saw as wrong—headed, arrived at further_ saw as wrong—headed, arrived at further to— saw as wrong—headed, arrived at further to being pointlessly opposition with the unions? no, the reali is opposition with the unions? no, the reality is that _ opposition with the unions? no, the reality is that the _ opposition with the unions? no, the reality is that the advice _ opposition with the unions? no, the reality is that the advice on - opposition with the unions? no, the reality is that the advice on masks, | reality is that the advice on masks, as the inquiry knows very well, the position on masks changed during the pandemic and the advice initially from chris and particularly patrick was that masks were thought to be of limited benefit. they might thought to be of some symbolic benefit. that changed as the scientists thought that in the end, it was a powerful signal to people to wear a mask that you are taking precautions and that you are taking precautions and that you felt that the virus was still

something that was very dangerous. there were also, as time went on, there was more evidence about droplet spray and so on and the potential of masks to interrupt transmission. so what you are seeing their in that exchange is a natural political result of a change in advice and a change in understanding of the virus eventually bringing about a change in policy and that is what you would expect. it’s about a change in policy and that is what you would expect.— about a change in policy and that is what you would expect. it's what we are seeinu what you would expect. it's what we are seeing here _ what you would expect. it's what we are seeing here in _ what you would expect. it's what we are seeing here in fact _ what you would expect. it's what we are seeing here in fact quite - what you would expect. it's what we are seeing here in fact quite simply| are seeing here in fact quite simply what is _ are seeing here in fact quite simply what is on — are seeing here in fact quite simply what is on the page, in that you describe, — what is on the page, in that you describe, well i will not repeat your— describe, well i will not repeat your words, describe, well i will not repeat yourwords, but describe, well i will not repeat your words, but a wrong—headed mask policy _ your words, but a wrong—headed mask policy. there _ your words, but a wrong—headed mask policy. there is then an exchange... if policy. there is then an exchange... if youhe _ policy. there is then an exchange... if you're going to dispute that, i will repeat it.— if you're going to dispute that, i will repeat it. you are running out of time so — will repeat it. you are running out of time so if _ will repeat it. you are running out of time so if you _ will repeat it. you are running out of time so if you want _ will repeat it. you are running out of time so if you want to - will repeat it. you are running out of time so if you want to pursue i of time so if you want to pursue this, _ of time so if you want to pursue this, i_ of time so if you want to pursue this, ithink— of time so if you want to pursue

this, i think you _ of time so if you want to pursue this, i think you have _ of time so if you want to pursue this, i think you have got - of time so if you want to pursue this, i think you have got an- this, i think you have got an answeh _ this, i think you have got an answer. ., . this, i think you have got an answer. . . ., this, i think you have got an answer. . . . , answer. the ad'ective are used, which i would — answer. the adjective are used, which i would not _ answer. the adjective are used, which i would not repeat, - answer. the adjective are used, which i would not repeat, was i which i would not repeat, was intended to convey that my sense of a mask policy which had been in position one was going to have to change because of changing scientific advice and changing appreciation of the value of masks. that was the reality. it was going to be political difficult to execute but we were going to have to do it. i will try to deal with my last topic— i will try to deal with my last with very— i will try to deal with my last topic very quickly. you describe your— topic very quickly. you describe your concern to lockdown hitting the pyrrhus. _ your concern to lockdown hitting the pyrrhus. do — your concern to lockdown hitting the pyrrhus, do you think it is right side _ pyrrhus, do you think it is right side that— pyrrhus, do you think it is right side that self isolation also hit the poorest hardest and was it understood that by you that financial support for self isolation was one — financial support for self isolation was one way of mitigating the unequal— was one way of mitigating the unequal impact of the pandemic? yes, and that is why — unequal impact of the pandemic? yes, and that is why we _ unequal impact of the pandemic? 133 and that is why we had notjust

