mr hancock.e, mr hancock. subject to collective _ would just allow me, mr hancock. subject to collective responsibility and also _ subject to collective responsibility and also a — subject to collective responsibility and also a major— subject to collective responsibility and also a major player— subject to collective responsibility and also a major player at - subject to collective responsibility and also a major player at the - and also a major player at the highest — and also a major player at the highest level— and also a major player at the highest level of— and also a major player at the highest level of government. i and also a major player at the . highest level of government. to and also a major player at the - highest level of government. to what extent— highest level of government. to what extent is— highest level of government. to what extent is it _ highest level of government. to what extent is it permissible _ highest level of government. to what extent is it permissible for— highe

the plans in lace at february, mr hancock? the plans in place at this — february, mr hancock?egy, as updated by the work that had been done on the contain delay mitigated strategy. the 2011 strategy was still maintaining _ the 2011 strategy was still maintaining its... - the 2011 strategy was still maintaining its... it- the 2011 strategy was still maintaining its... it was i the 2011 strategy was still i maintaining its... it was still having — maintaining its... it was still having an _ maintaining its... it was still having an influence. - maintaining its... it was still having an influence. what, i maintaining its... it was stilli having an influence. what, in maintaining its... it was still- having an influence. what, in hard copy— having an influence. what, in hard copy or— having an influence. what, in hard copy or e-maii_ having an influence. what, in hard copy or e—mail where _ having an influence. what, in hard copy or e—mail where the - having an influence. what, in hard copy or e—mail where the plans i having an influence. what, in hard| copy or e—mail where the pl

mr hancock, will ou in january 2020. mr hancock, will you please _ in january 2020.ry 2020. mr hancock, will you please wait for the _ in january 2020. mr hancock, will you please wait for the question. | you please wait for the question. the vaccination programme was rolled out in 2021 and it is obvious that work was done on commissioning it and finding it and so on in advance. but the shielding programme was a cross government exercise led both ljy cross government exercise led both by the dhse and the general public services ministerial information group latterly. but in the early part of the year, so we are focusing in this module particularly on january, february, march, april, evidence has been given that the dhse focused too much on itself and on the acute health system nhs, as opposed to the wider, long—term health of the public. by that i mean a reference, and the witness made a reference to, health control, infection control, to the core issue infection control, to the core issue in the first part of the year of dealing with the spread of the virus. do you

recall, mr hancock, that in may, mr- mentioned earlier, you will recall, - mr hancock, that in may, , mr cummings says. idon't— mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand _ mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why— mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why we - mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why we are - says, i don't understand why we are still not _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more care _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more care home - still not testing more care home staff, _ still not testing more care home staff, including _ still not testing more care home staff, including asymptomatic. i still not testing more care home i staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick— staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance _ staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance says, _ staff, including asymptomatic. sir patri

what about mr hancock? it is important - different sense. what about mr hancock?understand whether there was a fruitful relationship of trust between the two of you, that the inquiry has heard evidence of the people working with mr hancock found him someone who was untruthful, was that your experience or not? there were occasional _ that your experience or not? there were occasional moments - that your experience or not? there were occasional moments of - that your experience or not? iuee were occasional moments of tension and flashpoints, which is probably inevitable during the course of a 15 month plus pandemic but i was brought up to look for the best in people. i’m brought up to look for the best in --eole. �* , ., , brought up to look for the best in n-eole. �* , ., , ., brought up to look for the best in h�*eole. , . , ., . people. i'm sorry, that is not an answer to _ people. i'm sorry, that is not an answer to my — people. i'm sorry, that is not an answer to my question. - people. i'm sorry, that is not an answer to my question. did - people. i'm sorry, th

another short topic, the health secretary, mr hancock. | the health secretary, mr hancock.rmal meetings _ would have seen them enough formal meetings very regularly but as a member— meetings very regularly but as a member of the cabinet or the committees. the he worked in the cabinet _ committees. the he worked in the cabinet office and department of health _ cabinet office and department of health so there was clearly some distance — health so there was clearly some distance there equally he was very involved _ distance there equally he was very involved in— distance there equally he was very involved in the response the pandemic sign up i was probably in a meeting _ pandemic sign up i was probably in a meeting with him once a day at various— meeting with him once a day at various points stop, i want to take you to _ various points stop, i want to take you to two — various points stop, i want to take you to two or three passages in your witness _ you to two or three passages in your witness statement. first you to two or three passages in your witness statement.— witness s

i told the prime minister to sack mr hancock. ., �* ~' told the prime minister to sack mr hancock. .,, ., hancock. i don't think i use that word with _ hancock. i don't think i use that word with him _ hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but _ hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but i _ hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but i did - hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but i did use - hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but i did use it. hancock. i don't think i use that word with him but i did use it in| hancock. i don't think i use that l word with him but i did use it in a whatsapp with simon case. you described it _ whatsapp with simon case. you described it thus, to save lives and protect the nhs. that described it thus, to save lives and protect the nhs.— protect the nhs. that was gallows humour. protect the nhs. that was gallows humour- and _ protect the nhs. that was gallows humour. and i _ protect the nhs. that was gallows humour. and i realise _ protect the nhs. that was gallows i humour. and i realise inappropriate

