jonathan blake at westminster, _ later. jonathan blake at westminster, thank - later. for later. jonathan blake at _ westminster, thank you forjoining us. i'm joined by professor sian griffiths, a public health expert who co—chaired the 2003 sars inquiry for the hong kong government. professor, good to speak to again. first thing we should about perhaps is the inquiry that has already been conducted and completed by the world health organization which was published today led by ellenjohnson for the former president of liberia. what would you pick out from that thatis what would you pick out from that that is likely to be relevant for any investigation that we conduct? aha, any investigation that we conduct? a key message is from this report that came _ key message is from this report that came out— key message is from this report that came out today, basically, it's called — came out today, basically, it's called covid—19, make this the last pandemic — called covid—19, make this the last pandemic. ed's highlight some of the issues _ pandemic. ed's highlight some of the

.— weeks to come. jonathan blake re ”ortin weeks to come. jonathan blake reporting there _ weeks to comeg there from _ weeks to come. jonathan blake i reporting there from westminster. dr andrew furber is the regional director in the north west of england for public health england. and hejoins me now. good afternoon to you. how concerned are you about the indian variant in your patch in the indian variant in your patch in the northwest of england? goad the northwest of england? good afternoon- _ the northwest of england? good afternoon. we _ the northwest of england? good afternoon. we are _ the northwest of england? good afternoon. we are very - the northwest of england? (emf. afternoon. we are very concerned. we are seeing a rapid increase in case rates in bolton and blackburn. we have also seen a tremendous response from the community in terms of getting tested and getting vaccinated, and we are not seeing case rates in any increase in hospital admissions or more severe disease. we are concerned but we are managing it very actively. that disease. we are concerned but we are managing i

can travel to without needing to qurantine when you return home. 0ur political correspondent, jonathan blakeare we likely to know? this news will obviously be important to so many people. soon, it seems, in the words of the foreign secretary dominic raab this morning, the details are coming shortly. it is two weeks tomorrow, the 17th of may, the government hopes to allow international travel to begin again and i am told we can expectan to begin again and i am told we can expect an announcement towards the end of this coming week which is likely to confirm that and tell us which countries will be on the green list meaning you can travel there and come back without the need to quarantine. it is likely to be a very limited list to begin with and some countries that could be on it, gibraltar, iceland, israel, possibly for us, possibly portugal, none of thatis for us, possibly portugal, none of that is confirmed at this point, though. we have also had a glimpse of what life might be like beyond the end of the road map, afterjune zist the end of the road map, afterjune 21st in england when the gov

jonathan blake is in westminster for us. indian variant. jonathan blake is in westminsterfor us.ne against it. and the effectiveness of the vaccine auainst it. . v and the effectiveness of the vaccine auainst it. ., �*, ., ,., against it. that's right and some numbers from _ against it. that's right and some numbers from the _ against it. that's right and some numbers from the health - against it. that's right and some i numbers from the health secretary against it. that's right and some - numbers from the health secretary in the last hour or so to give us the current picture of the spread of the indian variant. he said there are 2323 cases in total, and there is a particular problem in parts of the northwest of england. bolton and blackburn with thor when, where there are a83 cases of that new variant, so a real concentration of it there —— in darwen. there are 86 local authority areas with five or more cases of this new variant, and bedford is a particular area of concern at the moment for the government. mr hancock said there would be surge texting post in place, similar to wh

jonathan blake, our political correspondent talking to me earlier. the headlines on bbc news...meone with covid. daily rapid tests will be offered as an alternative to ten days quarantine. the foreign office plays down speculation that the aid worker nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe is to be released, after iran's state broadcast tv claims the british government had paid to secure it. india has recorded its highest number of covid—i9 deaths in a single day since the start of the pandemic. a national day of mourning is taking place in israel after a crush at a jewish festival early on friday, in which 45 people died. they were trapped in a narrow walkway at mount meron. the victims include teenagers and children. 0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman reports. two brothers who travelled to a mountaintop tomb. they went to rejoice. but 18—year—old yosef and his brother mordecai, just 12, were buried there overnight — among the young boys killed in a national tragedy. today, they paid tribute to the victims and absorbed the disaster�*s terrible toll. the israeli flag is lowered to half