unequal impact of the pandemic? 133 and that is why we had not just the and that is why we had notjust the £500 to help isolation payment but also we increased universal credit by £1000, working family tax credit ijy by £1000, working family tax credit by £1000, working family tax credit by £1000 and gave councils a very large budget to deal with those who were most in need of help.- were most in need of help. finally, if that is the _ were most in need of help. finally, if that is the case, _ were most in need of help. finally, if that is the case, why _ were most in need of help. finally, if that is the case, why was - were most in need of help. finally, if that is the case, why was it - were most in need of help. finally, if that is the case, why was it not i if that is the case, why was it not until_ if that is the case, why was it not until the — if that is the case, why was it not until the end of september before that payment to which you refer was introduced? for that payment to which you refer was introduced? ., ., ,., , that payment to which you refer was introduced?— introduced? for the reasons i think we discussed _ introduced? for the reasons i think we discussed earlier. _ introduced? for the reasons i think we discussed earlier. i _ introduced? for the reasons i think we discussed earlier. i was - introduced? for the reasons i think| we discussed earlier. i was anxious, we discussed earlier. i was anxious, we had spent a huge amount supporting the country already through the pandemic. i was anxious about some of the distorting effects of payments to isolate. we discussed the punitive approach but eventually i thought, we had better go with some more support is muffled and we did. mr; some more support is muffled and we did. 3 ., , some more support is muffled and we did. 3 . , ., ~ some more support is muffled and we

did. 3 ._ ., ~ some more support is muffled and we did. 3 ._ ., mr some more support is muffled and we did-_ mrjohnson. i did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to — did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to sit _ did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to sit over _ did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to sit over there _ did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to sit over there so - did. my lady, thank you. mrjohnson, he chose to sit over there so don't i he chose to sit over there so don't worry, _ he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he — he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is— he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is used _ he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is used to _ he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is used to sitting - he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is used to sitting at - he chose to sit over there so don't worry, he is used to sitting at thei worry, he is used to sitting at the hack_ worry, he is used to sitting at the back because _ worry, he is used to sitting at the back because we _ worry, he is used to sitting at the back because we need _ worry, he is used to sitting at the back because we need you - worry, he is used to sitting at the back because we need you to - worry, he is used to sitting at the| back because we need you to face worry, he is used to sitting at the - back because we need you to face the microphone. — back because we need you to face the microphone. mr— back because we need you to face the microphone, mrjohnson. _ back because we need you to face the microphone, mrjohnson. address- back because we need you to face the i microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers— microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers to _ microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers to me — microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers to me then. _ microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers to me then. good _ microphone, mrjohnson. address your answers to me then.— answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson- — answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson- i— answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson. i would _ answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson. i would like _ answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson. i would like to _ answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson. i would like to ask - answers to me then. good afternoon, mrjohnson. i would like to ask you i mrjohnson. i would like to ask you a question— mrjohnson. i would like to ask you a question on behalf of the british medicai— a question on behalf of the british medical association about the removal— medical association about the removal of legal limits on social contact — removal of legal limits on social contact during the summer of 2021. it contact during the summer of 2021. it has _ contact during the summer of 2021. it has been — contact during the summer of 2021. it has been described as freedom day. it has been described as freedom day in _ it has been described as freedom day in his— it has been described as freedom day. in his witness statement to the inquiry, _ day. in his witness statement to the inquiry, professor philip banfield, the current chair of the bma, raises concerns— the current chair of the bma, raises concerns about the government's framing _ concerns about the government's framing of— concerns about the government's framing of the removal of restrictions in the context of freedom _ restrictions in the context of freedom. we send the wrong message that the _ freedom. we send the wrong message that the threat of the virus had been _ that the threat of the virus had been fully contained. in sajid javid's— been fully contained. in sajid javid's witness statement, he claims that by— javid's witness statement, he claims that by late autumn and early winter of 2021, _ that by late autumn and early winter of 2021, many felt the pandemic was

