helen catt, bbc news.day for you right here on bbc news throughout. now to an extremely rare pregnanc and a possible world record. a 25—year—old woman from mali has given birth to nine babies at once. two more than she expected. the babies were born premature and weigh less than a kilogram each. tanya dendrinos has the details. 0ne. two. three. four. five. six. seven. eight. and nine. halima cisse gave birth to five girls and four boys. the babies are all well and, if there are no complications, the family will set a new world record. nonuplets are extremely rare and risky. doctors in mali were worried, so the government intervened and the mother was flown to morocco. translation: she was 25 weeks pregnant so we - tried to make the pregnancy go longer until she reached 30 weeks. she gave birth eventually with the help of a cesarean operation. we were surprised to find nine babies. nadya suleman came to international attention when she had octuplets in 2009, and she holds the current world record for most b

helen catt has the latest. ago that one of the prime minister's most senior behind—the—scenes advisers found himself in the spotlight. this was dominic cummings taking the highly unusual step of giving a press conference in the garden of downing street after he made a trip from london to durham while england was in its first lockdown. it included a drive to barnard castle, he said, to test his eyesight before heading home. but the whole point was i had been extremely ill, my vision had been a bit weird, we were all going to go back, my wife said, we should drive down the road and you should see if you can actually drive and your vision is weird or if you are ok. and i thought, that's a good idea, i should do. today, he will be quizzed again but this time it will be mps asking the questions in their own look at the lessons learned from the pandemic so far. mr cummings appeared before one committee back in march, then he described the department of health as a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and ppe. it is e

helen, thank you very much, helen catt. _ election. helen, thank you very much, helen catt. kent have called for people to light candles this evening and leave them on their doorstep in her memory. it's one week since the body of 53 year old julia james was discovered in woodland. a murder investigation is underway, but police say they still don't have a motive — and no arrests have been made. tim muffett reports. seven days since the discovery ofjulia james's body, and police say they still don't know why she was attacked. yesterday, people living close to akholt wood in kent, where her body was found, were advised by police to tell someone when they are going out. they have also been urged to keep a fully charged phone with them and to plan a route. julia's daughter bethan has also responded to requests for a vigil in her mother's honour. in a social media post that has been shared with the bbc, bethan asked people to instead light candles on their doorstep. "a number of people have asked about holding a vigilfor my mum," bethan wrote, "and whilst i am so grateful for peop

helen catt, bbc news, westminster. set to announce we'll be able to hug each other as part of the next relaxation of lockdown rules in england on may 17th. our correspondent sangita myska is here. this is more important to many people than anything else. look at us breaking out in smiles, this is going to be the whole country. but, you know the phrase thatis country. but, you know the phrase that is coming up, we have to be cautiously optimistic. michael gove this morning confirmed newspaper reports that what the government wants to see what it is calling intimate contact restored between friends and family. what does that mean? we don't know yet and we will not know until tomorrow when there is a big press conference, talking about the next stage of easing lockdown restrictions, and that will be triggered on may the 17th. but this is where the caution comes in. scientists are already saying people will need to ask themselves even when we can hug again is it sensible? we have got professor cath noakes who sits on sage,

here's our political correspondent helen catt. in correspondent helen catt. bolton this weekend eff continue in bolton this weekend efforts continue to tackle the spread of the variant of coronavirus which first emerged in india, encouraging more people to take up the vaccine. there is surge testing, measures the government says means you can go ahead and easing the restrictions in england tomorrow despite fears of how quickly the new variant is spreading. i how quickly the new variant is spreading-— how quickly the new variant is sreadin. . spreading. i am confident we can take the step _ spreading. i am confident we can take the step tomorrow, - spreading. i am confident we can take the step tomorrow, but - spreading. i am confident we can take the step tomorrow, but we | take the step tomorrow, but we should all be careful about how we take that step. you still shouldn't spend a lot of time in close proximity, make sure ventilation is good. we all know what we can do and take personal responsibility. it means restaurants can welcome back customers indoors.

