it's a story about the housing secretary robertjenrick.ndling of the tory donors property development. this week, the sunday times is suggesting that senior officials begged jenrick to block this £1 million property deal, which is backed by the tory donor richie desmond. jenrick overruled objections to book it through —— pushit objections to book it through —— push it through. i think it's very difficult forjenrick, this pressure on him. i think it would be interesting to see... borisjohnson has so far very much back to him, but if the pressure keeps up, how long can he stay in post?” but if the pressure keeps up, how long can he stay in post? i must say that we've had a government response, government officials saying an obvious a story that there was a thorough decision—making process. the question of bias, the secretary of state read the report and took advice from officials throughout the process. so that's what they're saying in response. but john, matt want to was saying —— sian was saying there is sustained pressure on robertjenrick

robertjenrick actually defending the housing secretary.he would publish everything around this decision. he himself has said, look, with the benefit of hindsight he might have done things slightly differently. he doesn't think that he was biased in any way, but the perception of bias that allowed this to happen was the reason that robert pulled this application and allowed another minister to determine it. application and allowed another ministerto determine it. in application and allowed another minister to determine it. in the messages you just read out, interesting, two words. 0ne, viability, and the other, social housing, and robert wanted to see both things actually happen. more social housing being built, more housing being built, and a viable development. so, damaging in terms of perception, the idea that a wealthy tory can somehow buy access ona wealthy tory can somehow buy access on a planning development, but is there enough here to force mr jenrick to go? so far, it's not clear that there is. labour at the moment does not appear

two months later, robertjenrick gave it planning permission. the timing was crucial.duced to fund community improvements, but richard desmond already had planning permission, so avoided it. two weeks later, he donated £12,000 to the conservatives, payment for another table at another dinner. faced with a legal challenge, robertjenrick decided to quash his own decision because it looked biased. and at today's debate, that was labour's accusation. the suspicion arises, once again, that the secretary of state was bending over to do favours for his billionaire dinner date. robertjenrick said that was an outrageous suggestion — he had an open mind and a desire to build more housing. however, i'm not blind to the fact that things could and should have been done differently. on reflection, i should have handled the communication differently. some of the outstanding questions may be answered by the publication of all the relevant documents in the case, which is now going to happen. the minister maybe hopes it will calm the waters. tom symonds, bbc news, east london. well thos

labour party are not calling for robertjenrick to resign.y in these things, the opposition say, they have got to go! and they haven't done that. if artex ever get published, you will see one from chris to laura saying, lower, i think your tea has arrived. that is on page 196 of our texts being printed out. hopefully you never have to see that. now if you go down to the beach today, you will find lots of other people have gone to the beach as well. how they listen to the scene down in bournemouth today. i don't know what is happening that so many people think it is acceptable to come down here and use our beaches when we have got and use our beaches when we have got a national emergency going on. it is a national emergency going on. it is a national emergency and not a national holiday. we not having a couple of drinks, enjoying the sun. the closest we are going to get to a holiday this year. not good, is it? going to cause a second wave. the person who has got to clean up the mass hit there is the leader of bournemouth, christchurch and pool

robertjenrick admitted they exchanged phone numbers.ucture charge that was being introduced by the labour—run council of tower hamlets. the charge would have added millions to the cost of the proposed project. mr desmond's text said "we don't want to give marxists loads of doe for nothing". 0n the 15th of december, robertjenrick texted richard desmond to cancel their meeting — as he needed to be in parliament for the queen's speech. 0njanuary the 9th this year, the housing secretary urged approval of the £1 billion housing development. five days later, mrjenrick overruled a planning inspector and gave permission to build on the westferry site. a day before a new infrastructure levy would have cost the developer an extra £40 million to build in london's poorest borough. 0n the 29th of january, richard desmond donated £12,000 to the conservative party. the planning permission was rescinded on 22nd may after towers hamlets accused robertjenrick of bias in his decision over his relationship with richard desmond. 0ur assistant political edit

