live from jerusalem — this is bbc news. continuing this is bbc news. our special coverage of the continuing our special coverage of the israel gaza war. we start this hour with breaking news that has just come in. hamas�*s military wing hasissued just come in. hamas�*s military wing has issued on its telegram channel another hostage video. the bbc does not normally broadcast hostage videos and we are not going to give the names of the three individuals who are part of this message. what we have seen and heard and translated what they have to say. let's look at some of the details of what is as distressing video to emerge. we've been speaking to our correspondent paul adams. what can you tell us about this video? its reall you tell us about this video? it; really hard to watch. three women, we have confirmed their identities but we are not going to

name them at the moment. they are sitting in a white tiled room on shares, dressed rather as the hostages were the other day in what appeared to be palestinian costumes. one of them speaks and she speaks with real fury. one of them speaks and she speaks with realfury. and she one of them speaks and she speaks with real fury. and she addresses her remarks to benjamin netanyahu, israel's prime minister. she says they have been in captivity for 23 days, that suggests to me that this was recorded yesterday. she referred to a press conference that the families gave the previous day, which was two days ago. in which, she says, we know there was supposed to be a ceasefire. you were supposed to be a ceasefire. you were supposed to let us all go. yes, there was a press conference, and yes, clearly there was a lot of talk about ceasefires but nothing from the israeli side, nothing from the prime

minister to suggest that such a deal had been struck. so, my way of thinking suggests that that is what they have been told happened. they probably don't have any independent access to information. they are entirely dependent on what their hamas captors are telling them. they appear to be healthy, they do not appear to be healthy, they do not appear to be abused or injured. but the women who speaks is extremely emotional. and she becomes almost uncontrollably emotional at the end. she says that the army was not their —— there to protect them on the 7th of october, no one arrived to guard them, protect them and that they are innocent citizens. she also addressed her remarks to the prime minister and said, haven't enough people being killed? letters go back to our families, people being killed? letters go back to ourfamilies, now, now, now. it’s

to our families, now, now, now. it's really hard — to ourfamilies, now, now, now. it's really hard to watch. it's very distressing, first of all to the families. we hope they have been told about this in a careful way as possible. it can at least give them a sign that their loved ones are alive and that they look healthy, as you say. but it's also deeply, deeply distressing. and the israeli view on these videos, prime minister netanyahu has called it psychological terrorism, using them to pursue their war aims. yes. psychological terrorism, using them to pursue their war aims.— to pursue their war aims. yes, it's hard to dispute _ to pursue their war aims. yes, it's hard to dispute a _ to pursue their war aims. yes, it's hard to dispute a character- to pursue their war aims. yes, it's hard to dispute a character a - hard to dispute a character a station like that. this is not a video recorded out of free will. this is a video recorded by three women who are being held in conditions that we can only get out, we do have a little insight courtesy of the other hostages who were released who said they were being generally well treated. not on the

way. generally well treated. not on the wa . ., generally well treated. not on the wa , ., ., generally well treated. not on the wa . ., ., ., y generally well treated. not on the wa . ., ., ., , that way. not on the “ourney. that “ourne way. not on the “ourney. that journey that _ way. not on the journey. that journey that took _ way. not on the journey. that journey that took them - way. not on the journey. that journey that took them to - way. not on the journey. that journey that took them to the j way. not on the journey. that - journey that took them to the places where they are being held was clearly extremely traumatic and everything else that has happened to them was utterly traumatic. you have to take that into account when you read these words. these other words, they may well reflect some of the trauma and anger that they themselves feel. maybe they also reflect some of the things that they have been asked to say. we just don't know. but the impact of this is going to be huge. it is going to add to the pressure on benjamin netanyahu to do more to get hostages out. it is going to cause yet another wave of trauma in this country where wave upon wave of trauma has already been crashing on the population. you know, the story has the ability to do that to us every few days. this is just going to add to that. and, you know, there you have three women begging,