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. question where does labour go next. it is shaping up to be a big debate in the _ next. it is shaping up to be a big debate in the party _ next. it is shaping up to be a big debate in the party about i next. it is shaping up to be a big debate in the party about what l next. it is shaping up to be a big i debate in the party about what had happened. sir keir starmer has said he will take responsibility for these results and that the party needs to change to reconnect with voters. the question is going to be how does it change? the first move we saw last night of stripping angela rayner of her responsibility for running campaigns has already proved pretty divisive. why? she is a popularfigure, the deputy leader, because she was elected by the membership, overwhelmingly. a labour spokeswoman has defended the move by saying that the party needed to change the way campaigns were run in the future. sources of the record have suggested she needed to take responsibility for what they describe

helen catt, bbc news.election result expected before 6am uk time. then from 9am, huw edwards and kirsty wark are your guides as the votes are counted. some of the uk's biggest employers have told the bbc they don't plan to bring staff back to the office full time. 43 out of 50 firms told us they would embrace a mix of home and office working, with staff encouraged to work from home two to three days a week. another four said they're keeping the idea of hybrid working under review. ben thompson reports. back in the office after 14 months at home. i took on my role in march 2020. it was a baptism by pandemic. for monica, who started her newjob just as the crisis began, getting back to her desk is a welcome change from the now familiar distractions of home. home schooling for a 12—year—old with a husband who's an architect and works full time at home also certainly caused some challenges for us. now we are reconfiguring. so, it is a healthy percentage of working from home and a healthy percentage of being in

helen catt, what the impact would be. helen catt. thank _ what the impact would be. very _ what the impact would be. helen catt, thank very much. _ i'm joined now by dr simon clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the university of reading. thank you forjoining us. what are your thoughts on the transmissibility of the india variant, taking on the advancement of the vaccine programme here in the uk? i think unfortunately we don't have that line. it's frozen. we will try to get back to him, though. let's move on. the us presidentjoe biden has said he backs a ceasefire in gaza — and said the us is engaging with egypt and other partners towards that end. in a phone call with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, mr biden also voiced his support for israel's right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks — while urging mr netanyahu to protect civilians. more than 212 people, including 61 children, have died in gaza, and ten, including two children, in israel. this was the scene in gaza city as day broke, bringing with it more airst

here's our political correspondent helen catt.

westminster cathedral, in front of a number of close friends and family. 0ur political correspondent helen cattexactly when and how this wedding was going to take place. the sun and several other papers this evening reporting that it happened earlier at westminister cathedral — not very far from here in downing street. now, the couple had been linked publicly in the media since the start of 2019. when they moved in here later that year, after boris johnson was elected leader of the conservative party, they were the first unmarried couple to do so. they got engaged later that year, towards the end of 2019. last year, of course, they had a son — wilfred — he's nowjust over a year old. downing street is refusing to comment on reports of the wedding this evening, and that's not entirely surprising — borisjohnson is notoriously private about his personal life. whenever he's asked questions about his family he refuses to be drawn on that, so it's no real surprise that there isn't any official confirmation coming out of downing street this evening. this is of course mrjohnson�*s third marriage — he go

our political correspondent helen catt is here.nother tricky position because we have the indian variant causing real about its potential increased transmissibility potential increased tra nsmissibility but potential increased transmissibility but restrictions in england being eased tomorrow. and it is all about the ongoing balance of we know that lockdown is a socially and economically damaging, when other conditions are right in terms of being able to manage the virus to be able to lift them further? one week ago the government said those conditions were right to be able to proceed to step three of the road map, the big thing is allowing in door mixing and also advice on having physical contact with relatives and friends who you do not live with. that is hugging, effectively, that is allowed again from tomorrow. the government said that the conditions were right. since then i has been this increasing concern about the transmissibility of the indian variant. towards the end of last week some of the scientists advising the governme

