dominic cummings talking about - have been much better. dominic. ng that time of the covered pandemic. helen mcnamara —— out the covid pandemic. helen mcnamara. where does this leave the governance standing? it is interesting _ governance standing? it is interesting because - governance standing? it is interesting because so - governance standing? it 3 interesting because so many of these witnesses have been formic government officials or former politician so of course we will hear all those criticisms of boris johnson put to him. he will appear at the inquiry in a few weeks because of course he is no longer prime minister. chancellor of the x checkout the time, rishi sunak, is now prime minister. people who made important decisions during the pandemic and those decisions will be poured over and the way they were made, and he will also have to come and face the music and face the questions here at the inquiry. we are expecting him also at the beginning of next month. ellie price at the covid — beginning of next month. ellie price at the covid inquir

i can speak for dominic cummings but i had no - dominic cummings but i had no conversations with themtions in the autumn with the pro—minister did not give me a different sense. pro-minister did not give me a different sense.— pro-minister did not give me a different sense. what about mr hancock? it — different sense. what about mr hancock? it is _ different sense. what about mr hancock? it is important - different sense. what about mr hancock? it is important to - hancock7 it is important to understand whether there was a fruitful relationship of trust between the two of you, that the inquiry has heard evidence of the people working with mr hancock found him someone who was untruthful, was that your experience or not? there were occasional _ that your experience or not? there were occasional moments - that your experience or not? there were occasional moments of - that your experience or not? iuee were occasional moments of tension and flashpoints, which is probably inevitable during the course of a 15 month plus pandemic but i was brought up to look for the best in people. i’m broug

that is what dominic cummings said. - what dominic cummings said. reported, yes., yes. let's just move on what dominic cummings said. reported, yes. let'sjust move on in the sequence, in the reported, yes. let's 'ust move on in the sequence, in the— the sequence, in the transcript, we can see the — the sequence, in the transcript, we can see the full _ the sequence, in the transcript, we can see the full record _ the sequence, in the transcript, we can see the full record of— the sequence, in the transcript, we can see the full record of the - can see the full record of the notes, notjust the extracts can see the full record of the notes, not just the extracts for the next few days, because as you say, there were changes, so if we can look at the 240, please, yes, thank you. we see a data disappearing off the top, this is the next day, the monday. as you say, sir patrick, you have recorded the prime minister is in a different mood, terrible, terrible, terrible numbers, says we need to do local lockdown is fast, foot to the throttle, accelerate. he is so inconsiste

did more_ taken and i think dominic cummings did more of— taken and i think dominic cummings did mored more of the ideas, i would say. i don't _ did more of the ideas, i would say. i don't how— did more of the ideas, i would say. i don't how helpful that is.- i don't how helpful that is. special advisers presumably _ i don't how helpful that is. special advisers presumably are _ i don't how helpful that is. special advisers presumably are meant i i don't how helpful that is. special advisers presumably are meant to j advisers presumably are meant to advise, they aren't decision—makers. they are absolutely meant to advise. but they _ they are absolutely meant to advise. but they can instigate areas of inquiry? but they can instigate areas of in . ui ? , but they can instigate areas of inuui ? , .., ., but they can instigate areas of inuui ? , ., , ':: inquiry? they can and so number10 has not inquiry? they can and so number10 has got more _ inquiry? they can and so number10 has got more political _ inquiry? they can and so number10 has got more political advisers - inquiry? they can an

, was dominic cummings.t now we have enough evidence to take some actionable decisions. and i think that is the conclusion i came to.— decisions. and i think that is the conclusion i came to. well, mr raab, we can all think _ conclusion i came to. well, mr raab, we can all think of _ conclusion i came to. well, mr raab, we can all think of our _ conclusion i came to. well, mr raab, we can all think of our own _ we can all think of our own management speak to describe these decisions _ management speak to describe these decisions -- — management speak to describe these decisions —— with the greatest respect, — decisions —— with the greatest respect, it— decisions —— with the greatest respect, it is not management speak, it is a _ respect, it is not management speak, it is a science, — respect, it is not management speak, it is a science, the people who have looked _ it is a science, the people who have looked at. — it is a science, the people who have looked at, for example, forecasting, peopie _ looked at, f

