live from london this is bbc news. mps gather in westminster to debate that dramatic mps gather in westminster to debate that dramati , ., . mps gather in westminster to debate that dramati ,., . ., u , that dramatic report which accused boris johnson _ that dramatic report which accused boris johnson of _ that dramatic report which accused boris johnson of deliberately - borisjohnson of deliberately leading parliament over lockdown parties. that debate is due to start shortly, someone who will not be here according to number 10 is the prime minister. a special report from ukraine's front line. our correspondence is the games being made in ukrainian guns pound the russian positions. and our enemy soon response. in the ashes england struggle to build a convincing lead as australia take more wickets.

welcome, three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. let's start by going to westminster. in the next 30 minutes mps will debate that dramatic report from last week which found boris johnson repeatedly misled parliament about lockdown parties at downing street. he called that conclusions arranged and described the committee which carried out the investigation as a kangaroo court. they recommended a 90 day suspension but mrjohnson had stood down as an mp. 0ne mrjohnson had stood down as an mp. one more thing to the mix, the bbc has seen in invitation to a jingle and mingle event from december 2020, held at conservative headquarters when london was under cupboard

restrictions banning indoor socialising. video of the event emerged over the weekend showing a roomful of people in close proximity with some apparentlyjoking about covid regulations. let's bring you the latest. rishi sunak is not expected to attend this afternoon's debate. the prime minister ignored the media's questions on the subject when welcoming the swedish prime minister to downing street.- when welcoming the swedish prime minister to downing street. where is our minister to downing street. where is your leadership. _ minister to downing street. where is your leadership, prime _ minister to downing street. where is your leadership, prime minister? - minister to downing street. where is | your leadership, prime minister? why are you not engaging in the boris johnson debate? has borisjohnson damaged the reputation of the conservative party? h0 damaged the reputation of the conservative party? damaged the reputation of the conservative pa ? ., ., , ., ., , conservative party? no answer to any of those questions _ conservative party? no answer to any of those questions as _ conservative party? no answer to any of those questions as the _ conservative party? no answer to any of those questions as the prime - of those questions as the prime ministers entered number 10. let's head to the bbc was not correspondence in westminster for us. not long to wait before the debate gets under way a lot of

pointers focusing on the prime minister and the likelihood of him not attending today, what do they officially say?— not attending today, what do they officially say? yes, that debate due to net officially say? yes, that debate due to get under— officially say? yes, that debate due to get under way — officially say? yes, that debate due to get under way probably - officially say? yes, that debate due to get under way probably in - officially say? yes, that debate due to get under way probably in about| to get under way probably in about the next 30 minutes or so. you salt the next 30 minutes or so. you salt the prime minister ignoring any questions from the journalists. the message we have had from number 10 is that prime minister's schedule does not include attending parliament. a clear indication he is not expected. to take us through what we expect and who i have got a political correspondence and political correspondence and political editor of the spectator. take us through what we are expecting. figs take us through what we are flooding-— take us through what we are exectina. a i. ., expecting. as you have said there will be a debate _ expecting. as you have said there will be a debate in _ expecting. as you have said there will be a debate in the _ expecting. as you have said there will be a debate in the house - expecting. as you have said there will be a debate in the house of l will be a debate in the house of commons — will be a debate in the house of commons where mps effectively get the chance to express their view on this report — the chance to express their view on this report put together by a committee of mps who have sat on the privileges— committee of mps who have sat on the privileges committee looking at what borisjohnson did and did not say to