here's our political correspondent helen catt.bolton this weekend, efforts continue to tackle the spread of the variant of coronavirus which first emerged in india, encouraging more people to take up the vaccine. there is surge testing, measures which the government says means it can go ahead with easing more restrictions in england tomorrow, despite fears of how quickly the new variant is spreading. i'm confident that we can take the step tomorrow, but we should all be careful about how we take that step. you shouldn't still spend a lot of time in close proximity, you should make sure ventilation is good. we all know what we can do and take personal responsibility. it means restaurants can welcome back customers indoors. up to six people can meet in private homes, too, and hugging is back. but there is nervousness. scientists from sage has warned if the variant turns out to be a0—50% more transmissible than the kent variant, there could be a big rise in hospitalisations because of tomorrow's loosening. i think the evidence is sta

yesterday — and the couple will celebrate with others next summer. 0ur political correspondent helen catteen a lot of speculation about exactly when and how this wedding was going to take place. they got engaged later that year, towards the end of 2019. last year, of course, they had a son — wilfred — he�*s nowjust over a year old. that makes him the first prime minister in a very, very long time to have both divorced and now remarried while in office. the three peaks challenge — in which walkers tackle the highest points of scotland, england and wales, one after the other is one of britain�*s most popular endurance events. but three mountains is not enough for a pair of fitness enthusiasts, who are planning to throw in a fourth climb — in northern ireland. who are planning to throw in a fourth climb — in northern ireland. oh, and they�*re going to row between each nation. alison freeman went to meet them. their home for around six weeks. catherine and martin will eat, sleep and travel on this rowing boat between the four nations of the united kingdom, before taking on their highest peaks

helen catt, bbc news.e go ahead to rapidly increase vaccinations, according to health officials. the public health director for blackburn with darwen council says areas where covid is spreading will get additional supplies of the pfizerjab for all residents over the age of 18. last week, blackburn recorded the third highest infection rate in england, with an 89%jump in cases compared to the previous week. dominic harrison has previously said it was �*illogical�* that the government refused surge vaccinations. we can speak now to dr mike tildesley, a member of spi—m, the modelling subgroup of sage, and a professor of infectious disease modelling at the university of warwick. that's the committee looking at infectious diseases. good to speak to you again. let's start with the point we were talking aboutjustin, the decision in blackburn with darwen to allow basically anyone who's allowed to get a vaccination —— just in. is it in a sense coming too late to make much difference? it too late to make much differe

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt who's in westminster. criminations are really flying here, helen, because of labour�*s poor performance in the elections. keir starmer said he would take full responsibility for the results. is that what is happening here? i responsibility for the results. is that what is happening here? i think it's a question _ that what is happening here? i think it's a question is _ that what is happening here? i think it's a question is who _ that what is happening here? i think it's a question is who you _ that what is happening here? i think it's a question is who you ask- that what is happening here? i think it's a question is who you ask to - it's a question is who you ask to get a question to that. he said he would take full responsible tea for these results on the party need to change to reconnect with the voters. he said he would be taking responsibility forfixing he said he would be taking responsibility for fixing that in the light of those results that we had in the last few days, but this first move, as you

our political correspondent helen catt is at downing street for us this evening.y it has taken virtually everybody by surprise, and there has been speculation about when the wedding was going to take place and now the sun newspaper and others have said it happened today in westminster catholic cathedral, not far from here in westminster catholic cathedral, not farfrom here in downing street. not totally unexpected, the couple started to be linked publicly in the media around the start of 2019, when they moved in here later that year they moved in here later that year they were the first unmarried couple to do so and they got engaged at the end of 2019 and they of course have a son together, wilfred. he is now just over a year old. downing street this evening declining to comment on the reports of the wedding, and again that is not entirely unexpected. borisjohnson is notoriously private about his personal life and he doesn't tend to be drawn when he was asked questions about his family so no real surprise there isn't any official confirmation coming from downing s

