whereas dominic, day one, dominic, coming from day one, was dominic cummings. nic >> well, i don't think dominic would have changed that, do you? he's only interested he's obviously only interested in of in himself. he's like one of those scientists those sort of mad scientists that comes up with and that comes up with a formula and a everyone it, a plan and everyone must do it, or else. a plan and everyone must do it, or (well, i don't think >> well, yeah, i don't think it's he's only it's fair to say he's only loyal to he's to himself. i think he's probably fairly un egotistical in that regard, but in a way it's more dangerous because it's the he's he's loyal to and he's obsessed with his ideas and his plan rather than with himself. he wants to get that plan through , and that's fine. through, and that's fine. everyone's entitled to have a plan for running the country, and everyone's entitled to put it to the voters . um, but and it to the voters. um, but and see if they get elected, that's absolutely that's how absolutely fine. that's how democracy but to tak

dominic cummings next election.d to help the tories win if he was assured the most critical issues were prioritised . that reportedly includes nuclear weapons infrastructure, future pandemics and artificial intelligence . once the proposal intelligence. once the proposal was apparently rejected by the prime minister number 10 did not deny the report, but says mr cummings was not offered a position and the new year has arrived in australia. a sydney welcome 2024 with a spectacular fireworks display. on the famous harbour bridge in sydney, opera house were alight with colours and sparkle . with with colours and sparkle. with the spectacle erupting from landmarks and boats scattered throughout the water. earlier, the in auckland , new the sky tower in auckland, new zealand, in zealand, was illuminated in blazing colour as the country became one of the first time in the new year that beaten the new year that was beaten by the new year that was beaten by the pacific nation of kiribati, which entered the new year at 10:00

— use c word, but not at the dominic cummings lexicon, i wasn't aware how casual. _ cummings lexicon,s, chaotic, clueless he was _ casual, careless, chaotic, clueless he was. sadly not competent, not completely without conscience and not contrite. one of his biggest issues — not contrite. one of his biggest issues with dealing with the devolved nations. he said scotland or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh _ or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh group _ or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh group we assume that means wates— welsh group we assume that means wales and _ welsh group we assume that means wales and northern ireland. itjust feels like _ wales and northern ireland. itjust feels like he was living under a rock _ feels like he was living under a rock how— feels like he was living under a rock. how could we all know what was going _ rock. how could we all know what was going on _ rock. how could we all know what was going on in_ rock. how could we all know what was going on in china and italy? he was 'ust going on in china and italy? he was just completely unawa

between you and dominic cummings and leigh kane and dominic cummings and leigh kane and at— and dominicyou say i'm on a train trying to make sense of our totally expletive facemask policy- _ make sense of our totally expletive facemask policy. and _ make sense of our totally expletive facemask policy. and then, - make sense of our totally expletive facemask policy. and then, if - make sense of our totally expletive facemask policy. and then, if we - facemask policy. and then, if we just hold that in our minds mr johnson, in terms of your assessment of the facemask policy, in schools, if we go to 48313, page 53. we see some messages from the following day. with lee cain again, mr cummings again and this time mr case. and at the top, mr cummings asksin case. and at the top, mr cummings asks in language with which we have become familiar what is the true reason for the u—turn en masse we just slow catching up gavin expletive and simon case your soon to be cabinet secretary, offers an explanation, and point five, is weeks ago, we recommended to pm we create permissive guidance because we co

head against starmer, and i don't know understands, and i don't know why it's come out now, dominic cummingsings said. i don't know why someone blabbed someone at number 10 has blabbed now, but then he made a statement explaining and statement explaining it and cummings done the cummings would have done all the cummings type things. he'd have tried to revolutionise the civil service put into the service and put more into the nhs, to really reform it nhs, tried to really reform it properly, out nuclear properly, sought out nuclear infrastructure pandemic planning, all these things and why not try it? i mean, he's got nothing to lose. sunak he obviously didn't go. he went down a very different road of cameron nonsense, down a very different road of can heyn nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably toonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably too radical but he was probably too radical for maybe he give for him. maybe he had to give him assurances him too many assurances afterwards. thing afterwards. the basic

head against starmer, and i don't know understands, and i don't know why it's come out now, dominic cummingsings said. i don't know why someone blabbed someone at number 10 has blabbed now, but then he made a statement explaining and statement explaining it and cummings done the cummings would have done all the cummings type things. he'd have tried to revolutionise the civil service put into the service and put more into the nhs, to really reform it nhs, tried to really reform it properly, out nuclear properly, sought out nuclear infrastructure pandemic planning, all these things and why not try it? i mean, he's got nothing to lose. sunak he obviously didn't go. he went down a very different road of cameron nonsense, down a very different road of can heyn nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably toonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably too radical but he was probably too radical for maybe he give for him. maybe he had to give him assurances him too many assurances afterwards. thing afterwards. the basic