the house _ borisjohnson did and did not say to the house of commons about what happened — the house of commons about what happened during lockdown with pariies — happened during lockdown with parties in downing street and the reporter— parties in downing street and the reporter that committee was damning of boris _ reporter that committee was damning of borisjohnson's reporter that committee was damning of boris johnson's conduct effectively saying he led to —— lied to parliament and what he knew about it so this _ to parliament and what he knew about it so this is _ to parliament and what he knew about it so this is mps's chance to have their— it so this is mps's chance to have their say— it so this is mps's chance to have their say on— it so this is mps's chance to have their say on the reporter that committee. what we do not know is if they will— committee. what we do not know is if they will get _ committee. what we do not know is if they will get a chance to vote on they will get a chance to vote on the report— they will get a chance to vote on the report itself, the slightly strange _ the report itself, the slightly strange processes that some things take place _ strange processes that some things take place mean they may or may not -et take place mean they may or may not get the _ take place mean they may or may not get the chance for a vote but either way, _ get the chance for a vote but either way, expect views and opinions from the mps _ way, expect views and opinions from the mps about what has happened in the mps about what has happened in the conduct of borisjohnson the mps about what has happened in the conduct of boris johnson and that is— the conduct of boris johnson and that is the — the conduct of boris johnson and that is the significant moment because — that is the significant moment because of course it's a man who was until fairly— because of course it's a man who was until fairly recently prime minister. until fairly recently prime minister-— until fairly recently prime minister. ,, ., , minister. significant who is here and who is _ minister. significant who is here and who is not, _ minister. significant who is here and who is not, we _ minister. significant who is here and who is not, we know - minister. significant who is here and who is not, we know for - minister. significant who is here - and who is not, we know for example borisjohnson the man who will be the topic of so much chat not going to be here and probably rishi sunak. yes and actually it might be more notable _ yes and actually it might be more notable who— yes and actually it might be more notable who is _ yes and actually it might be more notable who is not _ yes and actually it might be more notable who is not who _ yes and actually it might be more