i've been speaking to our political correspondent helen catt about tomorrow's easing of lockdown amidan variant. the prime minister said last week that this is a big step what is happening tomorrow, allowing indoor mixing, opening up many more things. you're right, there is growing concern around the transmissibility of the indian variant. scientists are pretty sure that it is more transmissible than the kent to variant, which we saw spread very quickly towards the end of last year, but we don't know how much. there was a warning to scientists last week from the government that if it turns out to be 30 to 50% more transmissible than the steps tomorrow could put quite significant pressure on the nhs. but there is an if in that. at the moment, they simply don't know how much more transmissible it is. the government is pushing ahead and taking the next steps. they are focusing on surge testing where there are higher levels of the indian variant and trying to drive uptake of the vaccinations. we got some interesting detail this morning. we know that this week over 35s are going to be invi

will celebrate with others next summer. and the couple will celebrate 0ur political correspondent helen cattlically linked by the media in early 2019. by the end of that year, they were engaged, although they didn't announce it until the following february when carrie symonds posted the news on instagram at the same time as announcing they were expecting their first child together. wilfred was born in april last year. there had been lots of speculation about when and how the couple would get married. in the end, the reportedly secret ceremony at westminister catholic cathedral took almost everyone by surprise. mrjohnson's divorce from his second wife marina wheeler was finalised last year, making him the first prime minister in centuries to divorce and remarry while in office. the grammy—winning american singer bj thomas — best remembered for the 1969 hit �*raindrops keep fallin on my head' — has died at the age of 78. the song — written by burt bacharach and hal david for the film butch cassidy and the sundance kid — won the oscar for best original song. 0ur beautiful bank holiday weather f

helen catt, bbc news. congo remains "serious but under control", according to the country's president, a week after a devastating volcanic eruption. hundreds of thousands of people fled the city of goma as mount nyiragongo erupted. yesterday, the government mistakenly announced a second eruption was imminent, causing more panic and evacuations. a new nationalflagship is to be commissioned by the government in a bid to boost british trade and industry overseas, the prime minister has said. the royal navy vessel, which will cost a reported £200 million and be in service for 30 years, would be used to host trade fairs and diplomatic meetings. it will be the successor to the royal yacht britannia, which was retired in 1997. those are the main story at eight minutes past six. we are going to colombia next. the colombian government has deployed 7000 troops across some of its major towns and cities in a bid to end two months of deadly protests and riots. demonstrators have vowed to march on the streets of the cap

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt who's in westminster. 0ne labourmp said 0ne labour sir keir starmer needs to forget about unity and just be a more decisive stronger leader, now sucking his deputy, i'm not sure that's what they had in mind. what's auoin on? that's what they had in mind. what's going on? there's _ that's what they had in mind. what's going on? there's a _ that's what they had in mind. what's going on? there's a lot _ that's what they had in mind. what's going on? there's a lot of— that's what they had in mind. what's going on? there's a lot of different l going on? there's a lot of different opinions in labour at the moment about what should change. both about the party and some believe about sir keir starmer. he himself said on friday he would take responsibility for these results, the party would need to change, they needed to reconnect with voters. there have been lots of people since questioning both the party strategy, its direction, and also his leadership of self although there are those who have been defending him like for example the newly el

helen catt has the latest. morning, mr starmer. leader, his task ahead anything but. is this the first of many changes, mr starmer? these elections have been bruising for labour. losing councils in places like durham which they held for nearly a century beforehand and the by—election in hartlepool has been particularly painful. keir starmer said he would take responsibility for the results, but his decision last night to sack the deputy leader angela rayner from her roles running campaigns and as party chair has reignited fights over labour's future and its leadership. when the leader of the party on friday says he takes full responsibility for the election result in hartlepool in particular and then scapegoats angela rayner, i think many of us feel that was unfair. what public relations genius thought this was a good move on the very day actually we were having successes? he means brighter spots like these. labour has won in several mayoral races, such as greater manchester, where andy burnham was re—elected, and london, where sad