problem surrounding mr hancock, is that a fair summary?cock, is that a fair summary?— problem surrounding mr hancock, is that a fair summary? yes, you heard from helen — that a fair summary? yes, you heard from helen mcnamara _ that a fair summary? yes, you heard from helen mcnamara on _ that a fair summary? yes, you heard from helen mcnamara on that - that a fair summary? yes, you heard from helen mcnamara on that last . from helen mcnamara on that last week, yes. from helen mcnamara on that last week, es. , , ., from helen mcnamara on that last week. yes-— from helen mcnamara on that last week, es. , , ., ., , week, yes. the issue of where was matt's perm _ week, yes. the issue of where was matt's perm secretary, _ week, yes. the issue of where was matt's perm secretary, there - week, yes. the issue of where was matt's perm secretary, there is - week, yes. the issue of where was matt's perm secretary, there is a l matt's perm secretary, there is a weird absence, was there at the same time a problem functionally with the operation in so f

some other issues please, mr hancock. i other issues please, mr hancock. has understood, that _ public health england, the inquiry has understood, that public- public health england, the inquiryl has understood, that public health engtand. _ has understood, that public health engtand. what— has understood, that public health england, what was _ has understood, that public health england, what was disbanded - has understood, that public health england, what was disbanded in. has understood, that public healthl england, what was disbanded in the middle _ england, what was disbanded in the middle of— england, what was disbanded in the middle of the — england, what was disbanded in the middle of the pandemic— england, what was disbanded in the middle of the pandemic to - england, what was disbanded in the middle of the pandemic to use - england, what was disbanded in the middle of the pandemic to use one i england, what was disbanded in the i middle of the pandemic to use one of the witness _ middle of the pandemic to use one of the witness statements, _ middl

mr hancock, you are aware all bases. mr hancock, you are aware a very senior — all bases. a very senior civil— all bases. mr hancock, you are aware a very senior civil servant _ all bases. mr hancock, you are aware a very senior civil servant helen - a very senior civil servant helen mcnamara who was at one stage deputy cabinet secretary described it in evidence as having nuclear levels of confidence which she thought was a problem. do you reject the notion that in your dealings with your colleagues in terms of the impression that you gave, you were overconfident in presenting the undoubtedly extraordinarily difficult issues that your department faced? it depends ro . ress. department faced? it depends progress- -- _ department faced? it depends progress- -- it _ department faced? it depends progress. -- it depends - department faced? it depends progress. -- it depends who l department faced? it depends - progress. -- it depends who with. i progress. —— it depends who with. i had enormous doubts at this point, i would ask people i trusted for advice, i had long discussions

it is vital, mr hancock, i lockdown. it is vital, mr hancock, and the _ lockdown. lockdown. it is vital, mr hancock, and the inquiry has _ lockdown. it is vital, mr hancock, and the inquiry has done - lockdown. it is vital, mr hancock, and the inquiry has done this- lockdown. it is vital, mr hancock, and the inquiry has done this in. and the inquiry has done this in relation — and the inquiry has done this in relation to— and the inquiry has done this in relation to a _ and the inquiry has done this in relation to a number— and the inquiry has done this in relation to a number of- and the inquiry has done this in. relation to a number of witnesses and the inquiry has done this in- relation to a number of witnesses at great _ relation to a number of witnesses at great length, — relation to a number of witnesses at great length, to— relation to a number of witnesses at great length, to examine _ relation to a number of witnesses at great length, to examine the - great length, to examine the rationale _ great length, to examine the rationale both— great length, to exa

just please, mr hancock, where they people _ please, mr hancock, where they people who _ please, mr hancockere they people you spoke to in the course of your— were they people you spoke to in the course of your day—to—day _ were they people you spoke to in the course of your day—to—day duties? i course of your day—to—day duties? both _ course of your day-to-day duties? both. �* ., both. are right. on the 13th of janua , both. are right. on the 13th of january. your— both. are right. on the 13th of january, your statement - both. are right. on the 13th of - january, your statement describes how nervtag _ january, your statement describes how nervtag give _ january, your statement describes how nervtag give advice - january, your statement describes how nervtag give advice to - january, your statement describes how nervtag give advice to the l how nervtag give advice to the effect _ how nervtag give advice to the effect that — how nervtag give advice to the effect that there _ how nervtag give advice to the effect that there was, _ how nervtag give advice to the effect that there was, and - h

i your experience of working with mr hancock in that sense.— your experience of working with mr hancockense. i think there is one entry. _ hancock in that sense. i think there is one entry. i _ hancock in that sense. i think there is one entry, i think— hancock in that sense. i think there is one entry, i think you _ hancock in that sense. i think there is one entry, i think you had - hancock in that sense. i think there is one entry, i think you had a - is one entry, i think you had a habit of saying things which he didn't have a basis for, and he would say things too enthusiastically, too early, without the evidence to back them up, and then have to backtrack from them days later. i don't know to what extent that was overenthusiasm versus deliberate, i think a lot of it was over enthusiasm, but he definitely said things which surprised me, cos i knew that the evidence base was not there. edd evidence base was not there. sad thin that evidence base was not there. sad thing that were not true? yeah. —— said things that were not true? looking a little further ahead, as we know, and i wil