begging the government to bring them home. yes, just deepening the trauma of so many and it is notjust the families and loved ones of the hostages, there are so many in this country who themselves are torn about what has been happening. benjamin netanyahu met some of the families, he reassured them and the nation that israel has two priorities, destroying hamas in bringing the hostages home. his view was that there intensifying war and the ground operations would help. he said the only way to bring the hostages home is not the ceasefire that the women were no doubt told to say in the video, but by intensifying the pressure. find intensifying the pressure. and indeed, intensifying the pressure. and indeed. the — intensifying the pressure. fific indeed, the defence minister intensifying the pressure. fific indeed, the defence minister made exactly the same point. that is the way to force hamas into some kind of deal. it was interesting when mr netanyahu spoke and he spoke about those two priorities and it was in that order, destroying hamas and

bringing the hostages home. clearly his main priority still, as far as we can make out is to destroy hamas. many, many people in this country are asking, how can you achieve both of those? is that even remotely possible? and it is it more likely that the more military pressure you bring, the more you send troops into those congested areas where the hostages might be being held, the more air strikes that are conducted there are more likely the hostages will come to harm. another statement from hamas this morning in response to the latest signs of israelis moving in on the ground was precisely that. the more you do this, the more you are likely to harm hostages. this is an awful, awful psychological game which the captors are playing and they are hoping, still, with so many cards in their hands, more than 200 people, that somehow this is going to have

an impact on the israeli government. so far we have seen no sign of that. is there something going on behind the scenes? may be. we know that many, many actors including the gulf state of qatar are trying very hard to orchestrate a deal in which they could be a release of hostages. may be an exchange for the release of palestinian prisoners held in israeli jails. at the moment, we have no sign that any of that is imminent. this is going to add to the pressure and despair and once again the drama surrounding all of those questions.— those questions. yes, and that friday night — those questions. yes, and that friday night when _ those questions. yes, and that friday night when israel- those questions. yes, and that i friday night when israel extended its ground operations, it came suddenly. brief on operations from the gulf of qatar said that they were so close but there were so many issues in dispute, we know there is a very big issues. one of all, that ceasefire that the women in the video today talked about. just before we came on air, there were reports swelling again that even now, even though there had been a few of these talks, that there are

really crucial disclosure in discussions going on now as we speak in qatarfocusing, we believe, discussions going on now as we speak in qatar focusing, we believe, just on the civilians. in qatar focusing, we believe, 'ust on the civilians.�* on the civilians. yes, there are conversations _ on the civilians. yes, there are conversations going _ on the civilians. yes, there are conversations going on - on the civilians. yes, there are - conversations going on everywhere. there is even talk of hamas civilians in the egyptian capital. these negotiations and discussions which continue all the time. it may sound almost bizarre to the audience to think that a war can be raging and conversations can still be happening indirectly between the warring parties about the possible exchange of prisoners. but these things do happen, even at the mitts of wars. we can't exclude the fact that something of that kind may emerge. it may be that the hamas people who are holding these women, maybe they thought that such a thing was imminent. the truth of these negotiations is being held by so few people and it's only when the deal is done that anyone gets to know.

this was the one glimmer of hope that they have held onto, the general view that these hostages that are being held by hamas, also islamichhad is, at the hands of gazans who went and grabbed people. they only matter if they are alive. they only matter if they are alive. they want to keep them alive. they want these bargaining chips, as terrible as it is to say that. paul, you mention the details that it was a white tiled room. many eyes will be on these videos, also their families to look for signs of distress, have they lost weight? how did they look? did they look stressed? the women had different expressions without going into details. if it was, as it's widely believed, in one of these deep, deep tunnels it was very well pointed. pointed. we tunnels it was very well pointed. pointed. ~ .., tunnels it was very well pointed. pointed. ~ , ., tunnels it was very well pointed. pointed. , ., ., tunnels it was very well pointed. | pointed-_ it pointed. we can use that word. it didn't look— pointed. we can use that word. it didn't look like _ pointed. we can use that word. it didn't look like a _ pointed. we can use that word. it didn't look like a cave. _ pointed. we can use that word. it