notable who is not who is - yes and actually it might be more notable who is not who is in - yes and actually it might be more notable who is not who is in the l notable who is not who is in the sense _ notable who is not who is in the sense that _ notable who is not who is in the sense that you _ notable who is not who is in the sense that you have _ notable who is not who is in the sense that you have last - notable who is not who is in the sense that you have last week i notable who is not who is in the - sense that you have last week when i was speaking — sense that you have last week when i was speaking to — sense that you have last week when i was speaking to supporters _ sense that you have last week when i was speaking to supporters of - sense that you have last week when i was speaking to supporters of boris i was speaking to supporters of boris johnson _ was speaking to supporters of boris johnson saying _ was speaking to supporters of boris johnson saying they _ was speaking to supporters of boris johnson saying they wanted - was speaking to supporters of boris johnson saying they wanted there . was speaking to supporters of borisl johnson saying they wanted there to be a johnson saying they wanted there to he a debate, — johnson saying they wanted there to be a debate, they— johnson saying they wanted there to be a debate, they would _ johnson saying they wanted there to be a debate, they would be - johnson saying they wanted there to be a debate, they would be annoyed if the _ be a debate, they would be annoyed if the government _ be a debate, they would be annoyed if the government allowed _ be a debate, they would be annoyed if the government allowed for- be a debate, they would be annoyed if the government allowed for a - if the government allowed for a debate — if the government allowed for a debate in — if the government allowed for a debate in the _ if the government allowed for a debate in the schedule - if the government allowed for a debate in the schedule because if the government allowed for a - debate in the schedule because they wanted _ debate in the schedule because they wanted a _ debate in the schedule because they wanted a way— debate in the schedule because they wanted a way to _ debate in the schedule because they wanted a way to talk— debate in the schedule because they wanted a way to talk about - debate in the schedule because they wanted a way to talk about how- debate in the schedule because they wanted a way to talk about how they were unhappy— wanted a way to talk about how they were unhappy with _ wanted a way to talk about how they were unhappy with the _ wanted a way to talk about how they were unhappy with the report. - wanted a way to talk about how they were unhappy with the report. nowl wanted a way to talk about how theyl were unhappy with the report. now it feels as— were unhappy with the report. now it feels as though — were unhappy with the report. now it feels as though there _ were unhappy with the report. now it feels as though there has _ were unhappy with the report. now it feels as though there has been - were unhappy with the report. now it feels as though there has been a - feels as though there has been a change _ feels as though there has been a change in — feels as though there has been a change in direction _ feels as though there has been a change in direction partly- feels as though there has been ai change in direction partly because boris _ change in direction partly because borisjohnson _ change in direction partly because borisjohnson has _ change in direction partly because boris johnson has stood _ change in direction partly because borisjohnson has stood down - change in direction partly because borisjohnson has stood down his| borisjohnson has stood down his troops, _ borisjohnson has stood down his troops, made _ borisjohnson has stood down his troops, made clear— borisjohnson has stood down his troops, made clear he _ borisjohnson has stood down his troops, made clear he does- borisjohnson has stood down his troops, made clear he does not. borisjohnson has stood down his. troops, made clear he does not want supporters— troops, made clear he does not want supporters to — troops, made clear he does not want supporters to fight _ troops, made clear he does not want supporters to fight this _ troops, made clear he does not want supporters to fight this punishment. | supporters to fight this punishment. that could _ supporters to fight this punishment. that could he — supporters to fight this punishment. that could be two _ supporters to fight this punishment. that could be two things. _ supporters to fight this punishment. that could be two things. he - supporters to fight this punishment. that could be two things. he may i that could be two things. he may think— that could be two things. he may think the — that could be two things. he may think the show— that could be two things. he may think the show support _ that could be two things. he may think the show support could - that could be two things. he may think the show support could be i that could be two things. he may. think the show support could be so small— think the show support could be so small it _ think the show support could be so small it would _ think the show support could be so small it would not _ think the show support could be so small it would not be _ think the show support could be so small it would not be helpful- think the show support could be so small it would not be helpful to - think the show support could be so| small it would not be helpful to the boris _ small it would not be helpful to the borisjohnson — small it would not be helpful to the borisjohnson and _ small it would not be helpful to the boris johnson and making - small it would not be helpful to the boris johnson and making you - small it would not be helpful to the j boris johnson and making you think about— boris johnson and making you think about the _ boris johnson and making you think about the framework— boris johnson and making you think about the framework vote - boris johnson and making you think about the framework vote where i borisjohnson and making you think. about the framework vote where boris johnson _ about the framework vote where boris johnson and _ about the framework vote where boris johnson and liz— about the framework vote where boris johnson and liz truss _ about the framework vote where boris johnson and liz truss went _ about the framework vote where boris johnson and liz truss went against - johnson and liz truss went against it are _ johnson and liz truss went against it are not _ johnson and liz truss went against it are not nrany_ johnson and liz truss went against it are not many mps _ johnson and liz truss went against it are not many mps followed. - johnson and liz truss went against it are not many mps followed. the| it are not many mps followed. the second _ it are not many mps followed. the second is — it are not many mps followed. the second is it — it are not many mps followed. the second is it could _ it are not many mps followed. the second is it could be _ it are not many mps followed. the second is it could be a _ it are not many mps followed. the second is it could be a helpful- it are not many mps followed. the. second is it could be a helpful move after a _ second is it could be a helpful move after a difficult _ second is it could be a helpful move after a difficult week— second is it could be a helpful move after a difficult week last _ second is it could be a helpful move after a difficult week last week, - after a difficult week last week, ultimately— after a difficult week last week, ultimatety to _ after a difficult week last week, ultimately to make _ after a difficult week last week, ultimately to make things - after a difficult week last week, i ultimately to make things easier after a difficult week last week, - ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak— ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak but _ ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak but it— ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak but it means _ ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak but it means i - ultimately to make things easier for rishi sunak but it means i think- rishi sunak but it means i think this might — rishi sunak but it means i think this might not _ rishi sunak but it means i think this might not be _ rishi sunak but it means i think this might not be the _ rishi sunak but it means i think this might not be the fireworksl this might not be the fireworks debate — this might not be the fireworks debate and _ this might not be the fireworks debate and vote _ this might not be the fireworks debate and vote we _ this might not be the fireworks debate and vote we thought i this might not be the fireworks debate and vote we thought iti this might not be the fireworks - debate and vote we thought it might be last— debate and vote we thought it might be last week — debate and vote we thought it might be last week-—