you must l have appreciated, mr hancock, but having _ have appreciated, mr hancock, but having been —cock, but having been told by— have appreciated, mr hancock, but having been told by the _ have appreciated, mr hancock, but having been told by the chief- having been told by the chief medicat— having been told by the chief medical officer— having been told by the chief medical officer that - having been told by the chief medical officer that there - having been told by the chiefl medical officer that there was having been told by the chief. medical officer that there was a 5050 _ medical officer that there was a 5050 chance _ medical officer that there was a 5050 chance that _ medical officer that there was a 5050 chance that quarantine . medical officer that there was a i 5050 chance that quarantine would not work. — 5050 chance that quarantine would not work. and _ 5050 chance that quarantine would not work, and if _ 5050 chance that quarantine would not work, and if it _ 5050 chance that quarantine would not work, and if it did _ 5050 chance that quarantine would not work, and if

there was an admission from mr hancock - might remember that.nd care homes wasn�*t in fact unbroken, so not a ring at all. homes wasn't in fact unbroken, so not a ring at all.— not a ring at all. again, no surprises _ not a ring at all. again, no surprises there. _ not a ring at all. again, no surprises there. he's - not a ring at all. again, no surprises there. he's been not a ring at all. again, no - surprises there. he's been spinning surprises there. he�*s been spinning that lie for quite a long time during the pandemic. it was very clear to me that there was no protective ring, there were very few measures taken to protect the elderly in care homes. you should know because _ elderly in care homes. you should know because your _ elderly in care homes. you should know because your dad _ elderly in care homes. you should know because your dad was - elderly in care homes. you should know because your dad was in - elderly in care homes. you shouldl know because your dad was in one. elderly in care homes. you should - know because your dad was in

, mr hancock, is that yet . impression you give in your own - book, mr hancock, is that yet again heet again he had veered off. _ book, mr hancock, is that yet again he had veered off.— he had veered off. what period are we talkin: he had veered off. what period are we talking about? _ he had veered off. what period are we talking about? 26th _ he had veered off. what period are we talking about? 26th of- he had veered off. what period are we talking about? 26th of august. | we talking about? 26th of august. late august _ we talking about? 26th of august. late august was _ we talking about? 26th of august. late august was frustrating - we talking about? 26th of august. l late august was frustrating because in july, the late august was frustrating because injuly, the prime minister was actually concerned that there was a second wave and it was reflected in the various communications and then came back from holiday and was much more concerned with are not locking down and i found that a problem. they are your words. chaotic, turchind _ they are your words. chaotic, lurching. that's— th

mr hancock is back here in the morning. chris mason, bbc news, the covid inquiry. health editor, hugh pym. you have been following it all day, there is more tomorrow. for you, the most significant moments? weill. most significant moments? well, lookin: most significant moments? well, looking through _ most significant moments? well, looking through the _ most significant moments? -ii looking through the theatricality of the situation, the revelation by mr hancock, that we haven't heard before, that he thought the government should have lockdown three weeks earlier than march the 3rd to 2020. he said today that was with hindsight. but it's really quite an important guide as to where this inquiry might be going, that such a senior cabinet minister at the time, involved in all of these decisions, thinks that lockdown should have been so much earlier. critics will say, well, why didn't you do more about it at the time? the inquiry heard today that he did not say to boris johnson until march the 13th that such action should be taken. but very significant anyway. and tha

mr hancock would have expected it to be me.ugh formally i guess i was speaking on behalf of the prime minister's authority. the first cobra to _ the prime minister's authority. the first cobra to place on january the first cobra to place onjanuary the 24th and was chaired by mr hancock. there was then a second cobra on the 29th of january. there was then a second cobra on the 29th ofjanuary. could there was then a second cobra on the 29th of january. could we have that on the screen, 56226. we can see a number of ministers on that first page in attendance. if we go over to the second page we can see a number of parliamentary undersecretary of state, a of minister... ministers or members of devolved administration parliaments dialled in and a number of officials like chris whitty, catherine hammond, many names now familiar to the inquiry. if we go over one further page to page three, we can see the remainder of the officials who dialled in. there was it would seem no cabinet minister present at that cobra or cabinet office offic

mr hancock is back here in the morning. chris mason, bbc news, the covid inquiry.l correspondent hannah miller is in westminster. what stuck out to you today? there are two things going on. the personalities at the time of the pandemic playing out here in the uk. there's also structural issues, questions about care homes and about the way the department of health is structured as well, and those two threads keep emerging throughout the questioning we are seeing each day. we have to remember that matt hancock is someone who, a number of times in previous evidence, has come under criticism for being overconfident and for lying. it is a clear attempt by him today to really protect his reputation and respond to some of those allegations that have been made in previous weeks. he said very clearly that there is no evidence from those who work with him in the health department that he lied, he blamed that toxic culture which he said was fostered by a malign actor, the prime minister's former adviser, malign actor, the prime minister's formeradviser, dominic malign actor,

