today saw him challenge borisjohnson labour leader. nge boris johnson on labour leader. today saw him challenge borisjohnson on various points, but i think the most effective ones were the ones where prime minister is had to have the most difficulty, care home deaths. touching on the excess deaths, the fa ct touching on the excess deaths, the fact that there are some unaccounted, they might not have coronavirus down as the cause, but he is implying that it could be. now borisjohnson he is implying that it could be. now boris johnson referred he is implying that it could be. now borisjohnson referred to —— sir keir starmer referred to government advice, suggesting the government had played down the risk to care homes quite late into the crisis, and boris johnson said homes quite late into the crisis, and borisjohnson said he was wrong. now as soon as possible answers questions and did, keir starmer wrote boris johnson, questions and did, keir starmer wrote borisjohnson, saying that he had misled the house and should be correct, and liste

labour leader? with borisjohnson back handle the new labour leader?son back at work, handle the new labour leader? with borisjohnson back at work, back handle the new labour leader? with boris johnson back at work, back at the dispatch box, too. boris johnson back at work, back at the dispatch box, tool boris johnson back at work, back at the dispatch box, too. i would like to welcome the prime minister back to welcome the prime minister back to his rightful place in the chamber. but no hiding place from the rising coronavirus toll, now tipping 30,000. that is now the highest number in europe. it is the second highest in the world. that is not a success or apparent second highest in the world. that is not a success or apparent success, so can not a success or apparent success, so can the prime minister tell us how on earth did it come to this? he is right to draw attention to the appalling statistics not just is right to draw attention to the appalling statistics notjust in this country, but, of course around the world. at this stage, i don't think th

in the last hour we saw the second prime ministers' questions with borisjohnson and labour leader sirs get all the political reaction from westminster from jo coburn. thank you, jane. it was not a co mforta ble thank you, jane. it was not a comfortable session for boris johnson, the second boat at the dispatch box with keir starmer. this on the day that some restrictions have been used in england. keir starmer interrogated the prime minister on the situation in care homes and the sobering death toll there. he did into task —— she took him to task on the government is not advice in mid—march, asking why it was back to him it looked as if the government was saying that any outbreak in care homes would be unlikely. we now know there has been an epidemic in care homes at the number of deaths there are no beginning to fall. he said there was the government that was slow to act that it was clear —— when it was clear that there were large numbers of deaths in care homes. how could the prime minister explain 10,000 excess deaths in care homes compared to the same period of time last year? to

amongst the politicians criticising borisjohnson, the labour leader keir starmer, the liberal democratseader, first minister of scotland nicola sturgeon. i think he's come to the wrong judgment. the reason why i think that matters is that the consequences are potentially so serious. as we go into the next phases of dealing with this crisis, as we start to lift lockdown restrictions and rely less on the letter of the law and more on guidance and appeal to people's good judgment, then trust in the advice we are giving and the reasons why we are giving that advice is really important. and people, if they get any sense that it is one rule for them and another rule for people in positions of authority, then that will become very difficult. the sacrifices people have made over these past few weeks are immense. there are also rumblings of concern from conservative mps now. it is not a universal view of the conservative backbench, i've spoken to mps who don't think there is any need for dominic cummings to go but equally there is now a kind of growing handful of conservative mps who worry that

in the last hour we saw the first prime ministers‘ questions with borisjohnson and labour leader sirl the political reaction from westminster from jo coburn. iam standing i am standing in central lobbyjust outside the house of commons chamber where plain ministers questions ended about an hour ago, the third setting of pm 0 and a semi virtual way, some mps sitting in the chamber, others asking their questions through the screens at was the first time for boris johnson at pmqs and he was responding to keir starmer the labour leader. we are of course observing social distancing guidelines, it is pretty empty here because there are not the volume of people, working from homejust like eve ryo ne people, working from homejust like everyone else. in that vein as tomorrow marks the legal review for the current phase of restrictions on the current phase of restrictions on the lockdown the prime minister amongst others that confirm in his address on sunday he will set out his thinking and government plan in terms of the next phase of restrictions and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. int

control oubtreaks of the virus has been debated in the commons between the prime minister borisjohnson and the labour it would be operational from the first ofjune despite the doubts expressed by some experts, as our health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. every day, thousands of new coronavirus infections are still being reported in the uk. tracking the virus down and isolating the infected is widely believed to be the best way to control the pandemic. but today in parliament, the labour leader questioned why there had been such a delay in setting up a track and trace system. in the united kingdom, despite two million tests having been carried out, there has been no effective tracing in place since march 12, when tracing was abandoned. that's nearly ten weeks in a critical period without effective tracing. that's a huge hole in our defences. we will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world beating and, yes, it will be in place, it will be in place byjune 1. there will be 25,000 trackers, they will be able to cope with 10,000 new cases a day. those trackers will help to trace