be last week. people might find it difficult, be last week. people might find it difficult. the _ be last week. people might find it difficult, the prime _ be last week. people might find it difficult, the prime minister - difficult, the prime minister talking about integrity, one of his big point, why would it not be in his interest to be here this afternoon?— his interest to be here this afternoon? �* ., ., afternoon? and you have an interview cli this afternoon? and you have an interview clip this morning _ afternoon? and you have an interview clip this morning where _ afternoon? and you have an interview clip this morning where he _ afternoon? and you have an interview clip this morning where he is - afternoon? and you have an interview clip this morning where he is asked i clip this morning where he is asked will you _ clip this morning where he is asked will you he — clip this morning where he is asked will you be there, _ clip this morning where he is asked will you be there, will— clip this morning where he is asked will you be there, will you - clip this morning where he is asked will you be there, will you leave, . clip this morning where he is asked will you be there, will you leave, ii will you be there, will you leave, i don't _ will you be there, will you leave, i don't want — will you be there, will you leave, i don't want to _ will you be there, will you leave, i don't want to influence _ will you be there, will you leave, i don't want to influence anyone, i will you be there, will you leave, i. don't want to influence anyone, but as you _ don't want to influence anyone, but as you see — don't want to influence anyone, but as you see as — don't want to influence anyone, but as you see as prime _ don't want to influence anyone, but as you see as prime minister- don't want to influence anyone, but as you see as prime minister you i as you see as prime minister you declared — as you see as prime minister you declared you _ as you see as prime minister you declared you want _ as you see as prime minister you declared you want to _ as you see as prime minister you declared you want to be - as you see as prime minister you declared you want to be a - as you see as prime minister you - declared you want to be a government of integrity _ declared you want to be a government of integrity i— declared you want to be a government of integrity. i think— declared you want to be a government of integrity. i think if— declared you want to be a government of integrity. i think if you _ declared you want to be a government of integrity. i think if you want - declared you want to be a government of integrity. i think if you want to - of integrity. i think if you want to answer— of integrity. i think if you want to answer what _ of integrity. i think if you want to answer what people _ of integrity. i think if you want to answer what people are - of integrity. i think if you want to answer what people are thinking | of integrity. i think if you want to i answer what people are thinking in government— answer what people are thinking in government you _ answer what people are thinking in government you have _ answer what people are thinking in government you have a _ answer what people are thinking in government you have a situation . government you have a situation where _ government you have a situation where you — government you have a situation where you have _ government you have a situation where you have a _ government you have a situation where you have a tobacco - government you have a situation where you have a tobacco tory. government you have a situation i where you have a tobacco tory mps were _ where you have a tobacco tory mps were effectively _ where you have a tobacco tory mps were effectively told _ where you have a tobacco tory mps were effectively told how _ where you have a tobacco tory mps were effectively told how to - where you have a tobacco tory mps were effectively told how to vote, i were effectively told how to vote, encouraged — were effectively told how to vote, encouraged how _ were effectively told how to vote, encouraged how to _ were effectively told how to vote, encouraged how to vote - were effectively told how to vote, encouraged how to vote and - were effectively told how to vote, encouraged how to vote and thatl encouraged how to vote and that backfired. — encouraged how to vote and that backfired, there _ encouraged how to vote and that backfired, there was _ encouraged how to vote and that backfired, there was a _ encouraged how to vote and that backfired, there was a u—turn, . encouraged how to vote and that backfired, there was a u—turn, it encouraged how to vote and that . backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the _ backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the done — backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the done thing _ backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the done thing in _ backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the done thing in these - backfired, there was a u—turn, it is not the done thing in these votes, i not the done thing in these votes, they are _ not the done thing in these votes, they are normally— not the done thing in these votes, they are normally not _ not the done thing in these votes, they are normally not whipped. it| not the done thing in these votes, i they are normally not whipped. it is your personal — they are normally not whipped. it is your personal choice. _ they are normally not whipped. it is your personal choice. there - they are normally not whipped. it is your personal choice. there is - they are normally not whipped. it is| your personal choice. there is some -ap your personal choice. there is some gap between — your personal choice. there is some gap between not _ your personal choice. there is some gap between not whipping - your personal choice. there is some gap between not whipping a - your personal choice. there is some gap between not whipping a vote i your personal choice. there is somel gap between not whipping a vote and the leader— gap between not whipping a vote and the leader of— gap between not whipping a vote and the leader of the _ gap between not whipping a vote and the leader of the party— gap between not whipping a vote and the leader of the party indicating - the leader of the party indicating what _ the leader of the party indicating what he — the leader of the party indicating what he plans— the leader of the party indicating what he plans to _ the leader of the party indicating what he plans to do. _ the leader of the party indicating what he plans to do. at - the leader of the party indicating what he plans to do. at risk- the leader of the party indicating what he plans to do. at risk of. what he plans to do. at risk of looking — what he plans to do. at risk of looking a _ what he plans to do. at risk of looking a hit— what he plans to do. at risk of looking a bit player— what he plans to do. at risk of looking a bit player or- what he plans to do. at risk of looking a bit player or to - what he plans to do. at risk of. looking a bit player or to scared what he plans to do. at risk of- looking a bit player or to scared to stand _ looking a bit player or to scared to stand up— looking a bit player or to scared to stand up because _ looking a bit player or to scared to stand up because last— looking a bit player or to scared to stand up because last week- looking a bit player or to scared to stand up because last week therel stand up because last week there were _ stand up because last week there were hints— stand up because last week there were hints he _ stand up because last week there