i'm joined now by our political correspondent, jonathan blake. good to see you, jonathan.r. where are we with holidays? the big day for the diary is two weeks tomorrow, 17th of may, when the back now hopes to allow international travel again. we should expect an announcement was the end of this coming week, the foreign secretary, dominic raab, said this morning of the details are coming shortly. it will be a confirmation that international travel will be allowed again, and crucially the list of which countries will be green in status, meaning you can travel there and return without having to go into quarantine. that will be a very limited list to begin with, and none of those countries are yet confirmed. we also had a hint of what life might be like further down the road map out of lockdown, beyond during the 21st, where the comet hopes to lift all legal restrictions in england. the foreign secretary suggested that some guidance may remain after that. well, we've said it will be evidence driven. if you're talking about the fourth step of the road map... iam. they won't end

good epidemiological situation and those who are fully vaccinated. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blakeater with the new us secretary of state, anthony blinken, who's on his first visit to london sincejoe biden became president. the discussions take place before britain hosts foreign ministers from the g7 group of industrialised nations in what will be their first face—to—face meeting for more than two years. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale reports. america's top diplomat arriving in london for the first time since team trump was swept away by team biden. and while the politics and style may have changed, when it comes to world affairs, the message remains the same. what we have witnessed over the last several years is china acting more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad. it is the one country in the world that has the military, economic, diplomatic capacity to undermine or challenge the rules—based order that we care so much about. and it is defending that international order that will be top of the agenda as g7 foreign ministers meet face—to—face for the firs

jonathan blake, bbc news. and we will of course bring you those results as they come in.urn our attention to the travel industry. uk ministers are due to meet later to come up with a �*green list�* of countries that can be visited without the need for quarantine on return. it's part of britain's plan for a gradual reopening of foreign travel, which prime minister borisjohnson has indicated could begin from may 17th. the travel and tourism business has lost an estimated $1.3 trillion in revenue over the past year, with half the worst affected countries in europe. the european commission has recommended opening up to travellers who can show they are fully vaccinated. this is europe's promotional video aimed a persuading holidaymakers to return. but with the pandemic far from over, and warnings that travel costs will be high — will people decide it's just easier and cheaper to stay home this year? let's go to brussels and talks to eduardo santander, executive director of the european travel commission which promotes europe as a travel destination. what are you saying to peop

jonathan blake, bbc news. wth me is lewis goodall, bbc newsnight�*s policy editor.forjoining me. good to see you. now, a concession really to a pretty significant defeat. is this a wow moment for you. it significant defeat. is this a wow moment for you.- significant defeat. is this a wow moment for you. it is a wow moment — wow moment for you. it is a wow moment it _ wow moment for you. it is a wow moment it was _ wow moment for you. it is a wow moment. it was anticipated - wow moment for you. it is a wow moment. it was anticipated that| moment. it was anticipated that it was thought to happen. we should take a step back for a moment. this is a seat that was in labour hands sent was created in 1964. it used to deliver huge labour majorities for people like peter mandelson who served in tony blair's government and although of course areas like this in seats like this have been turning away from labour, we saw that most dramatically in the 2019 election, it doesn't make it any easierfor keir election, it doesn't make it any easier for keir starmer or better because pa

let's speak to our political correspondent, jonathan blake.prime minister this morning, the answer to that would be no. people are only supposed to travel to amber list countries according to borisjohnson for extreme emergencies, and they can be fined if they don't isolate on the way home. but that comes from a day of mixed messaging, ranging from you could consider a foreign holiday to be necessary to your well—being, to not travelling anywhere in the world. the difficulty is the government is issuing guidance here not hard and fast rules. it says in black and white on the government's website that you should not travel to amber list countries, but that doesn't mean you can't, and boris johnson told mps as you heard that the government is moving away from legislating against things people are allowed to do or not towards guidance, hoping to encourage people to do the right thing. in other words, borisjohnson may not want you to go on holiday to france or spain, but that doesn't mean that he can stop you or that he is going to stop you. now, t

because, jonathan, lots correspondentjonathan blake. lots of people excited, myself included, to be in a cinema, and lots ofjobs and livelihoods depending on it, but we have to balance all of this against the scientific evidence, what more are you picking up on today at westminster? it are you picking up on today at westminster?— are you picking up on today at westminster? it is a mixture of excitement _ westminster? it is a mixture of excitement but _ westminster? it is a mixture of excitement but also _ westminster? it is a mixture of| excitement but also trepidation, westminster? it is a mixture of - excitement but also trepidation, as you suggest, jane, this is undoubtedly the biggest stage yet in the unlocking of restrictions on the government's road map out of lockdown in england, and there is a confidence that the things that people are now allowed to do are, in the main, safe for people to do. but it is happening at a time where there is huge concern about the prevalence of the new indian variant of covid, the fact that it seems

