guto harri will be dealing with the press, so he will be more public. everyone's life and that this mess that's been going on, this pantomime has to end. if the prime minister is finally looking like he's getting a grip by appointing really credible figures, that's a step in the right direction. a lot of his mps will be mailing over whether they will put their letters to the 22 committee chairman this weekend, as they have been for the last six weeks, and it looks like there aren't enough to get to that 5a number. at the prime minister is on notice. he's had a very torrid few weeks. we had sue gray's redacted update, cressida dick still out to standing with her report, and the resignation of the prime minister's head of policy, which was a deep blow. so it looks like he has taken this on board. i've been very critical of the prime minister recently, and ifelt i've been very critical of the prime minister recently, and i felt the whole party gate fiasco has played very badly and is continuing for far too long. one thing guto harri will know from his time

it is exactly what boris johnson is doing with hiring guto harri.— with hiring guto harri. attention, but as you say, he is someone who knows the prime minister well, has worked with him and he passed. he has not shied away in the last couple of weeks and months for being critical both publicly and privately with individuals about some of the way that boris johnson has handled recent events, i think as you say a little cheeky reference there perhaps this morning to reporters in downing street, to bringing mineral water and healthy snacks, after recent allegations of wine and cheese parties going on in lockdown in various whitehall locations. but it was interesting to note as well that tahari today was making headlines himself, giving injury with one welsh language magazine, where he described boris johnson as not a complete clown and recalled the moment that he was hired to this new position of director of communications, met with his boss and was reunited with boris johnson, and recalls that boris johnson, and recalls that boris johnson went on to say, i will survive to th

guto harri, again, someone who is credible, someone from his old days at city hall who worked hand ini was surprised that guto was not playing a more prominent role in number ten a lot earlier than this so again it looks like he is going back to trusted confidant who he knows can deliver, who he knows can do the job. confidant who he knows can deliver, and guto harri is very experienced, formally on your patch at the bbc. a huge amount of background steeped in dealing with these issues. and, i think again, credible addition to the team to lead the communications effort. we are turning to the breaking news about the five—year old boy who was trapped in the world. we can speak to hassan alaoui, a journalist who has been following the story. can you bring us up—to—date with the very latest information you have? well, unfortunately, rayan is dead. well, unfortunately, rayan is dead. we were hoping to have some good news, even if it doesn't make sense for this story to end in a good manner because if you spent five daysin manner because if you spent five days in the bottom of a well, and y

guto harri has given an interview to a welsh website and magazine, in which he describes the prime ministerkeable and mentions that when they went in to meet he saluted boris johnson, they have not seen each other face—to—face four years, the prime minister began to salute back thenjoked prime minister began to salute back then joked that he should take the knee, a reference to guto harri working for gb news, and he took the knee, and wasn't in their employment for that much longer, with guto harri reflecting that he wants to go in there, and try to help the prime minister. numberten in there, and try to help the prime minister. number ten saying this lunchtime that he is committed to the government's agenda despite some spiky words to various podcast in recent weeks, including newscast, about the particular situation boris johnson finds himself in, so here we are at lunchtime on day one of the director of communications being alongside borisjohnson. there used to be a sense that the director of communications should not become the story, but it has not been a good couple of years or conven

guto harri arrived for his first day in downing street this morning.of water to the staff. guto harri who has worked with boris johnson over several years. 0ur political correspondent, chris mason, is following the changes in downing street. there he was arriving at work this morning with a grin, seeming to make light of all of the allegations about wine and boozy parties during various aspects of lockdown over the last couple of years, pointing to the wholesome refreshments in his bulging shopping bag, which said "reuse and recycle", you might have noticed there. well, he has been reused and recycled by the prime minister because mr harri used to work for borisjohnson when he was mayor of london. he has also given an interview, mr harri, to a welsh website and magazine in which he describes the prime minister as "not a complete clown", says that he is "likeable" and mentions that when they went into meet, he saluted borisjohnson. they haven't seen each other face—to—face four years. the prime minister began to salute back and then joked that perhaps h