helen catt, bbc news.ere in scotland our political correspondent is with me. they're calling tomorrow super thursday. you could potentially be a super thursday for here in scotland? —— who could it be a super thursday for? what is the possibility the snp could get that majority they crave in order to push for a second referendum? it is majority they crave in order to push for a second referendum?— majority they crave in order to push for a second referendum? it is a big cuestion, for a second referendum? it is a big question. can _ for a second referendum? it is a big question, can the _ for a second referendum? it is a big question, can the snp _ for a second referendum? it is a big question, can the snp when - for a second referendum? it is a big question, can the snp when 65 - for a second referendum? it is a big question, can the snp when 65 or l question, can the snp when 65 or more seats in there which were given the power to do what they want domestically and, they think, give them a much stronger m

our political correspondent helen catt gave us this update from downing street.ation about exactly when and how this wedding was going to take place. the sun and several of the papers this evening reported that it happened earlier at west minister catholic cathedral. not very far from here earlier at west minister catholic cathedral. not very farfrom here in downing street. the couple have been linked publicly in the media since the start of 2019 when they moved in here later that year at the boris johnson was elected leader of the conservative party. they were the first unmarried couple to do so. they get a gauge later that year towards the end of 2019. last year they had a son wilford, his knowledge is over a year old. downing street is refusing to comment on reports of the wedding this evening put up that's not entirely surprising boris johnson this evening put up that's not entirely surprising borisjohnson is notoriously private about his personal life. whatever is asked questions about his family he refuses to be drawn on that. it's no real surprise of his i

helen catt, bbc news, westminster. our chief political correspondent, adam fleming, joins me now.omises to be political theatre but it is much more important than that, isn't it? what can we expect? the important than that, isn't it? what can we meet?— important than that, isn't it? what can we expect? the big question at the end of this, _ can we expect? the big question at the end of this, and _ can we expect? the big question at the end of this, and we _ can we expect? the big question at the end of this, and we are - the end of this, and we are expecting for hours of testimony from dominic cummings today, is whether it changes anyone's mind but could already getting information about what he's going to say. all week he's been doing an incredibly long thread on twitter, making his argument, making his case, and it was 64 tweets long and a couple of minutes ago we got a 65th tweet which is worth looking at in detail because it's quite an amazing bit of history that he's showing here. it is a white board and the prime minister's study in downing street on the 13th of march last y

sir keir claims his new shadow cabinet is refreshed and renewed. 0ur political correspondent helen catt. good morning. after a tough weekend, the labour leader— good morning. after a tough weekend, the labour leader often _ good morning. after a tough weekend, the labour leader often meet - good morning. after a tough weekend, the labour leader often meet his - the labour leader often meet his newly tweaked top team. that biggest change, the replacement of anneliese dodds as shadow chancellor. i’m dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine. not dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine- not all— dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine. not all changes _ dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine. not all changes went - dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine. not all changes went so - fine. not all changes went so smoothly- — fine. not all changes went so smoothly. there _ fine. not all changes went so smoothly. there was - fine. not all changes went so smoothly. there was an - fine. not all changes went so - smoothly. there was an apparent dispute between sir keir starmer and his deputy leader angela rayner

our political correspondent helen catt has a round up of a frantic day of campaign visits around englandbeing called super thursday, tomorrow voters in england will choose who is in charge of services like police, social care, recycling and membereding the roads. it will be a bumper set of elections unlike any others but the pressure on the parties to do well remains the same. i have five plus one.— i have five plus one. there is particular — i have five plus one. there is particular scrutiny _ i have five plus one. there is particular scrutiny on - i have five plus one. there is particular scrutiny on how . i have five plus one. there is| particular scrutiny on how the numbers add up for labour. keir starmer at a food bank in pot facts is facing his first public test of opinion as leader. he is under pressure for labour to win in where the tories took seats from them at the tories took seats from them at the general election.— the tories took seats from them at the general election. what we need across the country _ the general election. what we need across the country are _ the general