.., ., , dominic cummings? the conversations i had were dominic _ dominic cummings?ic cummings? the conversations i had were dominic cummings, yes. i i had were dominic cummings, yes. and the purpose of your employment, the whole idea was that he would try and push forward the use of analysis and push forward the use of analysis and technology in government jogging. and technology in government jogging, no doubt, and the experience we havejust jogging, no doubt, and the experience we have just mentioned? yes. it experience we have “ust mentioned? yes. . experience we have “ust mentioned? yes. , , �* experience we have “ust mentioned? yes. . . �* .. experience we have “ust mentioned? yes. , , �* ., yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked _ yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked on _ yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked on the _ yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked on the vote - yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked on the vote of- yes. it is right, isn't it? that you had worked on the vote of the i had worked on the vot

his comments about dominic cummings strikes for me. about dominic cummings strikes for me if— about dominic i don't the dominant cummings. idon't member— the dominant cummings. i don't member anyone behaving as he did... but he's_ member anyone behaving as he did... but he's making the point, saying, "look, there were competing arguments over the decisions that had to be made." if dominic cummings was right that borisjohnson was the shopping trolley, unable to steer a reasonable path through all the disagreements, then maybe we shouldn't be surprised if personality took over? and i think what hancock is driving at is that the structure of government and coordination of departments has to take over at a moment of crisis, and it didn't. ., ., ., , ., it didn't. you have all sorts of potential— it didn't. you have all sorts of potential structures, - it didn't. you have all sorts of potential structures, whether| it didn't. you have all sorts of. potential structures, whether it it didn't. you have all sorts of- potential structures, whether it is cabinet _ potential structures, whether it is

you needed to get dominic cummings to overrule boris johnson. | cummings to overrule borisjohnson. of his statements, both he and the chancellor recognise the need for more defence spending. the biggest challenge was about culture, changing the culture where defence has been for so long some sort of discretionary spend is like buying a set of curtains when you have money left over as opposed to a core function of a political government, any government. let function of a political government, any government.— any government. let us reflect on the 13 years _ any government. let us reflect on the 13 years you — any government. let us reflect on the 13 years you were _ any government. let us reflect on the 13 years you were part - any government. let us reflect on the 13 years you were part of- any government. let us reflect on the 13 years you were part of this | the 13 years you were part of this conservative led government. now you are able to look back, yet left the cabinet and leaving parliament as well, what with the ben wallace now tell the ben wallace then about what you should

dominic cummings never wanted — staff earlier. yes., _ never wanted to be called chief of staff, i_ never wanted to be called chief of staff, i rememberthat. he wanted never wanted to be called chief of staff, i remember that. he wanted to be called _ staff, i remember that. he wanted to be called senior adviser or something. there's no question on anyone's_ something. there's no question on anyone's mind who was the prime minister's — anyone's mind who was the prime minister's most senior political adviser, — minister's most senior political adviser, it _ minister's most senior political adviser, it was him. i'm sorry but i can't _ adviser, it was him. i'm sorry but i can't remember but i think ed lister might— can't remember but i think ed lister might have — can't remember but i think ed lister might have had the title chief of staff at — might have had the title chief of staff at that point on the prime minister— staff at that point on the prime minister absolutely and definitely retied _ minister absolutely and definitely relied u

i don't think dominic cummings was i cummings in this meeting?m memory, i think it was only ben _ meeting. from memory, i think it was only ben it— meeting. from memory, i think it was only ben. it was a meeting as indicated. _ only ben. it was a meeting as indicated, primarily looking out. ben has— indicated, primarily looking out. ben has been brought in to try and increase _ ben has been brought in to try and increase the quantitative mathematical data science capability in downing street. so a lot of it, we were — in downing street. so a lot of it, we were talking about it in general terms _ we were talking about it in general terms is _ we were talking about it in general terms is my memory. but i'm sure we were _ terms is my memory. but i'm sure we were starting _ terms is my memory. but i'm sure we were starting to talk in this period about. _ were starting to talk in this period about, what are the data flows, what is the _ about, what are the data flows, what is the modelling, is it good enough and so _ is the modelling, is it good enoug

dominic cummings problems. the unpleasant working atmosphere . dominic cummings was atmosphere.ominic cummings was accused of being very misogynistic towards her. let's just hear another excerpt from yesterday , an extract from mr yesterday, an extract from mr johnson's fight back whatsapp group . group. >> you say this . at 1220. if >> you say this. at 1220. if i have to come back to helen's pet , was that propriety and ethics ? , was that propriety and ethics? yes, part of the cabinet office or number 10 designed to waste huge amounts of my time. so i can't spend it on other stuff. i will personally handcuff her and escort her from the building . escort her from the building. had you got form mr cummings for arranging for people to be escorted from number 10 before? >> you shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers. >> that story is not accurate . >> that story is not accurate. >> that story is not accurate. >> i don't care how it's done , >> i don't care how it's done, but that woman must be out of our hair. we cannot keep dealing with this horrific meltdown of t