our political correspondent jonathan blake gave us more details.cretary said there would be some safeguards that would be necessary beyond that, perhaps social—distancing, perhaps the use of masks. the government is reviewing all these options. but today, borisjohnson out on the campaign trail for the hartlepool by—election, sounded pretty optimistic. it also looks to me as though june 21st, we'll be able to say, you know, social distancing as we currently have to do it, the one—metre plus, i think we've got a good chance, a good chance of being able to dispense with the one—metre plus. from the 21st ofjune. now, that is still dependent on the data. we can't say it categorically yet. we've got to look at the epidemiology as we progress. where we get to with the disease, but that's what it feels like to me right now. social—distancing as we know it now, then, according to the prime minister there, at least, could well be gone as ofjune 21st. but as i say, all this is subject to a review which is ongoing at the moment, notwithstanding what the prime

jonathan blake, bbc news.ting hole at the moment where the election results are being received. this is in hartlepool, of course. it has been a labour seat since 1964. we are expecting that result any minute. as soon as that comes in, we will bring it to you. let's speak now to our political correspondent, chris mason, who is in hartlepool for us this morning. chris, labour have all but conceded defeat. the conservatives putting up inflatable borisjohnson is. everybody expecting a big conservative win?- everybody expecting a big conservative win? yeah, good morning- _ conservative win? yeah, good morning. that _ conservative win? yeah, good morning. that is _ conservative win? yeah, good morning. that is exactly - conservative win? yeah, good morning. that is exactly what| conservative win? yeah, good i morning. that is exactly what we conservative win? yeah, good - morning. that is exactly what we are anticipating — morning. that is exactly what we are anticipating. i should insert a note of caution — anticip

here's more from our political correspondent, jonathan blake.y group for coronavirus and informal cross party grouping say it's staggering ministers are even considering encouraging people to go on holiday anywhere this summer. they say there will also inevitably lead to further lockdowns and for the loss of life. specifically, their concerns around airport arrivals halls and travellers from different destinations mixing there, warning that can become a breeding ground for infection. also the test and isolate system not being robust enough and also the issue of fake covid test certificates possibly allowing people to travel without a genuine negative results. despite all those concerns, the indications are that the government is going to later this week confirmed that some international travel will be allowed to from may the 17th. we don't know which countries will be classed as green in the traffic light system, that's where isolation won't be required after returning. one of the possible places is portugal. as you can see from this graph of ca

well, watching all the developments here today and with me now is our political correspondence, jonathan blakey from the pandemic, because forall deliver a national recovery from the pandemic, because for all of the talk of leveling up in the government's other priorities, the bills, the pieces of legislation that are contained within the queen's speech that we are today, it is the pandemic still that will overshadow, influence the government's plans from here on or sometime to come. that said, i think what is significant in there, the headline announcement of further education money, which is difficult for anyone to disagree with, really, not a particularly controversial policy, but it doesn't go far enough wasn't in the speech, and that was the detailed plans that the government has promised previously to come forward with and hasn't done, again today. malcolm it was borisjohnson on the steps of downing street after he won the 2019 election to promise to deal without that problem once and for all. today was an opportunity to come forward, people hoped with detailed plans to do that, but they

defaultjudgment, to strike out the claim and for a declaration that the claim 0ur political correspondent jonathan blakee tell us more about downing street and their reaction.— and their reaction. we don't know what the debt _ and their reaction. we don't know what the debt if _ and their reaction. we don't know what the debt if there _ and their reaction. we don't know what the debt if there was - and their reaction. we don't know what the debt if there was one . and their reaction. we don't knowl what the debt if there was one was for and we don't know who it was 02. but as you say come earlier today, a county courtjudgment but as you say come earlier today, a county court judgment listed but as you say come earlier today, a county courtjudgment listed as an unsatisfied record in the register of england and wales county court judgements surface, first reported by private eye for the sum of £535. it is very clear looking at online the name is borisjohnson, the address is 10 downing street, it was issued as you say on the 26th of october last year, the timing initially raised eyebrows because it is a ke

