thanks to an area of high pressure and around areas of high pressure that brought us guys like these the wind circulated clockwise bringing big temperature contrasts across the uk. northerly winds coming across the cool north sea kept temperatures backin the cool north sea kept temperatures back in the north and east where is across western areas we had temperatures as high as 18 or 19, feeling pleasant in the sunshine. similar kinds of contrasts over the next couple of days with the wind direction all important. overnight tonight, england and wales with clear spells of a living, the thickest cloud in the north—west with the odd spit offering for northern ireland and western scotland. mild in the west but temperatures in the east, 2—4, a chilly start to the day on wednesday. more sunshine to go round across england and wales through the day, brightening up in northern ireland after a cloudy start with the thickest cloud still in scotland threatening patches of rain particularly in the north and west and continuing to feel cool into northern scotland and around some eastern coasts of england. highest

temperatures in the west with highs of 18 or 19 in the very mildest spots. we will start to see change in the weather pattern into thursday with this area of low pressure pushing weather fronts in from the southend west. looks like we will see a dry start to many but rain quickly arriving across south—west england before spreading into wales, the west midlands and may be as far north thousand northern ireland late in the day. a bit of sunshine ahead of that system with temperatures still 17, 18 or so. continuing to see a cool feed of wind coming in from the north sea. north and east england and eastern scotland. for the coronation weekend it looks like we could see rain arriving across southern england. thanks, chris. that's it. more analysis of the day's top stories on newsnight with mark urban, just getting underway on bbc two. but the news continues here on bbc one. we join our colleagues across the nations and regions for the news where you are. have a very good night.

the government's review into whether it was right for a senior civil servant to take a job with keir starmer fails to come to a conclusion, we'll ask whether the odds favour a man has been arrested after throwing suspected shotgun cartridges at buckingham palace. the man approached the gate and through a number of vitamins. he was detained under suspicion of having a weapon. specialists were brought in and it was decided that a cordon would be put in place and that they would carry out an extra load explosion. the sound of that explosion. the sound of that explosion could be heard while ann mp was broadcasting on gv news before they were asked to stop by the police. let's take a listen to that. , ., ., that. live with the snow and their tennis with _ that. live with the snow and their tennis with the _ that. live with the snow and their

tennis with the banquet. - that. live with the snow and their tennis with the banquet. i - that. live with the snow and their tennis with the banquet. i don't l that. live with the snow and their l tennis with the banquet. i don't see wh we tennis with the banquet. i don't see why we have _ tennis with the banquet. i don't see why we have to _ tennis with the banquet. i don't see why we have to possibly _ tennis with the banquet. i don't see why we have to possibly move. - tennis with the banquet. i don't see why we have to possibly move. i. tennis with the banquet. i don't see| why we have to possibly move. i am sor to why we have to possibly move. i am sorry to say — why we have to possibly move. i am sorry to say it _ why we have to possibly move. i am sorry to say it is _ why we have to possibly move. i am sorry to say it is good _ why we have to possibly move. i —.n sorry to say it is good evening to meet for the time being. i think that was probably an controlled explosion in the background that's what it sounded like to me. i assume will find out later. do we still need to back evacuate? imilli will find out later. do we still need to back evacuate? will a police officer present _ need to back evacuate? will a police officer present himself? _ need to back evacuate? will a police officer present himself? what - need to back evacuate? will a police officer present himself? what is - officer present himself? what is order? are _ officer present himself? what is order? are you _ officer present himself? what is order? are you ordering - officer present himself? what is order? are you ordering us - officer present himself? what is order? are you ordering us to i officer present himself? what is| order? are you ordering us to go officer present himself? what is - order? are you ordering us to go off the air? we are ordered from the police we have to go off the air i am sorry to and this ruckus was up thank you for your patient. buckingham palace said neither the king or queen consort were in the palace at the time and scott learned yard said they are not currently choosing the incident as terror related. our royal producer was at the parish at the time and told us what she had seen and heard. what the parish at the time and told us what she had seen and heard. what i saw and heard _ what she had seen and heard. what i saw and heard and _ what she had seen and heard. what i saw and heard and what _ what she had seen and heard. what i saw and heard and what they - saw and heard and what they experience earlier this evening. i had been in the broadcast compound

outside buckingham palace while you can with the rest of the world media inception of our courage ahead of the weekend. we were old told to leave the compound because of a suspicious package. we waited outside and could hear a controlled explosion and then we were allowed backin explosion and then we were allowed back in again. i have not seen anything in front of the compound and we have since left. find anything in front of the compound and we have since left.— anything in front of the compound and we have since left. and give us and we have since left. and give us a sense of— and we have since left. and give us a sense of some _ and we have since left. and give us a sense of some of _ and we have since left. and give us a sense of some of the _ and we have since left. and give us a sense of some of the geography. and we have since left. and give us| a sense of some of the geography if you will. many people will be familiar with the pictures we are looking at on—screen now of the palace and in front of that is a media compound you were talking about where the world media is setting up to get the best backdrop for those events this week. give us a sense of the geography of how many people were there and how you were able to get out. it’s people were there and how you were able to get out-— able to get out. it's a large broadcast _ able to get out. it's a large broadcast compound that l able to get out. it's a large | broadcast compound that is able to get out. it's a large - broadcast compound that is set up regularly for large events at buckingham palace. people who were