human life of lifting the lockdown and by setting out its strategy two days ahead of borisjohnson, the welsh labourtely put pressure on him. even in a pandemic political rivalries remain. the first minister says he thinks the rest of the uk should, and will, follow the same path. i don't believe that you will see anywhere in the united kingdom anything other than the most modest of immediate changes broadly of the sort that i have proposed making in wales. if the prime minister does choose the same route, his rivals may well claim they have set the course on how the uk eventually comes out of lockdown. hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff. in scotland, the first minister is urging people to stay at home this bank holiday weekend. nicola sturgeon warned it would be catastrophic to relax the lockdown too soon. in downing street, the prime minister borisjohnson is to make a statement on sunday evening, outlining his approach to easing the lockdown. but number ten is discouraging suggestions of any great change for the time being. our political correspondent ben wright reports. a sunny may bank holiday do

control oubtreaks of the virus was debated in the commons between the prime minister, borisjohnson, and the labour was confident it would be operational from the istjune, despite the doubts expressed by some experts, as our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson, reports. every day, thousands of new coronavirus infections are still being reported in the uk. tracking the virus down and isolating the infected is widely believed to be the best way to control the pandemic. but today in parliament the labour leader questioned why there had been such a delay in setting up a track and trace system. in the united kingdom, despite 2 million tests having been carried out, there has been no effective tracing in place since march the 12th, when tracing was abandoned. that is nearly ten weeks in a critical period without effective tracing. that is a huge hole in our defenses. we will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world beating and yes, it will be in place, it will be in place byjune the 1st. there will be 25,000 trackers, they will be able to cope with 10,000 new cases a day. those track

borisjohnson and the labour leader have clashed at prime minister's questions, as the government wasmishandling the crisis in care homes today. mr starmer said care homes were told infection was unlikely. downing street has dismissed the accusation. the prime minister also announced a further £600 million for care homes in england. the row comes as the latest official figures show that in the last 2a hours 494 people have died in care homes, in the community and in hospitals. that brings the overall total to 33,186 people whose deaths were linked to coronavirus. here's our political editor, laura kuenssburg. the places that provide homes for the vulnerable and elderly, were they ready for this crisis? are they coping they ready for this crisis? are they co ' they ready for this crisis? are they coping now? managers fear they are being asked to take too much risk, hospitals requesting they take in elderly people who have tested positive for the virus. we have refused them and a lot of other homes have. it's very hard to control so why on earth would they ask us to take people who are

to human life of lifting the lockdown and setting out its strategy two days ahead of borisjohnson, the welsh laboure on him. even in a pandemic, political rivalries remain. the first minister says he thinks the rest of the uk should and will follow the same path. i don't believe that you will see anywhere in the united kingdom anything other than the most modest of immediate changes, broadly of the sort that i have proposed making in wales. if the prime minister does choose the same route, his rivals may well claim they have set the course for how the uk eventually comes out of lockdown. hywel griffiths, bbc news, cardiff. in scotland, the first minister is urging people to stay home this bank holiday weekend and has said it would be catastrophic to lift the lockdown too soon. the prime minister is going to make a statement on sunday night outlining how he sees the lockdown easing over the coming weeks, but downing street has tried to dampen expectations of any great changes. 0ur political correspondent, ben wright, reports. a sunny may bank holiday doesn't normally look like this. but, of course,

labour leader? with borisjohnson back at work, back at the despatch box, too. to his rightful place in the chamber. but no hiding place from the rising coronavirus toll, now tipping 30,000. that's now the highest number in europe. it's the second highest in the world. that's not success or apparent success, so can the prime minister tell us how on earth did it come to this? he is right to draw attention to the appalling statistics notjust in this country, but of course around the world. at this stage, i don't think that international comparisons and the data is yet there to draw all the conclusions that we want. comparing different countries' statistics is difficult, but it's not irrelevant. and every number is another heartbreak. just nine members of ron beard's family bade farewell to him at a tiny funeral this afternoon. he passed away in hospital last week after contracting the virus in his care home, where his family had been told there was no infection and they say staff had no protective kit. my mum, sadly, had to go to the car park and say goodbye to he

