lord sedwill, with res-ect, and speed. lord sedwill, with respect. it — and speed.. lord sedwill, with respect, it wasn't an - and speed. lord sedwill, with respect, it wasn't an issue - and speed. lord sedwill, with respect, it wasn't an issue at| and speed. lord sedwill, with - respect, it wasn't an issue at this ecs and cobra knocking out a run the whole crisis or run it all the way through. in the beginning stasis of the crisis, the machinery of government dealing with crisis was unable to cope with the very tier i risk which had been enjoying for years to be able to address. it had no real whole government plans, it failed to understand that there was an absence of control, that the virus would inevitably come and there would be no practical means of stopping it. none of those issues were addressed on a machinery designed. were addressed on a machinery desiined. . , , were addressed on a machinery desiined. . . . , .. designed. the crisis machinery would not have realised, _ designed. the crisis machinery would not have realised, at _ designed. the crisis machi

lord sedwill, iask questions _ my lady. lord sedwill, iask questions on _ my lady. my lady. lord sedwill, iask questions on behalf of the i questions on behalf of the federation _ questions on behalf of the federation of— questions on behalf of the federation of ethnic - federation of ethnic minority heatthcare _ federation of ethnic minority healthcare organisations. . federation of ethnic minority i healthcare organisations. three short— healthcare organisations. three short sets — healthcare organisations. three short sets of _ healthcare organisations. three short sets of questions. - healthcare organisations. three short sets of questions. as - healthcare organisations. three short sets of questions. as you i healthcare organisations. three - short sets of questions. as you may know, _ short sets of questions. as you may know. there — short sets of questions. as you may know, there were _ short sets of questions. as you may know, there were press— short sets of questions. as you may know, there were press reports- short sets of questions. as you may know, there

i whether lord sedwill made the right decisions. . ,., , whether lord sedwill made the right decisionsns. i am sorry, i can't hear what you are saying. _ decisions. i am sorry, i can't hear what you are saying. can - decisions. i am sorry, i can't hear what you are saying. can you - decisions. i am sorry, i can't hear i what you are saying. can you repeat the question?— the question? there were questions about whether _ the question? there were questions about whether lord _ the question? there were questions about whether lord sedwill - the question? there were questions about whether lord sedwill made i the question? there were questions. about whether lord sedwill made the right decision in not calling for a cobra meeting, i understand, right at the beginning of the pandemic. the explanation for that that he gave was that sometimes cobra meetings were used for presentational reasons, for public communications reasons, that they were called and the public were able to see that different government departments were acting on a certain issue. he explained that firstly that in essence t

lord sedwill replies...ific adviser, sir patrick vallance, included this... "sedwill came back saying this administration is brutal and useless. " did you say those words? i don't doubt sir patrick's memory. it must have been a moment of acute frustration with something, i don't know what. not for the first time, there were questions about the honesty of matt hancock. mr sedwill revealed he had suggested borisjohnson replace his health secretary. i don't think i would have used the word sack with the prime minister himself, although i acknowledge i said it to mr case. but he would have been under no illusions as to my view about what was best. lord sedwill was critical of the way many decisions about covid were made. next month, senior politicians will have their say. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk. pro—palestinian demonstrators are due to hold a protest in london on saturday, which is also armistice day, when there are formal events to

that therefore being the case, lord sedwill, - only be managed., lord sedwill, why this date on the 20th of february were not levels of alarm raised higher than they were?- were not levels of alarm raised higher than they were? they should have been- — higher than they were? they should have been. right. _ higher than they were? they should have been. right. was— higher than they were? they should have been. right. was it, _ higher than they were? they should have been. right. was it, as- higher than they were? they should have been. right. was it, as somel have been. right. was it, as some witnesses have _ have been. right. was it, as some witnesses have suggested, - have been. right. was it, as some witnesses have suggested, just. have been. right. was it, as some. witnesses have suggested, just that elements of the governmentjust believed it wasn't going to happen? that there was optimism bias? that is a fair point- _ that there was optimism bias? that is a fair point. i _ that there was optimism bias? twat is a fair point. i think it is hard l