dominic cummings. it was a broader cuestion. ., ., . , question. you say the mayor... ou question. you say the mayor... why did you not — question. you say the mayor... why did you not believe _ question. you say the mayor... why did you not believe the _ question. you say the mayor... why did you not believe the secretary . question. you say the mayor... why did you not believe the secretary of| did you not believe the secretary of state, himself a minister of the crown? i state, himself a minister of the crown? ., state, himself a minister of the crown? . ., , . ., state, himself a minister of the crown? . _, . ~ crown? i felt, and we may come back to this, it felt — crown? i felt, and we may come back to this, it felt by— crown? i felt, and we may come back to this, it felt by that _ crown? i felt, and we may come back to this, it felt by that point _ crown? i felt, and we may come back to this, it felt by that point that - to this, it felt by that point that rather than treating the mayor as a partner in governance, he was being treated as a political opponent and

dominic cummings feels the heat.he was accused of poisoning the pandemic response with toxic briefings against colleagues. and those are your front pages . let's get reaction front pages. let's get reaction to the big stories of the day now with my top pundits. they are former cabinet minister the formidable birthday girl just from last week, gb news star esther mcvey , banker and esther mcvey, banker and visiting professor. visit me anytime. derek derek lord and the brilliant author and journalist and professional left wing shock jock rebecca read . wing shock jock rebecca read. now, while football has been plunged into yet another morality crisis, as saudi arabia is set to host the 2034 world cup, the islamic state, which governs with strict sharia law, has long been criticised for human rights violations, including the execution of 81 men on one day alone last year. it also criminalises homosexuality . it's been homosexuality. it's been involved in a brutal war with yemen and was involved in the 2018 killing of jo

there was also the e—mail exchange which was between him and dominic cummings who was borisjohnson�*s cummings who was boris johnson's most senior adviser in which there was, assuming we're sort of argument, if you like, about how meeting should be taking place around the time of those key decisions in february and march time ahead of the pandemic in which mark sedwill had to remind dominic cummings that key decision should not be taken by a bunch of number tens and reminding him that there was decision should not be made with no ministers, experts or scientists. we are not running a dictatorship. 0bviously, we are not running a dictatorship. obviously, it cuts to the heart of what the inquiry here is trying to find out, exactly how those structures within government works or indeed didn't work on those decisions were made during a pandemic. decisions were made during a pandemic— decisions were made during a andemic. ., , ., , ., pandemic. you can see that sign on the ste -s pandemic. you can see that sign on the steps behind _ pandemic. you can see that sign on the steps behind ellie

it wasn't just boris johnson that dominic cummings went after , but also cummings went after, but alsoet office, the health department, matt hancock, and just about all the arms of government and how government works in this country. he had huge criticisms for senior members of the civil service, most notably the people in charge of the cabinet office, whom he described as utterly useless in their jobs. he was very nice about some people , but very nice about some people, but very, very mean about others, and particularly how these systems report in to number 10, meaning that the whole system of government was not communicating to itself particularly well. he had huge criticisms for how certain committees work , most certain committees work, most notably cobra, which wasn't even allowing in the most up to date data in many ways, the government was dealing with data that was weeks and weeks old. but perhaps the most notable thing for me was how dominic cummings went after certain sage science artists, because there's this narrative that has been built up over the last year or so that it

he certainly did not repeat the criticisms that dominic cummings has made about the former secretary exchange of texts between phone messages between dominic cummings and matt hancock. this was early on in 2020, where dominic cummings was essentially texting matt hancock, asking him when he was going to get rid of simon stevens, the chief executive then of the nhs, when was he going to get rid of him? what we have subsequently heard from dominic cummings was that by the tiny pandemic had really taken hold, he had stopped pushing for simon stevens and possibly departure. in that text exchange, it was here that both those men wanted simon stevens to go. simon stevens again was asked about this. and he sort of batted it away. and said that, to his face, he was never told that they wanted him to leave his post. he was never told that they wanted him to leave his post.— to leave his post. he was also asked about matt hancock's _ to leave his post. he was also asked about matt hancock's decisions, - to leave his post. he was also asked about matt hancock's decisions, in l about matt hancoc

he was asked about those personalities in downing street, as well, not least dominic cummings, the centref many of those whatsapp messages that have dominated the newspaper headlines. my kilcoo footwork with dominic cummings years before all of this. he worked with him in the department for education and they work together through the brexit campaign and then afterwards. they were allies for years. he defended some of the personalities within downing street, the likes of dominic cummings but also boris johnson, talking about how they had strong personalities, and they needed strong personalities to get through the election they are just one and to get the brexit deal through, so it is not surprising there were the strong personalities within downing street and the strong personalities that went on to dominate and the toxicity within the whole decision—making process at the time. he didn't defend that, per se, but he did note some kind of defence about how the strong personalities were needed and it is not surprising they were there at the time because it is those people that i got the gov