is the case that his position is totally untenable and he needs to resign or borisjohnson needs to step up and sack him. labourt explanation from downing street. the explanation from a source close to mr cummings is that the journey was so that his parents could help with childcare whilst he and his wife, unwell with covid symptoms, stayed in a separate building. the source denied that mr cummings had broken lockdown rules or that police spoke to him. in a statement, durham constabulary said that officers had explained to the family the guidance on self isolation and essential travel. earlier this month, professor neil ferguson quit his role on the government's scientific advisory committee sage after the telegraph reported he had been visited by his married lover during lockdown. doctor catherine calderwood resigned as scotland's chief medical officer last month after making two trips to her second home. jessica parker, bbc news. let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. i'll correspondent helen catt. be clear about exactly w happened i'll be clear about exactly what happened here? we understand

labour leader? with borisjohnson back at work, back at the dispatch box, too. like to welcome the prime minister back to his rightful place in the chamber. but no hiding place from the rising coronavirus toll, now tipping 30,000. that's now the highest number in europe. it's the second highest in the world. that's not success or apparent success, so can the prime minister tell us how on earth did it come to this? he is right to draw attention to the appalling statistics not just in this country, but of course around the world. at this stage, i don't think that international comparisons and the data is yet there to draw all the conclusions that we want. comparing different countries‘ statistics is difficult, but it's not irrelevant. and every number is another heartbreak. just nine members of ron beard's family bade farewell to him at a tiny funeral this afternoon. he passed away in hospital last week after contracting the virus in his care home, where his family had been told there was no infection and they say staff had no protective kit. my mum, sadly, had to

borisjohnson was challenged by the new labour leader at their first meeting in prime minister's questions about the situation facing the care sector. i have to ask the prime minister, why hasn't the government got to grips with this already? there's an epidemic going on in care homes, which is something i bitterly regret. the prime minster also said some lockdown measures could begin to be eased next week. we'll have the latest from westminster. also this luncthime... the health secretary matt hancock again defends the government's testing strategy. good news on climate change, as lockdown results in the fastest decline in carbon emissions ever recorded. wait, listen, did you hearthat? i heard duck sounds. quack, quack, quack. and archie turns one in california. harry and meghan release this video to mark their son's birthday. and in sport, as the premier league edges closer to a return, the crystal palace chairman says no one will be forced to play if they don't want to. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. borisjohnson has said he bitterly regrets the coronavirus epidemic

another £600 million for covid—19 infection control in care homes is promised by borisjohnson, but he's challenged by labour thousands of excess deaths amongst residents. can the prime minister give us the government's views on these unexplained deaths? he is right to draw attention, as i've said, to the tragedy that has been taking place in care homes. the education secretary defends plans to reopen some primary schools in england next month, insisting they're based on scientific advice. the easing of lockdown begins in england. people are encouraged to return to work, though avoid public transport where possible. and good news if your lockdown lawn needs some love, as some garden centres reopen. good afternoon, and welcome to viewers on bbc one and the bbc news channel for a special programme ahead of the daily downing street news conference, which today is led by the housing, communities and local government secretary, robertjenrick. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has said it's ‘very likely‘ the uk economy will face a significant recession this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. he was speaking as o

scrutiny are boris johnson we will have a different approach to the scrutiny are borisjohnson with sir keir starmer as labour the broader question, borisjohnson than used to be the case. but on the broader question, boris johnson made the argument the advice changed when the argument the advice changed when the facts change so i don't think he will be heading to parliament to fulfil sir keir starmer‘s requests that he comes and corrects the record. the questioning around care homes will definitely continue. the government hoping this injection of money announced for england this morning will ensure, for instance, fewer staff work in more than one ca re fewer staff work in more than one care home, reducing one vector of transmission in terms of a member of staff who may be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus, going from one ca re carrier of the virus, going from one care home to another spreading the infection. but as the months roll on the potential for some public enquiry afterwards, the government have not said it will happen, but plenty think it is inevitable. what has happened in care homes will be cent

but yesterday when labour leader keir starmer pressed boris johnson when labour leader keir starmer pressed borisjohnson minister was firm, adamant, it was the right thing to stick with the plan. but overnight there was disquiet, some chatter among tory mps and a few of them breaking cover to say they thought it was the wrong thing to stick with the charge. and also a huge amount of chatter about this online too. lo and behold, just after 4pm this afternoon downing street announced the prime minister had been thinking carefully a nd the prime minister had been thinking carefully and after all he has tasked his ministers with working out a way to stop nhs and care workers from overseas having to pay the charge. for the government's critics it has been portrayed immediately as a screaming u—turn, a way for downing street to close down a political row, but for many people who thought it was the wrong thing might be pleased the prime minister in their view will have seen sense on this occasion. laura kuenssberg, thank you. the lockdown across scotland will start to be eased from the end of next week. the fi