lord sedwill to use _ order to minimise that risk. lord sedwill to use your _ order to minimise that risk. lord sedwill to use your words, was it not a mirror image of what had taken place before? the government having under reacted in early march by failing to implement measures shorter than lockdown when the incidences was lower and it would have had more effect, overreacted on the 23rd and went the whole way as opposed to allowing the data and the information about behavioural changes from the 16th of march meso is to develop? changes from the 16th of march meso is to melon)?— is to develop? governments were makin: a is to develop? governments were making a risk _ is to develop? governments were making a riskjudgment _ is to develop? governments were l making a riskjudgment throughout the more series of riskjudgment throughout that period. and were following scientific advice. the advice going into the 23rd of march decision was clear that the disease was still exponential, dr rate still above one. so it's difficult to see how the

to lord sedwill replies, i have the bite marks. on the nhs, it would be overwhelmed and thousands of people would die. lord sedwill said, look, i did make those comments, it was before the approach changed, and he apologised profusely for any offence those comments might have caused. for any offence those comments might have caused-— have caused. there was lots of focus on the operation _ have caused. there was lots of focus on the operation of _ have caused. there was lots of focus on the operation of that _ have caused. there was lots of focus on the operation of that central- on the operation of that central kind of government team, number ten team, and it was interesting that mark sedwill said he tried to insulate the rest of whitehall from the methodology, the way of working, of some of the decision—making that was happening in the central team, number ten, surrounding the prime minister and many of his advisors, and that it was a challenging period, in his words.- and that it was a challenging period, in his words. yes, again

lord sedwill replies...ick vallance, included this... "sedwill came back saying this administration is brutal and useless. " did you say those words? i don't doubt sir patrick's memory. it must have been a moment of acute frustration with something, i don't know what. not for the first time, there were questions about the honesty of matt hancock. mr sedwill revealed he had told borisjohnson to replace his health secretary. i don't think i would have used the word sack with the prime minister himself although i acknowledge i said it to mr case. but he would have been under no illusions as to my view about what was best. lord sedwill was critical of the way many decisions about covid were made. next month, senior politicians will have their say. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. there's a glimmer of hope in the long—running rail dispute, as members of the rmt union are to vote on a pay deal that could end the continuing waves of strikes. our transport correspondent katy austin is with me. how optimistic can

lord sedwill replies...his... "sedwill came back saying this administration is brutal and useless. " did you say those words? i don't doubt sir patrick's memory. it must have been a moment of acute frustration with something, i don't know what. not for the first time, there were questions about the honesty of matt hancock. mr sedwill revealed he had told borisjohnson to replace his health secretary. i don't think i would - have used the word sack with the prime minister himself, although i acknowledge i said it to mr case. but he would have been under no illusions as to my view about what was best. lord sedwill was critical of the way many decisions about covid were made. next month, senior politicians will have their say. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. a rare blue diamond has been sold for $43.8 million dollars at a christie's auction in geneva. the 17.61 carat, pear—shaped �*bleu royal�* diamond, set in a ring, is among the rarest ever to be unearthed. the auctioneer described it as the "largest inter

lord sedwill replies...r patrick vallance, included this... "sedwill came back saying this administration is brutal and useless. " did you say those words? i don't doubt sir patrick's memory. it must have been a moment of acute frustration with something, i don't know what. not for the first time, there were questions about the honesty of matt hancock. mr sedwill revealed he had suggested borisjohnson replace his health secretary. i don't think i would have used the word sack with the prime minister himself, although i acknowledge i said it to mr case. but he would have been under no illusions as to my view about what was best. lord sedwill was critical of the way many decisions about covid were made. next month, senior politicians will have their say. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. members of the rmt union are to vote on a pay deal that could halt 18 months of their industrial action on the railways. 1a operators have put forward an offer including backdated pay rises and job security guarantees in wha