an warner was in the meeting, dominic cummings had sent him and _ meeting, dominic cummings had sente to number ten specifically to dominic cummings and that triggered a flurry of meetings that weekend —— ben warner— of meetings that weekend —— ben warner was in the meeting. you were at the _ warner was in the meeting. you were at the inquiry— warner was in the meeting. you were at the inquiry and watching it closely — at the inquiry and watching it closely and previous witnesses have questioned mr hancock's relationship with the _ questioned mr hancock's relationship with the truth. the questioned mr hancock's relationship with the truth.— with the truth. the question of whether he — with the truth. the question of whether he said _ with the truth. the question of whether he said to _ with the truth. the question of whether he said to boris - with the truth. the question of. whether he said to boris johnson with the truth. the question of- whether he said to boris johnson on whether he said to borisjohnson on friday the 13th of march, we need an immediate lockdown, did you believe h

we a pop at dominic cummings. we know the level of dominic cummings vitriol towards matt hancock . took a pop at him and said that cummings's evidence was not accurate as much of that particular witness evidence is not accurate. so a lot has happened so far today. evidence is not accurate. so a lot has happened so far today . a lot has happened so far today. a lot has happened so far today. a lot more to come this afternoon and tomorrow from matt hancock . and tomorrow from matt hancock. and we do know now that former prime minister boris johnson will be giving evidence to the inquiry wednesday and thursday next week before the inquiry started this morning, next week before the inquiry started this morning , there were started this morning, there were a number of bereaved relatives waiting outside . i spoke to waiting outside. i spoke to laurel king. she lost her 72 year old husband. he was in a care home. he died with covid very early on. this is what she had to say to me about why she is here today , what i've wanted is here today, what i've wanted to hear from all the witnesses,

this is an exchange between group including dominic cummings and martin reynolds from february 2020 andic cummings saying lots of science containment has failed and we should now expect a proper pandemic and even to have an update from the prime minister. if we go over the page we see martin reynolds saying we have scheduled ministerial meeting on heathrow first thing so cannot have a meeting tomorrow but will look to fix it later and then says perhaps we could cover it at cabinet or at the end of the national security council. and then if you skip down a couple of entries, later that morning we see martin reynolds perhaps by that stage has spoken to the cabinet secretary seen marc would prefer to do it at cabinet and makes a point cabinet would be better as it includes a wider cast with including health and so on and we see the response from dominic cummings seeing cabinet leaks and if it leaks out it will be from some fool so that it out it will be from some fool so thatitis out it will be from some fool so that it is a bad idea. the problem is the problem the mac opportunity to discu

we heard from dominic cummings? gb news reporter thompson is with us now. up, if you will, for viewers who didn't see it yesterday at the covid inquiry, what came out from cummings's analysis of the situation , apart from swearing situation, apart from swearing the awful language, they had terrible language. keith casey and this is the there's nothing actually more entertaining than actually more entertaining than a lawyer reading out four letter words from a whatsapp message . words from a whatsapp message. that was three years ago. >> difficult to follow, >> so difficult to follow, though, didn't it, because there were had keep were so many bleeps had to keep cutting because of all cutting away from because of all the satire, but it is >> but it's satire, but it is also infuriating for those of us who want proper answers. >> it did, though, >> i think what it did, though, when messages when all these whatsapp messages were us the were read out showed us the indecision , the dithering, the indecision, the dithering, the slagging off that was going on, where

boris johnson and dominic cummings borisjohnson and dominic cummings were extremely keen to get scientifica factor, we know— i want to add in one extra factor, we know the prime minister was unweit— we know the prime minister was unwett for— we know the prime minister was unwell for some period, march, april in 2020 _ unwell for some period, march, april in 2020 the — unwell for some period, march, april in 2020. the extracts i have shown you do _ in 2020. the extracts i have shown you do have — in 2020. the extracts i have shown you do have some in that period, but we have _ you do have some in that period, but we have seen— you do have some in that period, but we have seen that later, it is at the factory— we have seen that later, it is at the factory need to bear in mind with att— the factory need to bear in mind with all this? there was a period, i described it when he was unwell, he was unable to concentrate. when he came back, he ease himself back into things over a few weeks, thereafter there was no obvious change between him and what he was like beforehand. a separate subject, in t

dominic cummings . he culture? he blames? dominic cummings.ings had a huge amount of power , that power that sajid power, that power that sajid javid also talked about when he gave evidence yesterday . in gave evidence yesterday. in fact, matt hancock referred to dominic cummings as a malign actor and he said there was a culture of fear which was created by cummings behaviour. so quite a dramatic day. martin here at the covid inquiry, matt hancock continues to give evidence tomorrow and then next week it is the turn of former prime minister boris johnson on pip tomson >> an excellent summary and quite a revelation there. quite a revelation in matt hancock. then health secretary, admitting publicly he did not put a protective ring around care homes. one of the most controversial aspects of the entire covid period . and a lot entire covid period. and a lot of people out there are going to be rightly furious to learn that surely it was the nation's duty to protect the most vulnerable at that time. and it appears the health secretary didn't do tha