it comes as borisjohnson faced the new labour leader for the first the new labour leader for the firstipment. the prime minister said the overriding aim was to save lives and protect the nhs — but he admitted a problem in care homes. there is an epidemic going on in care homes, which is something i bitterly regret. borisjohnson also said some aspects of the lockdown could be eased by next monday.

borisjohnson has led his first prime minister's questions since recovering from coronavirus, where he faced criticism from the laboureader sir keir starmer over the government's response to the pandemic. speaking in the commons, mrjohnson said he bitterly regretted the epidemic which has swept through care homes, after labour accused him of failing to get to grips with the number of deaths there. the prime minister also said he hoped there would be an easing of lockdown measures from monday, although he did not give details on what those might be. and he set a new goal of doubling testing capacity to 200,000 by the end of the month. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley has the details. not much feels normaljust now, not at westminster, not around the country. here, though, scrutiny of the government's strategy goes on and questions are being asked, after the uk's death toll overtook italy's to become the highest in europe so far. after a six—week absence during which he had coronavirus, the prime minister heading back to parliament to face some of those questions, for the first time from new labour leader keir s

but something has changed his mind and the labour leader sir keir starmer has reacted to borisjohnsonrned. saying it is right he has you that turned. —— that he has u—turnedlj suppose he is also describing it as a victory for himself. it is a political victory for sir keir starmer, no doubt, in the space of over 24 hours, achieving this u—turn in government policy. it was a timely issue for the leader of the labour party to quick, to question borisjohnson on at prime minister's questions yesterday and i think you saw from the conservative mps who we re saw from the conservative mps who were willing, since then, to come out and say they would back an amendment to the immigration bill, which is what sir keir starmer was suggesting as a way to achieve this exemption, and added pressure from elsewhere, including jeremy hunt, the former conservative health secretary who himself introduced this surcharge, suggesting the government needed to make a change year, all those factors together have resulted in this change of policy, but it is, as you described ita policy, but it is, as you describ

in around half an hour borisjohnson will face the labour leader sir keir starmer for the first time.hambers, normally this area would be heaving with members of parliament and staff and visitors and tourists but all of that has changed since the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. there are no very few people here and there is a semi—virtual parliament. we like everyone and observing the two metre rule i guidelines and not long ago the speaker of the house of commons made his position to take his place and say the chamber before payment is thus questions. he has criticised borisjohnson for thus questions. he has criticised boris johnson for not thus questions. he has criticised borisjohnson for not coming to parliament first to talk about his plans for the next phase in dealing with economic this pandemic and any easing of restrictions that may come from the doughnut the line. he will be adjudicating today but let's first of all... let's speak to the conservative mp claire coutinho. do you think borisjohnson should be speaking to parliament before addressing the nation? we are in an u

and we have had reaction from the labour party and their leader, sir keir starmer. he says that on borisjohnson's cummings that this was a test of the prime minister and he has failed it. he made it clear that he believes and the labour party believes that the cabinet secretary must now launch an urgent inquiry into the actions of dominic cummings in breaking the lockdown. so that comment coming in from the leader of the labour party sir keir starmer saying the prime minister, boris johnson, had a test in front of him today and he failed it and that they should be an inquiry by the cabinet secretary looking into the actions of dominic cummings. the prime minister continued to defend dominic cummings — responding to a question from the bbc‘s political correspondent iain watson. conservative mps have got in touch with us today prime minister because they say lots of their constituents are angry, they feel that allowing somebody who is already ill to travel 250 miles across the country breaches at least the spirit of your guidance, hand on heart, can you really say this didn't breach the spirit of y

labour party director of communications. tomorrow's front pages... let's start with the telegraph, and it says that borisjohnsons urging the public to use "british common sense" amid questions over his strategy to ease the lockdown. the financial times calls it "a day of confusion". it says the prime minister is facing a backlash for, it says, risking the safety of workers in his bid to get them back to work. the metro focuses on some of the loopholes within the pm's plan, with continued uncertainty over how people can see their parents. the daily mail welcomes the fact that people in england will be able to see loved ones again, albeit while observing social distancing. the times focuses on the same angle. it says people in england will be able to play sports or socialise outside with a friend or family member, under the new rules. the safety of workers must be put first, says the mirror. it says there are particular concerns over people on the lowest incomes. the common sense message is on the front page of the express too. it quotes the prime minister, who warned that it's a "perilous time". and the guardian