didn't look like a cave. it - pointed. we can use that word. it didn't look like a cave. it didn't i didn't look like a cave. it didn't look dumb or sad, it looked cleaned, tiled, white. i'm sure many eyes will be poring over that and trying to see any signs. there were no obvious signs about where they are being held. gaza is a small place, as you know. a very small place but it is also a very congested place and there are many, many places where you can hide civilians. we don't know that, you are right. we don't know that, you are right. we don't know that, you are right. we don't know who is holding her. by now, hamas being the main group in gaza, if anyone was freelancing on this hostagetaking, probably the hostages had been gathered and held centrally. but we just don't know. could this be the prelude to any more hostage releases? again, it's just impossible to know. but it is also just impossible to ignore. just impossible to know. but it is alsojust impossible to ignore. so

agonising. so, so agonising. one of the very tragic human dimensions of this very ugly intensifying war. paul adams, this very ugly intensifying war. pauladams, i know this very ugly intensifying war. paul adams, i know you will get more information on this and all other developing stories. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. to confirm again if you have just joined us, in the last hour hamas was �*s military wing has released another video, a hostage video. on its telegram channel, we are not broadcasting the video it is not bbc policy to broadcast the video, we are not giving the identities. we have been discussing what one of the women who spoke had to say. we will continue to try and get more details, notjust about continue to try and get more details, not just about this continue to try and get more details, notjust about this video but the impact on the families, on israelis and most of all on those intense and highly sensitive negotiations to bring the hostages home. let's take a look at the other top stories this hour. israel says it's expanding its attacks in the gaza strip — hitting a further 600 hamas targets — and claiming to have killed dozens of fighters.

who had barricaded themselves inside buildings and tunnels. these are images from the israeli defence forces. we can give you some of these images that they have released. we're not sure where they are from but they are taking up positions. we believe there may be in the gaza strip. we know that their forces have moved in the gaza strip. we know that theirforces have moved inside friday night. expect those images of the intensifying air war. these are the intensifying air war. these are the grainy images that they have been showing since friday, since saturday morning, when they confirmed that they had gone in. columns of tanks, there you can see the firing, moving through the northern edge of the gaza strip. we understand that they haven't moved in that far, they have just moved in to that slice along the edge from northern israel into gaza. although

earlier today, there were images that they had cut the main road running north and south. at least one tank on that road. which interacted with a civilian vehicle. we understand now that that tank has moved. we are very much dependent on what the israeli military releases and the videos sent or filmed by journalists. guards and journalists who are still working under difficult conditions of the bombardment intensifying bombardment. israel said it hit 600 hamas targets overnight, the hamas run health ministry says the death toll among civilians is now over 8000. you are watching bbc news. let's turn now to the covid inquiry which has been taking place. it said that

a key aide turned on borisjohnson. martin reynolds who was the head of the prime minister's private office is being questioned by the council of the inquiry. mr reynolds also said that the cabinet was not prepared for the scale of the pandemic and acknowledge that in hindsight, he should have been far more vigorously testing out and looking at their plans. their inquiry, like all public inquiries, won't buy anyone guilty or innocent but is aimed at addressing public concerns and learning lessons from past offences. concerns and learning lessons from past offences-_ past offences. let's listen in. in downin: past offences. let's listen in. in downing street, _ past offences. let's listen in. in downing street, dominic- past offences. let's listen in. in - downing street, dominic cummings did the same thing and said that he brought in a lot of data to people dealing with some of the problems we were identifying then but creating a very high level of complexity. when the prime minister himself had a very similar sort of reaction, when

he lost confidence in the government system, he reached for different people, whoever it might be. so you have a situation during the crisis because everything was so pressured, we've created a complexity and a series of competing structures which means that by this stage, the government is facing serious problems. this piece of work bias was designed to shine a light on that and to try and press reset and get ourselves better place for the next stage of covid. i suppose, what it is doing is looking at working practices, shifting the committee structure away, creating a new covid unit rather than a whole group of separate entities headed by deg. underpinning the covid unit with a

proper analytical unit and delivery unit and then trying to get people out of number ten. one of the challenges we face a number ten, everybody, because in a sense the crisis structures hadn't worked in the cabinet office, everything gravitated to number ten. by this stage in the crisis, we had far too much activity at number ten, far too many people and far too little clarity as to who exactly is responsible for what. and so this report is really designed to try and press reset and is very, very start in the challenges we are facing because that is the best way and i thought to get people to really acknowledge that we needed to do different approach. the acknowledge that we needed to do different approach.— acknowledge that we needed to do different approach. the outcome of this review was, _ different approach. the outcome of this review was, as _ different approach. the outcome of this review was, as you _ different approach. the outcome of this review was, as you say - different approach. the outcome of this review was, as you say that. this review was, as you say that there _ this review was, as you say that there was— this review was, as you say that there was a _ this review was, as you say that there was a difference in the methodology, covid test and co-videa _ methodology, covid test and