our political correspondent, helen catt, is here.sn't it, that this is much more transmissible, this is much more transmissible, this indian variant, and it is emerging just at a time when restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow. yes restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow.— restrictions in england are being eased tomorrow. yes and in a big wa . the eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way- the prime — eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister- eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister said - eased tomorrow. yes and in a big way. the prime minister said last| way. the prime minister said last week this is a big step, allowing indoor mixing, opening up many more things, and it is at a time when there is growing concern around the transmissibility of the indian variant. scientists are pretty sure it is more transmissible than the kent variant, which we saw spread very quickly towards the end of last year, but they don't know how much. there was a warning from scientist last week that, if it t

helen catt, bbc news.ow. we've talked a lot, nick, about what would happen if the snp get a majority, what would happen if pro—independence parties get a majority. let'sjust pro—independence parties get a majority. let's just say nicola sturgeon and the snp don't do as well as everyone thinks they might and they actually dropped a couple of seats, what happens then to this call for a second independence referendum? it’s call for a second independence referendum?— referendum? it's a really interesting _ referendum? it's a really interesting question - referendum? it's a really - interesting question because when referendum? it's a really _ interesting question because when we have been saying all day that this could come down to a few seats, it could come down to a few seats, it could go either way, it could be the thing that puts the snp over the 65 mark, it could be the thing that takes them down closer to 60. there are some in the party who think there is a pretty broad range of where it could end up. i

earlier, i asked our political correspondent helen catt if number 10 believed that was the end of the it is. you know, downing street have said that this independent report shows the prime minister acted in accordance with the ministerial code at all times, that he's repaid the money. i think they see this as, perhaps, drawing a line. certainly with regards to matt hancock too, they say that the prime minister will take no further action there. there is, of course, an ongoing outstanding investigation into this being done by the electoral commission. they are looking at the conservative party's actions and role in this, so, actually, that has still to report, so we'll still hear that. that's certainly not the end of the matter there. and then, as you heard in alex's report there, labourflagging a few of the questions that come with this, you know, the fact that this criticism of borisjohnson for having been unaware of this, not asked sufficient numbers of questions, and certainly, you know, the role of others on this — what about the cabinet office, what about various other people who

our political correspondent helen catt has the details.are also elections for 39 police and crime commissioners across england and wales, and there is a by—election to pick the new mp for hartlepool. the polls will be open, as usual, until ten o'clock tonight. anyone self—isolating because of coronavirus can nominate someone else to cast their vote. applications for an emergency proxy, as it's known, can be made until 5pm. and if you have a completed postal vote, which didn't make it to the post box, you can hand it in at your local polling station until 10pm. when it comes to counting the results, that's going to take longer than usual too. different counts are taking place over several days, from tonight until monday. helen catt, bbc news. a toast to the bottle of wine that is literally, out of this world! it is a french wine that spent more than a year orbiting the earth and is now due to go on sale at the world famous auction house christie's. the bottle of merlot wine — chateau petrus 2000, lifted off from earth in november 2019. it m

helen catt is there.member there was a row about the refurbishment of the flat. he didn�*t break the ministerial code, that�*s one of the key points. ministerial code, that's one of the key points-— ministerial code, that's one of the ke oints. ., ., key points. the conclusion that lord geidt has come _ key points. the conclusion that lord geidt has come true _ key points. the conclusion that lord geidt has come true is _ key points. the conclusion that lord geidt has come true is the - key points. the conclusion that lord geidt has come true is the prime i geidt has come true is the prime minister acted on wisely but did not break rules. his report confirms that what was in the media about how the flat refurbishment was funded that it was original paid by the conservative party and lord brownlow. borisjohnson later repaid that, so it did confirm that that is what happened, but lord geidt found that boris johnson what happened, but lord geidt found that borisjohnson didn�*t know about it until february of