visiting salina would be familiar with the royal park across from it. it overlooks the queen victoria memorial in front of the palace and it is the vista in the backdrop with views all over the world would be familiar with for any major world eventin familiar with for any major world event in london. talk familiar with for any ma'or world event in london.h familiar with for any ma'or world event in london. talk to us about the security _ event in london. talk to us about the security arrangements - event in london. talk to us about the security arrangements that's| the security arrangements that's already in place. just walking through london you get the sense that things are a little different. that people are maple on a little bit more of an alert from the security services to make sure the weekend passes off without a hitch. what sort of precautions are in place are those key marks like buckingham palace, westminster abbey and the roots of the procession on saturday? and the roots of the procession on saturda ? ., , , . and the roots of the procession on saturda ? . , , saturday? inevitably police searches will be taking _ saturday? inevitably police searches will be taking place _ saturday? inevitably police searches will be taking place and _ saturday? inevitably police searches will be taking place and there - saturday? inevitably police searches will be taking place and there are i will be taking place and there are more police about in london and inevitably it is obvious that some of those large media converters where there is equipment they are

searching going on. it's a major event, the world will be focused on london on saturday and the mets police have to make sure it goes off without a hitch. 50. police have to make sure it goes off without a hitch.— without a hitch. so, let us now go live to buckingham _ without a hitch. so, let us now go live to buckingham palace. - without a hitch. so, let us now go live to buckingham palace. our. live to buckingham palace. our correspondent robyn brandt is there. what can you tell us at the moment? because of the time it is clearly quiet here at the moment but i was here yesterday and it's a very very different scene during the day, particularly ones as warm as it was today and is scheduled to be in a days ahead. throngs of people on this side of the mount and people are pretty much free to move around and that is very much the kind of environment and the kind of sense the organisers want as we approach the organisers want as we approach the coronation on saturday. there's a heavy security presence and fairly heavy police presence as well but there will be increased nervousness as we approach saturday and he

coronation. nonetheless, people are free to move around during the day but vigilance is the key thing here. it is a vigilance among the police looking at the crowds and people here and particularly in those areas very close to the specific areas of interest. westminster abbey and, of course, tonight buckingham palace. it was right in front of the palace, they gate a few metres down the way where that man was arrested after police thought he threw shotgun cartridges cartridges into the palace. cartridges cartridges into the alace. , ., ., , palace. the planning for this event would have — palace. the planning for this event would have been _ palace. the planning for this event would have been going _ palace. the planning for this event would have been going on - palace. the planning for this event would have been going on for - palace. the planning for this event i would have been going on for weeks and months and there is every contingency planned for. i and months and there is every contingency planned for. i think the honest truth _ contingency planned for. i think the honest truth is _ contingency planned for. i think the honest truth is the _ contingency planned for. i think the honest truth is the planning - contingency planned for. i think the honest truth is the planning for - honest truth is the planning for this event has been going on for decades but what we will see on saturday is the culmination of a huge logistical events but also what is clearly a huge security events as

well. there is security here 20 47 at the moment, there is a fairly heavy police presence during the day and there's always a armed police presence at the front of buckingham palace irrespective of whether the king or queen are in situ and it's those officers who dealt with that mind this evening. arrested and detained him and other specialist officers were brought in to set up the cordon and carry out that controlled explosion. qm. the cordon and carry out that controlled explosion. 0k, thank you for the moment _ controlled explosion. 0k, thank you for the moment should _ controlled explosion. 0k, thank you for the moment should that - controlled explosion. 0k, thank you for the moment should that is - for the moment should that is rubbing brains at buckingham palace with the latest for us. so, we know that buckingham palace say that the king and queen were nuts at the time the events were unfolding. but we do know that king was there earlier on today and i want to show you these pictures. he hosted the australian prime minister this afternoon at buckingham palace which is part of a series of events that will see world leaders at the palace meeting the king. those events are part of the

build up to the coronation weekend. we also know that he will host a lunch of commonwealth leaders will stop so, a reminder if you arejust joining us of what has happened this evening so far. now, at around 7pm this evening, police say a man approached buckingham palace and through a number of items over the fence. he has been arrested. they say they believe they were shotgun cartridges and there was also a controlled exposure and after a suspicious bag was found. now, the palace put a cordon in place around the palace and that controlled explosion did then take place. police say that the man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon after he was searched and after a knife was found. the statement has this event said they are not currently treat in