co—video. there was a covid task force _ co—video. there was a covid task force much_ co—video. there was a covid task force. much of your report was about discipline. _ force. much of your report was about discipline, wasn't it? it was about people _ discipline, wasn't it? it was about people talking over each other, match — people talking over each other, match behaviour, misogyny. rudeness. people _ match behaviour, misogyny. rudeness. people taking charge in meetings, not listening to others. none of that was— not listening to others. none of that was going to be changed by a change _ that was going to be changed by a change in — that was going to be changed by a change in the committee structure. what _ change in the committee structure. what was _ change in the committee structure. what was done in terms of the personnel— what was done in terms of the personnel and the disciplinary problem — personnel and the disciplinary problem that was apparent? well, i think some of _ problem that was apparent? well, i think some of this _ problem that was apparent? well, i think some of this changes - problem that was apparent? well, i think some of this changes in - think some of this changes in structure would help with that. what's it about is people out of downing street. part of the challenge in the covid crisis was normally, in a normal crisis situation you have, as it were decision—making structures outside of number ten and you have a limited number of people moving back into number of people moving back into number ten to talk to the prime minister. ~ . . , number ten to talk to the prime minister. ~ ., ., , ., , , minister. what was happening...

slowdown- _ minister. what was happening... slowdown. sorry. _ minister. what was happening... slowdown. sorry. sorry- minister. what was happening... slowdown. sorry. sorry i - minister. what was happening... - slowdown. sorry. sorry i interrupted ou. you slowdown. sorry. sorry i interrupted yom you have— slowdown. sorry. sorry i interrupted yom you have a _ slowdown. sorry. sorry i interrupted you. you have a limited _ slowdown.m sorry i interrupted you. you have a limited number- slowdownm sorry i interrupted you. you have a limited number of. you. you have a limited number of people _ you. you have a limited number of heapie moving _ you. you have a limited number of people moving back—and—forth - you. you have a limited number of| people moving back—and—forth into number— people moving back—and—forth into number ten — people moving back—and—forth into numberten to— people moving back—and—forth into numberten to talk— people moving back—and—forth into number ten to talk to _ people moving back—and—forth into number ten to talk to the - people moving back—and—forth into number ten to talk to the prime . number ten to talk to the prime minister— number ten to talk to the prime minister about— number ten to talk to the prime minister about what— number ten to talk to the prime minister about what was - number ten to talk to the prime - minister about what was happening. what happens — minister about what was happening. what happens in _ minister about what was happening. what happens in covid _ minister about what was happening. what happens in covid it— minister about what was happening. what happens in covid it is- minister about what was happening. what happens in covid it is a - minister about what was happening. what happens in covid it is a lot - minister about what was happening. what happens in covid it is a lot of. what happens in covid it is a lot of the activity moves into number ten and that injects tremendous stress into the organisation so part of the solution to this is to actually go back to where it is more traditional and more normal ways of working. the other thing and the reason i wanted to discuss it with the prime minister, donned a minute cummings and cabinet secretary —— dominic cummings. as we needed the top officials to agree this is a genuine problem and drive that change. this is not something we can drive, you need to get elected by them. the challenge that we face is in a sense, because there were interpersonal issues that emerged at