in which he had worn dominic cummings that key decisions needed to be made with the influence of ministersber ten special advisers. it gives you some insight into how these decisions were being made or at least how they perceive to be made. sedwilland at least how they perceive to be made. sedwill and the senior civil service and he had to remind the prime minister, borisjohnson on a number of occasions that he also knew too involved ministerial colleagues as well and some of these key decision—making. there was another whatsapp conversation those also read out in which it talked about boris johnson's also read out in which it talked about borisjohnson�*s inner circle, the likes of dominic cummings were feral and that they were brutal to work with and how he had bite marks from conversations that had been had. all of this very uncomfortable and very personal language. i the point that these work whatsapp messages that were never designed to be read out in public. it gives you a sense of what was going on at downing street in the course that is what this inquiry is interested in, notjust pe

, when hugo keith, kc was talking dominic cummings, was talking to dominic cummings, the was particularlyoning also in the line of questioning that the government had fallen short on its decisions in terms of the speed in which they were made. >> i don't i don't necessarily think that that was the line of the questioning because i sat through the entirety of i don't think there's a narrative that that that the government made mistakes when they mistakes in terms of when they implemented lockdown rather implemented the lockdown rather than should been than whether it should have been implemented think implemented at all. i think there arguments in terms of there are arguments in terms of who when, whether who said what to when, whether bofis who said what to when, whether boris have gone boris johnson should have gone on that term. on holiday in that half term. that point of that was a big point of discussion. i think one of discussion. but i think one of the big takeaways for me was the lack of discussion over the actual epidemiological points. and perhaps that does feed into your argument

government sources who heard the conversations claimed that dominic cummings was pushing for even moreeme measures for lockdown controls , such as lockdown controls, such as increasing fines for lockdown breaches. so we have neil ferguson , sage whitty vallance ferguson, sage whitty vallance and cummings, the pro lockdown blob constituting boris's working environment. but we now know that their approach was wrong . a study last year from wrong. a study last year from johns hopkins suggested that covid lockdowns only saved 0.2% of deaths in the first wave. even professor mark woolhouse, a senior epidemic allergist who advised the government during the coronavirus pandemic, told the coronavirus pandemic, told the covid inquiry that national shutdowns were a failure of pubuc shutdowns were a failure of public health policy. but more important, he sweden is the smoking gun. sweden did not lock down and it suffered 2365 covid deaths per million . meanwhile, deaths per million. meanwhile, we did lockdown and suffered 3416 covid deaths per million . 3416 covid deaths per million. and it's cle

oh, and you probably remember dominic cummings for driving 260 miles during lockdown and visiting barnardhat the evidence i shall give shall be the truth... mr cummings comes across in public as mild—mannered. he was rather less than that in his private written observations about people he worked alongside. you called ministers useles- . . morons. bleep. ..in e—mails and whatsapps to your professional colleagues. my appalling languages is obviously my own, but myjudgement of a lot of senior people was widespread. in listen to how dominic cummings were, described a seniorfemale cummings were, described a senior female colleague. "we cannot keep dealing with this horrific meltdown of the british state while dodging stilettos from that bleep.�* was that aggressive and foul—mouthed and misogynistic approach the correct way to manage fellow professionals? a thousand times worse than my bad language is the underlying issue at stake, that we had a cabinet office system that had completely melted. boris johnson's judgment caused anger today. he was obsessed with older people accepting their fate

chris: listen to how dominic cummings described a senior female colleague. >> we cannot keep dealingthis horrific meltdown of the british state while dodging stilettos from that [bleep]. was that misogynistic approach the correct way to manage fellow professionals? >> thousand times worse than the language is the underlying issue at stake, that we had a cabinet office system completely melted. chris: boris johnson's judgment caused anger today. he was obsessed with older people accepting their fate and letting the young get on with life and the economy going, where patrick balance, the government's then scientific advisor, showed that the prime minister was sociopathic, some ministering the brief said. the picture we are seeing is one of dysfunction, shambles of government at just a moment when government was more important to more people than it had been for decades and decades. the other man taking questions today was boris johnson's man in charge of communications. he reckons his former boss dithered and wasn't suited to leadership in a pandemic. >> what will probably be clear in