mr hancock is back here in the morning. chris mason, bbc news, at the covid inquiry. who's died at the age of 65. david sillito looks back at his life. # it was christmas eve, babe # in the drunk tank # an old man said to me...# "happy christmas your expletive, i pray god it's our last." fairytale of new york, a bleak, drink—sodden duet about lives gone wrong isn't your normal christmas classic. but it was trademark shane mcgowan. # and dreamed about you... his band, the pogues, brought a rambunctious attitude to irish folk, born out of his years in the london punk scene, but shane 0'hooligan, as he called himself, had also won a literary scholarship to public school. there was behind it all a writer, a rare talent. he created beauty and poetry out of hard lives and even harder drink, something he understood well. it's true that i am out of it most of the time, right, but i can write songs when i'm out of it. it's easier for me to write songs when i am out of it. on his 60th birthday, ireland's president, bono, johnny depp, nick cave and sinead o'connor led the applau

mr hancock is back here in the morning. chris mason, bbc news, at the covid inquiry.olitical spectrum to the former labour chancellor alistair darling, who's died at the age of 70. alistair darling spent 13 years in government, first under tony blair and then gordon brown — who today called him "a statesman of unimpeachable integrity". faisal islam looks at his life and career. alistair darling was a hugely significant and consequential chancellor, not for the tax policies in his budget box, but his role in preventing banking fires turning into an inferno during the financial crisis a decade and a half ago, and also for his later role as a reluctant leader of the campaign to save the union during the 2014 scottish independence referendum. he arrived at number 11 in 2007 during arrived at number 11 in 2007 during a period of deceptive calm and fairly quickly there was a run on northern rock building society which turned out to be a trial run for the near collapse of half the banking system in the financial crisis and his actions to bail it out with hundreds of billions

on the 16th of september, you wrote a letter to mr hancock, which i will put up just to remind you of secretary of state for health, setting out a whole raft of proposals for escalation measures to be implemented. quite sophisticated measures to be implemented in greater manchester in relation to the rising cases across the ten council areas. including support for self isolation, local food support, services for vulnerable groups and vulnerable people, a call. changes to local enforcement powers to target enforcement better. and localised test, trace and isolate measures, which you have mentioned. is that right measures, which you have mentioned. isthat riunh, . measures, which you have mentioned. is that right ages. and if we is that right yes. and if we conflict onto _ is that right yes. and if we conflict onto the _ is that right yes. and if we conflict onto the next - is that right yes. and if we conflict onto the next page... is that right yes. and if we - conflict onto the next page... this is what a more _ conflict onto the next page... this is what a more devolved approach to

, you will recall, mr hancock, you more than. strategy, you will recall, mr- hancock, you more than anyoneck, you more than anyone remember those _ hancock, you more than anyone remember those words, - hancock, you more than anyone remember those words, of- hancock, you more than anyone i remember those words, of course. hancock, you more than anyone - remember those words, of course. the document— remember those words, of course. the document significantly _ remember those words, of course. the document significantly over— remember those words, of course. the document significantly over the - document significantly over the reality. — document significantly over the reality. we _ document significantly over the reality. we weren't _ document significantly over the reality. we weren't well- document significantly over the . reality. we weren't well prepared and insofar— reality. we weren't well prepared and insofar the _ reality. we weren't well prepared and insofar the strategy- reality. we weren't well prepared l and insofar the strategy envisaged, future _ and insofar the strategy envis

she talked about mr hancock telling people things that transpired over time to not be true.ind one. so mr hancock is facing these huge questions as well about his role and whether everything he was telling the cabinet, number 10 and telling government officials was correct. clearly, miss macnamara thinks that was often not the case. and then she brought up this rather bizarre image of mr hancock being asked about how it was all going and him doing an impression of a cricket batsmen batting away the ball and saying that they throw them at me and i back them away. what really strikes me about all of this is we have heard some of this in isolation. we have heard fears of senior government officials, we have heard accounts of chaos or dysfunction before, we have heard stories about some ministers not always been completely transparent in their accounts. but it is so striking here it read out by senior people who were in the room is big decisions were in the room is big decisions were being made. of course a lot of them are trying give their story of what happened to try and defe

so does mr hancock face some difficult questions when he gives evidence himself? a good looking guy, are you? pubes on your chest, boobs. so how did you do it, matty, babe? huh? but this week at the covid inquiry, the former health secretary has really been in the firing line, accused of lying, of arrogance, and today of wanting a say in who lived and died if hospitals became overwhelmed with pandemic patients. that was the claim of former nhs england ceo simon, now lord stephens, who wrote this in his submission, "the secretary of state for health and social care took the position "that in this "profession or the public, should ultimately decide who should "live and who should die. "fortunately, this horrible dilemma never crystallised". giving evidence, lord stevens added this. i certainly wanted to discourage the idea that an individual secretary of state, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, should be deciding how care would be provided. now, simon stephens avoided criticising mr hancock and like another civil servant, chris wormald, said he hadn'