that said —— stage. mas interpersonal issues that emerged at that said -- stage.— that said -- stage. was there a notable reduction _ that said -- stage. was there a notable reduction in _ that said -- stage. was there a notable reduction in the - that said -- stage. was there a i notable reduction in the misogyny and personal problems das personnel problems? _ and personal problems das personnel problems? uyghur i think there was a significant _ problems? uyghur i think there was a significant change in the reduction of directive general in the building. that reduced the superhero culture _ building. that reduced the superhero culture to _ building. that reduced the superhero culture to an extent that we are talking — culture to an extent that we are talking about. i think in terms of the diversity of decision—making and treatment— the diversity of decision—making and treatment of women. i agree. i think that is— treatment of women. i agree. i think that is an _ treatment of women. i agree. i think that is an ongoing cultural issue which _ that is an ongoing cultural issue which i — that is an ongoing cultural issue which i think we could have done more _ which i think we could have done more to— which i think we could have done more to address. because the personnel did not fundamentally change — personnel did not fundamentally change other than mr cayce came on board _ change other than mr cayce came on board and _ change other than mr cayce came on board and became the director general— board and became the director general or permanent secretary in number— general or permanent secretary in number ten. general or permanent secretary in numberten. , lord said well left

his post — numberten. , lord said well left his post around about the 15th of may but — his post around about the 15th of may but stayed until the autumn. the rest of— may but stayed until the autumn. the rest of the _ may but stayed until the autumn. the rest of the personnel remain the samef _ rest of the personnel remain the same. did — rest of the personnel remain the same, did they not?— same, did they not? yes, i think also as we _ same, did they not? yes, i think also as we say. _ same, did they not? yes, i think also as we say, if— same, did they not? yes, i think also as we say, if we _ same, did they not? yes, i think also as we say, if we wanted i same, did they not? yes, i think also as we say, if we wanted to l also as we say, if we wanted to drive that change, all senior leaders needed to sit down together and actually talk it through. i think in terms of the diversity and this is not the primary driver of this is not the primary driver of this but having someone like helen being appointed into the role, i think that would have sent a powerful signal but it would have helped change some of that dimension. though i recognise that to drive fundamental change... there wasn't a meeting _ to drive fundamental change... there wasn't a meeting was _ to drive fundamental change... there wasn't a meeting was there _ to drive fundamental change... there wasn't a meeting was there where everyone — wasn't a meeting was there where everyone sat down and thrashed out the problem is that with the? you had recommended helen as a candidate but that— had recommended helen as a candidate but that didn't happen. lord said

well had — but that didn't happen. lord said well had a — but that didn't happen. lord said well had a meeting with the prime minister— well had a meeting with the prime minister as a result of which, you became _ minister as a result of which, you became aware from a subsequent debriefing that essentially the prime — debriefing that essentially the prime minister had lost confidence in him. _ prime minister had lost confidence in him. is — prime minister had lost confidence in him, is that correct?— in him, is that correct? correct. can we have — in him, is that correct? correct. can we have 265200 _ in him, is that correct? correct. can we have 265200 page i in him, is that correct? correct. can we have 265200 page two, | in him, is that correct? correct. i can we have 265200 page two, these are whatsapp messages between you and mark said well dating the 15th of may. in and mark said well dating the 15th of ma . ., of may. in the middle of the page, i'm of may. in the middle of the page, i'm sorry. we _ of may. in the middle of the page, i'm sorry, i've lost _ of may. in the middle of the page, i'm sorry, i've lost my _ of may. in the middle of the page, i'm sorry, i've lost my bearings, . of may. in the middle of the page, i'm sorry, i've lost my bearings, if| i'm sorry, i've lost my bearings, if you could — i'm sorry, i've lost my bearings, if you could scroll back out. about a third _ you could scroll back out. about a third of— you could scroll back out. about a third of the — you could scroll back out. about a third of the way down the page. mark said, third of the way down the page. mark said. i_ third of the way down the page. mark said. idon't— third of the way down the page. mark said, i don't want another conversation about myself before the weekend _