sir keir claims his new shadow cabinet is refreshed and renewed. 0ur political correspondent helen cattlabour leader off to meet his newly tweaked top team. that biggest change, the replacement of anneliese dodds as shadow chancellor. i'm fine. but not all changes went so smoothly. there was an apparent dispute between sir keir starmer and his deputy leader angela rayner, over changing some of herjobs. that has led to more friction within the party, not helpful, say some. it is about now moving forward. labour has got to stop this sort of internal focus, the civil war between those on the left of the party, those on the right of the party, from my point of view, that is absolutely pointless and destructive. and there is support from a former leader who is no stranger to strains at the top of the party. keir has got to be given the time and the power, and the resources to be able to get on with bringing forward new policies that will never be the same as 1997, cannot be the same as 2019, but he has got to bring forward and will bring forward new policies to change britain and he has got

helen catt, bbc news.munity officer's dog has been tested for dna, in the hope it provides vital evidence in the hunt for her killer. 53—year—old julia james had taken herjack russell for a walk, before her body was found in woodland in kent. simonjones reports. julia james walking her dog, toby. she was wearing these clothes, apart from the gloves, when she was murdered, her body found close to her house, her dog unharmed by her side. police are desperate to hear from anyone who saw julia, or her attacker. we've got a very considerable forensic strategy, as you would expect. it does include the dog. that is being staged through the laboratories. i'm not in a position — it wouldn't be appropriate for me to give a running commentary on the many exhibits and the forensic strategy that we have under way. but of course, we've considered all opportunities around toby. the outpouring of grief in the community continues. the question people are still asking is, why? until things are a little bit more known, i fee

here 5 our political correspondent helen catt.ust to warn you, her report does contain flashing images. it was a year ago that one of the prime minister's most senior behind the scenes advisers found himself in the spotlight. this was dominic cummings taking the highly unusual step of giving a press conference in the garden of downing street, after he made a trip from london to durham while england was in its first lockdown. it included a drive to barnard castle, he said, to test his eyesight before he went home. the whole point was, now i had been extremely ill, my vision had been a bit weird. we were all going to go back. my wife said we should... ..we should drive down the road, we should see if you can actually drive and see if your vision is weird or if you're 0k. and i thought, that's a good idea, i should do. today he will be quizzed again, but this time it will be mps asking questions in their own look at the lessons learned from the pandemic so far. mr cummings appeared before one committee back in march. then, he describ

let's speak to our political correspondent helen catt. ded there much of the day. what has the government's information been for the information coming out the way it did? ., ., , the information coming out the way it did? ., it did? the government has said it will update _ it did? the government has said it will update its _ it did? the government has said it will update its guidance _ it did? the government has said it will update its guidance for - it did? the government has said it will update its guidance for these | will update its guidance for these areas, and it'll do that later. and what it'll do it says is to make it clearer that these are not imposing local restrictions, and these are precautions local people can take to protect themselves and others. the substance of the advice won't change, the advice will still be that if you meant to make a living one of these areas, you should try to be outdoors rather than indoors, keep two metres apart from anyone you don't live with, and minimise travel in and out of the area. what they'

we can speak now to our political correspondent helen catt.minister very careful to _ locations. yes, the prime minister very careful to keep _ locations. yes, the prime minister very careful to keep all _ locations. yes, the prime minister very careful to keep all his - locations. yes, the prime minister very careful to keep all his options on the table there, so we have the things that we know the government is going to do, surge testing in areas like bolton, there are things thatis areas like bolton, there are things that is considering, the idea of surge vaccination, bringing forward second doses, and then there are those other options which they are keeping on the table, but i would suggest they are probably less likely to want to do, and that is looking at local restrictions. 50 in terms of the whole of england, the prime minister has said he sees no evidence by the planned easing of restrictions cannot go ahead. the next phase is on monday. we know he said repeatedly he wants that to be cautious but irreversible, but he has kept this id