and mr hancock said a lockdown should have come much sooner.'ve got the lockdown done over that weekend, and on the 2nd of march, three weeks earlier than before. there's a doubling rate at this point estimated every 3—4 days — we would've six doublings ahead of where we were, which means that fewer than a tenth of the number of people would've died in the first wave. those who guided britain's response to covid have devoted a lot of time in this inquiry insisting that others within government were lying. simon case, the cabinet secretary, said he had "never seen a bunch of people less well—equipped to run a country," comparing them to "wild animals". mr hancock pointed the finger at the number ten adviser dominic cummings, who he said was attempting to take over government for himself. there is a proper government emergency response system and it was actively circumvented. and in one of these early meetings, the chief adviser said decisions don't need to go to the prime minister. now, that is inappropriate in a democracy and i saw it simply as

it might be mr hancock going on now. i was i be mr hancock going on now.nder deliver in terms of what he was offering. he offered, one civil servant said he had nuclear levels of confidence. others said he downright lied when i came from dominic cummings. we have also heard from civil servants and from aids as well. turns out there were plenty of calls for him to be sacked at the time, again by civil servants and aides. one of them said it would save lives and protect the nhs if he were sacked. in the end he resigned for breaking his own social distancing rules when he had an affair with a colleague. there has been some defence for him. michael gove come in a cabinet at that time, said he shed foresight and wisdom in some of the decisions he made. —— michael gove, also in the cabinet at that time. we can expect a punchy tone again today. he will be very defensive. it is a very personal set of criticisms he has faced. he is into reality tv. it is likely to go on for two days and the ultimate test for him. world leaders are facing pressure to accelerate plan

mr hancock, erfectl what i am trying... mr hancock, perfectly understandable - what i am trying...ncock, perfectly understandable you i what i am trying... mr hancock, . perfectly understandable you would wish to _ perfectly understandable you would wish to answer— perfectly understandable you would wish to answer at _ perfectly understandable you would wish to answer at length _ perfectly understandable you would wish to answer at length and - perfectly understandable you would wish to answer at length and it - perfectly understandable you would wish to answer at length and it is l wish to answer at length and it is an important— wish to answer at length and it is an important issue _ wish to answer at length and it is an important issue but _ wish to answer at length and it is an important issue but could - wish to answer at length and it is an important issue but could i. an important issue but could i invite — an important issue but could i invite you _ an important issue but could i invite you just _ an important issue but could i invite you just to _ an important issue but co

in the _ exchequer, mr hancock and yourself in the early— exchequer, mr hancock and yourself in the were chaired by the prime minister. they took place between _ the prime minister. they took place between the 17th of march in the 15th of— between the 17th of march in the 15th of may. you note in your statement that those meetings were important, but there is a limit to what _ important, but there is a limit to what they— important, but there is a limit to what they could do because of time, the need _ what they could do because of time, the need to— what they could do because of time, the need to update the prime minister. _ the need to update the prime minister, dealwith the need to update the prime minister, deal with the daily events of government and so on. then you chaired _ of government and so on. then you chaired what — of government and so on. then you chaired what was known as the general— chaired what was known as the general public services ministerial implementation group, that was convened — implementation group, that was convened between march and may. you raised _ c

tougher measures were required, and that goes to the same points. 0n the 10th of march you e—mailed mr hancockt of questions that you required answers to. just following up from cobra yesterday, i think the team are doing a great job, but i want to follow up on some of what was being discussed yesterday. new race and number of very good questions. you ask about resilience... we are going to bring you some breaking news. a man has admitted killing three people who died in separate attacks earlier in nottingham this year. two students and school terror cake —— school caretaker died after being stabbed on the 13thjune. the man denied murder but admitted three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. live now to our midlands correspondence. take as to what happened in court today. this has been a significant morning at nottingham crown court. around an hour or so ago, the journalist, police and also some of the family members of the victims were all going into the courtroom. a few minutes later as proceedings began, valdo calocane came into the dock and at that point we le

he was asked about the performance of matt hancock and he said he had a high opinion of mr hancock and hancock later this week. remember this asteroid that we reported on a few months ago? it's called bennu — and nasa managed to land a spacecraft on it and brought rock and dust specimens from it back to earth. well, some of the samples they took from the four—and—a—half—billion—year—old asteroid have arrived in the uk. it's hoped that studying the samples could shed light on the origins of our own planet. here's our science editor, rebecca morelle. a piece of asteroid from deep space has finally arrived at london's natural history museum. we've separated out these little biggerfragments in our stones of interest. scientists here have been waiting years for the chance of a close—up look and to get their gloved hands on this precious extraterrestrial material. i think it's beyond our wildest dreams. it's an incredibly beautiful rock. it's very, very black, but with some tiny, little white bits in as well. and we found that each little grain looks a bit different to the other grains. so i

