deputy prime minister, people making the point that these allegations were swirling around when he made that appointment, he also lost another cabinet minister gavin williamson for his bad behaviour, what is your assessment in terms of how this impacts on the prime minister himself? let’s in terms of how this impacts on the prime minister himself?— prime minister himself? let's give rishi sunak _ prime minister himself? let's give rishi sunak some _ prime minister himself? let's give rishi sunak some credit, - prime minister himself? let's give rishi sunak some credit, this - prime minister himself? let's give rishi sunak some credit, this hasl rishi sunak some credit, this has been handled more swiftly than it would have been done in the boris johnson era. in the borisjohnson

era you had ministers going on the broadcast rounds defending for colleagues only for those colleagues to be sacked or to resign hours or days later. so it has been dealt with more swiftly than that. but there are serious questions about what rishi sunak new and when. these complaints date back many years, you'd have thought it was something he would consider when appointing dominic raab asjustice secretary and deputy first minister in the first place. he has lost a number of ministers, gallian —— gavin williamson and nadhim zahawi and he has also lost a key ally on the right which is what dominic raab represents. rishi sunak can say he has maintained credibility and integrity by acting as quickly as he has done, but questions still very much remain and they will be a lot of anger within the party at the way this has played out. aha, of anger within the party at the way this has played out.— this has played out. a final broader thou~ht this has played out. a final broader thought because _ this has played out. a final broader thought because civil— this has played out. a final broader thought because civil servants - this has played out. a final broader thought because civil servants are. thought because civil servants are so crucial and critical in

day—to—day running of government. you have a situation at the moment where an investigation can only actually begin if the prime minister says yes it can, does the whole system need to be overhauled? there are very serious _ system need to be overhauled? there are very serious questions _ system need to be overhauled? it” are very serious questions about that in one of the things that comes out in the report is to what extent ministers can or should act as line managers to civil servants and whether the correct workplace structures are in place to enable that to look well. but fundamentally, if ministers don't have a good relationship with the department that is going to have an impact on policy and operational and development issues. and it's going to seriously hold things back. for too long we've had this idea that the civil service is somehow obstacle and is at war with the government, the vast majority of civil servants are decent and hard—working people and they want to do a good job and want to get the job done, they are not able to do that if the relationship with ministers perpetually become so

antagonistic. just looking at some of the key findings and we have seen what dominic raab has said about the inquiry, describing it as unfair. our reporter courtney bembridge has been looking through the report in more detail and pulled out some of the key lines to be aware of. this is the report. it is 48 pages long and very dense. if we have a look at the key question all of this, the definition of bullying, it defines bullying as "intimidating or insulting behaviour that makes an individual feel uncomfortable, frightened, less respected or put down." and there are many examples of dominic raab's behaviour that go to this key question of whether it was bullying. let's have a look at some of these ones. it talks about him in meetings with policy officials acting in a manner which was intimidating in the sense of going further than was necessary or appropriate in delivering critical feedback and also insulting in the sense

of making unconstructive critical comments about the quality of work done. it talks a lot about dominic raab's frustration in some of the ways information was being given to him in some of these briefings. he talks about asking for the basics, the basic information and when he feels that wasn't being given to him by officials, he was accusing them of a obstructive nurse and described some of their work as utterly useless and woeful. the report, however, goes on to say that the deputy prime minister did not intend by the conduct described to upset or humiliate, nor did he target anyone for a specific type of treatment. so, that is some of the allegations here, there is also more, if we look at the findings here... the findings state that the conduct cannot be characterised as offensive, malicious or insulting. it was experienced as intimidating

in the sense of excessively demanding that the report also notes that it could not make a finding as to whether it was in fact intimidating in this sense. there was no evidence to suggest any abuse or misuse of power. so obviously, we are going through this report line by line in the bbc newsroom and will have more updates for you throughout the day. interesting to see some of the lines in the report. let's go back to downing street because we are monitoring the situation and we've had that small reshuffle with a new deputy prime minister in the new justice secretary. we continue to monitor events there and we will bring you more reaction throughout the programme. this major story with so many questions being thrown up. do stay with us and we will have plenty more live from westminster. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news.

this was carly a fortnight ago after vandals poured salt over the food she was growing to give to people in need. but she is bouncing back. although she can't deliver food from the allotments she is still making parcels to give to the vulnerable with the help of her driver, dave. this delivery is for sally, she has got multiple health conditions and found out last week she had been rejected for a double lung transplant. the condition is now terminal. it makes it hard for her to do shopping. this terminal. it makes it hard for her to do shopping-— terminal. it makes it hard for her to do shopping. this is where carly comes in, to do shopping. this is where carly comes in. she _ to do shopping. this is where carly comes in, she helps _ to do shopping. this is where carly comes in, she helps so _ to do shopping. this is where carly comes in, she helps so many - to do shopping. this is where carly i comes in, she helps so many people. and it's _ comes in, she helps so many people. and it's not _ comes in, she helps so many people. and it's notjust giving people thing — and it's notjust giving people thing is, — and it's notjust giving people thing is, it's a whole attitude. sally— thing is, it's a whole attitude. sally is — thing is, it's a whole attitude. sally is one of around 1600 people fed by carly�*s initiative to make sure no one in harlow is going without. and since her poster about the salt on the allotment, who donations page has reached almost a quarter of £1 million.— quarter of £1 million. although something _ quarter of £1 million. although something really _ quarter of £1 million. although something really nasty - quarter of £1 million. although l something really nasty happens, quarter of £1 million. although - something really nasty happens, you