over, _ of 2021, many felt the pandemic was over. only— of 2021, many felt the pandemic was over, only for protective measures to be _ over, only for protective measures to be needed once again on the 8th of december 2021 in response to the emergence _ of december 2021 in response to the emergence of the omicron very mint which _ emergence of the omicron very mint which you _ emergence of the omicron very mint which you discussed earlier. the question— which you discussed earlier. the question is, to what extent do you think— question is, to what extent do you think this — question is, to what extent do you think this mistaken belief that the putter— think this mistaken belief that the putter was over was influenced by government messaging which framed the removal of public health restrictions, protections as freedom?— restrictions, protections as freedom? ~ , ., restrictions, protections as freedom? , ., , freedom? well, i accept that people are auoin freedom? well, i accept that people are going to — freedom? well, i accept that people are going to quarrel _ freedom? well, i accept that people are going to quarrel with _ freedom? well, i accept that people are going to quarrel with some - freedom? well, i accept that people are going to quarrel with some of i are going to quarrel with some of the language that we choose and i have a massive respect for the bma but i think if you look at the curve of the pandemic and where we are aware we were then in that period of july aware we were then in that period of july 2021, but was to go on, the subsequent movement of the epic

curve, i think it was not an irrational choice of expression, we had been able to get a huge amount of resistance into the arms of the british public, but i think by that stage, vaccinated all the elderly and vulnerable, it was an amazing achievement and i didn't think it was an inappropriate way to talk about it. as i said in my answer to the gentleman from the tuc, i was concerned that we were going to remain too much, too cautious for too long. i think we needed to understand that we had achieved a great deal and that if it was not quite the end, it was at least the beginning of the end.— quite the end, it was at least the beginning of the end. thank you, can i 'ust ask beginning of the end. thank you, can

ijust ask quickly _ beginning of the end. thank you, can i just ask quickly a _ beginning of the end. thank you, can i just ask quickly a follow-up? - i just ask quickly a follow—up? accepting _ i just ask quickly a follow—up? accepting that the slogan, freedom day, was _ accepting that the slogan, freedom day, was not a government communication strategy, but once it had taken _ communication strategy, but once it had taken hold in public consciousness, do you think more should _ consciousness, do you think more should have — consciousness, do you think more should have been done to counter that belief, having regard to the need _ that belief, having regard to the need for— that belief, having regard to the need for precautionary approach? honestly, — need for precautionary approach? honestly, no. need for precautionary approach? honestly. no— need for precautionary approach? honestly, no. need for precautionary approach? honestl , no. ., ,, , ., , ., honestly, no. thank you, my lady for to that honestly, no. thank you, my lady for top that completes _ honestly, no. thank you, my lady for top that completes the _ honestly, no. thank you, my lady for top that completes the evidence - honestly, no. thank you, my lady for top that completes the evidence for l top that completes the evidence for today _ top that completes the evidence for toda . ., ~ top that completes the evidence for toda . ., ,, i. top that completes the evidence for toda . . ~' ,, , top that completes the evidence for toda. ., , . today. thank you very much indeed, mrjohnson- — today. thank you very much indeed, mrjohnson. that _ today. thank you very much indeed, mrjohnson. that concludes - today. thank you very much indeed, mrjohnson. that concludes the - today. thank you very much indeed, mrjohnson. that concludes the end | mrjohnson. that concludes the end ofthe mrjohnson. that concludes the end of the second _ mrjohnson. that concludes the end of the second day _ mrjohnson. that concludes the end of the second day of— mrjohnson. that concludes the end of the second day of hearing - of the second day of hearing evidence from the former prime minister, borisjohnson. let us go straight to our news correspondence who was there and has been listening. of course, we heard just there ending the evidence, we heard from the british medical association

and the trade unions congress but a lot of this afternoon was about hearing from bereaved families and their victims through their lawyers, wasn't it? , ., their victims through their lawyers, wasn't it? , . ., , ~ wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a lona wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a long couple _ wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a long couple of— wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a long couple of days, _ wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a long couple of days, hasn't - wasn't it? yes, and it has felt like a long couple of days, hasn't it? | a long couple of days, hasn't it? quite emotional, notjust for boris johnson. i spoke to a few people who have lost loved ones during the pandemic who travelled down to london today, some hundreds of miles, to be in the inquiry room or indeed standing outside, campaigning. they have found it quite emotional. they have been through some of the more personal language, language that boris johnson was never meant to see the light of day, it was private communications in whatsapp messages and diary entries. i think it is made for quite difficult listening. this afternoon, not only have we heard of the likes of the trade unions congress, the british medical association, those suffering from