in sir patrick vallance was back diaries there are references to mr hancock appearing to want to keep much to himself. that in the face of the operational mess, as he describes it, into which the dhse descend, there was a failure or mr hancock was matt parr and on the part of the permanent secretary to tell the rest of government how it was. they kept too much to themselves. would you agree with that proposition? yes. much to themselves. would you agree with that proposition?— with that proposition? yes, but i think, as i _ with that proposition? yes, but i think, as i have _ with that proposition? yes, but i think, as i have just _ with that proposition? yes, but i think, as i have just described, l with that proposition? yes, but i | think, as i havejust described, it was a desire to rise to the occasion and a wish to not evade responsibility actually on their part. but they should have been arguably a greater degree of challenge at an earlier stage. and it was the case that i, and i am sure others as well, used cobras and other opportunities, e—mails, messages and so on, to try to

lord stevens also said he'd seen no evidence for accusations at the inquiry that mr hancock was untruthfulf lockdowns was also discussed with the top civil servant at the department of health at the time, and still in post, saying they'd come too late, including the second in november. if you're going to have a lockdown, which we did, it would have been it would have been much better to do it earlier, in my view — i wasn't the decision taker, but in my view — than when we did in november. matt hancock will give his version of events at the inquiry in a few weeks�* time. hugh pym, bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. on friday, hong kong will become the first asian city to host the gay games. athletes from 45 countries are expected to participate in the sporting event. the games, which aim to promote diversity and equality through sport, are a cause for concern for some hong kong politicians. they say the games are a threat to security and traditional chinese values. relatives of the jailed iranian rights activist and nobel peace prize winner, narges mohammadi

on the 6th of february 2020, there was a cabinet meeting, mr hancock. concluding, the secretary of state said... those two cases were on the 30th and sist those two cases were on the 30th and 31st of january and there would almost certainly be more. the central point according to these minutes is that government had a plan to deal with illness. yes. you didn't in fact, _ plan to deal with illness. 133 you didn't in fact, within the department of health and social care, commission until the 10th of february the plan, the battle plan as you describe in your statement, or the action plan as it was published on the 3rd of march. and therefore, what plan was it that you were referring to cabinet colleagues too, to deal with the illness? firstly, we had the pandemic flu strategy set out in 2011, but by this point we had a whole series of different plans for expanding different plans for expanding different areas. so we had a plan for the expansion of testing within the hd. that plan didn't go fast enough and i had to take serious action to change that in the

mr hancock is expected here to give his own evidence in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news.the biggest threats to humanity. he was speaking at the start of a two day global conference on the fast—developing technology that's being hosted by the british prime minister at bletchley park — home of the world war two codebreakers. the focus is on how to minimize some of the risks posed by ai. here's our technology editor zoe kleinman. here's our technology editor zoe kleinman. historic bletchley park was once home to the world war ii codebreakers. no doubt they'd have been very interested in what happened in their workplace today. delegates from around the world, including a member of the chinese government and, yup, elon musk, had agreed on one thing by lunchtime — keeping ai safe was the urgent priority. and here we are for the first time, really, in human history with something that's going to be far more intelligent than us. so, it's not clear to me we can actually control such a thing, but i think we can aspire to guide it in a direction that's beneficial to humanity. the pr

mr sunak, mrjohnson and mr hancock will appear in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news.yeol and first lady kim keon hee have arrived in the uk for a state visit. they are the guests of king charles and queen camilla. it's only the second state visit of the king's reign. as our reporter nicky schiller explains, there will be a lot of pomp and ceremony on show over the next few days. unionjacks and south korean flags are already flying outside buckingham palace for the state visit of president yoon and the first lady kim keon hee. it's ten years since a similar visit to the united kingdom by a south korean president. now, ahead of the state visit, in new malden, which is home to one of the largest korean communities in europe, there was a kimchi festival at the weekend celebrating the traditional dish of fermented and salted veg. it is one of many events taking place to mark 140 years of friendship between the two countries. i think it's really exciting, especially as a british korean, to celebrate this unique relationship between the uk and korea. and i think especially t

mr hancock is expected to give his own evidence here in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news.nted foreigners and dismantling their houses on wednesday — even before the midnight deadline passed for them to leave the country. more than 1.7 million are at risk of being forced to leave, according to the government's own figures, many of them afghans. our pakistan correspondent, caroline davies, reports from peshawar. another life, a different world. on the afghan side of the border, new arrivals register and wait for what will happen next. in pakistan yesterday, lorries laden with life and lives queue. abdullah brought 22 of his family on board this truck from punjab. 20, he says, were born in pakistan. translation: i am | very angry and upset. i initially came here when the russian war started. i used to work in a brick kiln as a labourer. there are fewerjob opportunities in afghanistan. abdullah pulls out a bag of his entire family's id cards. these are recognised as official documents. the government is telling us to just leave, and they raided my house, arresting my sons. his

lord stevens also said he'd seen no evidence for accusations at the inquiry that mr hancock was untruthfulckdowns was also discussed with the top civil servant at the department of health at the time, and still in post, saying they'd come too late, including the second in november. if you're going to have a lockdown, which we did, it would have been much better to do it earlier, in my view — i wasn't the decision taker, but in my view — than when we did in november. matt hancock will give his version of events at the inquiry in a few weeks' time. hugh pym, bbc news. the prime minister, rishi sunak, says he believes the first global ai summit will "tip the balance in favour of humanity" with an agreement from some governments and tech firms to work together to test the safety of new ai models. tonight, the world's richest man, elon musk, has been discussing the future of ai with rishi sunak — one of his particular concerns are humanoid robots that he said can basically chase you anywhere — they must have an off switch, he told the audience. we'll have more on that in a moment from our techn