were hints he was— stand up because last week there were hints he was willing - stand up because last week there were hints he was willing to. - were hints he was willing to. finatty— were hints he was willing to. finatty can _ were hints he was willing to. finally can you _ were hints he was willing to. finally can you explain - were hints he was willing to. finally can you explain we i were hints he was willing to. i finally can you explain we don't know if there will be a vote or not. what is your sense? it is know if there will be a vote or not. what is your sense?— know if there will be a vote or not. what is your sense? it is the 'oy of a stranue what is your sense? it is the 'oy of a strange processor * what is your sense? it is the joy of a strange processor parliament - what is your sense? it is the joy of| a strange processor parliament will come _ a strange processor parliament will come down to who shouts and who doesn't _ come down to who shouts and who doesn't do— come down to who shouts and who doesn't. do you agree with this report— doesn't. do you agree with this report or— doesn't. do you agree with this report or not, if enough people say no, physically go no, that might go to a vote _ no, physically go no, that might go to a vote. the indication at this stage _ to a vote. the indication at this stage because borisjohnson told his supporters not to push this, it is unlikely— supporters not to push this, it is unlikely that not impossible. thank ou ve unlikely that not impossible. thank you very much- _ unlikely that not impossible. thank you very much. we _ unlikely that not impossible. thank you very much. we have _ unlikely that not impossible. thank you very much. we have to - unlikely that not impossible. thank you very much. we have to keep i unlikely that not impossible. t�*ia'ia; you very much. we have to keep you in suspense, we simply don't know what the moment but the debate due to get under way shortly. taste what the moment but the debate due to get under way shortly.— to get under way shortly. we will be strai . ht to get under way shortly. we will be straight back — to get under way shortly. we will be straight back to _ to get under way shortly. we will be straight back to see _ to get under way shortly. we will be straight back to see the _ to get under way shortly. we will be straight back to see the start - to get under way shortly. we will be straight back to see the start of - straight back to see the start of that debate in the next 25 minutes or so. the un has categorised the taliban's treatment of women and girls in afghanistan as gender apartheid. the unp was not special

reporter the systematic and institutionalised dissemination is at the heart of taliban ideology and rule. since the taliban ideology and rule. since the taliban took over the country, women's rights have continued to be eroded. they explained their reason for using such a term. we have noted if appeared one applies the definition of apartheid which at the moment is for race to the situation, and use sex instead of race, they seem to be strong indications pointing towards that. that from the un, my colleague takes a look at the erosion of freedoms that afghan women and girls once enjoyed before the taliban actually took over.

when the taliban took over afghanistan they promise this time the ruling would be different when they had in place in 1996 where no girls allowed to get an education and afghan women were restricted from working outside of their homes. in august 2021 the taliban took over kabul, the first thing they announced was for afghan women who had been working in government offices not to return back to work. since then most of those women have beenjobless. in september 1921 the taliban announced all boys are allowed to go back to school but girls were only allowed under the age of primary school. although the afghan women, university students were allowed to go back to their classes, classes became like this, segregated between men and female students but they continued their education in universities. in march 2022, the secondary school girls, teenagers waiting for schools to open for them, you will remember these images of tearful afghan schoolgirls who returned back from classes

in march and were told not to come back to school because there is a ban on their education. that is still in place in afghanistan. in may 2022, the taliban went further with the restrictions on women, they announced women in afghanistan should not be travelling further distances without male companions. they also in november 22 announced women should not be attending theme parks, a big part of life for afghan women, they have been enjoying their day out with family and friends in parks. in december the taliban announced students should not be returning to classes and also this month during this month the taliban announced who had been working for head offices should stop working and stay—at—home, that is mostly in place. afghan women have continued to protest for their rights, since the taliban have taken over the country.