. closes adviser, dominic cummings-_ closes adviser, dominic cumminus. ., ., , , cummings.cummings. you call administers useless beer. morons. - cummings. you call administers useless beer. morons. my - useless beer. morons. my appalling _ useless beer. morons. my appalling languages obviously my own. appalling languages obviously m own. : :, appalling languages obviously m own. . . ., my own. the chair has a reason she was a _ my own. the chair has a reason she was a movie _ my own. the chair has a reason she was a movie beyond - my own. the chair has a reason she was a movie beyond the . she was a movie beyond the swearing in the tittle tattle to work out how that affected decision—making. to work out how that affected decision-making.— to work out how that affected decision-making. where are you feelinu decision-making. where are you feeling better— decision-making. where are you feeling better and _ decision-making. where are you feeling better and i _ decision-making. where are you feeling better and i my - decision-making. where are you feeling better and i my seven .

he called dominic cummings. wanted to let the virus rip. he called dominic cummings .c cummings. you remember that barnard castle trip? apparently to test the eyesight ? trip? apparently to test the eyesight? boris johnson admitted that was, i quote, a bad moment. and he said that he was desperate to keep schools open, apparently, and said that mass rule breaking within downing street was a million miles away from the truth. what do you make this inquiry? i mean, this is a very long, drawn out, convoluted, very expensive lviv inquiry. are you a fan of it? >> no, a complete waste of money. waste of time. only money. waste of time. the only enjoyable aspects to it. i think, are the whatsapp messages in which you discover a real great, great treasure trove of history syrians when they write about it. but everybody believes the person is a c—word, the other person is a c—word, which of course is true actually in politics. and also , by the in politics. and also, by the way, in the executive suite, which is why it's called a c suite. but but so i think it's a complete waste

we were here when dominic cummings and lee kane were giving evidence. some stuff wrong and i am sorry but i think we got some of the big calls right. what will be fascinating is hearing that over two days, the real scrutiny of those decisions. and having some of the scientific criticism put to him, the claims that boris johnson criticism put to him, the claims that borisjohnson didn't quite understand what was being put to him when the scientists were putting some of the data, the claims he took far too long to make decisions. it is a big day for him politically. but also for those people who still feel the pain of the pandemic, it is a really big moment for them personally, as well.— a really big moment for them personally, as well. you can only see the people who _ personally, as well. you can only see the people who have - personally, as well. you can only. see the people who have travelled hundreds of miles to hear that. legacy, really interesting, prime minister's always have an eye on legacy —— prime ministers. it was the party gate scandal. he ar

, was a bad moment . adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment.and adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment . it and lastly, bad moment. it and lastly, hundreds of oxfam workers are set to go on a series of strikes from tomorrow. it's the first time in the charity's history ever over pay a members of the unite union who work in oxfam. shops and offices will walk out for 17 days throughout the month of december. they've rejected a pay of december. they've rejected a pay offer of 6, saying average wages have been cut by 21% in real terms since 2018. that's the news from gb news across the uk. on tv in your car on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> can the prime minister turn himself to hercules for he certainly seems to be facing a hydra every time he cuts off a head. another two seem to grow . head. another two seem to grow. earlier today, the prime minister tried to face down his critics on the new rwanda plan and the claims from the rebels that his ideas wi

he didn't take the bait to have a go at dominic cummings. e and dominic obviously, he and dominic cummings have fallen out. so badly that you'd think that he would have have certainly a go at his chief adviser. and if anything , at his chief adviser. and if anything, boris johnson seemed to to protect the to be trying to protect the people around him rather than apportion blame , as they've been apportion blame, as they've been doing, doing for him. so from that point that that is the point of view, i think that where where boris johnson appeared to be behaving honestly , he by saying, yes, look, i was the man in charge. i took the final decisions. i take the blame for what went wrong. the important thing, i think, especially for the inquiry as it decides what is the lessons to be learned from this , is he does be learned from this, is he does admit that admit to those mistakes. and that allows the inquiry to move on to how we can actually deal with these things better in the future. >> okay, nigel nelson, thanks for joining us. and of course