�*s closest servants and from dominic cummings, boris johnson's closest aide. servants and from dominicngs, borisjohnson�*s closest aide. we boris johnson's closest aide. we have found out, according to documents in the inquiry, that there were calls for him to be sacked. he didn't get sacked, in the end he resigned because he broke his own social distancing rules by having an affair with his colleague, and that is what ended his government career. there has been some defence of matt hancock, though. earlier this week we heard from michael gove, his cabinet colleague, who said matt hancock approached decision—making with wisdom and foresight and he said he had a high opinion of matt hancock and he rose to the occasion. but i think he will go in all guns blazing and will be very defensive of his record. he has appeared in the inquiry earlier in the year and at that time gave a very solemn apology to families and victims, but he was punchy, and he defends his record. it has been very much criticised over the last few weeks. we are expecting this to last all day with matt hancock. what do

side of the operation with the reality of the decisions they had to make and look, i think if dominic cummings look, i think if dominic cumbeens had his way and there look, i think if dominic cum been investmentay and there look, i think if dominic cum been investment in and there look, i think if dominic cum been investment in the there had been investment in the lateral flow there might lateral flow test, there might not a second lockdown. not have been a second lockdown. so signs there. there so there's signs there. there were ways doing it, were different ways of doing it, but minister but the prime minister was too often missing imagine often missing in action. imagine not getting grip . camera would not getting a grip. camera would have got a grip. blair would have got a grip. blair would have got a grip. blair would have got a grip. gordon would have got a grip. gordon would have got a grip. gordon would have got a grip. there was no grip at all from the prime minister and ben, candice described situation in which minister and ben, candice desiinquiry situation in which minister and ben

you will remember there was a huge fury when dominic cummings was spotted with his family at barnarden them home to county durham in an apparent breach of lockdown rules. a notorious downing street press conference because the national lockdown had just been imposed so let's take a look at this whatsapp message dominic cummings sent to michael gove on the 11th of march 2020. 16 days before he travelled north. the background was he was very frustrated with civil servants in the cabinet office. who was their boss? michael gove. this is what he said. was that eerily prescient or was it a figure of speech came back at the time at that press conference dominic cummings had said he had travelled north because he was worried about the health of his family, they were showing covid symptoms and particularly worried about their child. later he said there was a security issue for him and his family. our love that as now at the inquiry it is the turn of senior politicians at the time and another big characteristic of this inquiry, very strong language. our leaders during the uk's gravest peaceti

to be clear, dominic cummings has said since then that once the pandemic gripped the country, he wass to go. but we got just a bit more of that sense of the kind of characters that were making these decisions and some of them accusations of dysfunction in terms of their relationships. it is accusations of dysfunction in terms of their relationships.— of their relationships. it is worth mentioning _ of their relationships. it is worth mentioning that _ of their relationships. it is worth mentioning that this _ of their relationships. it is worth mentioning that this is - of their relationships. it is worth mentioning that this is not - of their relationships. it is worth | mentioning that this is not about finding someone guilty or innocent, this comic inquiry. just explain what the aim of the inquiry is. well, really, this is about learning lessons. should this happen again and could another pandemic, what could whitehall, what could the decision—makers do differently? i think it was very, very interesting, the exchange between the lead counsel inquiry and the chief civil servant of

. background working with the prime ministerand dominic cummings.ld in early march when there was a distinct shift in strategy from essentially seeing what was going to happen with the pandemic to my god we need to do something quickly and that and went on to its first lockdown on the 23rd of march. i think there will be plenty more questions to be asked about how decisions were made at the top level and in downing street during the pandemic. i suspect some little explosions to go off as well! thank ou so explosions to go off as well! thank you so much- _ explosions to go off as well! thank you so much. really— explosions to go off as well! thank you so much. really quite - explosions to go off as well! thank you so much. really quite daring i explosions to go off as well! thank| you so much. really quite daring to weigh interviews in central london so thank you so much for bearing with us final we did that interview. viewers in the uk can hear the covid inquiry. viewers around the world will be able to stream medicine as it starts. thousands of peo

mr hancock blames borisjohnson's chief adviser, dominic cummings, for creating what he called a culturear and staging a power grab. the former health secretary also said an earlier first lockdown would have cut the number of deaths in the first wave by more than 90%. i defend the actions that were taken by the government at the time, knowing what we did. but, with hindsight, that is the moment we should have done it. three weeks earlier, and it would have saved many, many lives. but what about this colourful and controversial claim matt hancock made repeatedly in may 2020? right from the start, we have tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes. i cannot improve on the glorious words of professor sirjonathan van—tam, who says in his statement, "my view is a ring is a circle without a break in it." whatever, however you describe the protective processes you put in place around the care sector, they did not form an unbroken circle, did they? it is quite clear from the evidence that professor van—tam is right. this inquiry is about learning lessons from the pandemic to help us

as a massive surprise as sajid javid resigned as chancellor following a big public row with dominic cummingst is one that we have heard plenty of times before. so javid will continue his evidence this afternoon. new figures show that pilots of opt—out blood tests have identified more than 3,500 previously undiagnosed cases of hiv, hepatitis b and c. meanwhile, the bbc has learned that sir eltonjohn will address mps this evening at an event in parliament where he'll talk about what more the government could do to hit its 2030 target of eliminating new hiv cases. our political reporterjack fenwick. jackie was diagnosed with hiv after many years of ill health. if i had been tested early, i would never have got to the point where they asked my children to spend time with me before i passed. sorry. that's okay. take your time. sam, not his real name, is one of 580 people who've been diagnosed with hiv via opt out testing. it's made me look at life in a completely different way. ijust feel grateful that i got the test because i was quite happily going through life, feeling fit and healthy. had tha