they have been telling me that all they have done in the last two years is wait for the announcement of these restrictions to be lifted. they have been telling me that all they have done in the last two years is wait for the announcement of these restrictions to be lifted. i spoke to a former afghan mp and former ambassador to norway who was at the meeting in geneva and gave me her reaction to the un using that term. it was a very fruitful meeting, the decision where and recognise the support

from the state was tremendous. genderapartheid, elimination of the violence against women which is continuing in the crime against is a clear picture which everyone is focused on and that is how systematic elimination of afghan women from every single aspect of life needs to be recognised, not only gender apartheid but it needs to have across to bring to justice those people who committed the crime and also hold taliban accountable for the crime against humanity, not only against women but against the people of afghanistan. it's an extraordinary turning back the clock happening in afghanistan. just how would you characterise what life is like for women and girls.

life a sad and depressing, women have been suppressed which time to time comes from the taliban, not only are political but economic and human crisis but having a very loud voice if you see the voice from afghanistan and afghan women, they say they are prisoners, they have to be inside their houses, they are under house arrest. that is a very serious situation but men in afghanistan don't have any rights any more because there is no clear charter to say what is the right of citizens or people and the taliban regime and what is the definition of taliban, they are defective

authority which is they don't have any legitimacy and that is why this systematic crime against humanity is one of the things they are continuing. they need to prosecute the procedure because justice is important. you are personally attacked by the taliban, nearly died, returning to that breaking news, the news from the us coast guard that they have launched a search and rescue operation after a submersible used to take tourists to visit and see the wreck of the titanic went missing at the atlantique 0cean. it is not yet clear how many people if any were on board at the time. the boston coastguard said the search operation is already under way, the

operator is a company, the titanic seenin operator is a company, the titanic seen in cgi recreation sank back in 1912, more than 1500 lives were lost. small submersibles you can pay tens of thousands of pounds to visit the wreckage site. our correspondence gave the latest details. details are sketchy but what we have been told by the boston coastguard is that an operation is under way to find a submersible used to view the wreck of the titanic. many people will know of course the titanic sank in 1912, about 400 miles off the coast of new finland —— newfoundland with many souls lost. occasionally subs are taken to view the wreckage but it is very far deep under the ocean but we know at the moment a search is under way,

we do not know who, if anyone, was actually on board the submersible. many details to be filled out but hearing from the boston coastguard that a search is under way we will bring any further details as we get them. let me give you the latest coming in the last few seconds. they say we are exploring and mobilising all options safely, our focus the statement says is on crew members and theirfamilies, we are statement says is on crew members and their families, we are grateful for the help from government agencies in our efforts to re—establish contact with the submersible, working towards the safe return of crewmembers. that is what the company has put out, it seems we are only talking about

crewmembers as opposed to tourists. that is my reading of it because there is no reference to any tourists within the statement. they are talking about trying to make contact with the submersible and retrieve crewmembers using several government agencies to re—establish contact with submersibles but there is more details on the bbc website, we are monitoring that story because fragments of new details coming in all the time, we will keep their eyes on that and bring any additional information as we get it. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making headlines here in the uk. a typical two year fixed mortgage deal in the uk now has an interest rate of more than 6% for the first time since december. mortgage lenders have been putting up mortgage lenders have been putting up rates and pulling deals in recent

weeks driving up costs for homeowners and those seeking new offers. interest rates have risen 12 times since 2021. the labour leader says his party will end the era of north sea oil and gas x exploration if they wind he said they would help communities across the country profit from clean energy and offering less reliance on energy and offering less reliance on energy import. a report has found one in four people in england are taking antidepressants for five years despite limited evidence of the benefits of taking the drugs for that length of time. more than 8 million people are on antidepressants, 1 million more than the same time last year. for the last two weeks everyone has

right to make an assessment of so far, we will play you a dramatic report from the front lines, our bbc team says there are casual his on both sides. 0ur correspondence and cameraman has been to a village recently liberated in the south—east of the country. and sent this report earlier. on a hot day east of blahodatne, the ukrainian attack begins. explosions. the air thickens with artillery and expectation. ukrainian guns pound the russian positions... ..and their enemy soon responds. nearby explosions. but it's a miss.