the matter as it related to terrorism. as we said, buckingham palace said the king and queen consort were not in the process at the time. so, that is the latest we have at the moment. a reminder that you can get more on the bbc news website. you will find that@bbc.co.uk/ news and also the bbc news app. that, for the moment, is it for us so willjoin mark irvin and newsnight. workforce plan absolutely but we do not have trust in this government and our members do not have trust. an important part of health care is about social care as well just an important part of health care is about social care as welljust give you an example the government promised 500 million extra was going to be given to social care and into recruiting new people intojobs to be given to social care and into recruiting new people into jobs and that has dropped to 250 million so we have absolutely no trust in the government and our members do not trust the government either. listening to the analysis there from

then, the 5% landing zone as he called it, he compared that to the private sector and said it is not that different. without not in the end be the telling argument that it is hard to ask people to make the sacrifice of further industrial action when i can see so many other groups within the nhs and public sector more broadly i taking those offers? ., , , sector more broadly i taking those offers? ~' , , ., ., sector more broadly i taking those offers? , ., ., offers? the key is we are not asking --eole offers? the key is we are not asking eo - le to offers? the key is we are not asking people to make _ offers? the key is we are not asking people to make them _ offers? the key is we are not asking people to make them sacrifice, - offers? the key is we are not asking people to make them sacrifice, it i offers? the key is we are not asking people to make them sacrifice, it is| people to make them sacrifice, it is our members who are saying they want to take action. i did not get a single call from a single one of our members to say this is a great deal and please sign up to it. i was getting calls saying we cannot have non—consolidated pay awards. so we are confident because it is coming from our members, and we will support them. from our members, and we will support them-— from our members, and we will su--ortthem. ., ,, , . this morning we were led to believe — by the daily telegraph, for example — that a cabinet office

report into senior civil servant sue gray's decision to join keir starmer�*s office would find that this was a conflict of interest. ms gray, of course, spent much of last year conducting a much—discussed investigation into the government of borisjohnson and allegations over partygate. many conservatives believe she was wrong to move so quickly from that to discussions with the leader of the opposition, who offered the job of chief of staff. despite a weekend of headlines, in the event what we got from the cabinet office today was pretty thin because they'd made clear sue gray decided not to co—operate with their inquiry. nick's here now to decode what's been going on. it looks like there has been an almighty row in whitehall going right the way up to the cabinet secretary simon case. there was a perception amongst officials that ministers wanted this written ministerial statement that was issued to parliament this afternoon to say that sue gray broke the civil

service code by talking to the labour party about this job are not clearing that contact with ministers. this triggered an intervention by the cabinet secretary not as it was put to me to water down a report because there was no report to water down, i understand what the cabinet secretary said internally is we have to follow process. sue gray has declined to co—operate with this cabinet office work to establish the facts which of course was set up by ministers. she instead wants to cooperate with this body that vets outside appointments, called the cobra body and soul of the cabinet secretary, his view is let's wait to see what that finds out. from inside government there is a very strong view that we will be seeing that cabinet office work after we have seen the findings of that business body. ministers are absolutely convinced that that will show that sue gray did break the civil service

code because she did not seek approval of ministers before talking to the opposition and another area where they think she broke it is she did have a solid role in the cabinet proprietary ethics unit and that was a role on advising public appointments and the view is as the resignation of richard sharp as bbc chairman showed, if you have a perceived conflict of interest then you must declare it and she had sympathies with the labour party and could have been involved in labour party supporting appointments. what party supporting appointments. what is the response _ party supporting appointments. what is the response from the labour party? is the response from the labour pa ? , ., , is the response from the labour pa ? , . , ., , party? they regard this cabinet office work _ party? they regard this cabinet office work as _ party? they regard this cabinet office work as a _ party? they regard this cabinet office work as a gimmick- party? they regard this cabinet office work as a gimmick sellerj party? they regard this cabinet i office work as a gimmick seller by ministers for political point scoring and they are absolutely adamant that sue gray has not broken the civil service code. you do need approvalfrom the civil service code. you do need approval from the list is to have contact with the opposition but not when you're talking about getting a job. but i have to say there are questions for keir starmer, in the first place he has not got his chief

of staff in place to do the job he wants to be done right now which is preparing the labour party for government and also there's a feeling that it all looks a bit messy. one former cabinet minister said this is a bit of an error, not sure how keir starmer will get out of this one. we're joined here in the studio by baroness angela browning, who chaired the advisory committee on business appointments, oracoba, until2020, formerly a conservative mp and minister, and byjonathan powell who left the foreign office to become tony blair's chief of staff. thank you very much forjoining us. baroness browning, you have been in this role. does sue gray's decision not to cooperate with the cabinet office inquiry, to effectively set the matter in front of the advisory committee, get her through the woods