guto harri worked for boris johnson for four years when he was mayor of london.rom the gloria gaynor �*70s hit i will survive as he was appointed to the role. he also said he was a "very likeable character, that "90% of our discussion was very serious." "he's not the devil like some have mischaracterised him," he added. and this is what he said ahead of his appointment, over a week ago. boris has always underestimated how critical it is to have a fantastic team around him, and i don't think, even if he can pull this back, he will be allowed to do it unless he promises to his party that he's going to overhaul that machinery. ione wells is in westminster. it sounds like the prime minister, at least in his messaging to his all, is that he intends to overhaul that machinery.— that machinery. that's right, and we are certainly — that machinery. that's right, and we are certainly seeing _ that machinery. that's right, and we are certainly seeing some _ that machinery. that's right, and we are certainly seeing some of - that machinery. that's right, and we are certainly

so, that is the role of steve barclay- _ guto harri was a guest on the bbc�*s podcast newscast last weekdifficulties facing borisjohnson in the wake of the downing street parties controversy. this is what he had to say. the challenge for burris, and this will be one of the questions for his party now, there is no doubt he is one of those really creative players, a nifty little wenger, for those of you who like rugby, we think that even when the team is doing badly and they are going backwards and it is horrible conditions, that alone he gets the ball, he can run for everything and score a try. that is great if you are a winger and it is great for your glory but boras has always underestimated how critical it is to have a fantastic team around. and i don't think, even if he can pull this back, he will be allowed to do it unless he promises to his party that he is going to overhaul that machinery, so the kind of nonsense that has happened, and the bad stuff that has happened, and the bad stuff that has happened over the last weeks and months, will never happen again. it weeks and months, w

so, that is the role of steve barclay, guto harri is another appointment, before we discuss him, i wante newscast last week. at the time, he was asked about the difficulties facing boris johnson time, he was asked about the difficulties facing borisjohnson in the wake of the downing street party is controversy. have a listen at what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and _ what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and this _ what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and this will— what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and this will be - what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and this will be one - what he had to say. the challenge for boris, and this will be one of l for boris, and this will be one of the questions for his party now, there _ the questions for his party now, there is— the questions for his party now, there is no— the questions for his party now, there is no doubt he is one of those realty— there is no doubt he is one of those really creative players, a nifty tittte — really creative players, a nifty little winger, for those of you who like rugby.

fight back and guto harri's job is to _ wants to fight back and guto harri's job is to send him outerence in that? ~ ., ., , , i in that? well, all of this is very westminster _ in that? well, all of this is very westminster bubble _ in that? well, all of this is very westminster bubble for - in that? well, all of this is very westminster bubble for voters | in that? well, all of this is very - westminster bubble for voters and i think because downing street has, throughout this whole scandal, been such a centre, you can watch it closely but ultimately the key will be what was said, the prime minister, will he get a fixed penalty notice? i think that is what voters are waiting for and they are probably waiting for natural salts, will the direction of government and travel change? the mp thing is the immediate crisis facing the prime minister because of this vote of confidence he is facing so he needs to essentially fight off that threat and then start resetting policy and that dreaded word culture which has been obviously completely lacking throughout. —— throughout covid. given the

trying to do that with two key appointments, a new chief of staff, a brexiteer, stephen barclay, and guto harrisomeone he has worked with for many years so what does this tell you that what we can read into the future direction of his government? what it says to me as his weakness, not his_ what it says to me as his weakness, not his strength. the appointment of stephen _ not his strength. the appointment of stephen barclay isjust baffling. the chief of staff role is meant to be at _ the chief of staff role is meant to be at the — the chief of staff role is meant to be at the prime minister's site and stephen _ be at the prime minister's site and stephen buckley is the cabinet office — stephen buckley is the cabinet office minister who runs the cabinet office _ office minister who runs the cabinet office and _ office minister who runs the cabinet office and it's not clear to me how he can— office and it's not clear to me how he can run— office and it's not clear to me how he can run the department and be at the prinfus— he can run the department and be at the primus to's site when he turned up