yes, not a great day for robertjenrick to be talking about the planning system because the row over themade to allow richard desmond, property tycoon, former newspaper magnate and tory donor, to build lots of swanky flats in east london. the row from that will not go away. there were some jaw clenching the, rather than another part of the anatomy, text between him and richard desmond that came out last night. and labour is really convinced that it looks pretty stinky. although those texts, they are just sort of friendly texts, rather than super chummy texts and he does say robertjenrick, to richard desmond, this is a official process and i can't really be touch with you while we were doing this. the thing is, though, it is a good golden rule that if you're texts are printed out and published it is going to be awkward. there are going to be clenching going on north and south, i think, anatomically, so as you say yes, at one point he did say, mrjenrick, he didn't go ahead with the proposed site visit to this patch in tower hamlets, where this proposed set of new swanky apartments were goi

and we learned robertjenrick overrode the advice of his officials who were saying no to the project. thereby ensuring the developer didn't get hit with a huge tax bill. none of this is proof of wrongdoing, it is not smoke curling lazily from the barrel of us —— smith & wesson, but it leaves an almighty political smell. norman, thank norman smith. it's another sweltering day across much of the uk, with forecasters saying this may be the hottest day of the year so far. thousands of people have crammed on to some beaches, making social distancing difficult. a level—three health alert is in place for parts of england, urging people to take care in the sun. sean dilley reports. it's another lockdown summer scorcher, with temperatures up to the mid—30s in many parts of the uk. good news for many, who are making the most of these restrictions, but medical professionals are concerned about older people and those with existing conditions. some people are particularly vulnerable this year and they are people who may be shielding and staying indoors or people who are isolated and staying indoor

the question being, what has robertjenrick done wrong if anything? good morning.ssages and permission is granted by robertjenrick against the advice of his department and the local authority, just before this tax that would have whacked mr desmond for tens of millions of pounds which would have kicked in locally. then there is a decision from mrjenn rick that this looks like it is biased, so he will rescind permission for this planning to go ahead and it's now in the hands of another minister and mrjenrick now acknowledges that the way he communicated through this was not great but he believes in the idea of building more houses. the business minister on breakfast in the last half hour offering this defence of his colleague. as he quite rightly said, with the benefit of hindsight, he might have dealt with the matter differently, but he did the right thing. the matter will now be decided by a different minister, and thatis decided by a different minister, and that is the right way to go about this. robert wanted to get more housing built and, by the way, he's not t

the junior minister who answered the question said robertjenrick acted with propriety and he had "nooutlined publicly, which the honourable gentleman and honourable members can see online. that decision is all very clear, there were no discussions about the sales issue between my right honourable friend and the applicant. he's been very clear about his involvement with the applicant. i don't think there is anything further that needs to be added. christopher pincher. now, let's take a look at some news from around westminster in brief. following the row over mps having to queue up to vote in what became known as the "mogg conga". ministers made further concessions to members who can't travel to westminster in person. mps who are shielding themselves or members of their household will continue to be allowed to take part in most commons business by video link and will now vote by proxy. a bill to ensure the most serious offenders spend longer in prison cleared it's first commons hurdle. ministers had promised tougher action following terror attacks in london. one in streatham at the st

robertjenrick said the labour mp was "completely incorrect", but opposition mps continued to attack.dy be the difficult territory to try and wriggle off the hook, but the fact that his billion—pound housing development is linked to a tory donor means it stinks to high heavens. the secretary of state should be delivering truly affordable and secure long—term housing, including council housing, not undermining local efforts to address the complex needs of an area with the highest rates of child poverty in the entire country. at the end of the debate, labour's motion calling for the papers to be published was approved without a vote. now, you're watching wednesday in parliament, with me, david cornock. thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can catch up via the bbc iplayer. the transport secretary has said there could be a memorial to public transport workers who died keeping the system moving during the pandemic. grant shapps was speaking to the commons transport committee, where he faced questions about how the new social distancing rules in england would work on buses and tr

robertjenrick said all the parties involved agreed to, as he put it, "redetermine the case".t to richard desmond at a conservative fundraising dinner in the months before he approved the development. my department knew about my attendance at the event before i went to it. they knew about the fact that i had inadvertently sat next to the applicant. i didn't know who i was going to be seated by until i sat at the table. and i discussed and took advice from my officials within the department at all times. he accepts he acted unlawfully in overuling a local authority to grant planning permission to a wealthy tory donor. helping him avoid £40 million in tax. will he now explain to this house how he expects the public to have confidence in planning procedures given his actions and why he thinks it is appropriate for him to remain in post while a police investigation into his behaviour is ongoing? i'm happy to clarify a number of those points. the vast majority which were factually incorrect. i understand that a labour member of the house of lords did make an allegation to the polic