have to make it a positive. you something really nasty happens, you have to make it a positive.— have to make it a positive. you are live with bbc _ have to make it a positive. you are live with bbc news. _ fighting between the army and paramilitary rapid support forces in sudan has escalated despite international pleas for a truce for the muslim festival to mark the end of holy month of ramadan. gunfire and explosions in the north of the capital, khartoum, have spread to the west and the south. there are reports of troops shooting at eachother in residential areas during the call to morning prayers. the world health organisation says over 400 people are now killed and over 3,500 are injured in the past week. let me put some of the live pictures from khartoum onto the screen. you can still see smoke across the skyline of the capital and we've had two attempts to get a truce and both times they have collapsed. we've had

word of the third attempt. bbc africa's ferdinand omondi is following this story for us from nairobi. in terms of any sort of third attempt of a ceasefire, where are we? i attempt of a ceasefire, where are we? ~ . attempt of a ceasefire, where are we? ~' ., ., attempt of a ceasefire, where are we? ~ ., ., ._ we? i think we are heading the way. at the head — we? i think we are heading the way. at the head of _ we? i think we are heading the way. at the head of the _ we? i think we are heading the way. at the head of the sudanese - we? i think we are heading the way. at the head of the sudanese armed | at the head of the sudanese armed forces, the general has been adamant that there is no peaceful solution right now and he is intent on pursuing a military solution and true to his word today when they were supposed to be a 72 hour truce beginning he did send out more forces into khartoum. his divisions are now patrolling sudan and khartoum and engaging the rfs in residential areas. find khartoum and engaging the rfs in residential areas.— residential areas. and in terms of all of those _ residential areas. and in terms of all of those people _ residential areas. and in terms of all of those people trying - residential areas. and in terms of

all of those people trying to - residential areas. and in terms of all of those people trying to live | all of those people trying to live through this, what is the latest you are hearing from aid agencies or journalists on the ground? thea;c are hearing from aid agencies or journalists on the ground? they are sa in: the journalists on the ground? they are saying the situation _ journalists on the ground? they are saying the situation is _ journalists on the ground? they are saying the situation is getting - journalists on the ground? they are saying the situation is getting more j saying the situation is getting more and more desperate. remember, this is a country where the temperature is a country where the temperature is around a0 degrees and we have no electricity so there is no air conditioning and they have to hide because of the bullets. water supplies have been cut and the shops have been closed because shop owners have been closed because shop owners have gone away. supplies were supposed to come into khartoum at the have not been able to because roads have been blocked. it is a situation that has been described as catastrophic by the united nations. humanitarian organisations are vulnerable because they are being repeatedly targeted by people called armed raiders who are reading their stores and meet —— stealing food and

medical supplies. stores and meet —— stealing food and medicalsupplies. so stores and meet —— stealing food and medical supplies. so the people are pretty much on their own and the fight —— and they are doubling down. in terms of any international effort, where are we? the latest --eole effort, where are we? the latest eo - le to effort, where are we? the latest people to speak— effort, where are we? the latest people to speak out _ effort, where are we? the latest people to speak out considered l effort, where are we? the latest. people to speak out considered to effort, where are we? the latest - people to speak out considered to be allies and close friends of sudan, includes egypt and the uae who are allied to the rss. there has been an offer for the two leaders to be flown to istanbul for negotiations but this seems to be little appetite for that. we but this seems to be little appetite for that. ~ .., but this seems to be little appetite for that. ~ ., for that. we will continue to monitor what's _ for that. we will continue to monitor what's happening i for that. we will continue to i monitor what's happening over for that. we will continue to - monitor what's happening over the last few hours. thanks for that. a russian fighter plane has accidentally bombed its own territory.

you can see here a missile hitting the street in the city of belgorod with isjust a0 km — or 25 miles — from the ukrainian border. this video, posted to social media and verified by the bbc, showed the creation of a crater 20m crater near the centre of the city. the blast was so powerful it lifted a car onto the roof of a nearby supermarket and a nearby block of flats was evacuated as a precaution. the russian air defence ministry said it had �*accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance' on thursday evening but there are no reported casualties. representatives from 50 nations are currently meeting in germany, to discuss further support for the ukrainian war effort and in the next few minutes we're expecting to hear the closing remarks from us defence secretary lloyd austin and joint chiefs of staff mark milley. president zelensky has pushed his western allies to send fighterjets and more long—range missiles, to help defeat russia's invasion.