long covid, children's groups, people representing minority ethnic groups, we have also heard from groups, we have also heard from groups representing bereaved families so and of a lot of different issues for borisjohnson to get to. one of those groups representing bereaved families in northern ireland questioned him again on this issue of party gait. i again on this issue of party gait. i have extensively tried to explain how i_ have extensively tried to explain how i think that came about and why ithink— how i think that came about and why i think the _ how i think that came about and why i think the people who were working in downing — i think the people who were working in downing street for a very long time _ in downing street for a very long time and — in downing street for a very long time and very hard, believed that they were — time and very hard, believed that they were operating and working within— they were operating and working within the rules at the time. though. _ within the rules at the time. though, as they say to you and to those _ though, as they say to you and to those you — though, as they say to you and to those you represent, and again to many, _ those you represent, and again to many, i— those you represent, and again to many, i understand fully the point that you _ many, i understand fully the point that you are making and i regret it very much —

very much. we - very much. we knew the issue would very much. — we knew the issue would come up, did not come up yesterday so it was bound to come up today. such a huge part of the end of borisjohnson�*s career as prime minister and it was something talked this morning as well when the council to the inquiry asked borisjohnson about it. boris johnson said the problem with party gait was the characterisation that everyone in downing street was basically breaking the rules was millions of miles from the truth and it was absurd, the idea that was happening so routinely. obviously it is something that really, really angered families, of him are here today and we'rejust angered families, of him are here today and we're just waiting for borisjohnson to the building. so inevitably it was going to come up and it was an emotional, notjust for those listening, but boris johnson as well. he got upset at times, it would seem. he seemed genuinely sorry and concerned for the hurt he had caused but obviously

for those listening. there are also groups representing minority ethnic groups, they asked the question, how the government considered enough that there were certain groups, including minority ethnic groups, that seemed to be disproportionately affected by covid—19. i that seemed to be disproportionately affected by covid-19._ affected by covid-19. i knew that from, affected by covid-19. i knew that from. and _ affected by covid-19. i knew that from. and i _ affected by covid-19. i knew that from, and i think— affected by covid-19. i knew that from, and i think i _ affected by covid-19. i knew that from, and i think i am _ affected by covid-19. i knew that from, and i thinki am right - affected by covid-19. i knew that from, and i thinki am right in i from, and i think i am right in saying. — from, and i think i am right in saying, that of the victims in the nhsr _ saying, that of the victims in the nhsr the — saying, that of the victims in the nhs, the nhs staff, ithink, i may have _ nhs, the nhs staff, ithink, i may have got— nhs, the nhs staff, ithink, i may have got the figure wrong, but i think— have got the figure wrong, but i think it — have got the figure wrong, but i think it is — have got the figure wrong, but i think it is something like 60% in the first— think it is something like 60% in the first year were from ethnic minority— the first year were from ethnic minority background. i may be wrong about _ minority background. i may be wrong about that _ minority background. i may be wrong about that but it is something of that order, it was falling as proportionately on bma staff and we did spot _ proportionately on bma staff and we did spot that very early on. i was very— did spot that very early on. i was

very worried about it and i tried to find out _ very worried about it and i tried to find out why as fast as we could. the chair— find out why as fast as we could. the chair of— find out why as fast as we could. the chair of the inquiry hasjust the chair of the inquiry has just left and we are waiting for boris johnson to leave. very much this last couple of days for him was about setting the record straight. the whole point of this inquiry is not to apportion personal blame but very much, borisjohnson felt it was his representation that was on trial here. fin his representation that was on trial here. ., , his representation that was on trial here. . , ., his representation that was on trial here. ., , ., ., ._ , ., here. on many of the other days of heafinas here. on many of the other days of hearings of — here. on many of the other days of hearings of this _ here. on many of the other days of hearings of this inquiry, _ here. on many of the other days of hearings of this inquiry, a - here. on many of the other days of hearings of this inquiry, a lot - here. on many of the other days of hearings of this inquiry, a lot of. hearings of this inquiry, a lot of what was heard must have been quite distressing for families who are bereaved and lost loved ones during covid—19, particularly the sessions that highlighted the chaotic approach, it would seem, by government. how's today's hearing gone anyway towards changing that or being cathartic in a way? i