yes, it is going to be the second time that borisjohnson has faced the labour leader across the dispatch around some of the restrictions that have been lifted in england. there are things you can do today in england that you could not do yesterday, there has been charges against the gulf government for not just the opposition but also from... perhaps the guidance has not been as clear as it should be. let us speak to the corresponded, jessica parker. on the rich nature of parliament, what changes should we expect?m robbie has had mixed reviews, and i've spoken to conservatives who should —— who think that this has not worked, they think that contributions via video link mean that they are not really able to eye ball that they are not really able to eyeball ministers and really hold them to account. also, the nature of parliament is that votes help but there are also conversations happening in the background and the ca rd happening in the background and the card as apparent, that is not happening nearly as much because ministers are contributing virtually as well, so there is certainly so

labour said the government had to keep up its unprecedented expansion of the state's role in the economy to stop unemployment rising even faster than it has been. andy verity, bbc news. borisjohnsoned a further £600 million for infection control in england's care homes. at prime minister's questions the labour leader, sir keir starmer, challenged mrjohnson to explain why official figures show there were an additional 10,000 unexplained deaths in care homes in april. the prime minister acknowledged the death rate has been too high, but said outbreaks in care homes are coming down. here's our political correspondent iain watson. the lockdown is slowly easing in england. though westminster remains subdued. labour had long called for an exit strategy but criticised the prime minister's planned route out of lockdown for lack of clarity and for being too slow to get on top of the crisis. so keir starmer began by questioning the government response to infections in care homes for the care home residents were granted for about four in ten deaths from coronavirus recently. does the prime minister accept the government was too slow to protect people in care homes? the prime minister seemed

today, boris johnson today, borisjohnson will face keir starmer as labour leader for the first time andader will ask mrjohnson why the figure of excess deaths in the uk is 11,500 at the moment and why the uk is on course to have one of the highest death tolls in europe. those sobering figures from yesterday which showed the uk has 110w yesterday which showed the uk has now surpassed italy in terms of the number of deaths. labour has consistently said the government has been too slow to act on things like lockdown and testing and ppe equipment for those on the medical front line. i suspect keir starmer will want to hammer home some of those points again today. we know the government is arguing that at the government is arguing that at the moment it's too early to make those international comparisons for a number of reasons, some to do with demographics, the uk population is higher than italy, different rates of elderly people in different countries in europe. also the fact different countries are collating figures in different ways. but the question of why the uk's death toll is as high

some conservative backbenchers have accused him of arrogance while labour has called for mr cummings to resign. however, borisjohnson says his advisor had acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity." it comes as 118 more deaths were announced in the past 2a hours. that's the lowest figure since the lockdown began, though there's usually a lag in recording deaths at the weekend. that brings the total number of people who've died in the uk to 36,793. here's our political correspondent, iain watson. why did you not stay in your primary residence, mr cummings, as the government guidelines stated? why did you go 260 miles across the country? dominic cummings‘s family travelled 250 miles away from his london home to isolate in durham when his wife already had coronavirus symptoms, citing concerns over childcare. though he faced something of a scrum here, the bbc maintained social distancing but the prime minister held him close and faced down calls for him to go. i think he followed the instincts of every father and every parent. and i do not mark him down for that. i believe that in every respect he has acted respons

there will be no doubt that there has been an atmosphere of the two men, kids, and borisjohnson, questioning from the labourents being released from hospital without having had a negative or positive test. he also said that that is, in a way, undermines the health secretary's claim that the government had thrown a protective ring around care homes and their patients and their staff. borisjohnson said that was not and their patients and their staff. boris johnson said that was not the case and no elderly patient had been released from hospital without the say—so of the clinician. it didn't quite answer what keir starmer was actually find out. but he calls on the labour leaderfor actually find out. but he calls on the labour leader for more positivity, for more support, and this tactic is of is the one that he is going to deploy when he needs keir starmer —— like when he meets keir starmer —— like when he meets keir starmer —— like when he meets keir starmer after recess. just back to that 1st of june keir starmer after recess. just back to that 1st ofjune and that tracking and testing app, same as the date w