or could the committee still say you can't start for a year for however long they deem would be the right period? i long they deem would be the right eriod? ., , ., long they deem would be the right eriod? ~' , . , ., period? i think they are separate thins. period? i think they are separate things- the _ period? i think they are separate things. the acoba _ period? i think they are separate things. the acoba committee i period? i think they are separate l things. the acoba committee has period? i think they are separate i things. the acoba committee has a very strict framework of rules and it will apply those rules to sue gray as it would to anybody else so i don't think those things are interchangeable as far as acoba is concerned. they will gather information and part of that information and part of that information will be a representation from the government of course but i think what we saw today in the statement is the government are saying very clearly, we realise we are the employer of sue gray, we have employment law responsibilities, and that rather separates out whether she broke laws under the ministerial code, as far as the timings and so on are concerned. in as the timings and so on are concerned-— as the timings and so on are concerned. . ., ~ , ., ., , concerned. in the context. as far as takin: concerned. in the context. as far as taking that — concerned. in the context. as far as taking that job _ concerned. in the context. as far as taking that job so _ concerned. in the context. as far as taking that job so soon _ concerned. in the context. as far as taking that job so soon after- taking thatjob so soon after holding this senior position in the civil service, you mentioned the rules, what you think? can she do

that or will she have to differ taking it up?— that or will she have to differ taking it up? that or will she have to differ takin it u? . . . , . taking it up? that again will be a decision for _ taking it up? that again will be a decision for acoba _ taking it up? that again will be a decision for acoba but - taking it up? that again will be a decision for acoba but i - taking it up? that again will be a decision for acoba but i know i decision for acoba but i know during my five years in office, particularly with more complex cases, more senior people, which is what this is, there were times when we felt it would be inappropriate for them to start after three months, something like that, and i can remember cases where we expected people to wait a year or 18 months before they took up post. and acoba will consider all of that and i can assure you that the committee or take a nonpartisan view, and it will make itsjudgment based on the information it receives. and information it receives. and presidents _ information it receives. and presidents and _ information it receives. and presidents and all _ information it receives. and presidents and all the - information it receives. and presidents and all the rest? information it receives. and i presidents and all the rest? of course. —— precedents. course. -- precedents. jonathan powell, course. -- precedents. jonathan powell. going — course. -- precedents. jonathan powell, going back— course. -- precedents. jonathan powell, going back to _ course. -- precedents. jonathan powell, going back to that - powell, going back to that supposedly breach of the civil service code, to be setting up this job whilst still a senior civil servant, is that something similar to what you did? tell us what extent

that might be the same as what you did or different. if} that might be the same as what you did or different.— did or different. 30 years ago, i was working — did or different. 30 years ago, i was working in _ did or different. 30 years ago, i was working in the _ did or different. 30 years ago, i was working in the embassy - did or different. 30 years ago, i was working in the embassy in l was working in the embassy in washington and was approached by tony blair— washington and was approached by tony blair to be chief of staff, and having _ tony blair to be chief of staff, and having got — tony blair to be chief of staff, and having got the job i told my boss is that is— having got the job i told my boss is that is what i was going to do and i switched _ that is what i was going to do and i switched from one day to the next -ot switched from one day to the next got the _ switched from one day to the next got the 315t of december working at the embassy as a civil servant, the ist the embassy as a civil servant, the ist of— the embassy as a civil servant, the ist ofjanuary, i was working for ist ofjanuary, i was working for tony— ist ofjanuary, i was working for tony blair— ist ofjanuary, i was working for tony blair as leader of the opposition. i think this whole report— opposition. i think this whole report we _ opposition. i think this whole report we have seen published today is a political like it. we were briefed _ is a political like it. we were briefed briefed on the and today it would _ briefed briefed on the and today it would be — briefed briefed on the and today it would be full of these sins committed by sue gray and there's been _ committed by sue gray and there's been nothing in it at all. i'm not surprised — been nothing in it at all. i'm not surprised she did not co—operate, it's not— surprised she did not co—operate, it's not appropriate at all put it what _ it's not appropriate at all put it what she — it's not appropriate at all put it what she should cooperate with and is is with— what she should cooperate with and is is with acoba, the body to apply to in these — is is with acoba, the body to apply to in these cases. i think today has been _ to in these cases. i think today has been a _ to in these cases. i think today has been a complete diversion and the real thing — been a complete diversion and the real thing is acoba. been a complete diversion and the realthing is acoba. is been a complete diversion and the real thing is acoba.— real thing is acoba. is interesting that ou real thing is acoba. is interesting that you started _ real thing is acoba. is interesting that you started your _ real thing is acoba. is interesting that you started your answer - real thing is acoba. is interesting that you started your answer by i that you started your answer by saying 30 years ago i wonder whether you feel standards have changed,