gone anyway towards changing that or being cathartic in a way?— being cathartic in a way? i spoke to a coule being cathartic in a way? i spoke to a couple of — being cathartic in a way? i spoke to a couple of the _ being cathartic in a way? i spoke to a couple of the people _ being cathartic in a way? i spoke to a couple of the people coming - being cathartic in a way? i spoke to i a couple of the people coming down, the troubled long distances to be here today, and said, were you going into this with an open mind? they said they were but they said there was very little borisjohnson was likely to be able to say to make them fill better. when you think of them fill better. when you think of them having to listen to some of the private language that was used, the likes of whether we should let the virus rip, that old people have had a good innings and therefore, the suggestion that maybe we should let young people out and old people to accept their fate. young people out and old people to accept theirfate. i young people out and old people to accept their fate. i am young people out and old people to accept theirfate. i am picking various codes there that have come out over the last few weeks and were put to boris johnson today. out over the last few weeks and were put to borisjohnson today. his defence was quite interesting, he said it was threefold. first of all, that those conversations were private, never meant to be broadcast every body else, so they did sound really unpleasant but the whole point was, he would not have said them if he thought anyone was going to read them. he also said there

were certain examples that he did not recognise that some things were put to him from a diary entries which he said were jottings put to him from a diary entries which he said werejottings made by other people that were not necessarily things he had actually said. finally, this speaks to a wider cultural issue at downing street, he talked, to put it bluntly, this unpolished language, he said, was a way of trying to get everyone to feel comfortable in those meetings. to put their opinions across and in essence, everyone should speak freely if he was speaking so loosely, if you like, then everyone would speak freely, but he said that made for better decision—making. we heard from that yesterday because so much has been made by the toxic nature at downing street about how it was very masculine and nasty things said in meetings at that sort of thing.

borisjohnson said that part of that was trying to get, to bash out each side of the argument, and he said that certainly when it came to essentially this toxic nature at downing street, that he felt it was an atmosphere of challenge and that had made for good decision—making because in essence, you got all sides of the story by arguing them out and you worked out which was the best decision for that was his take, at least. , , ., ., _ best decision for that was his take, at least. ,, ., ., _ ., at least. nevertheless, not easy for some of the — at least. nevertheless, not easy for some of the families _ at least. nevertheless, not easy for some of the families there - at least. nevertheless, not easy for some of the families there to - at least. nevertheless, not easy for some of the families there to have l some of the families there to have listened to. you have been following this closely over the past days, over the last two days of boris johnson's giving of evidence, what do you think stands out as something that may come to exemplify his approach during the pandemic? i approach during the pandemic? i think there are various points to make. first of all, i think the apology and the town that he was

trying to set was interesting. we are used to the bluster of boris johnson, the rhetoric, and i think it was quite a striking at one point that he really was very visibly upset at one point when he talked about his experiences in intensive care. don't forget, he suffered from a covid—19 and was in intensive care and things looked bleak at one point. he said that really set his view about the virus, about how appalling it was and how it made him want to do the best for the country. i think that was an insight into the person of borisjohnson. he definitely conceded that there were mistakes he has made. some of the other moments that may not necessarily have grabbed the headlines but are still important for the inquiry and the lessons learned, so i am whether he is leaving the building for example, he acknowledged long covid had not been acknowledged long covid had not been acknowledged as a significant problem early enough. there were

issues where he considered that mass gatherings should have been cancelled earlier. he went out famously to a rugby match in march 2020 before lockdown but while those restrictions were being discussed and it was not necessary that the mass gatherings itself were a problem but it was the messaging. we get these singer examples but basically what you get there is a former prime minister obviously wanting to set the record straight from his own reputation point of view but i think talking about this broader issue about government messaging and of course that is the whole point of this inquiry, to learn lessons. we have heard the chair set time and time again, the next pandemic is a case of when and not f, so the point is, we need to learn the lessons from structures of government and decision—making processes, not necessarily from the mistakes made by personalities. it is easy for boris johnson mistakes made by personalities. it is easy for borisjohnson to say, less easy to hear if you're a family member who lost a loved one and during the pandemic. rays