let's talk to our political correspondent helen catt. at monday is still going to go ahead. if you think back to the press conference he gave earlier, he was talking about this being a very big step on monday, allowing people to meet indoors, hugging, that kind of thing. there is huge pressure on the government to make sure that this does go well. yesterday, that was the clearest indication yet boris johnson has givenjune 21 might not happen, but the indian variant could be the thing that stops those restrictions from being lifted. downing street insiders say they will not have enough data for the next few weeks to say whether that will be the case or not, but it certainly puts pressure on, and it puts pressure on the government's strategy of vaccination, bringing forward the second dose is to work, because it is not the strategy local leaders are suggesting. they want to see everybody over 18 vaccinated. i think there is going to be pressure on the government to show that their strategy of keeping up with the same order of priority for v

our political correspondent, helen catt, is at westminster.n't. not a ma'or reshuffle, but it took i starmer? no, it hasn't. not a ma'or reshuffle, but it took a i starmer? no, it hasn't. not a ma'or reshuffle, but it took a very i starmer? no, it hasn't. not a ma'or reshuffle, but it took a very long i reshuffle, but it took a very long time _ reshuffle, but it took a very long time to— reshuffle, but it took a very long time to announce, _ reshuffle, but it took a very long time to announce, from - reshuffle, but it took a very long time to announce, from that i reshuffle, but it took a very long | time to announce, from that first news _ time to announce, from that first news coming _ time to announce, from that first news coming out _ time to announce, from that first news coming out on _ time to announce, from that first news coming out on saturday i time to announce, from that first i news coming out on saturday night about _ news coming out on saturday night about angela — news coming out on saturday night about angela rayner— news comi

our political correspondent helen catt has more.rime minister still commands support after brexit. the labour leader, not speaking yet, but his party says it will listen and learn. the question for us is, how do we make _ the question for us is, how do we make sure — the question for us is, how do we make sure we get hurt? how do we make _ make sure we get hurt? how do we make sure — make sure we get hurt? how do we make sure that our ideas are communicated in a positive, practical— communicated in a positive, practical way and that we are able to bring _ practical way and that we are able to bring people with us, which clearly— to bring people with us, which clearly in _ to bring people with us, which clearly in the case of hartlepool, we haven't— clearly in the case of hartlepool, we haven't done? so yes, we have to ask ourselves — we haven't done? so yes, we have to ask ourselves that question. i think everybody— ask ourselves that question. i think everybody understands the need for change. _ everybody understands the need for c

let's speak now to our political correspondent helen catt, who's in our london newsroom. say it worries _ such as professor adam flynn. i have to say it worries me _ such as professor adam flynn. i have to say it worries me a _ such as professor adam flynn. i have to say it worries me a great - such as professor adam flynn. i have to say it worries me a great deal. i i to say it worries me a great deal. i think— to say it worries me a great deal. i think we _ to say it worries me a great deal. i think we may be dealing with much more _ think we may be dealing with much more infectious virus. there is a high _ more infectious virus. there is a high level— more infectious virus. there is a high level of uncertainty about that but it _ high level of uncertainty about that but it is— high level of uncertainty about that but it is a _ high level of uncertainty about that but it is a possibility and i can say that— but it is a possibility and i can say that i_ but it is a possibility and i can say that i for one when i am back in the uk _ say that i for one when i am back in the

our political correspondent helen catt gave us this update.he whole political spectrum in these elections in england, right from councils at one end up to the hartlepool by—election at the other, which is the only election in which someone is being directly elected to westminster. there are local issues that will play heavily in the decisions but they are seen as a way of taking the temperature of the political parties at westminster too and you're right, this is the first public test since keir starmer took over as labour leader. it is going to be a test of whether the conservatives can hold some of those gains they've made, particularly in seats in the north of england. are we going to see that reflected in the local council result and the mayoral results as well, or are labour going to be able to make some gains there? there is particular pressure on labour because of that hartlepool by—election. that has been labour since 1974, so there's pressure to make sure they hold it this time too. that's the overarching picture we are looking at, ev