that people expect more rigour in this? , ., , , . that people expect more rigour in this? they do. the public perception ofthe this? they do. the public perception of the rogue — this? they do. the public perception of the rogue revolving _ this? they do. the public perception of the rogue revolving door - this? they do. the public perception of the rogue revolving door as - this? they do. the public perception of the rogue revolving door as it - this? they do. the public perception of the rogue revolving door as it is i of the rogue revolving door as it is often referred to, it is all part of what the public perceived to people in politics and tie officers serving their own interest —— perception of their own interest —— perception of the revolving door. there needs to be scooting and it's important for the civil service and for politicians, particularly important as what the public perception is concerned. as what the public perception is concerned-— as what the public perception is concerned. ~ ., ., concerned. would you acknowledge that thin . s concerned. would you acknowledge that things have _ concerned. would you acknowledge that things have moved on - concerned. would you acknowledge that things have moved on since . concerned. would you acknowledge | that things have moved on since you took that job that things have moved on since you took thatjob and more rigour is expected now? starmer have made absolutely clear that they will obey whatever decision is made by acoba which is the right— decision is made by acoba which is

the right thing to do. she applied to acoba and they are considering it and she _ to acoba and they are considering it and she will abide by whatever rules they set— and she will abide by whatever rules they set so— and she will abide by whatever rules they set so that's the right thing and the — they set so that's the right thing and the whole thing today is a political— and the whole thing today is a political stunt.— political stunt. well, is it or is it the case _ political stunt. well, is it or is it the case that _ political stunt. well, is it or is it the case that her _ political stunt. well, is it or is it the case that her role - political stunt. well, is it or is it the case that her role in - political stunt. well, is it or is it the case that her role in the partygate inquiries does make it rather difficult if she was in touch with the leader of the opposition's office at that time? it with the leader of the opposition's office at that time?— office at that time? it would be if she had been passing _ office at that time? it would be if she had been passing all sorts i she had been passing all sorts of secrets _ she had been passing all sorts of secrets to the leader of the opposition but she clearly wasn't. i know— opposition but she clearly wasn't. i know sue gray, she is a very clear and long—standing civil servant with a clear— and long—standing civil servant with a clear grasp of the rules and if she says — a clear grasp of the rules and if she says she is applied the rules i believe her. there is nothing in this so—called report that suggests any different. 0r this so—called report that suggests any different. orwe this so—called report that suggests any different. or we have now is briefings — any different. or we have now is briefings saying we were wrong in proving _ briefings saying we were wrong in proving it — briefings saying we were wrong in proving it would impugn her today so trying _ proving it would impugn her today so trying to _ proving it would impugn her today so trying to smear her for the future and i_ trying to smear her for the future and i really— trying to smear her for the future and i really think it is not a serious _ and i really think it is not a serious matter at all. coming back to what to expect _ serious matter at all. coming back to what to expect now, _ serious matter at all. coming back to what to expect now, using i serious matter at all. coming back to what to expect now, using this | to what to expect now, using this phrase acoba, the advisory committee on business appointments which is what you once chaired, they will

consider the question but of course they then go back to the prime minister with a recommendation so ultimately it once it is back in the political sphere, ultimately it once it is back in the politicalsphere, rishi ultimately it once it is back in the political sphere, rishi sunak could choose either to just pick up the recommendation as it comes from the committee or to maybe be tougher. he has discretion in that respect. may be so but i — has discretion in that respect. may be so but i would _ has discretion in that respect. 1— be so but i would be very surprised if the prime minister refused the advice of the acoba committee. i think what will happen is that sue gray will have an opportunity if she wishes to, and likejonathan, i also know her and i know she is a very able person, she will have an opportunity to speak with the acoba face—to—face, talk to any concerns they have. they will make their decision and that accommodation will go forward. and that recommendation that they make will be printed on the acoba website so everybody can see what they recommended. i think if a prime minister was to change it