there is guto harri reflecting on his newjob.tories involving him. lots of us know him from his days at the i two stories involving him. lots of- us know him from his days at the bbc and he has worked in other big communicationsjobs as and he has worked in other big communications jobs as well. the key question is some people are welcoming the fact he has had a close relationship with the prime minister, other people are being brought in, this is what many people called for, can they rescue that downing street operation, or does trouble still stem from here boris johnson surrounds herself with? that is the question from many tory mps to decide the fate of the prime minister. he to decide the fate of the prime minister. . , to decide the fate of the prime minister. ., , ., ., , ., minister. he was on a podcast not many days — minister. he was on a podcast not many days ago — minister. he was on a podcast not many days ago and _ minister. he was on a podcast not many days ago and he _ minister. he was on a podcast not many days ago

the cabinet office minister, steve barclay, becomes chief of staff — and the formerjournalist, guto harriirector of communications. now on bbc news — birmingham heartlands hospital has one of the busiest intensive care units in the region. we follow three nurses over the course of a night shift to find out what it's really like to be an intensive ca re nurse. no one dies alone in intensive care. it is me that sits there and hold your relative�*s hand. it's me that talks to them in their last few minutes. it is me that make sure they are comfortable. no two days are the same. you don't know what you are going to walk into. our aim is to make patients better so they can go home to their families. covid has changed - intensive care completely. the demand for the service isjust extraordinary. - we need to look after ourselves and be the best nurses we possibly can be. we cry together and we feel our emotions together and i think that is so important. i do like a busy shift, it makes you think a lot and it puts your nursing skills to the test. i am really proud to be an intensive care nurse. i

trying to do that with two key appointments, a new chief of staff, a brexiteer, stephen barclay, and guto harri

chancellor of the duchy of lancaster steve barclay is to become the prime minister's chief of staff and guto harri borisjohnson said would "strengthen the role of my cabinet and backbench colleagues and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country". you will of course remember that in recent days, a number of senior downing street staff resigned on thursday. one resigned in protest at some of the prime minister's recent actions. these appointments have just been announced. we will of course bring you more on this as we get it. senior conservative mps have insisted that the majority of their party supports boris johnson. it comes as another conservative politician called for borisjohnson to resign. former schools minister nick gibb is the latest to submit a letter of no—confidence in the row over parties held at number ten during lockdown. earlier, i spoke to our political correspondent, helen catt. but we can never say for sure where we are. we know that nine mps have publicly said that they had submitted a letter. it is a secret process, so it is entirely up to an mp to say whether the

the cabinet office minister, steve barclay, becomes chief of staff — and the formerjournalist, guto harri

. —— and guto harri as director of communications. a poisoned chalice of taking a job that only last a few weeks but you're having to look at bringing in new people like that. there is also this swirling rumour that they are approaching 50 letters that have gone into so graham brady of the chair of the 1922 committee already and that this process may begin this week, so dark time for the prime minister underlined by the fact that such a loyalist has spoken out against him. such a loyalist has spoken out against him-— such a loyalist has spoken out auainst him. ~ ., ., ,, such a loyalist has spoken out against him. i against him. what do you think? i auree against him. what do you think? i aaree that against him. what do you think? i agree that the _ against him. what do you think? i agree that the intervention - against him. what do you think? i agree that the intervention is - agree that the intervention is significant and it follows lots of really significant interventions from backbench tory mps, former ministers who have been very