million pounds in donations from property tycoons in the last 12 month — that's in relation to the robertjenrickg row. and the new york times says that the world is learning to live with the pandemic, as countries slowely reopen from lockdown. so let's begin. lots to get through. with me are benedicte paviot, uk correspondent, for france 2a and michael booker, deputy editor of the daily express. well, it's great to have you with us on this friday evening. lots to go through. let's start with the front page of the daily telegraph. obviously, big news today in the uk, a stabbing in glasgow in scotland. the headline reads asylum—seekers shot dug next shot dead after six shot dug next shot dead after six shotin shot dug next shot dead after six shot in glasgow. the daily telegraph is reporting that an asylum seeker went on a rampage over lack of meals, lack of food where he was. now, some context, of course is that asylum—seekers during the pandemic in glasgow, some of them were moved to this hotel given that hotels are not being occupied at the moment. there's been a bit of a discussion from course

the communities secretary robertjenrick said they were "reasonably confident" the steps being taken wereeir part. all four uk nations will have guidelines in place allowing more than two people to meet outside and schools in england will begin reopening. here's our political correspondent, chris mason. shropshire in the sunshine. this is carding mill valley, a spot so popular today, the car park eventually had to close. scientists say the chance of catching the virus outside is pretty small, but they're pleading with us to be cautious. it is notjust about what it is possible to do, it's about what it is sensible to do. and what is sensible to do is have as few interactions as possible. by tomorrow, all parts of the uk will have guidelines in place to allow more than two people to meet outside. in england, groups of up to six people can gather from different households. in wales, any number of people from two different households will be able to meet. families should aim to travel no more than five miles. in scotland, two separate households, up to a maximum of eight people can meet. as i

the housing secretary robertjenrick told mps he was confident all the rules had been followed when heerry printworks scheme by a conservative donor. he's admitted the decision was unlawful due to apparent or perceived bias. given the gravity of the allegations surrounding his unlawful decision on the westferry development, will he agree to make a full statement to the house, publish all correspondence, and disclose all conversations with other government ministers and officials relating to this case to reassure the public that the integrity of the planning process cannot be auctioned off at conservative party fundraising dinners? i took that decision in good faith, with an open mind and i'm confident — confident — that all the rules were followed in doing so. it isn't unusual for a secretary of state to come to a different conclusion to a local authority. it isn't unusual for a secretary of state to come to a different conclusion than a planning inspector. the health secretary matt hancock has apologised after breaking social distancing rules to slap a colleague on the back on his arr

million pounds in donations from property tycoons in the last 12 month — that's in relation to the robertjenrickfow. and the new york times says that the world is learning to live with the pandemic, as countries slowely reopen from lockdown. let's begin with talk of holidays. i am sure you are both desperate to go on your holidays. the times of leading with the headline, holiday season leading with the headline, holiday season back on. talking about britain getting the go—ahead to go on summer britain getting the go—ahead to go on summer holidays quite soon. we've just had a copy in from the press association which says and confirms that report. summer holidays been given the green light after they say the requirement to... it's good news. there's no doubt what we have all been living through is unprecedented. and it's been very tough. for most people because most people have indeed respected the lockdown. it has been tough in all kinds of ways not seen the people you love the most, not physically going to work, having to be very careful at the beginning, do we remember the toilet roles and the

and the sunday times leads with the news that the housing secretary robertjenrick failed to inform hisals that he had met and texted a tory donor before he overruled official advice and approved a £1 billion property deal. so let's begin. let's go with the mail on sunday. they have that interview with boris johnson. he is doing his press ups on the front page. we will talk about that in a moment. first of all, let's talk about the health of the british economy and this is interesting because it is boris johnson setting out his spending plans, but specifically saying that he is turning his back on the cameron, osborne era of acidity. he is turning his back on the cameron, osborne era of aciditym is very interesting. he is going to try and sort of the crisis that we now face any different way that david cameron and george osborne the mess after the global financial crisis 2008 — 2009. he will spend, spend, spend on infrastructure, and housing and job creation and we see in this piece, this interview with the mail on sunday, the first recognition that some jobs will not come back and that