the meeting is being hosted by the us at ramstein air base with the aim of coordinating allied support for kyiv. this is what us defence secretary lloyd austin said, at the start of the meeting. the ukrainian military stands tall with capability with courage. after a year of russian aggression and deceit, this contact group is as united as ever and more global than ever. our support for the forces of freedom in ukraine, holds a strong and true. i am nowjoined by emily harding in washington, who is deputy director in international security at the center for strategic and international studies. thank you for being here on the programme. we were saying they have that ukraine again pressing for

f-igs, that ukraine again pressing for f—16s, what likelihood of any sort of progress on that when we hear from those leaders in the next while? j from those leaders in the next while? ~ ., , ., , while? i think that is to be determined. _ while? i think that is to be determined. the - while? i think that is to be determined. the main - while? i think that is to be i determined. the main point while? i think that is to be - determined. the main point of this particular conference is to talk about a defence and ammunition. this war has quickly become a war of attrition when it comes to the amount of ammunition expended on the battlefield, that means it's one of logistics and logistics can only be managed by a contact group of the site trying to help ukraine at the same time. in site trying to help ukraine at the same time-— site trying to help ukraine at the same time. in terms of ukraine's su lies same time. in terms of ukraine's sopplies on _ same time. in terms of ukraine's supplies on things _ same time. in terms of ukraine's supplies on things like _ same time. in terms of ukraine's supplies on things like missiles, | supplies on things like missiles, how well—stocked or otherwise abe going into this much anticipated spring offensive? i going into this much anticipated spring offensive?— going into this much anticipated spring offensive? i think we've seen a really incredible _ spring offensive? i think we've seen a really incredible rate _ spring offensive? i think we've seen a really incredible rate of _ spring offensive? i think we've seen a really incredible rate of burn - spring offensive? i think we've seen a really incredible rate of burn on i a really incredible rate of burn on things like ammunition especially when it comes to artillery. i know one of the things they are emphasising in this conference is ammunition for high ma's which have been a game changer on the battlefield and replenishing those stocks are going to be important.

the depends piece is also going to be critically important. we do not want the russians to be able to establish a superiority in this time of a spring offensive. it's really interesting moment for this conference to because you are having to spring offensive is under a lot of pressure at the same time. the russians have been talking about how they were going to engage in the spring offensive but that seems to have gone almost nowhere. the ukrainians have also been planning a spring offensive and there is a lot of pressure on them to make some serious gains. at the same time as this group needs to be supporting the ukrainians are saying we are in it for the long haul, hopefully there is also strategising and having to make the most of the spring offensive. taste having to make the most of the spring offensive.— having to make the most of the spring offensive. we can see the ictures spring offensive. we can see the pictures from — spring offensive. we can see the pictures from that _ spring offensive. we can see the pictures from that news - spring offensive. we can see the i pictures from that news conference so we are going to hang on to you and get your thoughts in terms of what we hear from those leaders in the next while but thanks for those initial thoughts in terms of what we should be looking out for as we head to that news conference. we are

going to take a pose but before we do that i just want to bring going to take a pose but before we do that ijust want to bring you a line of breaking news here in the uk because the just stop while protesters, two men who scaled the bridge at the dartford crossing causing gridlock when police closed the bridge to traffic, you may remember those pictures, they have just been sentenced to three years in prison and two years and seven months in prison respectively for causing a public nuisance. that is just happened at southend crown court. those two protesters have just been jailed for three years and two years and seven months. we will bring you more on that and that news conference live on bbc news in the next few moments. hello. some very big contrast to our weather today. a tale of two halves. here is the overall message for the next few days. it's going to turn colder over the

uk. today we have an easterly wind and attracting a fair amount of clout since yesterday and this weather front circling a crossing in wales. here is the radar and you can see where the rain has been, across wales and the midlands. the best of the weather today across scotland and northern ireland. in between, its very blustery particularly it's very blustery particularly across northern england and especially the pennines and also towards the north—west. gusts of wind around a0 or 50 mph. that tale of two halves, in western parts of scotland today high teens possibly pushing 20 degrees but by sunday northerly wind and perhaps a 10 degrees drop. it will be very chilly. even some wintry showers in the scottish hills. here are the temperatures later today. warm enough and northern ireland as well. this evening in scotland and northern ireland, some clear weather but the weather front will continue

to affect that serving and in wales particularly in the north. to the south, pretty chilly and a touch of frost. so a nippy start for most of us. here is the focus for tomorrow, the cloudy weather across such central and northern areas of england and into southern scotland. elsewhere, a mixture of sunshine and showers crossing london wales. particularly showery across northern england. assistant showers across western and south—western parts of england. the midlands predominantly with spells of sunshine. that change a setting on sunday. low—pressure rotates across the uk, called the wind is spreading in from the north. that blue colour, the cold air and wintry showers across scotland. a significant wind chill as well. sunshine and showers elsewhere. temperatures will struggle and below the average for the time of year.

it's the wind that will make it feel chilly notjust in the north but further south to.

live from london, this is bbc news. the uk's deputy prime minister resigns following an inquiry into bullying allegations. over a00 now killed in fighting between rival military factions in sudan — as the international community

pushes again for a ceasefire. western allies meet in germany to discuss further