or challenge it, it would cause an almighty row. or challenge it, it would cause an almighty row-— or challenge it, it would cause an almih row. . , ,., ,, almighty row. that becomes an issue then which clearly _ almighty row. that becomes an issue then which clearly would _ almighty row. that becomes an issue then which clearly would not - almighty row. that becomes an issue then which clearly would not wish i almighty row. that becomes an issue then which clearly would not wish to | then which clearly would not wish to see happening. jonathan powell, let's assume as we were discussing with baroness browning previously, that they do say a deferment or cooling off period could be appropriate here. we don't know if thatis appropriate here. we don't know if that is three months, six months, nine months, a year, whatever, that is inconvenient for keir starmer and also a bit embarrassing that they did not foresee this? i also a bit embarrassing that they did not foresee this?— also a bit embarrassing that they did not foresee this? i imagine they foresaw there _ did not foresee this? i imagine they foresaw there might _ did not foresee this? i imagine they foresaw there might be _ did not foresee this? i imagine they foresaw there might be a _ did not foresee this? i imagine they foresaw there might be a cooling i did not foresee this? i imagine they| foresaw there might be a cooling off period _ foresaw there might be a cooling off period because she was clearly going to have _ period because she was clearly going to have to— period because she was clearly going to have to apply to acoba which sets those _ to have to apply to acoba which sets those periods. and they have been very clear— those periods. and they have been very clear that they will obey whatever rules there are. it is not for me _ whatever rules there are. it is not for me to — whatever rules there are. it is not for me to suggest what the length should _ for me to suggest what the length should be but a year would be rather exceptional in these circumstances. it's exceptional in these circumstances. it's much _ exceptional in these circumstances. it's much more likely to be a matter of months _ it's much more likely to be a matter of months put it was a year, it would — of months put it was a year, it would disrupt preparations for a would disrupt preparations fora

labour— would disrupt preparations for a labour government if there was to be won but— labour government if there was to be won but if— labour government if there was to be won but if it _ labour government if there was to be won but if it is months i think it is completely livable with. and if it is a year. _ is completely livable with. and if it is a year. it — is completely livable with. and if it is a year, it potentially - is completely livable with. and if it is a year, it potentially takes l it is a year, it potentially takes her out of the picture in the run—up to the next general election, which is presumably why keir starmer would have wanted her expertise in the first place?— first place? yes, i think it was a very serious _ first place? yes, i think it was a very serious move _ first place? yes, i think it was a very serious move by _ first place? yes, i think it was a very serious move by him i first place? yes, i think it was a very serious move by him to i first place? yes, i think it was a i very serious move by him to bring in seven— very serious move by him to bring in seven with _ very serious move by him to bring in seven with senior civil service expertise. _ seven with senior civil service expertise, who could help him prepare — expertise, who could help him prepare for government and think through— prepare for government and think through how to organise government if he wins _ through how to organise government if he wins the election. i hope that is not _ if he wins the election. i hope that is not disrupted by an unreasonably lon- is not disrupted by an unreasonably long period of cooling off in post, i long period of cooling off in post, i hope _ long period of cooling off in post, i hope it — long period of cooling off in post, i hope it will be sensible and in those _ i hope it will be sensible and in those circumstances, it will not be a problem — those circumstances, it will not be a problem because she would be in place _ a problem because she would be in place ready to make suggestions and to experience to have the most efficient — to experience to have the most efficient transition of government from _ efficient transition of government from a _ efficient transition of government from a conservative government to a labour _ from a conservative government to a labour government as happened in i997~ _ labour government as happened in 1997. . ., ., ., ., labour government as happened in 1997. ., ., ., ., ,, 1997. jonathan powell, baroness browninu , 1997. jonathan powell, baroness browning, thank _ 1997. jonathan powell, baroness browning, thank you _ 1997. jonathan powell, baroness browning, thank you very - 1997. jonathan powell, baroness browning, thank you very much l 1997. jonathan powell, baroness l browning, thank you very much for joining us. among those who put their lives into the hands of people smugglers

are all manner of desperate migrants, from those looking for political asylum to those driven by hunger. but what if those smugglers are co—operating with the security people in order to stay in business? that's a question that haunts shima babaei, whose father ebrahim disappeared late in 2021 while trying to escape their native iran. he was an opponent of the regime who paid a gang to smuggle him to turkey to seek asylum. bbc persian's reporterjiyar gol has been trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to ebrahim babaei. a last message from a dad to a daughter. "i hope the new year will be a year of peace, security, prosperity and freedom for our country." 16 months later, the father is disappeared and the daughter

forced to escape iran and found refuge in belgium. in december2021, ebrahim babaei, a former iranian political prisoner and an opponent of the islamic regime, attempted to escape iran through a smuggling route. translation: oh the way - to the border, he was frequently sending me messages. we talked for a couple of minutes on the phone. my dad was speaking quietly. he was very nervous. they were around 25 people and kept in a barn. he promised to call me once it was clear when they crossed the border. but shima never heard of herfather again. shima's friends in turkey were waiting to greet her father. the arrangement was to pay the rest of the money to smugglers once ebrahim babaei arrives

in the turkish city of van. but the smugglers claimed mr babaei had suffered a heart attack and died in a border village in turkey and he is buried there. translation: when i heard the news, i was shocked for a while. _ i couldn't talk. i was screaming and shouting, "dad, where are you?" but the smugglers offered conflicting accounts about mr babaei's death. a few months ago, i began an investigation about mr babaei's disappearance. we didn't find a shred of evidence that suggests mr babaei ever crossed the turkish border. translation: a few months ago, the police of the border city i of maku in iran without any investigations closed my dad's missing file.