yuri, of the drone unit, cannot wait for the shelling to stop. the drones he's sending to enemy trenches carry grenades and smoke bombs. they lose as many as five of these a day. and there's more than just artillery to contend with. the russian helicopters and russian jets fire every area. every day. every time. explosion. go to shelter. 0k. good luck. he just illustrated that point very well, that one of the big advantages that the russians have over the ukrainians is airpower. the ukrainians are attacking on the ground, but the russians still have helicopters, still have warplanes. it makes it much more difficult for them to advance.

we will play the full report in the next hour. now straight to westminster. that debate has just got under way, penny mordaunt at the dispatch box so for the next couple of hours westminster is going to be fully focused on the debate on that privileges committee report that was so damning for borisjohnson last week. we have to future generations that will sit in this place too. mr speaker, on the 21st of april, 2022, this house agreed to the resolution and order that established this inquiry from the committee of privileges. the committee membership was established again with agreement from the house. the committee selected its chairman, and the house approved them. and it commenced its consideration of this matter on the 29th ofjune 2022, and published its report on the 15th of this month. the motion before us today is not only vote a ball, but is amendable,

and no amendments have been tabled against the motion today. —— votable. the committee's report found that mrjohnson deliberately misled the house and the committee, and in doing so, committed a serious contempt. it also found that mr johnson breached confidence, undermined the democratic process of this house, and was complicit in a campaign ofabuse this house, and was complicit in a campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee. i will shortly. intimidation of the committee. i willshortly. it intimidation of the committee. i will shortly. it is for members to decide whether these findings, conclusions and sanctions they propose are correct and reasonable, and that is the question in front of us today. i give way. i’m and that is the question in front of us today. i give way.— us today. i give way. i'm very crateful us today. i give way. i'm very grateful to — us today. i give way. i'm very grateful to hear— us today. i give way. i'm very grateful to hear forgiving - us today. i give way. i'm very| grateful to hear forgiving way, us today. i give way. i'm very - grateful to hear forgiving way, and grateful to hearforgiving way, and she referred there to the evidence. —— i'm grateful to herfor giving way. it's important for those who don't have the report in front of

them to understand the depth of evidence that the committee looked at, looking at material supplied by downing street and the government, looking at what's send e—mails, looking at what's send e—mails, looking at what's send e—mails, looking at many hours of interviews. does she agree that those who haven't looked at all that evidence, haven't looked at all that evidence, haven't done all those interviews, should presume to say that the committee were wrong when the committee were wrong when the committee did all that hard work on our behalf? ~ ., ,._ committee did all that hard work on our behalf? ~ ., ._ ., our behalf? what i say to the honourable _ our behalf? what i say to the honourable gentleman - our behalf? what i say to the honourable gentleman is - our behalf? what i say to the | honourable gentleman is that our behalf? what i say to the - honourable gentleman is that we all owe the committee a debt of gratitude for the work they have done on our instruction, but it is for members to decide whether their conclusions are correct or not. i give way. i conclusions are correct or not. i give way-— conclusions are correct or not. i rive wa . ., ~ ., ., give way. i thank the leader of the is forgiving — give way. i thank the leader of the is forgiving way — give way. i thank the leader of the is forgiving way and _ give way. i thank the leader of the is forgiving way and i _ give way. i thank the leader of the is forgiving way and i have - give way. i thank the leader of the | is forgiving way and i have listened very carefully, but i wonder if she could confirm whether or not she will be voting in support of the motion in her own name? a couple of years ago, when i had a previous shadow leader of the housing front of me, he then brought forward a motion which he then effectively voted against. can she confirm that she will be voting in support of the