dominic cummings told the . dominic cummings told the.lp the tories win if assured the most if he was assured the most critical issues were prioritised. reportedly prioritised. that reportedly includes nuclear weapons , includes nuclear weapons, infrastructure, future pandemics and artificial intelligence . the and artificial intelligence. the proposal was apparently rejected by the prime minister. number 10 did not deny the report , but did not deny the report, but says mr cummings was not offered a position . american xl bully a position. american xl bully dogs must be kept on a lead in england and wales, under new rules that come into force today, they'll need to be muzzled public and it's muzzled in public and it's illegal to breed, sell or to abandon them. owners are urged to apply for a certificate of exemption for current pets by the end of january, before it becomes illegal to keep any unapproved xl bully dog. the ban follows a series of deadly attacks. this year . eurostar attacks. this year. eurostar services are back in service

. not least dominic cummings.viously former top obviously his former top adviser, has been very critical of handling of of boris johnson's handling of the early days of the pandemic. the scientists as well, chris whitty, patrick vallance , they whitty, patrick vallance, they have been pretty critical of his understanding of the severity of the pandemic in those early days. so yeah, he's going to have to come out fighting to try to put across his side of the argument because there's no doubt that his already pretty damaged reputation come for damaged reputation has come for in of a battering so far in a bit of a battering so far in a bit of a battering so far in the inquiry. >> it should be interesting, given , you know, the barrister given, you know, the barrister will go through line by line, painstakingly in a way that will really sort of turn the screw, if you like , on the former prime if you like, on the former prime minister. you know , it's very minister. you know, it's very difficult to pin him down someti

, was a bad moment . adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment.adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment . it and lastly, bad moment. it and lastly, hundreds of oxfam workers are set to go on a series of strikes from tomorrow. it's the first time in the charity's history ever over pay a members of the unite union who work in oxfam. shops and offices will walk out for 17 days throughout the month of december. they've rejected a pay of december. they've rejected a pay offer of 6, saying average wages have been cut by 21% in real terms since 2018. that's the news from gb news across the uk. on tv in your car on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news this is britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> can the prime minister turn himself to hercules for he certainly seems to be facing a hydra every time he cuts off a head. another two seem to grow . head. another two seem to grow. earlier today, the prime minister tried to face down his critics on the new rwanda plan and the claims from the rebels that his ideas will n

first, his chief adviser, dominic cummings' visit to barnard castle. it was obviously damaging.d i won't, you know, pretend otherwise. and what about the parties in downing street, which led to more than 100 fines, including ones for the former and current prime ministers? he apologised again, but said he and staff thought they were within the rules. the version of events that has entered the popular consciousness about what is supposed to have happened in downing street is a million miles from the reality of what actually happened in numberio. bereaved families said today that mrjohnson was unfit for power and had failed to act quickly enough to protect lives. he, though, told the inquiry what he'd felt after being in hospital with covid. i knew from that experience what an appalling disease this is. to say that i didn't care about the suffering that was being inflicted on the country is simply not right. some will never be persuaded by borisjohnson�*s arguments. he insists he was at all times focused on saving lives. vicki young, bbc news. the poet and writer benjamin zephania

it is set to barely mention his former senior aide dominic cummings.son? taste what more can we expect to hear from borisjohnson?— boris johnson? we have been getting an idea from — boris johnson? we have been getting an idea from those _ boris johnson? we have been getting an idea from those close _ boris johnson? we have been getting an idea from those close to _ boris johnson? we have been getting an idea from those close to boris - an idea from those close to boris johnson and his allies about these broad scope of the argument he will be making at the covid inquiry on wednesday and thursday. in addition to that apology, we understand that he will defend the decisions made by his government, arguing that on the because they got things right. he will be pointing to things like the vaccine and the timing of the emergence from lockdown ahead of comparable economies. you will be defending his use of colourful language and phrases, but people might be thinking why are we hearing about this now before the session has started? i think it is likely for bori