spring and would put the state's actions "under the microscope" as our political correspondent jonathan blakes inquiry will only work if it has the support and confidence of the families. and i urge the permits are in— the families. and i urge the permits are in the _ the families. and i urge the permits are in the government to consult the families— are in the government to consult the families of— are in the government to consult the families of the earliest possible moment~ — families of the earliest possible moment. the government should also consult _ moment. the government should also consult those on the front line who have done — consult those on the front line who have done so much, whether in the nhs, _ have done so much, whether in the nhs, social— have done so much, whether in the nhs, social care or other front tines _ nhs, social care or other front tines that— nhs, social care or other front lines that we have seen because they till lines that we have seen because they titt deserve _ lines that we have seen because they till deserve answers to the very many— till deserve answer

let's get more from our political correspondent jonathan blake who's here. no is the short answer. we expect an announcement later this | expect an announcement later this week from the government which will confirm whether international travel can resume as it is hoped on the 17th of may. we will also get details which countries will be in the red, amber or green list under the red, amber or green list under the government traffic light system which will determine whether people need to quarantine, on an enforced basis or at home when they return from certain countries, or whether they will only need to have proof of a negative covid test when travelling in either direction. but there are warnings to the government less morning and mps on the cross—party all—party parliamentary group on coronavirus urging caution. they say the government should not be encouraging people to go on holiday at this point until there are improvements on the systems in place. their relate to airport arrival holes, which they say have evidence could become breeding grounds for cor

let�*s get more detail on this from our political correspondent jonathan blake. is being made after- simple, is it? no. we are told thisj change is being made after careful consideration, but it is a rare example _ consideration, but it is a rare example at this point in the pandemic at least of restrictions being _ pandemic at least of restrictions being removed or relaxed sooner than we had _ being removed or relaxed sooner than we had expected. at every stage the government have said the road map out of— government have said the road map out of lockdown in england was cautious— out of lockdown in england was cautious but irreversible. nevertheless, funerals, it seems, is one area _ nevertheless, funerals, it seems, is one area where ministers are prepared _ one area where ministers are prepared to allow people to gather in greater— prepared to allow people to gather in greater numbers, safely. so from may 17, _ in greater numbers, safely. so from may 17, there will be no legal limit on the _ may 17, there will be no legal limit on the number of people that can

the party's internal row quickly so it can look outward once again. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blakea new up, but what is the strategy going to be?— he has a new up, but what is the strategy going to be? that's the big cuestion. strategy going to be? that's the big question. there _ strategy going to be? that's the big question. there are _ strategy going to be? that's the big question. there are not _ strategy going to be? that's the big question. there are not many - question. there are not many face—to—face meetings here in westminster, like workplaces across the country. nevertheless, the shadow cabinet did meet in person today. it was hardly a happy reunion, though. most shadow cabinet members going in pretty stony faced, one saying to me that they were just glad the elections were over. this was not a big reshuffle, by sir keir starmer, a very moderate moving around of roles in his top team. nevertheless, he told them at that meeting today that labour did have some things to celebrate, talking about the successful campaign the party had run in wales, where the administration le

i asked our political correspondent jonathan blake whether the road map and any future easing of restrictionsguaranteed. as you heard, the prime minister said injim's reportjust now, there is no conclusive evidence to call into question the road map or to deviate from the road map out of lockdown in england and i guess you could read that in a couple of ways depending on your outlook. if you are feeling optimistic, perhaps the prime minister suggesting that there is nothing to worry about. if you're feeling more pessimistic, well, no conclusive proof — does that mean that there is evidence or some suggestion that there is something to worry about there? either way, we are going to have to wait a couple of days at least before ministers get clear answers to the pressing questions — how much more transmissible that variant is and how effective the vaccines are against it? all the time, many conservative mps, and others it has to be said, are watching nervously and are ready to pounce at the earliest sign, any indication, any hint, that the road map may be slowed down and the government may have

sean dilley, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blake says the prime minister is issuinghan ha rd—and—fast rules. borisjohnson said people should only go to countries on the amber list in extreme cases or emergencies, reminding people they would need to quarantine for ten days on their return and could be fined if they didn't do that. but that comes after a day or so of mixed messages from ministers, everything from you could consider a holiday essential to your well—being, or not travelling anywhere in the world this year because it simply too dangerous. and the reason for that is because the government is issuing guidance here, not hard and fast rules. although it saysin not hard and fast rules. although it says in black and white on the government because my own website, you should not travel to amber list countries, just because you shouldn't doesn't mean that you can't, and borisjohnson told mps, as you heard, that the government is moving away from endlessly legislating against things that people are allowed to do or not towards guidance, hoping to encourage people