conversation about myself before the weekend. any news on that? you, that's— weekend. any news on that? you, that's what— weekend. any news on that? you, that's what i— weekend. any news on that? you, that's what i suspect he wants to discuss _ that's what i suspect he wants to discuss it— that's what i suspect he wants to discuss it i— that's what i suspect he wants to discuss it i shall say you are willing — discuss it i shall say you are willing to _ discuss it i shall say you are willing to discuss on monday. what was the _ willing to discuss on monday. what was the sense that what mark said well said _ was the sense that what mark said well said was not prevailing? | well said was not prevailing? assume well said was not prevailing? i assume that was about going back on the suggestion that he might move. what happened was that that meeting essentially he was sacked, he was told that _ essentially he was sacked, he was told that the prime minister had no confidence in him. and he would leave _ confidence in him. and he would leave in— confidence in him. and he would leave in the autumn. | confidence in him. and he would leave in the autumn.— confidence in him. and he would leave in the autumn. i don't think it was that _ leave in the autumn. i don't think it was that clear. _ leave in the autumn. i don't think it was that clear. i _ leave in the autumn. i don't think it was that clear. i think - leave in the autumn. i don't think it was that clear. i think you i leave in the autumn. i don't think| it was that clear. i think you would have to speak to the prime minister and mark sedwell as to exactly what was discussed in that meeting. that is why witness statement i talk about losing confidence. i think the detail on the precise meanings were unclear and that is why i had a

meeting with the prime minister to try and persuade him of this but also to try and understand exactly what the plan was.— also to try and understand exactly what the plan was. were you able to understand what _ what the plan was. were you able to understand what the _ what the plan was. were you able to understand what the plan _ what the plan was. were you able to understand what the plan was i what the plan was. were you able to | understand what the plan was meant to be understand what the plan was meant to he and _ understand what the plan was meant to be and what it was that the prime minister— to be and what it was that the prime minister was meant to have in his mind? _ minister was meant to have in his mind? i_ minister was meant to have in his mind? ~' ., _, ., ., ., mind? ithink the outcome, again, of mind? ithink the outcome, again, of my meeting — mind? ithink the outcome, again, of my meeting from _ mind? ithink the outcome, again, of my meeting from the _ mind? ithink the outcome, again, of my meeting from the prime - mind? ithink the outcome, again, of my meeting from the prime minister| my meeting from the prime minister of the thursday or friday of that week was that simon was to come in as the permanent secretary for covid. and that mark sedwell would move on at some point in the autumn and that there would be a new nsa appointed. so it was a double hatted role under mark sedwell, create a new nsa roll over that period. just -ause new nsa roll over that period. just pause there. _ new nsa roll over that period. just pause there, by nsa do you mean national— pause there, by nsa do you mean national security?— pause there, by nsa do you meanj national security?_ and national security? yes, sorry. and wh does national security? yes, sorry. and why does he _ national security? yes, sorry. and why does he say — national security? yes, sorry. and why does he say in _ national security? yes, sorry. and why does he say in the _ national security? yes, sorry. and why does he say in the whatsappl national security? yes, sorry. and i why does he say in the whatsapp to you, why does he say in the whatsapp to you. if_ why does he say in the whatsapp to you. if he _ why does he say in the whatsapp to you. if he is— why does he say in the whatsapp to you, if he is going to scapegoat me

why doesn't— you, if he is going to scapegoat me why doesn't he... ?i you, if he is going to scapegoat me why doesn't he. . ._ why doesn't he... ? i believe that he was concerned _ why doesn't he... ? i believe that he was concerned that _ why doesn't he... ? i believe that he was concerned that he - why doesn't he... ? i believe that he was concerned that he was i why doesn't he... ? i believe that i he was concerned that he was being blamed for shortcomings in the first phase of covid felt as a result that that would be scapegoating. mi that would be scapegoating. all right. now, barnard castle, please. and events — right. now, barnard castle, please. and events in downing street. could we have, _ and events in downing street. could we have, please, 265260 on the screen _ we have, please, 265260 on the screen please on page four. these are whatsapp is between you and mark sedwell— are whatsapp is between you and mark sedwell on— are whatsapp is between you and mark sedwell on the 24th of may 2020. ifi if i can find the right passage. in the middle of the page, at 1650 pm.