it is set to barely mention his former senior aide dominic cummings. more on what we can expect to hearfrom mrjohnson. we have been getting an idea from those close to borisjohnson and his allies about the broad scope of the argument he will be making when he gives evidence to the covid inquiry on wednesday and thursday. in addition to the apology, we understand he will defend decisions made by his government arguing that on the big because he got things right and he will be pointing to things like the vaccine, also pointing to the uk's emergence with the timing of that from its a final lock ahead of comparable economies. he will defend his use of colourful language and phrases. people might be watching and thinking, why are we hearing about this now before the session has started? why are we hearing this now? it is likely full borisjohnson and his team, it is about getting that defence out there now. on wednesday and thursday there will be an avalanche of scrutiny and the focus will be on those, the questions and the exchanges. it follows weeks of cri

dominic cummings, with his colleagues, ben and mark warner and also helen mcnamara and imran shafi alling provided to number ten, we have seen part of it in that memo to sage, showed the likely impact on the nhs. why wasn't the dhs e responsible for public health, pushing you harder during that week to more stringent changes. why do you think that department, it appears from the evidence was still trying to go for the squash the sombrero, part mitigation, herd immunity route as opposed to recognising, we must have suppression, we have got to stop this now before it is too late? mr; this now before it is too late? my memory of it is slightly different from _ memory of it is slightly different from that— memory of it is slightly different from that account, or maybe it might be the _ from that account, or maybe it might be the same — from that account, or maybe it might be the same. what i felt happened was that— be the same. what i felt happened was that we were in a state now where _ was that we were in a state now where we — was that we were in a state now where we knew we had a massi

i mean, so many personal clashes here and at the heart of it seems to be good old dominic cummings. >hat's one of the things that matt hancock said through his through his evidence. he was talking about environment. he about this toxic environment. he was talking about dominic cummings getting in the way of in the way of cabinet ministers sort of sidelining them. you know, it's hard to tell how much of that is true. certainly dom was a big, powerful figure, very close to boris johnson. and you're right that that overall, thatis you're right that that overall, that is one of the things that we need to take away from this inquiry when we get the end inquiry when we get to the end of is, is cabinet government of it is, is cabinet government working well, does it work well in situations? and in those situations? and how do we build system and both we build a system and both political and in terms of the structures, the cabinet office so when the next event like so that when the next event like this comes really out of nowhere and, you know, our cabinet are working together, are focusing o

head against starmer, and i don't know understands, and i don't know why it's come out now, dominic cummingsbut then he made a statement explaining and statement explaining it and cummings done the cummings would have done all the cummings type things. he'd have tried to revolutionise the civil service put into the service and put more into the nhs, to really reform it nhs, tried to really reform it properly, out nuclear properly, sought out nuclear infrastructure pandemic planning, all these things and why not try it? i mean, he's got nothing to lose. sunak he obviously didn't go. he went down a very different road of cameron nonsense, down a very different road of can heyn nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably nonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably toonsense, down a very different road of canheyn probably too radical but he was probably too radical for maybe he give for him. maybe he had to give him assurances him too many assurances afterwards. thing afterwards. the basic thing premise the premise was i'll win you the election. then you have to do all

it is expected to barely mention his former senior aide dominic cummings.ructing a barrier around a medieval tower because of fears it might collapse. the garisenda tower leans just as much as its famous counterpart in pisa — but recent inspections have found changes in the direction of its tilt. metal containers and wire mesh around the building are supposed to catch possible falling debris. the city council estimates that the barrier alone will cost more than $4 million and has begun a crowdfunding campaign to fund restoration work. mount etna is erupting again. it is the tallest and most active volcano in europe. hello there. it's been a bitterly cold week throughout, but at least we've had the sunshine to compensate earlier in the week. this weekend, more cloud around generally some mist and fog. and certainly through this evening and tonight could see a spell of sleet and snow affecting england. and, well, some of it could be fairly disruptive. now it's tied in with this weather front, which has been bringing showers to western parts of england and wal

former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his boss't know how difficult they were, clearly, but i thought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was certainly a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. and borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020. the whole year, that whole tragic, tragic year... we did lock down... ..but then it bounced back after we'd unlocked. today borisjohnson denied that he failed to show leadership during the pandemic. he said it wasn't indecisiveness, he was simply weighing up options that all had terrible downsides. he did admit that mistakes were made, but said it was a collective failure — scientists, politicians and officials all underestimating how serious the pandemic was. borisjohnson will be back here tomorrow to give further evidence. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. around the world and across the uk. this is