member who lost a loved one and during the pandemic.— member who lost a loved one and during the pandemic. as you say, we are expecting — during the pandemic. as you say, we are expecting boris _ during the pandemic. as you say, we are expecting boris johnson - during the pandemic. as you say, we are expecting boris johnson to - are expecting borisjohnson to emerge from that building any moment, so a good time to give viewers a heads up that there may be flash photography as well. just finally, in terms of the next steps of the inquiry, we have further strands that will consider the care sector and test entries, ppe. took us through what we might expect. this is an inquiry that will go on for months and years. there are modules, bits of the parts of the inquiry that are coming up in the coming years. before that, the inquiry will move to edinburgh, to belfast and cardiff to talk to the devolved nations about their experiences about the decision—making process in those devolved nations because of course, health is a devolved issue and you will remember, it has been talked about plenty in the last couple of weeks, the different decisions made in the devolved nations during the

pandemic, different rules and restrictions that they had. no doubt that will be moved out inference in detail and we will hear from a number of the key decision—making people in those devolved nations. that starts from the big inning of next year. then it goes on to different parts of the inquiry that will look at the likes of ppe and the care sector and pharmaceutical intervention and that sort of thing. this is a process that will go on for a couple of years. thejoke is, it is going on so long, it will take within the pandemic. before that, everybody�*s attention is on monday because rishi sunak is the last piece of this puzzle, the apex of this growing mountain, if you like, of evidence. he was the chancellor at the time, now prime minister. i expect he will face questions on his eat out to help out a scheme which has come up over the last few weeks here. about whether that was a sensible scheme of the time, the scheme at the treasury introduced to

try and basically help the ailing hospitality industry, we were all offered £10 to go out for dinner. was that a sensible plan? not necessarily evidence that it increased prevalence of the virus but was the messaging right? that is something we have heard from scientists, that the problem was, you still had some structures in place and by that point, it was starting to get complicated in different areas. was the messaging right from the government? rishi sunak makes, will face tough questions. that matters because on a broader political sense, rishi sunak, who is in the news today for other reasons, has a general election to look forward to and he is trying to set himself as this change candidate, summary different from the last few years of conservative government that basically, his new regime is different from the past. if the covid—19 inquiry finds he is still

much tied up with those big decisions that were made during the pandemic, it is very difficult to see him making a breakfrom the past. borisjohnson still has not come out but i am keeping and i've. you need eyes in the back of your head! thank you for giving us a detailed analysis of what we have been hearing. you can continue watching because we will keep the live images up there, the live feed outside the building so you can keep an ion when borisjohnson emerges from there and of course, there are a lot of the families of victims of covid—19 who have turned up their to be there at the hearing. a lot of them are gathered up side, so we will keep that going from evil top i want to bring you some breaking news in the meantime. this is in relation to the news that we brought you earlier today about what a coroner has said about the death of ruth

perry, the primary school head teacher who took her own life. the coroner has said that an ofsted inspection is likely to have contributed to her death and we now have,in contributed to her death and we now have, in the past minute or so, we have, in the past minute or so, we have had some breaking news through from ofsted. the ofsted chief inspector has issued a statement on the conclusion of the coroner's inquest and i will read that to you now. the chief inspector said, ruth perry's death was a tragedy that affected many people and she says on behalf of ofsted, i would like to say sorry to the family, the wider caversham school committee and everyone else who knew and loved her, for the distress she undoubtedly experienced as a result of our inspection. she says after her death, we made changes to the way we worked to help reduce the pressure felt by school leaders. we

will do more, the coroner highlighted a number of areas of concern. we will work hard to address each of these as soon as we can and we are starting that work straightaway. this is the ofsted chief inspector who goes on to say, we have started to develop training for all inspectors on recognising and responding to visible signs of anxiety. it says is a first step, we will delay our inspections next week by a day so we can bring all our lead school inspectors together i had a further school inspections as well as addressing the issue of anxiety, we will be clear with inspectors what to do if a pause is needed. so that is the statement that has just come through from the chief inspector of ofsted, and just to continue now with more on this story, i will give you the full background of it now in a report that comes from our education editor.