guto harri worked for a time here 2015 for news uk, is there something uncomfortably cosy about the relationshipns? the, there is source of information to journalists which is valuable. because ministers wants to stay clear of special advisers that's useful. it seemed director of communications, if they are good are also valuable i don't think it's corrupting in any way or distorting. obviously, they're pushing a message, it's thejob of journalists to discern that and try and find the path through it to get to the truth. generally, they're pretty valuable, i'd say. but when a journalist or director of communications comes to work for a newspaper presumably the newspaper is buying something from them, expertise, is it more than that, the access to power? maybe but it's pretty transient as people move on. if you hire them as a journalist you're hiring them for their skills as a journalist, not necessarily for contacts they have. if you are not hiring them is a journalist that's different? yeah. obviously, everyone would understand that everyone needs sources at the heart of government. that's what

in downing street, the former journalist guto last night in downing street, the formerjournalist guto harrie was mayor of london is becoming director of communications. unusually, cabinet minister, an mp, has been appointed as the new chief of staff, steve barclay. there has been some reaction to that, lots of questions being asked this morning about how he will manage to do such about how he will manage to do such a very big job on top of two other jobs already come at labour suggesting it is a sign of panic. but it is a very clear intent of involving mps more with number 10. and interestingly, that whole fire message coming from some backbenchers today. iain duncan smith the former tory leader saying there was not the time for a leadership channel —— challenge and advising would—be rivals to the prime minister to temper their ambition. . ~ prime minister to temper their ambition. ., ~ , ., the convicted murderer levi bellfield — who is serving a whole life sentence for killing the schoolgirl milly dowler — has now admitted carrying out a double murderfor which another man has been jailed.

before that he had picked someone who he has worked with before when he was the mayor of london, guto harriter. now, he is seen as another person with a pair of safe hands. he is well liked. here is what the business secretary kwasi kwarteng had to say about him. steve is a friend of mine. he is someone i have worked with over four years in different departments, and he is very well placed to do what the prime minister wants to do. and what actually the sue gray report suggested needed to happen was for lines of accountability to be much clearer in number ten. so what steve is going to do, he is in the cabinet office, he runs the cabinet office, and he is going to align the cabinet office with number ten. and that is his newjob. he is the man he is bringing in to be his chief of staff, so he is a very senior mp, a member of the cabinet, well respected. but the chief of staff is a very big job, so there are a lot of questions being asked this morning about how it is going to be possible for him to balance those roles. certainly, coming from the opposition, they are asking that. and some who

guto harri arrived, carrying a bag of bottled water — a not—so subtle nod to the drinking culture nowia gaynor. it will not have escaped your attention — at least i hope it hasn't — that up until this weekend, guto harri had a very unlucrative contract working with us o n co ntext. this is what he said about the pm two weeks ago, on his first appearance on this show. he was clearly able to see what the rest of us see, that it was a horrendous situation, even more embarrassing once you bring the queen into it. it's a convention on all sides that that takes it to another level again. but i think he's mainly suffering because he knows that this is something that has really annoyed people across the united kingdom, and people who were prepared to take a punt on him, people who would never have trusted the conservatives, but who were prepared to vote for a party led by him that they thought somehow was a different party. so, it's genuine, it's heartfelt, i think, and he is in a very tight corner, and he knows that he is literally fighting for his life. i don't know about you, i think that

and then guto harri, a formerjournalist who worked for borisjohnson when he was mayor of london and heer promised in terms of how his government at the centre operates. he will hope there are no more departures that he does not know about or indeed backbenchers calling for him to stand down. that is the big question this week. french president emmanual macron, has had a lengthy telephone conversation with president biden, ahead of his visit to moscow today. the french president's talks with vladimir putin are part of his continuing efforts to avoid a war in ukraine, where russian troops have massed along the border. let's speak to our correspondent james waterhouse, who's in kyiv this morning. where do we stand at the start of another week? where do we stand at the start of anotherweek? j where do we stand at the start of another week?— where do we stand at the start of another week? i think ukraine will be 0 en another week? i think ukraine will be open to — another week? i think ukraine will be open to any — another week? i think ukraine will be open to any potential - another week?