apologised testimony and in it he says that borisjohnson apologised to him for the appointment of dominic cummingshim are letting it be known the tone of what he is likely to say next week when he appears for two days of scrutiny. he will apologise and acknowledge his government didn't get everything right, but he will defend what he thinks he did get right — what he describes as the big calls, not least the vaccine programme. we will expect to hear a lot of detail in 10 hours of scrutiny of borisjohnson. it is a reminder of two things — the reputation management of those who appear and face questions and then the inquiry trying to answer the big questions in the round, which is how do we as a society learn the lessons of covid? thank you. train drivers who are members of the aslef union have voted to continue strike action for the next six months — as they've begun a new round of industrial action. an overtime ban will be in force until a week tomorrow, with a series of strikes over the next week that will see most train companies affected. a us congressman accused of money laundering, lying abou

mr hancock blames boris johnson's chief adviser, dominic cummings, for creating what he called a cultureth 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 in the next one. it's also about the decisio

texts of the prime minister's chief adviser, dominic cummings, were read out.hey often came with a warning. due in large part to your own whatsapp messages, mr cummings, we're going to have to course in our language i apologise. you called ministers, useless expletive morons in e—mails and whatsapp messages to your professional colleagues. do you feel that you express your views too trenchantly, that your opinion of ministers and the cabinet overstated your position? no, i would say, if anything, it understated the position, as events showed in 2020. the top female civil servant in whitehall, helen macnamara, was the target of some of the strongest language. i don't care how it is done, but that woman must be out of our hair. i was not misogynistic. i agree that my language is deplorable, but as you can see for yourself, i deployed the same or worse language about the prime minister, secretary of state and other pe0ple~ _ the things that mr cummings, having his messages, it is not, it is horrible to read, but it is both surprising and not surprising to me and i

although i'm a bit sceptical be dominic cummings listened it.m a bit sceptical be dominic cummings talk ned it. although i'm a bit sceptical be dominic cummings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmarenmings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmare of1ings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmare of1inngivil. about the nightmare of the civil service bureaucratic service and the bureaucratic nightmare, how the head of department can only fire three people. the only other person that can fire them is the prime minister, just minister, and it's just a logistical nightmare. so even if you really want to reform, it's incredibly difficult to actually do wish do it. but obviously i wish a lot a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who comes'ier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who comes'ierand ei type figure who comes in and just everything. just slashes everyt

although i'm a bit sceptical be dominic cummings listened it.m a bit sceptical be dominic cummings talk ned it. although i'm a bit sceptical be dominic cummings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmarenmings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmare of1ings talk about it. although i'm a bit sceptical be[nightmare of1inngivil. about the nightmare of the civil service bureaucratic service and the bureaucratic nightmare, how the head of department can only fire three people. the only other person that can fire them is the prime minister, just minister, and it's just a logistical nightmare. so even if you really want to reform, it's incredibly difficult to actually do wish do it. but obviously i wish a lot a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who a javier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who comes'ier milei do it. but obviously i wish a lot figure who comes'ierand ei type figure who comes in and just everything. just slashes everyt

was a bad moment . adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment.united states and he's been urging politicians there to approve a fresh package of military aid for ukraine. it's after the us congress failed to pass an £88 billion package of wartime funding for ukraine and for israel . lord cameron says israel. lord cameron says blocking ukraine aid would be a christmas present to vladimir putin and described the response to the conflict as the greatest test of our generation in i see it as the challenge of our generation just as my grandfather's generation had to fight off nazi aggression in europe, we are fighting against russian aggression in europe, and the challenge in a way, is a simple one. >> if you add up the economies of the allies of ukraine, the united states, the united kingdom, countries of the european union , we outmatch european union, we outmatch russia by 30 to 1. what we have to do is to make that economic strength count . strength count. >> lord cameron, the new foreign secretary, speaking in the united states a short time ago .

first, his chief adviser, dominic cummings' visit to barnard castle. it was obviously damaging.i won't, you know, pretend otherwise. and what about the parties in downing street, which led to more than 100 fines, including ones for the former and current prime ministers? he apologised again, but said he and staff thought they were within the rules. the version of events that has entered the popular consciousness about what is supposed to have happened in downing street is a million miles from the reality of what actually happened in numberio. bereaved families said today that mrjohnson was unfit for power and had failed to act quickly enough to protect lives. he, though, told the inquiry what he'd felt after being in hospital with covid. i knew from that experience what an appalling disease this is. to say that i didn't care about the suffering that was being inflicted on the country is simply not right. some will never be persuaded by borisjohnson�*s arguments. he insists he was at all times focused on saving lives. vicki young, bbc news. the serial killer, steve wright, has be