the communities secretary robertjenrick said they were "reasonably confident" the steps being taken wereur uk nations will have guidelines in place allowing more than two people to meet outside and schools in england will begin reopening. here's our political correspondent, chris mason. shropshire in the sunshine. this is carding mill valley, a spot so popular today, the car park eventually had to close. scientists say the chance of catching the virus outside is pretty small, but they're pleading with us to be cautious. it is notjust about what it is possible to do, it's about what it is sensible to do. and what is sensible to do is have as few interactions as possible. by tomorrow, all parts of the uk will have guidelines in place to allow more than two people to meet outside. in england, groups of up to six people can gather from different households. in wales, any number of people from two different households will be able to meet. families should aim to travel no more than five miles. in scotland, two separate households, up to a maximum of eight people can meet. as in wales, people

and the sunday times leads with the news that the housing secretary robertjenrick failed to inform hisofficials that he had met and texted a tory donor before he overruled their advice and approved a one billion pound property deal. so let's begin... john and sean. let start with the front page of the mail on sunday. it has possibly a rather alarming site of the prime minister doing press ups for the paper. where should we start? this is actually from an interview to go with the photograph, is in there? it is. the remarkable photograph actually. of the prime minister on his front doing press ups trying to prove that he is as fit as a yorkshire dog as he put it. but it is an interesting interview. i'm not sure if it is as reassuring as the prime minister intended to be. if covid was the lightning flashed, we are about to have the thunderclap of the economic consequences. he is preparing us for the shock and saying the government will spend a lot of money on building things as a response. sian, what did you make of this piece in the language that he uses, fit as a butcher stall? do peopl

secretary of state for communities robertjenrick accepted that reopening places of worship next mondayal prayer, like islam and judaism, for example, this is not going to be as meaningful a moment as it is for others. at least 15 of the nation's cathedrals, including st paul's, will open for individual prayer. but it'll be some time before congregational worship as we know it returns to these sacred spaces. martin bashir, bbc news. the duke of edinburgh celebrates his 99th birthday today and this official photo has been released with the queen. he is expected to spend the day at windsor castle where he and the queen are isolating during the pandemic. the queen will celebrate her official birthday on sunday. in the top story, the funeral of george floyd took place. plenty of detail on the funeral, go to our website. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter — i'm @samanthatvnews i will be back shortly with all the top stories. hello there. we'll take a look at the uk unsettled weather picture injust a moment, but first of all, one place that has seen some

my colleague, robertjenrick, will do that, and then we will write individually to each of the 2.2 million. but the good news is that because the virus is coming right under control in this country, there's only a500 new infections a day, far, far lower, then it means that it day, far, far lower, then it means thatitis day, far, far lower, then it means that it is much safer to do more things than during the peak and we will be setting that out in detail. bank you very much for talking to us this morning. before we let you go, yourjobis this morning. before we let you go, yourjob is a difficult want to come on this morning and do all these live interviews, i'm sure you are aware that marcus rashford —— daniil rashford is trending on social media. i think i said it rashford is trending on social media. i think! said it once rashford is trending on social media. i think i said it once and then several other times i said... i have no idea. i just then several other times i said... i have no idea. ijust completely misspoke. is that one of those moments where you slap yourself on the head and t

to robert jenrick, the secretary the government are doing the same to robertjenrick, the secretary isonight saying that there has been some disclosure of there has been some disclosure of the facts. so it's interesting that that statement, the cabinet secretary i think i'm not boris johnson, may be numberten secretary i think i'm not boris johnson, may be number ten have ease and —— gave himselfa johnson, may be number ten have ease and —— gave himself a little bit of legal room on this. i thinkjohnson will, if he can, he will want to keepjenrick will, if he can, he will want to keep jenrick in position, will, if he can, he will want to keepjenrick in position, even though it is something absolutely that i think he will want to keep jenrick in position, even though it is something absolutely that i think you should resign for. he will want to get rid ofjenrick on his own terms, and there is a cabinet reshuffle that is expected to happen the coming weeks over summer. i think not that many people in westminster expect that robert generally will still be imposed in a few months' time. th