chamber and we saw that at pmq last week when borisjohnson did not have an audience to play to and he found that difficult against forensic questioning from the labouron is because when the prime minister makes a statement, he faces questions and scrutiny, notjust from the opposition but his own party that would have been a better way to go about doing this. he could have made this announcement at seven o'clock tomorrow after it had went through that process of speaking to parliament, releasing nation at the same time and allowing mps to do their job same time and allowing mps to do theirjob in scrutinising the government. caroline, two nights ago we watched the queen deliver a speech, her second, and boris gave three orfour speech, her second, and boris gave three or four set speech, her second, and boris gave three orfour set pieces. speech, her second, and boris gave three or four set pieces. when you look at the speeches given by boris johnson and the queen, are their similarities? how would you compare them in the way the messages come across? they have completely different roles. the queen is the chairman of the board and boris johnson is, in

borisjohnson has said that next week you will outline a road map after labour asked him to do that andn with schools reopening, primary schools reopening, will it be some particular businesses? i think peoplejust be some particular businesses? i think people just need a bit of clarity about what happens next because people have got to get on with their lives. al-qaeda, shadow health secretary, thank you for joining us. now it is time for the weather. good evening. we have seen some hefty downpours and dark skies but equally a little bit of sunshine in between. however, those hefty showers will continue to keep running as we go through the rest of this evening and it is down to this area of low pressure. that will meander a bit further towards the east and away from the british isles through the weekend, allowing a decrease in the activity, the shower activity, but there are certainly some torrential downpours out there this evening with hail and thunder and these downpours will be prolonged in the north and continue elsewhere. the showers will become less frequent. under the starry ski

labour leader sir keir starmer says the prime minister's roadmap for lifting the lockdown offers no "clear directions". in a televised statement, he asked for more clarity and reassurance from borisjohnsoneen asking for guidance on a number of issues and there was the 50 pages we saw yesterday and the detail about schools. is that some of the clarity you were looking for? there's some clarity with what the government published overnight but we need to take a step back and say on sunday, boris johnson's announcement caused mass confusion, he gave people 12 hours notice to go back to work and avoid public transport and said schools wouldn't open, so lots of working families we re open, so lots of working families were wondering how they get to work and whether they are safe and what they do with their children. the government did cause a huge amount of confusion and their stay alert message is confusing as well, and that's why wales, northern ireland and scotland have gone a separate way. we have the worst death rates in europe and the second worst in the world, so we have to take this very seriously and the government really need to step up now and give clear guidance to people, reassure

the labour leader accused the prime minister of being too slow to protect care homes. borisjohnsongh it had been hired a number of deaths was down. the prime minister said we need to rapidly reverse the awful epidemic in our ca re reverse the awful epidemic in our care homes but earlier this year, and until the 12th of march, government advice was, and i am quoting from it, it remains very unlikely that people receiving care ina care unlikely that people receiving care in a care home will become infected. yesterday i figures showed that at least 40% of all deaths from covid—19 were in a care homes. doesn't prime minister except the government was too slow to protect in care homes? no, mr speaker, and it was not true that the advice said that. actually, we prod the lockdown in care homes ahead of the general lockdown. —— brought. we saw an action to tackle what is unquestionably an appalling epidemic in care homes and a huge exercise in testing is going on, £600 million announced for infection control in ca re announced for infection control in care homes. the labour leader later wr

labour leader sir keir starmer pressed borisjohnson in the commons about the lack track and tracing sincee of march. we have growing confidence that we will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world—beating. and yes, it will be in place, it will be in place byjune the 1st. and what i hope very much is that notwithstanding the occasional difficulty of these exchanges, and i totally appreciate the role that he has to fulfil, that he will support us as we go forward, that he will be positive about this test track and trace operation and that we can work together to use it to take our country forward. that is what i think the people of this country want to see. let's cross to our political correspondent leila nathoo in westminster. expressing confidence that all this can be in place by 1stjune? expressing confidence that all this can be in place by 1stjune? yes, i can be in place by 1st june? yes, i think borisjohnson can be in place by 1st june? yes, i think boris johnson had can be in place by 1st june? yes, i think borisjohnson had to try and provide some reassurance about

labour has also called on the prime minister to take this afternoon's press conference, drawing borisjohnson about his adviser. let us go to downing street. as we understand it, dominic cummings is still inside, talking to be prime minister. it is not clear who is going to be making any statement for the government today. grant shapps was doing the morning political shows here, no comment from boris johnson himself. our political correspondent iain watsonjoins me now. these things tend to have a certain inevitability about them. where are we? if somebody becomes a story over a 10—day period, they effectively go. this is day three of dominic cummings, but the story of mps talking privately is that tomorrow they are going to talk about easing lockdown restrictions. if questions are still there about what dominic cummings did and didn't do, that would overshadow the governmental message, but more than that, because they are talking about using restrictions, to do so they have to get control and we have to have people all over the guidelines. i'm sure all this is being discussed, in terms of wha