lord sedwill said he felt the need to remind borisjohnson of the importance of involving the cabinet. also shown an email from march 2020, in which the former cabinet secretary warned mrjohnson�*s then chief advisor, dominic cummings, that the government was not a "dictatorship". live now to our correspondent ellie price who's covering the inquiry for us. just tell us more about these comments there have been made with regards to how the government was run at that time. for regards to how the government was run at that time.— run at that time. for a better background. _ run at that time. for a better background, mark _ run at that time. for a better background, mark sedwill . run at that time. for a betterl background, mark sedwill was run at that time. for a better - background, mark sedwill was there and then most senior civil servant in government, he was the cabinet secretary which meant, as he explained it, he bridge the gap that existed sometimes between government departments at number ten, the health department, the treasury, that sort of thing. it was his job to bring those d

i c c a different topic, almost there, lord sedwill.hat the civil contingencies act 2004 was not used as a basis for the covid legislation or regulations. and as it happened, the main coronavirus act was passed by parliament on the 25th of march and received royal assent to the same day. it had been through every stage in the house of commons and house of lords on a single day, the 23rd of march. in the event, the government used in england at any rate the public—health control of diseases act 1984 is the overarching legislation under which to promulgate the statutory instrument, the secondary legislation, that was the secondary legislation, that was the coronavirus regulations. so, firstly, having passed the coronavirus will, and it having passed into law as the act, why was the 1964 act are used as the overarching legislation for the main coronavirus legislation, regulations?— coronavirus legislation, reuulations? ., ., ., , a regulations? the coronavirus act went beyond _ regulations? the coronavirus act went beyond that, _ regulatio

today, it will be hearing from lord mark sedwill who headed the civil service from april 2018 to septemberor us. lord mark sedwill has featured heavily in the inquiry already, what can we expect to hear from inquiry already, what can we expect to hearfrom him today? inquiry already, what can we expect to hear from him today?— to hear from him today? well, i think there _ to hear from him today? well, i think there is _ to hear from him today? well, i think there is plenty _ to hear from him today? well, i think there is plenty we - to hear from him today? well, i think there is plenty we will - to hear from him today? well, i | think there is plenty we will hear from him, he is scheduled to speak for most of the day. mark sedwill was the most senior civil servant in the run—up to the pandemic and during it and fell out spectacularly with boris johnson during it and fell out spectacularly with borisjohnson in september 2020. as you say, he has come up quite a lot in the evidence so far. when we get to this idea, this picture of dysfunction with a number 10 at the highest level of government

of understanding or a change in strategy, however you put it, might it have been the position lord sedwilledicament that the country was in than some others in downing street and the cabinet office? it downing street and the cabinet office? , , , downing street and the cabinet office? , office? it is possible. it is also ossible office? it is possible. it is also possible that _ office? it is possible. it is also possible that i _ office? it is possible. it is also possible that i bought - office? it is possible. it is also possible that i bought have, i office? it is possible. it is also i possible that i bought have, might have created that impression. i think that whatsapps you refer to him after a telephone call i had with the prime minister over that weekend and after he had a session which i hadn't attended with his his inner circle which they had discussed this, which they called from plan a to plan b. i hadn't caught up with that because i wasn't aware of it. so i guess that might have been behind some of that. but i think there is another point worth noting about how i saw my role

examining the government's response to the pandemic — has heard from the former cabinet secretary, lord sedwillckenpox—style parties could be held for covid early in the pandemic. he says that was part of a private exchange and never expected it to become public. he said the suggestion was made when the spread of the virus seemed �*inevitable' and he was looking at ways of managing it. these were private exchanges, and i certainly had not expected this to become public. and i understand how and in particular, the interpretation that's been put on it, that it must have come across that someone in my role was both sort of heartless and thoughtless about this. and i'm genuinely neither. but i do understand the distress that must have caused. and i apologise for that because it certainly wouldn't have been my attention. and, of course, i wasn't the one who made it public. live now to our corrrespondent ellie price for more on the inquiry. another day of evidence which is giving us an insight into what people were saying behind closed doors during the pandemic. absolutely as it has been for the last