, continues to make headlines after those very sweary sessions this week featuring a certain dominic cummings. i'm going to be discussing all of that with veteran tory david davis and asking whether the inquiry is actually fit for purpose and this is a story that really caught my eye this week. i'll be talking to the managing director of a security company that's taking the law into its own hands with shoplifting in the uk on the rise. david mackelvie will me how he's managed to will tell me how he's managed to privately thieves. privately prosecute 300 thieves. so as i say, it's a jam packed 90 minutes. you won't want to go anywhere. first of all though, let's have look at what's in let's have a look at what's in the newspapers today. joining me now, delighted say is my now, i'm delighted to say is my gb colleague and former gb news colleague and former defence secretary, michael portillo. michael double portillo. michael doing a double shift morning before your shift this morning before your show thank you very show at 11. thank you very, very much let's get much for coming in. let's get st

and dominic cummings had suggested, according to sir patrick's diary that rishi sunak had also agreed die. mr sunak and mrjohnson will give their own evidence to the inquiry early next month. own evidence to the inquiry early next month-— own evidence to the inquiry early next month. , . ~' the prime minister has promised tax cuts to boost economic growth ahead of the chancellor's autumn statement on wednesday. for the first time rishi sunak has indicated it would include more general tax cuts for workers but the biggest focus will be tax cuts for businesses, as our business editor simonjack reports. business investment in action. this cardboard box factory in birmingham is investing £6 million that will make it more productive and more profitable. this is the first of its kind in the uk. schumacher have two of these machines in our plants, in one of our plants in germany and one of our plants in poland. rules that expire in march 2026 allow the company to offset this investment against profits, cutting its tax bill by over £1,000,000. extending those rules or making them permanent co

he resigned as a result of a row with the former prime minister borisjohnson's then adviser, dominic cummingsr. he suggested that he hadn't seen number 10 operating in this way in his previous experience, and he said that dominic cummings was seeking to be prime minister in all but name. that is clearly quite an accusation about the way that the pandemic was being handled between those personalities right in the heart of government, but it's one that dominic raab flatly rejected and said he didn't really recognise that kind of characterisation. then aside from that, of course, you had damejenny harries. at the time of the pandemic, she was the deputy chief medical officer. evidence emerged from her today suggesting that she thought that people who had covid and were in hospital were going to have to be unfortunately discharged into care homes. that email that the inquiry saw today, i'm sure, will come up in evidence in the coming days because it perhaps gives ministers such as matt hancock, who was health secretary at the time, who will be speaking at some point in the coming weeks to the inq

he resigned as a result of a row with the former prime minister borisjohnson�*s then advisor dominic cummingsnt at the time as being dysfunctional, he was an experienced minister, he suggested he had not seen number ten operating in this way in his previous experience and says that dominic cummings was seeking to be prime minister in all but name. that is clearly quite an accusation about the way that the pandemic was being handled between those personalities right in the heart of government, but it is one that dominic raab flatly rejected and said he did not really recognise that kind of characterisation. then, aside from that, you had damejenny harries at the time of the pandemic who was chief medical officer, evidence emerged from her today suggesting that she thought that people who had covid and were not in hospital would have to be, unfortunately discharged into care homes. that e—mail the inquiry so today, i'm sure, will come up in evidence in the coming days. it's perhaps gives ministers such as matt hancock, health secretary at the time, who will be speaking in the coming weeks to th

this is an exchange between group including dominic cummings

that point landed with dominic cummings and the prime minister i thought, he said you're right, let'srence was some hours later. let's look at paragraph 92 and towards the end of that paragraph you describe after you had gone back to city hall getting a call from dominic cummings saying that a decision had been made not to go ahead with a press conference. his explanation for that the matter would be discussed in cobra next day, but also he was concerned with the impact on the financial markets and thought an announcement on the friday when the markets were about to close would be better. one of the broad themes of the inquiry is this question of balancing economic considerations against the health benefits of imposing mpi was mac that would seem to be a perfectly logical way of balancing those competing views. it logical way of balancing those competing views.— logical way of balancing those competing views. it does but it innores competing views. it does but it ignores the _ competing views. it does but it ignores the links _ competing views. it does but it ignores the links between