sedwell— the middle of the page, at 1650 pm. sedwell said difficult for them if he is _ sedwell said difficult for them if he is asked if you breach the guidance _ he is asked if you breach the guidance. seem to go 0k. mark said, not sure _ guidance. seem to go 0k. mark said, not sure outside the bubble, let's see if_ not sure outside the bubble, let's see if it's — not sure outside the bubble, let's see if it's still on the front pages tomorrow — see if it's still on the front pages tomorrow. martin, it's bound to be. mark, _ tomorrow. martin, it's bound to be. mark, yes, — tomorrow. martin, it's bound to be. mark, yes, but how? pm has put his chin and _ mark, yes, but how? pm has put his chin and government credibility on the line _ chin and government credibility on the line. people are genuinely angry — angry. where you angry. — where you discussing the castle affair— where you discussing the castle affair at — where you discussing the castle affair at the press conference which she held _ affair at the press conference which she held on — affair at the press conference which she held on the 25th of may in the rose _ she held on the 25th of may in the rose garden in downing street? is it 25th or 24th, _ rose garden in downing street? is it 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm _ rose garden in downing street? is it 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. . rose garden in downing street? is it 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. i | 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. i think the press _ 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. i think the press conference - 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. i think the press conference was i 25th or 24th, sorry? i'm confused. i think the press conference was on l think the press conference was on the 25th _ think the press conference was on the 25th you and mark sedwell talking — the 25th you and mark sedwell talking about a conversation that someone — talking about a conversation that someone has had with dominic cummings about whether or not you

breach— cummings about whether or not you breach the _ cummings about whether or not you breach the guidance. but it is all to do. _ breach the guidance. but it is all to do. is— breach the guidance. but it is all to do. is it — breach the guidance. but it is all to do, is it not? about dominic cummings's drive to the castle on easter— cummings's drive to the castle on easter sunday, the 12th of april, 2020 _ easter sunday, the 12th of april, 2020 |— easter sunday, the 12th of april, 2020. ., ., ., 2020. i agree. i wonder whether on the 24th there _ 2020. i agree. i wonder whether on the 24th there was _ 2020. i agree. i wonder whether on the 24th there was a press - the 24th there was a press conference with the prime minister. on the 24th, we are talking about the prime minister's press conference. it the prime minister's press conference.— the prime minister's press conference. , ., ., conference. it is emerged at that ress conference. it is emerged at that press conference _ conference. it is emerged at that press conference the _ conference. it is emerged at that press conference the day - conference. it is emerged at that press conference the day before. j conference. it is emerged at that | press conference the day before. i think press conference the day before. think that press conference the day before. i think that why i'm so confused. one event is the press conference and then there was dominic cummings�*s statement in the rose garden. haifa. statement in the rose garden. now, insert patrick — statement in the rose garden. now, insert patrick vallance's _ statement in the rose garden. now, insert patrick vallance's diaries i insert patrick vallance's diaries for the — insert patrick vallance's diaries for the 25th of may page 67, he says that he _ for the 25th of may page 67, he says that he and — for the 25th of may page 67, he says that he and professor sir chris whitty— that he and professor sir chris whitty were asked to do the press conference, that may be a reference to the _ conference, that may be a reference to the prime — conference, that may be a reference to the prime ministerial press conference. he says, 273901 page 67.

chris conference. he says, 273901 page 67. chris whitty _ conference. he says, 273901 page 67. chris whitty and ivor are reluctant to do— chris whitty and ivor are reluctant to do the — chris whitty and ivor are reluctant to do the press conference. it's highly— to do the press conference. it's highly political and will be focused on dominic cummings,. one is to divert— on dominic cummings,. one is to divert from— on dominic cummings,. one is to divert from the dominic cummings fiasco, _ divert from the dominic cummings fiasco, court have gone to durham, clearly _ fiasco, court have gone to durham, clearly gives — fiasco, court have gone to durham, clearly gives the rules, all very worrying — clearly gives the rules, all very worrying. breezy confidence incredibly alarming. in his diaries, sir patrick— incredibly alarming. in his diaries, sir patrick suggests that you, along with others, to use his words, strong—armed him and chris whitty to attend _ strong—armed him and chris whitty to attend the _ strong—armed him and chris whitty to attend the press conference. did you? _ attend the press conference. did you? i— attend the press conference. did ou? ~ , you? , i think the first thing i should say — you? , i think the first thing i should say on _ you? , i think the first thing i should say on this _ you? , i think the first thing i should say on this as - you? , i think the first thing i should say on this as i - you? , i think the first thing i should say on this as i spoke| you? , i think the first thing i i should say on this as i spoke to the prime minister at the time and