you| are aware from the witness statement of lord sedwill, the cabinet secretary, that the report toe dhse was neither structured nor resourced for a public health crisis of this magnitude. granted it is a very broad observation and it doesn't deal with the institutional links between the dhse and the nhs, or the scientific advisory structure, or the possibility that there would be movements in personnel for ramping up movements in personnel for ramping up and funding for the department, but in a broad sense that is a correct proposition, is it not? structurally and in terms of resources when the crisis broke, the dhse was under part?— resources when the crisis broke, the dhse was under part? well, he didn't use the word — dhse was under part? well, he didn't use the word under _ dhse was under part? well, he didn't use the word under par, _ dhse was under part? well, he didn't use the word under par, they - dhse was under part? well, he didn't use the word under par, they are - use the word under par, they are your words. use the word under par, they are yourwords. i use the word un

ability to respond to the crisis four evidence has been given in this module from mr cummings, from lord sedwillth particular reference to his diaries, to the effect that between february and may 2020 democracy was overwhelmed by the crisis. i don't want to engage with you on the merits of the lead department model, we must focus on the practical ability of that department to be able to respond to the crisis. would you agree with that proposition, that it was indeed overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis? i that it was indeed overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis?— the scale of the crisis? i think i would put _ the scale of the crisis? i think i would put it — the scale of the crisis? i think i would put it in _ the scale of the crisis? i think i would put it in a _ the scale of the crisis? i think i would put it in a slightly i the scale of the crisis? i think i i would put it in a slightly different way. ifeel i would put it in a slightly different way. i feel i am having to go back to the lead department model, not as a shield behind which the dhse should be protected from criticism, butjust

the re-emerged split following your i re—emerged split following your departure may indicate, lord sedwill it made sense in the circumstances - was not a wise one. i think it made sense in the circumstances of- was not a wise one. i think it made sense in the circumstances of the l sense in the circumstances of the time. the government of both theresa may and in the first phase of boris johnson were going through the most intense period of the brexit negotiations. there were elements of national security involved in that. as i said, it was never intended to be a permanent arrangement. that was clear with theresa may when she appointed me as cabinet secretary, and therefore it wasn't a question of whether the jobs would be split, it was a question of when. share it was a question of when. are turnin: it was a question of when. are turning to _ it was a question of when. are turning to focus _ it was a question of when. are turning to focus a _ it was a question of when. are turning to focus a little more on the role of cabinet, is the cabinet the role of cabinet, is the cabinet the ultimate

the cabinet office, so i then supported the temporary and then new permanent cabinet secretary lord sedwillsed, and sometime later you were promoted to permanent secretary level, but in effect, thatjob of deputy cabinet secretary was one that you've ended until the time you you left the cabinet office? yes. you left the cabinet office? yes, that's right- _ you left the cabinet office? yes, that's right. including _ you left the cabinet office? yes, that's right. including the i you left the cabinet office? yes, that's right. including the period | that's right. including the period in 2020 when — that's right. including the period in 2020 when as _ that's right. including the period in 2020 when as you _ that's right. including the period in 2020 when as you will i that's right. including the period i in 2020 when as you will appreciate is going to be the focus of my questions today. as you say, you supported first of all mark sedwill in his role of cabinet secretary and then as we will hear when he was replaced by simon case, you supported him as well.- replaced by simon case, you supporte

perhaps you may have not heard but lord sedwill touched on the rationale behind perhaps why the disciplineo existence and brought into the cabinet office, and see if you agree with this, the rationale was to bring some stubble at the to coverage of those interests, to counterbalance ministerial change or turn, not his words. that is the context we've had, perhaps you could tell your understanding of...? mr; understanding of...? my understanding _ understanding of...? my understanding and my recollection is, understanding and my recollection is. cabinet — understanding and my recollection is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears _ is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of— is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of the — is, cabinet office is the eyes and ears of the machinery of government, and whilst _ ears of the machinery of government, and whilst i _ ears of the machinery of government, and whilst i was based in dwp, any stakeholder engagement would invariably bring up issues that were beyond _ invariably bring up issues that were beyond dwp tuners go and responsibility, and it was mor