case that his position is totally untenable and he needs to resign, or borisjohnson needs to step up to the plate and sack him. labournding a swift explanation from downing street. the explanation from a source close to mr cummings is that the journey was so his parents could help with childcare while he and his wife, unwell with covid symptoms, stayed in a separate building. the source denied that mrcummings had broken lockdown rules or that police spoke to him. in a statement, the durham constabulary said that officers explained to the family the guidance on self isolation and essential travel. earlier this month, professor neil ferguson quit his role on the government's scientific advisory committee after the telegraph reported he had been visited by his married lover during lockdown. dr catherine calderwood resigned as scotland's chief medical officer last month after making two trips to her second home. jessica parker, bbc news. we can speak now to our political correspondent helen catt. good morning, helen. on the one hand, some politicians saying dominic cummings should be allowed the opportunity to explain wh

labour shadow policing minister, thank you forjoining us. some breaking news or some reaction from the snp at westminster. their leader in response to the coronavirus briefing that borisjohnsonefended his special adviser dominic cummings, mr blackford says borisjohnson‘s breathtaking arrogance sends out the message that there is one rule for the tory government and another for the tory government and another for the rest of us. he is trying to take the rest of us. he is trying to take the public. but i have no doubt that people will see right through it. families across all parts of the country have struggled through the lockdown without the ability to call on friends and family for childcare ina on friends and family for childcare in a desperate attempt to save his adviser, borisjohnson in a desperate attempt to save his adviser, boris johnson has in a desperate attempt to save his adviser, borisjohnson has thrown public health advice on the solidarity and sacrifice of millions to the wind. that is the response from the snp at westminster, their leader, ian blackford. we heard from him ahead of the news conference from downing street and hejoins us now on bbc news. hello to

the welsh labour government will not be shy in criticising borisjohnson if they think you get the message road map for unlocking restrictions in northern ireland is due to be published early this week. already, first minister arlene foster has said they will be no deviating from the current stay at home messaging, except, she said, in some small areas like opening garden centres, for example, perhaps private prayer spaces. there is still a lot of concern here around ca re still a lot of concern here around care homes. there have been more deaths in northern ireland's care homes than in hospitals for two weeks running. there is a pretty strong reaction from the sdlp leader here, colum eastwood. he said when here, colum eastwood. he said when he spoke to borisjohnson, he said the government ‘s new stay alert message was, in his view, nonsense. expect people in northern ireland to be told to stick with the lockdown for three weeks, and any changes will be pretty minor. thanks to you all. business leaders are hoping the prime minister's address will provide some clarity, on how people can get

borisjohnson has announced a further £600 million for infection control in england's care homes. at prime minister's questions the labourr starmer, challenged mrjohnson to explain why official figures show there were an additional 10,000 unexplained deaths in care homes in april. the prime minister acknowledged deaths had been "too high" but outbreaks in care homes were coming down. here's our political correspondent iain watson. the lockdown is slowly easing in england. the westminster remain subdued. labour had long called for an exit strategy but criticised the prime minister of cosmic plan its lack of clarity and for being too slow to get on top of the crisis. so keir starmer began by questioning the government response to infections in care homes for the ca re infections in care homes for the care home residents were granted for about four in ten deaths from coronavirus recently. does the promise to accept the government was too slow to protect people in care homes? the prime minister it seemed to anticipate the question as he had a fund ready to announce. what we've seen a fund ready to announce. what we've seenis

in reply, the labour leader sir keir starmer said there are a macquarie... borisjohnsonns for the lockdown. we have gone through... changing our lives on a scale unimaginable only month ago. tragically, many families have lost loved ones before their time, and we share their grief. yet, our shared effort has diverted a still worse catastrophe, when they could have overrun the nhs and claimed half a million lives. every day, dedicated doctors, nurses and social care workers, army medics and more have risked their own lives in the service of others, and they have helped to cut the reproduction rate from between 2.6 and 2.8 in april two 0.5 and 0.9 today. the number of patients and hospital has fallen by a third since easter sunday. 0ur armed forces have worked together with the nhs to build new hospitals on timetables going from years two weeks, and our challenge now is to find a way for to preserve our ha rd—won preserve our hard—won gains. there can be no greater mistake than to jeopardise everything we have stricken to achieve by proceeding to farand stricken to achieve