our political correspondent jonathan blake is at yesterday boris johnson yesterday borisjohnson saidthe latest on government thinking. you _ might be read. what is the latest on government thinking. you can - might be read. what is the latest on | government thinking. you can forgive --eole for government thinking. you can forgive people for getting — government thinking. you can forgive people for getting confused _ government thinking. you can forgive people for getting confused about. people for getting confused about the travel advice. there is a traffic light system, the green list is pretty clear, you can travel to those locations on holiday with minimal testing and no quarantine requirements on return. it is the amber list that is causing confusion. we have had government ministers saying, yes, you can travel there to visit family or friends another saying no travel should be allowed anywhere at the moment anyway because it is too dangerous and another saying people might consider a holiday and essential reason to travel to one of the countries. that is why we saw the countrie

let's speak to our political correspondentjonathan blake, who's at westminster. jonathan.ys or not? �* . should we be booking holidays or not? ., , .,, should we be booking holidays or not? joanna, some people may well be deserate not? joanna, some people may well be desnerate to — not? joanna, some people may well be desnerate to do — not? joanna, some people may well be desperate to do that _ not? joanna, some people may well be desperate to do that at _ not? joanna, some people may well be desperate to do that at the _ not? joanna, some people may well be desperate to do that at the moment. desperate to do that at the moment but others are urging caution. mps on the all—party parliamentary group for coronavirus, an informal cross group on, say it is staggering that ministers are even considering encouraging people to go on holiday anywhere this summer. they say it will inevitably lead to further lockdowns and further loss of life. specifically, they are concerns are around airport arrivals halls and travellers from different destinations mixing there, warning that could

our political correspondent jonathan blake is with me.ot of what the government wants to do? beyond the headlines, it's worth looking at the detail in the queen's speech. often it contains legislation which is carried over from the previous session and reinforces and what the government is already doing. we have heard about their plans for student loans, for people who are beyond education age to take advantage of further education as part of that plan and priority to level up as the government is so fond of saying, addressing inequalities in the uk. beyond that, there is a long list of things they are doing. confirmation of further expansion of broadband services around the uk, money for transport projects particularly high rail as well. a lot is riding on the so—called levelling up white paper, draft legislation which the government is going to put forward later in the year which will be scrutinised heavily, not least by a lot of new conservative backbench mps coming from most former labour seats to see exactly where the money is coming

thank you, jonathan blake and westminster.es feel like the diplomacy is stepping up a gear. the us has been talking to some of the region's most powerful arab countries, trying to create pressure towards de—escalation, but the talks are very much behind the scenes and, so far, there is still no sign of a quick end to the fighting. tom bateman, bbc news, jerusalem. in the last hour, the communities secretary robertjenrick has secretary robert jenrick has condemned secretary robertjenrick has condemned the anti—semitic attacks that have taken place in the uk, in north and west london, as a result of the conflict. we north and west london, as a result of the conflict.— of the conflict. we stand with our jewish friends _ of the conflict. we stand with our jewish friends and _ of the conflict. we stand with our jewish friends and neighbours - of the conflict. we stand with ourl jewish friends and neighbours who have sadly been subjected to a deeply disturbing upsurge in anti—semitism in recent years, particularly on social media. l

first tory in 56 years to represent the former labour stronghold. 0ur political correspondent jonathan blakean wendy mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, commonly known asjill mortimer, is elected. fix, mortimer, commonly known as jill mortimer, is elected.— mortimer, is elected. a clear victo . mortimer, is elected. a clear victory- the _ mortimer, is elected. a clear victory. the winning - mortimer, is elected. a clearl victory. the winning candidate mortimer, is elected. a clear- victory. the winning candidate said she was proud to break labour's long run here and argued that it was proof that her opponents had lost touch. ., ,., . proof that her opponents had lost touch. ., ., ., ~ , .,, touch. labour have taken people in hartle ool touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for _ touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted _ touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for - touch. labour have taken people in hartlepool for granted for too - touch. labour have taken people in | hartlepool for granted for too long. i heard this time and time again on the