questioned whether it was questionable for him to support dominic cummings in the way that he was doing. i had a private conversation with him. and then, i did speak to patrick vallance and chris whitty and suggests that they might... it was important for public confidence for them to appear alongside the prime minister of this press conference. i don't view that a strong arming. i think chris whitty said to me and explained why it was inappropriate for him to stand alongside the prime minister was he was justify his behaviour and once i agreed with this analysis and deferred to his analysis, i then backed off. i don't believe i was strong arming him in that sense. next page. strong arming him in that sense. next page-— strong arming him in that sense. next nae. , ., , ., ., next page. they tried to strong-arm us, lee, james... _

next page. they tried to strong-arm us, lee, james... james _ next page. they tried to strong-arm us, lee, james... james flat - next page. they tried to strong-arm us, lee, james... james flat i i next page. they tried to strong-arm us, lee, james... james flat i would| us, lee, james... james flat i would cuess. us, lee, james... james flat i would guess- and — us, lee, james... james flat i would guess. and even _ us, lee, james... james flat i would guess. and even martin. _ us, lee, james. .. james flat i would guess. and even martin. i _ us, lee, james... james flat i would guess. and even martin. i think i guess. and even martin. i think that's my _ guess. and even martin. i think that's my perception _ guess. and even martin. i think that's my perception of- guess. and even martin. i think that's my perception of what i l guess. and even martin. i think i that's my perception of what i was doing, i'm not sure i would describe that a strong arming and certainly my impression, i have to say, is that they were more than capable of telling me when they are disagreeing with what i am suggesting. the a - arent, with what i am suggesting. the apparent. i— with what i am suggesting. the apparent. i say _ with what i am suggesting. the apparent, i say apparent because the police _ apparent, i say apparent because the police have _ apparent, i say apparent because the police have not at any time spoken formally— police have not at any time spoken formally to — police have not at any time spoken formally to dominic cummings about it and _ formally to dominic cummings about it and no— formally to dominic cummings about it and no steps have been taken in relation _ it and no steps have been taken in relation to— it and no steps have been taken in relation to the allegation. the apparent _ relation to the allegation. the apparent breach of the rules, was extremely— apparent breach of the rules, was extremely damaging, was it not? yes. it was extremely damaging, was it not? yes. it was obvious — extremely damaging, was it not? yes. it was obvious to _ extremely damaging, was it not? yes. it was obvious to you _ extremely damaging, was it not? iezs it was obvious to you and everyone in downing — it was obvious to you and everyone in downing street how important observance of the rules was in that setting _ observance of the rules was in that setting an — observance of the rules was in that setting an example was of prime importance. setting an example was of prime

importance-— on the 20th of may, so around this time _ on the 20th of may, so around this time you _ on the 20th of may, so around this time, you sent an e—mail about how nice it _ time, you sent an e—mail about how nice it would — time, you sent an e—mail about how nice it would be to make the most of this lovely— nice it would be to make the most of this lovely weather and have some socially _ this lovely weather and have some socially distant drinks in the garden _ socially distant drinks in the garden this evening. bring your own booze _ garden this evening. bring your own booze i_ garden this evening. bring your own booze. i don't intend to ask you booze. idon't intend to ask you whether— booze. i don't intend to ask you whether you received a fixed penalty notice _ whether you received a fixed penalty notice you — whether you received a fixed penalty notice. you may or may not have done _ notice. you may or may not have done and — notice. you may or may not have done and it— notice. you may or may not have done, and it is not fair to invite you to — done, and it is not fair to invite you to say— done, and it is not fair to invite you to say whether you did. it forms no part— you to say whether you did. it forms no part of— you to say whether you did. it forms no part of this inquiry to rule or determine _ no part of this inquiry to rule or determine liability. but do you accept — determine liability. but do you accept that the sending of that e-mail. — accept that the sending of that e—mail, and the events wits and shoot, _ e—mail, and the events wits and shoot, where again, deeply damaging to trust— shoot, where again, deeply damaging to trust in— shoot, where again, deeply damaging to trust in the government, and damaging — to trust in the government, and damaging to public compliance. first i would like damaging to public compliance. first i would like to _ damaging to public compliance. f “st i would like to say how deeply sorry i would like to say how deeply sorry i am for my part in those events. and for the e—mail message which

went out that day. i