former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his bossthought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was certainly a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. and borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020. the whole year, that whole tragic, tragic year... we did lock down... ..but then it bounced back after we'd unlocked. today borisjohnson denied that he failed to show leadership during the pandemic. he said it wasn't indecisiveness, he was simply weighing up options that all had terrible downsides. he did admit that mistakes were made, but said it was a collective failure — scientists, politicians and officials all underestimating how serious the pandemic was. borisjohnson will be back here tomorrow to give further evidence. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. there were families and campaigners inside and outside the inquiry today. our health editor

it is expected to barely mention his former senior aide dominic cummings. 0ur political correspondentjohnson and his allies about the broad scope of the arguments he will be making when he gives evidence to the covid inquiry on wednesday and thursday. and in addition to that apology that you just mention there, we understand that he is going to defend the decisions made by his government, arguing that on the big calls, they got things right, that he'll be pointing to things like the vaccine, also pointing to things like the uk's emergence, the timing of that from its final lockdown ahead of comparable economies, that he'll be defending his use of colourful language and phrases. but i think that people might be watching and thinking, "well, "why are we hearing about this now before this session has started?" so, why are we hearing this now? i think it is likely that for borisjohnson and his team, it is about getting that defence out there now, because on wednesday and thursday, there will be that avalanche of scrutiny and the focus will be on those questions and the exchanges there. an

the former health secretary described dominic cummings as a malign actor at the covid inquiry and said the country should have gone into lockdown sooner if we'd had. >> the doctrine that i propose , >> the doctrine that i propose, which is as soon as you know you've got a lockdown, you lock down soon as possible. then down as soon as possible. then we would have got the lockdown done in on the done over that weekend in on the 2nd march, three weeks 2nd of march, three weeks earlier than before. there's a doubung earlier than before. there's a doubling rate at this point, estimated every 3 to 4 days. we would have been six doublings ahead of where we were, which means that fewer than a 10th of the number of people would have died in the first wave. >> tributes have been paid from both sides of the political divide to the labour chancellor, former chancellor former labour chancellor alistair died at alistair darling, who's died at the 70. lord darling the age of 70. lord darling served as a cabinet minister for 13 years under tony blair and gordon brown, who praised his wisdom calmness i

the former health secretary described dominic cummings as a malign actor at the covid inquiry and said the country should have gone into lockdown three weeks sooner if we'd had the doctrine that i propose, which is as soon as you know, you've got to lock down, you lock down as soon as possible, then we would have got the lockdown done over that weekend in the 2nd of march, three in on the 2nd of march, three weeks than before. weeks earlier than before. >> doubling rate at >> there's a doubling rate at this point, estimated every 3 to 4 we would have been six 4 days. we would have been six doubungs 4 days. we would have been six doublings ahead of where we were, which means that fewer than a 10th of the number of people would have died in the first wave. >> shane mcgowan , the frontman >> shane mcgowan, the frontman of the pogues, has died at the age of 65. he was discharged from hospital last week after being diagnosed with encephalitis. the singer , who encephalitis. the singer, who was born on christmas day, is known for the 1987 hit fairytale of new york, one of the most cherished

he also admitted that a trip to barnard castle by his former chief adviser, dominic cummings, a bad momentcummings, was a bad moment. the foreign secretary says blocking ukraine aid would be a christmas present to vladimir putin and xi jinping. lord david cameron, the new foreign secretary has sent a warning after senate republicans in the united states opposed a multi—billion dollar aid package. he urged allies to rally round kyiv, describing the response to the conflict as the greatest test of our generation. as he delivered a speech in washington today, it comes as us congress failed to pass an £88 billion package of wartime funding for ukraine and for israel . that's the news on gb israel. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio, and now on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. this is britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> thank you very much , polly, >> thank you very much, polly, and welcome back to farage here on gb news. well, another day is there much to discuss? yes, of course , because we've h

he also admitted that a trip to barnard castle by his former chief adviser, dominic cummings, a bad momentthe cummings, was a bad moment. the foreign secretary says blocking ukraine aid would be a christmas present to vladimir putin and xi jinping. lord david cameron, the new foreign secretary has sent a warning after senate republicans in the united states opposed a multi—billion dollar aid package. he urged allies to rally round kyiv, describing the response to the conflict as the greatest test of our generation. as he delivered a speech in washington today, it comes as us congress failed to pass an £88 billion package of wartime funding for ukraine and for israel . that's the news on gb israel. that's the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio, and now on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. this is britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> thank you very much , polly, >> thank you very much, polly, and welcome back to farage here on gb news. well, another day is there much to discuss? yes, of course , because we'