finding out that poliinepts dominic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or dominic cummings that poliinept or rude jminic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, nic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, yoqummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, you knowings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, you know ,|gs are inept or rude or, you know, profanity is their speciality . profanity is their speciality. we're not finding out anything new there. we do need to find out because one thing that's never going to happen now is this generation, our generation , this generation, our generation, probably our children's generation , too, are never, ever generation, too, are never, ever going to be forced to lockdown again. we if we've learned one thing from this inquiry so far, is they didn't have a clue. they didn't have clue. they locked didn't have a clue. they locked the whole country down and ruined out a clue. ruined lives without out a clue. >> unfortunately, i have to question some of those assump

whatsapp messages from former government advisers lee cain and dominic cummings in particular were litteredh expletives, which were read out by the lawyers questioning them, and transcribed on screen live and in full. the bbc mews channel showed an on—screen warning, with the presenter breaking into the coverage several times along these lines. this is an extract from your letter to the inquiry dated the 7th of may. you're watching bbc — apologies for the coarse language being used in these text messages. this is a live stream coming in from the uk covid inquiry. so some coarse language is being used. the ripeness of the language surprised heaven's gate trading, who wrote... but chris the dj had this response. for its part, bbc news said... but several viewers told us they thought the on—air apologies and explanations were overdone. here's amanda roy. that strong language was indeed bleeped out when the story was covered on bbc one's evening bulletins. you called ministers useless bleep, morons, bleep, in emails and whatsapps to your professional colleagues. dave briggs was watching that re

dominic cummings, who was his right—hand man, said the government didn't work properly to deal with thedle east. there's been a big explosion at a refugee camp in gaza, with reports dozens of people have been killed. israel says it was behind the attack, and claims it killed a top commander of hamas — which the uk and other governments class as a terrorist group. some other stories now, and it's going to be illegal to own an american xl bully in england and wales from february next year. the government is bringing in new rules, after a number of people died in xl bully attacks. dog charities are against a ban, and say owners and breeders are the real problem. and in football, it looks like saudi arabia are going to host the world cup in 203a. they're the only bidder, after australia decided to pull out. there's been lots of criticism of the country, as women's rights are restricted, and it's illegal to be gay there. and time to leave you with ten seconds of celebrity hallowe�*en costumes. take a look at some of these. megan thee stallion has been rocking a rose look. kim kardashian and

boris johnson's former adviser dominic cummings has told the covid inquiry that the government was inand had no plan to help vulnerable people early on in the pandemic. our correspondent ellie price was at the hearing. how is your eyesight, mr cummings? three and a half years on and that trip to barnard castle dominic cummings made during lockdown still haunts him. he was borisjohnson�*s right—hand man through the brexit campaign and covid, until the relationship broke down fairly spectacularly in november 2020. i swear by almighty god that the evidence i shall give shall be the truth. and swear he did during his time as chief of staff about the people he worked alongside. you called ministers - useless- morons, bleep in emails and whatsapps| to your professional colleagues. my appalling language is obviously my own. but myjudgment of a lot of senior people was widespread. we also heard another diary entry from sir sir patrick vallance, from sir patrick vallance, the then chief scientific officer. he wrote, "borisjohnson was obsessed with older people accepting their fate and letting

yesterday at the covid inquiry we got the fireworks many had expected from former senior adviser dominic cummings, but the testimony today, of the quietly—spoken helen macnamara was pehaps more explosive. she was deputy cabinet secretary during the pandemic. she told the inquiry that downing street had displayed an "unbelievably bullish" and dismissive approach to coronavirus at the start of the pandemic. i would find it hard to pick one day when the regulations were followed properly inside that building. and i know that because, as i've said in my statement, there was one meeting where we absolutely adhered to the guidance to the letter and that was the cabinet meeting and everybody moaned about it. moaned and tried to change it repeatedly. yesterday the hearing was shown misogynistic messages that dominic cummings had written about helen macnamara on whatsapp. he said he would "personally handcuff" her and walk herfrom the building. "we cannot keep dealing with this horrific meltdown of the british state while dodging stilettos from that he wrote. in fact, he used the c word. helen macnamara w

finding out that poliinepts dominic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or dominic cummings that poliinept or rude jminic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, nic cummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, yoqummings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, you knowings already know, finding out that poliinept or rude or, you know ,|gs are inept or rude or, you know, profanity is their speciality . profanity is their speciality. we're not finding out anything new there. we do need to find out because one thing that's never going to happen now is this generation, our generation , this generation, our generation, probably our children's generation , too, are never, ever generation, too, are never, ever going to be forced to lockdown again. we if we've learned one thing from this inquiry so far, is they didn't have a clue. they didn't have clue. they locked didn't have a clue. they locked the whole country down and ruined out a clue. ruined lives without out a clue. >> unfortunately, i have to question some of those assump

he was asked about those personalities in downing street, as well, not least dominic cummings, the centreeeded strong personalities to get through the election they are just one and to get the brexit deal through, so it is not surprising there were the strong