labour's leader, sir keir starmer. the government will shortly publish a 50—page document detailing its strategy and borisjohnson will make in the house of commons later. he says he is "actively encouraging people" who cannot work from home to return to work. the measures also include plans to quarantine anyone entering the uk. central to the new changes will be the covid alert system which will rank the level of risk facing the country on a scale of one to five. the prime minister's changed advice to "stay alert" will only apply in england and the other nations of the uk are retaining their "stay at home" message. ourfirst report is from our political correspondentjessica parker. the prime minister out and about this morning, hot drink in hand, taking in the air. he has been accused of causing consumers in with his roadmap for the way ahead. the consensus on what we could do, and i stress could, because although we have a plan, it is a conditional plan. last night, borisjohnson have a plan, it is a conditional plan. last night, boris johnson said anyone who can't work from home should return to work but avoid public tran

borisjohnson. we saw that two days ago with mark drakeford, the first minister and leader of the welsh labour partyat minor, minor changes come into effect tomorrow. he's been reiterating that today ahead of borisjohnson on the airwaves, saying that to stay at home in wales and not just be saying that to stay at home in wales and notjust be alert. and although things will change in england, they are determined that wales decides what happens here because that's the power they have of devolved government, but too it's a response ability that it has when it comes to the impact of coronavirus, and they will be responsible for these decisions for years to come. so the fa ct decisions for years to come. so the fact that they have the political difference to westminster really doesn't mean too much at the moment. they are focusing, they say, on what matters for the people and the lives of the people in wales. thank you so much. and our ireland correspondent emma vardy is in belfast. northern ireland is another of the stay at home nations? it is, just like scotland and wales, they are sticking with that a

the challenge was made by the labour leader sir keir starmer, who said the uk government had been "too slow to protect people in care homes". borisjohnsonurther £600m to improve infection control in care homes in england. the latest official figures show that in the last 24—hour period, 494 deaths were recorded in care homes, in the community and in hospitals in the uk. that brings the overall total to 33,186 deaths linked to coronavirus. our political editor laura kuenssburg has the latest. were the places that provide homes for the vulnerable and elderly ready for this crisis? are they coping now? some managers fear they're being asked to take too much risk, hospitals requesting that they take in elderly people who have tested positive with the virus. we've refused them, and i know a lot of other homes have refused them. it's very hard to control, so why on earth would they ask us to take people who are positive with the virus in a care home? the government says there isn't the evidence that that's happening on a widespread scale. but the prime minister is facing a simple accusation — the risk to care homes was seen too late. until th

various degrees of detail, picture of borisjohnson there looking up at questions can i think it's cure starmer, one of the questions that the new leader of the laboure to pledge them, but the state on the advice to be scrapped from already, the hashtag from number ten has changed. yes, well we know that we are going to get the road map about some of the gentle using soap locked on sunday to begin on monday, and that is going to involve a greater exit is going to involve a greater exit is from our homes or for britain's across the land, more people are going to be urged to go back to work, although, they will be advised to wear a face covering if they are going to be taking public transport, oi’ going to be taking public transport, or be in crowded places. they are also going to ease the restrictions we think on the current rules, meaning we can exercise only once a day. from next week exercise, and i'm also per month to sit in the park, sunbathe, take picnics, and so forth. the last time we spoke, lucy used the word getty, john kampfner, there is this euphoria, isn't there, across the paper said about finally after six weeks, some easing. various d

labour leader wants to know... why he thinks that coronavirus continues to spread so fast in the care sector? filling in for borisjohnsonc raab admits it's a challenge but says it's one the government will grip. we can get the numbers down in care homes, as we've seen in hospitals and as we've seen in the country at large. the chancellor announces his latest loan scheme, promising fast and easy access to help for small firms. and away from the coronavirus pandemic, mps give initial approval to a bill to help victims of domestic violence. threatened and terrorised by someone who thinks it's ok to use his wife, partner or family as an emotional or physical punch bag. it was another week of the extraordinary "new normal", with the public being urged to continue staying inside to slow the spread of covid—19. on tuesday, a minute's silence was held to commemorate key workers who have died with coronavirus. prime minister boris johnson, who returned to work on monday, joined the tribute at 11am. millions paused as a mark of respect to those on the front line. more than 100 nhs and care staff have died with the virus, as have