sunak holding secret talks to bring back dominic cummings with loose lipped dominic cummings, who's comeng in which rishi was trying to persuade dominic to come back to the conservatives, be a part of his dream team ahead of the elections . elections. >> but cummings says that he refused because he says that he doesn't believe that rishi is actually convicted about what he wants to do within the government and for voters. so he said that he would rather the tories lose than him. come back to that. and i think it's quite telling of where rishi is. head is at the moment in the sense where he's brought back people such as david cameron . he really such as david cameron. he really wants supreme wants to make this supreme government . but it seems that government. but it seems that some of his own members don't even believe him. so it even believe in him. so it sounds he actually can't sounds like he actually can't get dominic cummings back on side. >> even if he wanted him, he can't. >> and to be honest, i don't know why he would want him back on side. you know, he's quite a divisive charact

this, of course, was always dominic cummings argument that actually , if you want to fix the actually you want to fix the big issues like immigration, if you want to the big issues you want to fix the big issues like you've get like brexit, you've got to get the organs of the state working in a much more effective way. and that's not happening and clearly that's not happening as yet. as of yet. >> clue should be in the >> the clue should be in the word service, shouldn't paul word service, shouldn't it? paul i them are still i mean, half of them are still working home. these are working from home. these are like would like statistics. 73% would rather that way and 40% rather it stay that way and 40% of them would rather resign in rather than going back to the office. >> well, i'm not i'm not a particular fan of the modern civil service but there's no doubt that many of them have suffered real terms pay cuts. even junior civil servants have suffered something like 12% real terms since 2010, 23. terms pay cuts since 2010, 23. the further you go up the ladder and people get angry about t

former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his bosst some people were difficult, i didn't know how difficult they were, clearly, but i thought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten rather than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was certainly a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. and borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020, the whole year, the whole tragic, tragic year... we did lockdown... ..but then it bounced back after we had unlocked. plenty of people still blame boris johnson for the country's high death toll for not acting soon enough. today, he tried to give a sense of the dilemmas he faced as he wrestled with the enormous consequences of lockdown. live now to rob watson, our political correspondent. rob, i'll ask you about what we just saw and a moment, but is there an update with some news about robert jenrick? i update with some news about robert jenrick? , ., , ., jenr

first, his chief adviser, dominic cummings' visit to barnard castle. it was obviously damaging. the parties in downing street, which led to more than 100 fines, including ones for the former and current prime ministers? he apologised again, but said he and staff thought they were within the rules. the version of events that has entered the popular consciousness about what is supposed to have happened in downing street is a million miles from the reality of what actually happened in numberio. bereaved families said today that mrjohnson was unfit for power and had failed to act quickly enough to protect lives. he, though, told the inquiry what he'd felt after being in hospital with covid. i knew from that experience what an appalling disease this is. to say that i didn't care about the suffering that was being inflicted on the country is simply not right. some will never be persuaded by borisjohnson's arguments. he insists he was at all times focused on saving lives. vicki young, bbc news. let's talk to our health editor hugh pym. he is outside the inquiry. that was the last of tw

will, did you ever advise him not to hire dominic cummings? i did. right.y? yeah! for legal reasons, let's not get too long a list. but this is the problem. he'd wanted the job all his life, i but he was unprepared for doing it. there was no plan, i there was no ideology. and that's why he's come unstuck. and i was very clear with him that, you know, there were good thingsl about what dominic could have done, if done in the right way. _ but it was never going to work on the basis . of allowing him that freedom. the prime minister is the prime minister. l he leads, he sets the tone, end of. i think the other thing from sitting in there and watching it, this goes back to the point ayesha was making earlier on around the criticisms that have been made by some about the inquiry, and has it obsessed too much on the politics or whatever, when you go in as a political journalist to report on it, of course you're reporting on the politics, that's why you're there, and that will dominate the news. that's not necessarily the same thing as some of the underlying thing

former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his bosshat some people were difficult, i didn't know how difficult they were, clearly, but i thought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten rather than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020, the whole year, the whole tragic, tragic year... we did lockdown... ..but then it bounced back after we had unlocked. plenty of people still blame boris johnson for the country's high death toll for not acting soon enough. today he tried to give a sense of the dilemmas he faced as he wrestled with the enormous consequences of lockdown. another politician who has faced a lot of criticism is the former health secretary matt hancock. today borisjohnson said he did consider sacking him but in the end he decided he was working hard, he was intellectually able, a good communicat