questioning to say that in his view, despite all the accusations made in the last couple of days that mr hancock had seen no evidence of that. also questions today about the readiness of hospitals and the nhs as a whole, with a particular focus on delayed discharges, that is where people are staying in hospital beds because they can't be cared for in the community.— because they can't be cared for in the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes. _ the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes, it _ the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes, it was _ the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes, it was one _ the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes, it was one of- the community. that was addressed, wasn't it? yes, it was one of the - wasn't it? yes, it was one of the big questions — wasn't it? yes, it was one of the big questions of— wasn't it? yes, it was one of the big questions of the _ wasn't it? yes, it was one of the big questions of the time - wasn't it? yes, it was one of the big questions of the time in - wasn't it? yes, it was one of the i big questions of

mr hancock is expected here to give his own evidence in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news.as found that predatory behaviour directed at women in the team was "widespread and normalised". our defence correspondent jontathan beale is here. the report out today, what more can you tell us? tt the report out today, what more can you tell us?— you tell us? it is pretty sober readinu. you tell us? it is pretty sober reading- it — you tell us? it is pretty sober reading. it is _ you tell us? it is pretty sober reading. it is appalling - you tell us? it is pretty soberl reading. it is appalling reading according to the chief of the air staff. what women suffered, unwanted physical contact, men exposing themselves, women treated as property. this behaviour it says was widespread and normalised. not only that, but the men in the squadron often behaved as bystanders, allowing it to happen. part of this problem, the investigation reveals, is they may have thought they were special, mixing with celebrities, vips at air shows, they thought the normal rules did not apply. they were often a

mrsunak, mr mr sunak, mrjohnson and mr hancock will appear in the coming weeks., bbc news, at the covid inquiry. our health editor hugh pym was listening to sir patrick vallance giving his evidence today — what did you find the most revealing? the revelation by isere patrick that there had been a disagreement between him and sir chris whitty. we got used to seeing them both at press conferences. sir patrick said over the decisions are not down sir chris had been worried about pulling the trigger too early. he was considering impact on mental health on the popular wider hell. he said he respected that view but he personally wanted to go earlier with the lockdown. on to the issue of the second lockdown in the autumn of 2020. again, sir patrick fallon said he would have gone earlier than the decision that was made, which was to go into tears in england. he said thatjust resulted in delaying the inevitable and mps were always wanting to go down a tear in their particular area. and finally we get to the political views at that time in the late autumn of 2020 as lockdo

mr hancock is expected here to give his own evidence in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news.iry in which she talks about the period where borisjohnson was ill himself with covid and an acknowledgement in that document that officials sought to obscure just how illness tojohnson was at the time. the argument was made that psychologically for the government on the country, that was important. she says downing street didn't lie and that he was always conscious but what they did say meant that people were left perhaps with a more positive impression of his health at that point than was actually the case. they also had to work out at the time what to do about it and what they would do if the prime minister had died. after mrjohnson recovered, they commissioned work within whitehall, within government, to make sure that where that to happen in the future government would be better prepared. an investigation into a toxic culture within the raf�*s red arrows display team has found that predatory behaviour directed at women in the team was "widespread and normalised". the report found

he also told the inquiry how mr hancock wanted to decide "who should live and who should die" if hospitalstival organisers have pushed back the sale of tickets for next year by two weeks. they had been due to go live this evening , but the organisers say it would be unfair to go ahead as some people have had issues with registration. tickets for 2024 will now go on sale on the sixteenth of november. the royal mint has begun producing a new set of coins inspired by britain's natural habitat. the first coins to be struck include the one pound featuring british bees, the five pence featuring an oak leaf, and the 50p featuring an atlantic salmon. the first of the new coins are expected to enter circulation at the end of the month. you're live with bbc news. winds of more than 100mph have been battering parts of the uk as storm ciaran progresses. hundreds of schools are closed and in many areas of southern england and the channel islands, with people being urged to stay indoors. residents injersey have been out assessing the damage. these pictures are from west hill where uprooted trees and bra

mr hancock is expected here to give his own evidence in the coming weeks. chris mason, bbc news. crossing today, the first time the crossing has been open since the conflict began. so important that the border is now open. king charles and queen camilla have met kenyan veterans of the second world war on the second day of their state visit. they visited a cemetery in nairobi to honour africans who died fighting for britain in the last century, as our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. well the royal state visit to kenya continues until friday. this afternoon king charles and queen camilla were taken to meet some of the local wildlife. this is sheldrick elephant orphanage which helps animals who've lost their parents to poachers. the queen seemed very popular amongst the calves. and there was even time for them to meet one of the sanctuary�*s baby rhinos, who seemed to take to the royal guests. we will be back with our panel shortly. now it's time for the weather. hello, there. storm ciaran is set to bring some potentially damaging gusts of wind to parts of the south.