motion in her name tonight? again, as the member— motion in her name tonight? again, as the member for _ motion in her name tonight? again, as the member for portsmouth - motion in her name tonight? again, i as the member for portsmouth north, as the memberfor portsmouth north, i will be voting to support the committee's report and recommendations. but all members need to make up their own minds, and others should leave them alone to do so. i think it would be helpful... i'm not intending on detaining the house for long, but i think it would be helpful to briefly address some false assumptions colleagues may be relying upon. firstly, this process has not determined who gets to sit in the house of commons. in vacated his seat, mrjohnson has removed the right of his constituents to retain him as a member of parliament if they wish to do so. secondly, it has been suggested that the government was wrong to give the house time to consider the report, and that it is to its detriment that it has done so. no. not to allow the commons to

vote on a report it had commissioned from one of its committees to produce would be wrong, just as it would be wrong to whip any member on such matter. this is the work of parliament, and it is right that government gives precedence to matters of privilege. governments are scrutinised and held in check by parliament. these important balances are a strength to our political system. a government's ambition may well be limited by parliament, but in being so, they are not diminished. it is when governments seek to interfere with the rights and privileges of this house that it is diminished. and thirdly, that the government... i will come shortly. thirdly, that the government should have stopped the work of the privileges committee, or should stop its future planned work. no. these are matters for the house. the house can, at any time, halt or direct the

work of the privileges committee. it is doing such work because the house has directed it, and it is in this house's interests that it has such a committee, and that members should wish to serve upon it. i give way. i'm very grateful to her in giving way on that point. seven years ago during the brexit referendum, the former memberfor during the brexit referendum, the former member for uxbridge and south rice lip pledged to restore parliamentary sovereignty. last week, he utterly defiled that in what the committee described as an attack on our democratic institutions. the committee found him to have lied over and over again. while the committee has jurisdiction limited to statements made within the chamber, mike party has consistently advocated for a law against the peddling of political falsehoods in public life. does she agree with me that the time has come to enshrine in law the need for all politicians to respect the very concept of the truth? the honourable lady brings me to my

closing remarks, which is why what we do this afternoon, whichever way we do this afternoon, whichever way we decide to vote or not to vote, why it matters. the real world consequences of a vote today may seem to come down to whether the former memberfor seem to come down to whether the former member for uxbridge seem to come down to whether the former memberfor uxbridge has seem to come down to whether the former member for uxbridge has a pass to the estate, and our constituents may not appreciate why we are focused on contempt towards the house, as opposed to contempts they may feel have been made against them. the lockdown breaches themselves, which great hard with those who sacrificed so much to keep us safe. —— which grate hard. orfor others, on wider issues such as the debasement of our honour system. but we would be wrong to think there is no meaningful consequence to our actions this afternoon. the work of

the privileges committee in producing this report before us today does notjust examine the conduct of a former colleague. their work has also sought to defend our rights and privileges in this place. the right not to be misled, the right not to be abused in carrying out our duties. as a consequence, they have also defended the rights of those that sent us here, and those we serve, and i thank the committee and its staff for their service. this matters because the integrity of our institutions matter, and the respect and trust afforded to them matters. this has real—world consequences for the accountability of members of parliament to each other, and the members of the public they represent. today, all members should do what they think is right, and others should leave them alone to do

so. the question is as on the order paper~ — the question is as on the order paper. shadow leader of the house. thank— paper. shadow leader of the house. thank you. _ paper. shadow leader of the house. thank you, mr speaker. the truth is incontrovertible. malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. mr speaker, the end, there it is. mr speaker, the words of winston churchill, first said in this house decades ago, and they hang over us today. borisjohnson in particular, and his supporters, should heed the words of his hero. mrjohnson undermined and attacked our democratic institutions, a far cry from a prime minister this country can be proud of. he lied to this house, to the people of this country, and when of. he lied to this house, to the people of this country, and when exposed, lashed out at the system exposed, lashed out at the system designed to hold him and all of us designed to hold him and all of us here to account. the backdrop to here to account. the backdrop to this report is the thousands of red this report is the thousands of red

hearts on the covid hearts on the covid memorial wall, just over the river. everyone represents a life lost to this awful disease. for every single heart, there is a human being loved, morant and missed. for each, there is a story around them of awful loss, of grief compounded by goodbyes and over smartphones, lives ended alone, people robbed of precious time together. and relatives unable to comfort iurge i urge members who continue to defend mrjohnson and attack the committee and their findings to think of these families, and what this means to them. they are our