after publishing ebrahim babaei's story on bbc persian's social media, a man contacted me and he said he has detailed information about ebrahim babaei on the day he had disappeared. this man was mohammad hoshtel, an iranian asylum seeker. in december 2021, mr hoshtel and a group of iranian and afghan migrants tried to go to turkey through smuggling routes in the north—west border of iran. but iranian security forces arrested them before crossing the border. translation: i saw your report on mr babaei's daughter. i i was surprised to hear her saying her father has disappeared. how can he disappear? he was arrested with us. mr hoshtel says the iranian intelligence agents in plain clothes separated ebrahim babaei

and took him away in an unmarked vehicle. translation: suddenly all the mobile signals cut off and police stormed i into the village and detained all of us _ mr babaei was very nervous. he couldn't sit down. he claimed he's an afghan, but the police knew who he was. police separated the iranian nationals and handed us over to the revolutionary courts in the city of maku. translation: mr hoshtel - contacted me and gave detailed information about my dad, for example, his behaviour and what he was wearing on that day. it was all accurate. it proved we were right. my dad is in custody. he's not dead. one of the smugglers says most of the human traffickers are working with security forces. he said some of them give up iranian political activists who try to escape the country.

in return, the security forces turn a blind eye on traffickers' illegal activities. since her father disappeared, shima babaei has been campaigning to pressure islamic republic of iran to explain what happened to her father. a few months ago, shima and a few iranian women activists met french president emmanuel macron. translation: i told president macron every minute the islamic republic i of iran violation of human rights is tolerated, a family like my family suffers. i told him the west is also responsible for the crime committed by the islamic regime. the west must deal with iranian leaders the way they have dealt with putin.

in the past four decades, hundreds of iranian dissidents and human rights activists have been kidnapped or arrested and disappeared. many fear they may have been killed in custody, under torture, and buried secretly. but many of the victims' families still hope their loved ones one day might come home. translation: idon'tl know where is my dad, what he eats, what he wears. i'm very sad for his isolation and tired of this situation. but still, i have hope that i might get a positive news about him. the coronation is just four days away, with rehearsals underway earlier this evening for saturday's

regal set piece. a sense of the scale of the security operation on display too, with a controlled explosion outside buckingham palace and a man arrested after reports of sometone throwing items — of someone throwing items — possibly shotgun cartridges — through the gates. when the big moment comes this weekend, whether you're planning to celebrate, be performatively indifferent, ignore, or protest, it will be coloured by many things from where you live to how old you are. in the run—up to saturday, a stately procession of pollsters has been filling in the detail and giving a sense of whether, long—term, generational differences could spell trouble for the crown. overall, the country is still very comfortable with the monarchy. an ashcroft polljust out suggests 56% would vote to keep it in any referendum, as opposed to less than a quarter who would vote to abolish it. but in the last few decades,

views have been changing and recent polls suggest that younger people have less favourable attitudes. a yougov poll for panorama showed that the gen z age group — that's 18 to 211—year—olds — said only 32% backed the monarchy. this younger group was more likely, at 38%, to prefer an elected head of state. though the remaining 30% didn't know. underlining the generational divide, over 65s were the most likely to be supportive of the monarchy, at 78%. so is itjust that younger people are less likely to see the point, or does it suggest a generation that will not mature into monarchists, spelling future trouble for the crown? of the younger group polled, 59% also added that they felt the king was out of touch with the experiences of the general public. and there's the cost of royalty, too. the yougov survey showed 110%

of those 18 to 211—year—olds thought it was bad value for money, versus 36% who thought the opposite. scandals also may be having an impact. whereas 611% in the ashcroft poll said they had a favourable view of prince william, and 511% of king charles, prince harry gotjust 22% and andrew, 7%. just as well for the firm that william represents the future. joining us to discuss this are rosy harte, a tiktok historian. and ash sarkar, an editor at novara media and a republican. welcome both. well, because of the time, it is very quiet here at the moment, but i was here yesterday, and breaking news from around the world 211 hours a day. this is bbc news.