ruth perry was the head teacher of caversham primary school for 13 years. she took her life in january this year. ofsted was going to take the school from outstanding to inadequate, leaving ruth perry distressed from the first morning of the inspection. ruth said that that first meeting, she said she felt... ..it was just absolutely relentless. she said it felt like her head wasn't working properly, that he'd sort of fire a question at her, not give her time to think, and then another question and she didn't have time to answer and then she'd try to answer and he'd contradict what she'd say or come back. she was just in a complete state. she kept repeating, "i'm devastated. i'm broken. i'm traumatised." in evidence, other staff at the school described the lead inspector's behaviour as mocking and unpleasant. he told the court he paused their first conversation after mrs perry became tearful.

ofsted has previously described the inspection as professional and sensitive. the inquest heard that ruth perry was distressed, barely able to speak after meeting the lead inspector on the first morning. inspectors were raising concerns about the record—keeping for keeping children safe at the school. as an experienced head teacher, ruth perry knew that if they were judged ineffective on safeguarding, they would be judged inadequate overall. the inquest also heard that no child came to harm. caversham was where ruth perry had grown up — she went to the primary school as a child. her family says that she dwelt on what would happen when ofsted published the report, fearing shame, humiliation a and the loss of herjob. this was going to be the end of her career and she didn't know

what else she could do. i don't think she could hold her head up high. i think she was so distraught by it. she felt like she had let everybody down, so she let down the governors, she let down the pupils, she let down the parents, she let down her family. ruth perry died on the 8th ofjanuary, just under two months after the inspection. her gp said it had contributed to her deteriorating mental health and death. ofsted published the report grading the school as inadequate in march. it had ruth perry's name on it, a note at the end saying she had died. this is when the family decided to speak out. ifind it callous, heartless, insensitive, tone deaf, and these aren'tjust the terms that i've been using, tojust pretend that things are ok. in april, a month after the family first said the inspection had contributed to ruth's death, ofsted responded. the findings were secure and i think

the inspection team worked with the professionalism and sensitivity that i would expect from our inspectors. more changes were promised injune. schools graded inadequate would be swiftly re—inspected, giving them a chance to change. ofsted went back to caversham primary school in the summer. this time it was graded good, as a result of the changes made. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. just a reminder of the breaking news, ofsted have said they will delay their inspections next week by a day so they can bring all their lead school inspectors together ahead of further inspections. i will leave you with some live images outside the building where the covid—19 inquiry has been taking place. as you know, if you have been

watching us today, borisjohnson was giving evidence there on his two—day session of giving evidence at the covid—19 inquiry. we are expecting him to leave the building now, so we will keep an ion that. as you may have heard earlier, one of the key things that came out of today's hearing was that borisjohnson said the idea of mass rule breaking within downing street as1 million miles away from the truth, but he did get slightly emotional, or seem to, as he apologised. there is plenty more detail on what happened in today's hearing on the bbc website and the live page, but do stay with us on bbc news. the headlines are coming up at the top of the hour.

live from london, this is bbc news. the this is bbc news. un's dire warning, the inability to the un's dire warning, the inability to get aid into gaza. there is no essay for the agencies to work and no sense of where it will all end. we do not have a humanitarian operation in southern gaza that can

be called by that name any more. israeli forces advance further into khan younis as it closes in on hamas members in the heart of the city. rishi sunak promises a draught bill that would block most legal challenges to the deportation of asylum seekers to rwanda. and today's bill also ends the merry—go—round of legal challenges that have blocked our policy for far too long. i used to think nurses were women, i used to think police were men. i used to think poets were boring, until i became one of them. and writer and poet benjamin zephaniah dies at the age of 65. he's being remembered as 'a true pioneer and innovator�*. we will hear tributes.

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live,