lord stevens was asked later about allegations that had been made by other witnesses that mr hancockence of that. , . ~ the inquiry he had seen no evidence of that. , ., ,, israel's prime minister — benjamin netanyahu — says his country's troops are at "the height of battle" in their ground operation in gaza and have made significant progress. video footage from both sides shows israeli tanks and troops pressing towards gaza city. several hundred more civilians are expected to be allowed out of the south of gaza via the rafah crossing and into egypt — among them british nationals. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says more than 9,000 people have now been killed in the strip. israel began its bombing campaign in response to hamas — designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government — launched their attacks on 7 october in which 1,400 people were murdered. here's our international editorjeremy bowen. a warning his report contains images many will find distressing. more evidence that nowhere in gaza is safe. israel hit bureij refugee camp. for days, israel has been ordering c

mr hancock served as the health secretary throughout the pandemic until he resigned in 2021. defended his department, saying it rose to the challenge, and blaming a toxic culture in the government, saying in hindsight that the lockdown should have happened earlier. iii i lockdown should have happened earlier. , , lockdown should have happened earlier. if i may say so with hindsight. _ earlier. if i may say so with hindsight, italy _ earlier. if i may say so with hindsight, italy having - earlier. if i may say so with l hindsight, italy having locked earlier. if i may say so with - hindsight, italy having locked down initially lombardi locally on the zist initially lombardi locally on the 21st of january and then locked down nationally also around the 20th of february, in fact, that moment, having seen the sage assumptions, which they did not fully adopt, and you have heard from the scientists on that, at that moment, if we had realised that it was definitely coming, and the reasonable worst case scenario was as awful as it was, that is the moment that we should, with hindsigh

mr hancock, seen here arriving at the inquiry earlier this morning, is expected to contest accusationsisjohnson will give evidence to the inquiry next week on wednesday and thursday. live now to ellie price who's at the inquiry. we will come to borisjohnson in a moment, but matt hancock has faced an awful lot of criticism in the inquiry so far. today is his chance to defend himself. it is inquiry so far. today is his chance to defend himself.— to defend himself. it is fair to say there has been _ to defend himself. it is fair to say there has been plenty _ to defend himself. it is fair to say there has been plenty of- to defend himself. it is fair to say there has been plenty of criticismj there has been plenty of criticism both in the inquiry and even outside this morning there were protesters standing here to welcome him, if thatis standing here to welcome him, if that is the right word, as well as all the media waiting to get a glimpse of him. in the uk we are used to seeing him most recently on celebrity reality tv shows. obviously he has had a chequered past as health secretary. t

. they all blame mr hancock. >> everyone is blaming everyone else.ng the civil servants. the civil servants blaming the servants are blaming the ministers. know, i just ministers. you know, i just don't see the point in this covid inquiry they will be your neighbours for years unless you move studio, they will still be going strong and i don't think we're ever going to get to what we're ever going to get to what we need to know because they're not asking right questions not asking the right questions in the first place. matt hancock is doing a fantastic job of trying matt hancock. trying to big up matt hancock. he went to the jungle first. that didn't work. now he's gone to inquiry and he gets to a covid inquiry and he gets two days. >> w- e else seems have >> everyone else seems to have had only one day. he's there today tomorrow. peter today and tomorrow. peter edwards going edwards do you think we're going to much light from to see much, much light from this just lot heat? this or just a lot of heat? >> i think we will at the end of it. course, it

it came to the bit they weren't available so she seems to be suggesting by my reading of it that mr hancocke government knew 10 days before the first lockdown was introduced in march 2020 that it was going to be inevitable. there was a passage in helen macnamara's evidence which were shown to the inquiry that was really struggling. i want to read it out because i think it is very significant. this is the 13th of march 2020. a good full 10 days before lockdown was announced in the uk. she went in to speak to some other top officials in number 10 and said, "there is no plan, we are in huge trouble, i have come through here to the prime minister office to tell you all we are absolutely expletive. i think this country is heading for disaster. i think we are going to kill thousands of people as disaster. i think we are going to kill thousands of people as soon as i have kill thousands of people as soon as i have been — kill thousands of people as soon as i have been told _ kill thousands of people as soon as i have been told this _ kill thousands of people as soon as i have been told this i _ ki

mr hancock is testifying today. mr hancock played a key role in the uk's pandemic response.xpressing their concern about his approach, including the country's most senior civil servant. at the time , lord sidwell, who time, lord sidwell, who testified he wanted to sack him . testified he wanted to sack him. the israeli military says the ceasefire truce with hamas will continue for another day. 16 hostages held in gaza were freed last night on what was thought to be the final day of a two day extension to the pause in fighting. the latest hostage prisoner swap included an american israeli dual citizen , a american israeli dual citizen, a dutch dual citizen and three german dual citizens. dutch dual citizen and three german dual citizens . the german dual citizens. the israeli prison service said it freed 30 palestinians from israeli jails under the truce arrangement with hamas . arrangement with hamas. meanwhile all three people have been killed and at least eight injured in a shooting in jerusalem. the attack happened at a bus stop during rush hour outside the entrance to th