i'm sorry to interrupt this broadcast, thank you for your patience. it broadcast, thank you for your patience-— broadcast, thank you for your atience. ., , ~ ., ., ., patience. it does look like a lot of developments _ patience. it does look like a lot of developments in _ patience. it does look like a lot of developments in those _ patience. it does look like a lot of developments in those few i patience. it does look like a lot of. developments in those few seconds. what are police saying about this? scotland yard say at this time they _ about this? scotland yard say at this time they are _ about this? scotland yard say at this time they are not _ about this? scotland yard say at this time they are not treating i about this? scotland yard say at i this time they are not treating the matter— this time they are not treating the matter as — this time they are not treating the matter as terror —related. we have had a _ matter as terror —related. we have had a statement from josette mcdonald who said officers worked immediately to detain the man and he has been _ immediately to detain the man and he has been taken into police custody. there _ has been taken into police custody. there have — has been taken into police custody. there have been no reports of any shots _ there have been no reports of any shots fired — there have been no reports of any shots fired or any injuries to officers. _ shots fired or any injuries to officers, all members of the public, officers _ officers, all members of the public, officers who remain at the scene and further— officers who remain at the scene and further inquiries are ongoing. it's understood to be being treated as an isolated _ understood to be being treated as an isolated mental health incident. buckingham palace and told us that kin- buckingham palace and told us that king charles and cream concert camilla — king charles and cream concert camilla were not in resident at the time of— camilla were not in resident at the time of the — camilla were not in resident at the time of the incident. thank you for keeping us up—to—date on that story for us. let's mind the bbc website. of for us. let's mind the bbc website. of course, in terms of what nicky was reporting on, but i also want to

tell you that bbc royal producer sarah parrish was at the palace at the time and told my colleague ben thompson what she had seen. well, i can only talk about what i saw and what i heard and what i experienced when i was there earlier this evening. i've been in the broadcast compound outside buckingham palace for the last couple of days, working with the rest of the world's media in setting up our coverage ahead of the coronation of the weekend. we were all told to leave the compound earlier this evening because of a suspicious package. we waited outside. we did hear a controlled explosion and then we were allowed back in again. i have not seen anything in front of the compound, and we have since left. and sarah, give us a sense of some of the geography, if you will, because many people will be familiar with the pictures we're looking at on screen now of the palace. and then in front of that is that media compound you're talking about. the world's media will be setting up there, won't they, to get the best views and the best backdrop for those events this week.

so, just give us a sense of the geography of maybe how many people were there and how you were able to get out. yeah, it's a large broadcast compound that is set up regularly for large events at buckingham palace. it's part of greene park, which people who are visitors to london will be familiar with. one of london's royal parks. there's an amazing view of buckingham palace from that park. it overlooks the queen victoria memorial in front of the palace. and it's vista and the backdrop which viewers all over the world would be familiar with on the television screens for any major royal event in london. and talk to us a little bit about the security arrangements that are already in place. i mean, just walking through london, you get a sense that things are a little different, that people are maybe on a little bit more of alert from the security services to make sure the weekend passes off without a hitch. but what sort of precautions are in place around those key landmarks like buckingham palace, westminster abbey and the route of that procession that will take place on saturday?

well, inevitably, police searches will be taking place. there are more police about in london. and inevitably, it's obvious that some of those large media compounds where there's lots of equipment there is clearly searching going on. but, you know, this is a major event. the world will be focused on london on saturday, and the met police have got to make sure it goes off without a hitch. so what's the latest around the palace? our correspondent robin brant sent this update. well, because of the time, it is very quiet here at the moment, but i was here yesterday, and it is a very, very different scene during the day, particularly when it is warm, as it was yesterday, and i think it is scheduled to be in the days ahead. throngs of people on this side of the mall, and throngs of people on the other side, and people are pretty much free to move around, and that is very much the

kind of environment and the kind of sense that the organisers want as we approach the coronation on saturday. but nonetheless, people are free to move around during the day, but vigilance is the key thing here. it is vigilance among the police looking at the crowds, looking at the people here, and particularly in those areas very close to the specific areas of interest, westminster abbey, just over there, of course, tonight, buckingham palace. it was right at the front of the palace at the gates, it's about a couple hundred metres down that way, that this man was arrested this evening after throwing what police believe our shotgun cartridges into the grounds of the palace. ——are shotgun cartridges into the grounds of the palace. let's move on now to a report from afghanistan, that i want more on the bbc website. but for

now, let's move on now to a report from afghanistan, that i want to warn you is difficult to watch. more than 1,000 children under the age of five are dying there every week from diseases that are preventable — that's according to the charity unicef. the country's public health infrastructure was already weak before the taliban took over in 2021. but now, it is virtually broken. foreign funding has been frozen and the little help still available from aid agencies is also under threat because the taliban has banned women from working for them. the bbc�*s correspondent yogita limaye has been to a hospital on the brink of collapse. what we're about to show you is deeply distressing and shows young children in theirfinal moments. but their families wanted us to film them so that the world can see the true scale of the humanitarian disaster that's unfolded. here's her report. baby cries. every child in this room is in need of critical care. pneumonia is ravaging

their little bodies. one—year—old sajad struggles to breathe. this mother, fatima, holds an oxygen pipe near her child's nose. masks for their small faces aren't available. irfan is in the next bed. his condition worsens... ..and his mother ziara is given an extra tube. mothers filling in for what trained staff or medical equipment should do. this basic facility is the intensive care unit in ghor�*s main hospital — a province home to more than a million. room after room is full of sick children. tayabullah, barely breathing, ill with pneumonia and malnutrition.