lord sedwill, who was cabinet secretary until the autumn of 2020, said he raised his concerns with borisrivately in the summer of that year , and earlier today he year, and earlier today he apologised for his suggestion that chicken pox star parties may have helped spread covid immunity early on in the pandemic. he's now said sorry to the families of victims and accepted his suggestions may have come across as heartless , have come across as heartless, but this is gb news across the uk and now across europe. a warm welcome this evening to new viewers and listeners away from the uk who are tuning in for the first time today via satellite . first time today via satellite. details on how to stay in touch at cbnnews.com. see you in an hour. houn >> metropolitan police commissioner today announced that the laws threshold has not been met. stop the planned palestine protests this saturday on armistice day. he's come under fire for this from the prime minister who met him earlier today to hold him to account . account. >> this is a decision that the metropolitan police commissioner has made, an

at the time, lord sedwill, who said he wanted hancock sacked, although it must be said lord sedwill wascism himself . if certain amount of criticism himself. if he was the man, of course, who proposed chicken pox parties. but let's speak to gb news presenter pip tomson, who's outside the covid inquiry for us. and pip, what have we learned from matt hancock so far today ? today? >> hello to you both. well, we know, don't we, that former health secretary matt hancock has been painted as somewhat the villain during this pandemic and he's already been at the inquiry in the summer. he's back here today and tomorrow , we think to today and tomorrow, we think to answer some crucial questions and to dispel end his decision making. now one of the questions he was asked about this morning was the planning for the pandemic or the lack of planning in the department of health and social care. and he was very defensive about this and says there wasn't an absence of a plan. there were plans, but they weren't adequate. and then he was asked about the country's most senior civil servant, lord mark sedwi

speaking at the covid inquiry, lord mark sedwill insisted he was only giving an analogy to shieldingt vulnerable people as others developed immunity . he's others developed immunity. he's apologised to families of victims and accepted his suggestions could have come across as heartless and thoughtless . donald trump's thoughtless. donald trump's daughter has arrived in court to testify in a civil fraud trial. ivanka trump's turn on the witness stand follows testimony by her two adult brothers and trump . the lawsuit accuses trump trump. the lawsuit accuses trump and his family businesses of intentionally inflating property values and deceiving banks and insurers in the pursuit of business deals and loans . the business deals and loans. the judge has already ruled the trump organisation committed fraud . this trial will determine fraud. this trial will determine the penalties that prosecutors are seeking. a closer £204 million fine and severe business restrictions. trump has denied wrongdoing . and carol vorderman wrongdoing. and carol vorderman says she's leaving her morning show on

speaking at the covid inquiry, lord mark sedwill insisted he was only giving an analogy to shieldingand accepted his suggestions could have come across as heartless and thoughtless . and carol vorderman thoughtless. and carol vorderman says she's leaving her morning show on bbc radio wales over the broadcaster's new social media guidelines . as the 62 year old guidelines. as the 62 year old presenter stirred controversy for her anti—tory rants on instagram and accusing the government of being greedy and corrupt. the bbc published revised social media rules for flagship presenters after gary lineker tweeted about the government's rwanda plan . ms government's rwanda plan. ms vorderman was told her post are a flagrant breach of the new policies . you can get more on policies. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , gbnews.com . for our website, gbnews.com. for a valuable legacy . valuable legacy. >> your family can own gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . here is sponsors the gb news financial r

speaking at the covid inquiry lord mark sedwill insisted he was suggesting a way of shielding the mostrable, while others developed immunity. he's now apologised , though, to he's now apologised, though, to families of victims and accepted his suggestions could have come across as heartless . and finally across as heartless. and finally , in the united states, donald trump's daughter is in court in new york. she's testifying in a civil fraud trial . ivanka civil fraud trial. ivanka trump's turn on the witness stand follows testimony by her two brothers and her father. and in the last hour or so, she's been put out a considerable pressure to remember her precise involvement with critical documents . the lawsuit alleges documents. the lawsuit alleges that mr trump intentionally inflated the value of his property to deceive banks and insurers, thereby gaining better terms on loans and the judge has already ruled that the trump organisation committed fraud and that this trial will merely determine the penalties. prosecutors are seeking. close to a £200 million fine, together with future re