it is expected to barely mention his former senior aide dominic cummings.al correspondent shelley phelps has more. we've been getting an idea from those close to borisjohnson and his allies about the broad scope of the arguments he will be making when he gives evidence to the covid inquiry on wednesday and thursday. and in addition to that apology that you just mention there, we understand that he is going to defend the decisions made by his government, arguing that on the big calls, they got things right, that he'll be pointing to things like the vaccine, also pointing to things like the uk's emergence, the timing of that from its final lockdown ahead of comparable economies, that he'll be defending his use of colourful language and phrases. but i think that people might be watching and thinking, "well, "why are we hearing about this now before this session has started?" so, why are we hearing this now? i think it is likely that for borisjohnson and his team, it is about getting that defence out there now, because on wednesday and thursday, there will be t

matt hancock and dominic cummings have covid—19 groups.t they were advised in early 2020 about the possibility— were advised in early 2020 about the possibility of longer term sequoia the of— possibility of longer term sequoia the of covid—19 by both patrick balance — the of covid—19 by both patrick balance and chris witty. on the 17th of may _ balance and chris witty. on the 17th of may 2020, you shared an article about— of may 2020, you shared an article about people reporting a prolonged that my— about people reporting a prolonged that my symptoms of covid—19 in a whatsapp — that my symptoms of covid—19 in a whatsapp group with them all. in short. _ whatsapp group with them all. in short. did — whatsapp group with them all. in short, did you also receive advice about— short, did you also receive advice about long—term sequelae from chris witty at— about long—term sequelae from chris witty at that time? not about long-term sequelae from chris witty at that time?— witty at that time? not as far as i can remember— witty at that time? not a

was a bad moment . adviser, dominic cummings, was a bad moment.united states and he's been urging politicians there to approve a fresh package of military aid for ukraine. it's after the us congress failed to pass an £88 billion package of wartime funding for ukraine and for israel . lord cameron says israel. lord cameron says blocking ukraine aid would be a christmas present to vladimir putin and described the response to the conflict as the greatest test of our generation in i see it as the challenge of our generation just as my grandfather's generation had to fight off nazi aggression in europe, we are fighting against russian aggression in europe, and the challenge in a way, is a simple one. >> if you add up the economies of the allies of ukraine, the united states, the united kingdom, countries of the european union , we outmatch european union, we outmatch russia by 30 to 1. what we have to do is to make that economic strength count . strength count. >> lord cameron, the new foreign secretary, speaking in the united states a short time ago .

he was indecisive, we've heard from various witnesses not least the former top political aide dominic cummings and even presented it as a positive the borisjohnson was weighing up loads of different factors before making a decision and there was no weakness in changing i's mind and in fact it was a strength because it meant you were listening to all the possible outcomes in what were definitely unprecedented times.— outcomes in what were definitely unprecedented times. going back to the beginning _ unprecedented times. going back to the beginning of— unprecedented times. going back to the beginning of his _ unprecedented times. going back to the beginning of his evidence - unprecedented times. going back to the beginning of his evidence and i the beginning of his evidence and the beginning of his evidence and the start of the day and he was very keen to get an apology out wasn't he? . keen to get an apology out wasn't he? , ., , ., , keen to get an apology out wasn't he? , ., keen to get an apology out wasn't he? ., he? yes as most of the political firures he? yes as most of the political figu

dominic cummings on top of that list, mountain of people who thought he was the only one who could manageknow no other way. but it's quite interesting because from what i've seen and listened to there. >> boris johnson doesn't appear to be wanting to throw anyone under the bus , whereas in under the bus, whereas in previous sessions, that's right. we've heard from a lot of people who do appear to be wanting to throw each other under the bus. so boris johnson does appear to be bit a high ground be taking a bit of a high ground in respect. in that respect. >> i think he's >> he's and i think he's admitted the fact also that there was too much testerone in admitted the fact also that the|whole too much testerone in admitted the fact also that the|whole of» much testerone in admitted the fact also that the|whole of» much te103rone in admitted the fact also that the|whole of» much t(10 ande in admitted the fact also that the|whole of» much t(10 and there the whole of number 10 and there should have been more women in there. think that's there. and i think that's a mistake most people make, mis