between boris johnson and sirjames dyson.— and sirjames dyson. those texts show discussion i and sirjames dyson. that's right, j those texts show discussion about tax rules between the prime minister and sirjames dyson and there is a whitehall inquiry into those leaks. but some people in number 10 have reached their own conclusions because they have briefed three newspapers today that the former top adviser dominic cummings was involved. he has not commented on no evidence has been provided by downing street either that he was directly involved. when asked about this today, borisjohnson said that we are probably going to see correspondence published later today and everything he was doing around dominic cummings contracts and once again defended his contacts with james dyson, talking about getting ventilators delivered at the height of the pandemic, and he says he will keep hold of his mobile phone because he has to keep in touch with people. laboursay because he has to keep in touch with people. labour say that is a way of giving privileged acce

yes, the controversy around james dyson - example, sirjames dyson. wanted to _ controversy around james dyson who wanted to make sure that his employees and potential he himself would _ employees and potential he himself would not be liable for tax if they came _ would not be liable for tax if they came to — would not be liable for tax if they came to help out with the uk is in a way the _ came to help out with the uk is in a way the least controversial of a series— way the least controversial of a series of— way the least controversial of a series of controversies that are stacking — series of controversies that are stacking up. there's lots of wider questions — stacking up. there's lots of wider questions about public procurement. who got— questions about public procurement. who got these covert emergency contracts— who got these covert emergency contracts and there's a mess over the pms _ contracts and there's a mess over the pms flat with just seems, contracts and there's a mess over the pms flat withjust seems, an extraordinary unforced error. li

he says he does have some whatsapp messages between the prime minister and sirjames dyson forwarded tough, he says were leaked, nor is he aware of being sent to them. he goes on to say, "i was not directly or indirectly the source for the bbc�*s story." so, coming out there in response to a concerted effort by someone or some people in downing street to pin the leaking of those messages on dominic cummings, who does not work in downing street any more after leaving at the end of last year. he goes on to talk more about other incidents, namely the leaking of information about plans for a second lockdown in the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, and also the issue of how renovations in downing street and specifically the prime minister and his fiancee carrie symonds's flat has been paid for. he ends with a withering attack on boris johnson's downing ends with a withering attack on borisjohnson's downing street operation as it is now, saying that it's sad to see the prime minister and his office fall so far below the standards of competence and integrity that the country d

concerning borisjohnson and the billionaire sirjames dyson. d made an urgent appeal for ventilators including a direct approach to sirjames from the prime minister. sirjames had moved his headquarters to singapore in 2019, his concern if staff spent time in the uk working to development they and a firm might have to pay more tax. the company had written to the treasury to ensure usual tax rules would not apply but did not get an answer so he raised it with boris johnson. in direct text messages, the prime minister responded promising i will fix it tomorrow. then sent a message saying the chancellor says it is fixed. did borisjohnson follow the rules governing ministers�* conduct? it was a pandemic, an urgent situation. but contact should be reported and civil servants present if official business is discussed. keir starmer said those with ministers for numbers could get special treatment. what does the prime minister think is the right thing to do if he receives a text message from a billionaire conservative supporter asking him to fix tax rule

and on wednesday, sirjames dyson wrote an article in the daily telegraph in which he laid into the wayhe story. he went on to criticise laura kuenssberg, writing... sirjames added that he was responding to the prime minister's urgent call for help with ventilators, and that he was looking not for any favours, but for clarification on the tax status of his employees. and this is what the bbc had to say on the matter. but some newswatch viewers were still unhappy, with nick riley describing the coverage as... on several occasions this week, bbc journalists questioned government ministers about these various allegations, and one of those occasions came during wednesday's downing street press conference, with this encounter between laura kuenssberg and the health secretary, matt hancock. if a serving government minister is found to have broken the rules on party funding or even law, should they resign? given that this is a coronavirus press conference, you won't be surprised that i'm not going to add to the answers the prime minister's already given to very extensive questioning. thanks. a

firstly, he denies leaking the text messages between borisjohnson and the businessman sirjames dyson,y to hand his phone over to a senior civil servant to prove he didn't have access to them. now, let's go back to november. there was a leak of the decision to put england into a second lockdown. again, mr cummings denies that was him. he says the prime minister knows it wasn't him, and he accuses the prime minister of wanting to stop the enquiry into that leak because it would cause him personal personal difficulties. and then there is the issue of the renovation of the flat at number 11 downing st where the prime minister lives with his fiancee. for months there were rumours that this involved a very expensive designer and there was speculation about who would pick up the bill. mr cummings said today he told the prime minister that plans told the prime minister that plans to have conservative donors secretly pay for the renovation were unethical, foolish, possibly illegal, and almost certainly broke the rules. today, the government said that the cost of the wider refurbishment has bee

a series of texts show boris johnson offered to "fix" the tax rules to encourage businessman sirjames dysonke ventilators for the nhs. the former prime minister tony blair says he s worried that the oxford astrazeneca covid vaccine is being "discredited" worldwide because of what he calls "unjustified anxieties" about its safety. we'll be speaking to him in half an hour. following the death of a nine—year—old girl, the findings of a report setting out recommendations for preventing future deaths from air pollution is due to be published this morning. tiktok is sued for billions by former children's commissioner for england anne longfield over how it collects and uses children's data. the verdict has been met with relief by many in the verdict has been met with relief by many in minneapolis. the verdict has been met with relief by many in minneapolis. the the verdict has been met with relief by many in minneapolis. the bbc the verdict has been met with relief by many in minneapolis. the bbc has been speaking to some local residents to gather the reaction to the conviction of derek chauvin. w

, —— staunchly defend the nature of his exchanges with sirjames dyson, —— staunchly defend the this wider picture of the conservatives being a party that is interested in serving its friends rather than the wider public. boris johnson is desperate - to try to put this at arms length but it is obvious that he can't. this is government by whatsapp. they are all at it. whether it is access i to the prime minister, whether it's the former. prime minister accessing ministers and officials, - whether it's the health secretary having shares in companiesl and contracts with the nhs, the listjust grows and grows. i'm afraid, this sleaze is back- and it's bigger than it was before. now, borisjohnson was asked earlier today if he would be prepared to give up his mobile phone to avoid these kinds of stories and he said absolutely not. he needs to be contactable as the prime minister and he says that he has done absolutely nothing wrong and downing street will seek to reinforce that message later. they say that they are going to publish the full list of contact between borisjohnson and sirj

minister's former adviser dominic cummings for leaking mobile texts between borisjohnson and sirjames dyson. hairdressers re—open in northern ireland — the last part of the uk where they're being allowed to welcome back customers. the risk of infection with coronavirus falls sharply after the first dose of a vaccine, a study finds, as the number of people in the uk who've received a jab reaches 33 million. and coming up this hour: the duke and duchess of cambridge have released a new picture of prince louis — to celebrate his third birthday and mark his first day at nursery school. hello, good morning and welcome to bbc news. new restrictions for people coming to the uk from india have come into force this morning, as the country has joined the uk's "red list" — which effectively bans travel. in the past couple of hours, india has reported the biggest daily rise in infections of any country since the pandemic began — nearly a third of a million cases — for the second day in a row. the country is seeing a rapidly rising death toll, and a new variant of the virus has been identified. six hosp

sirjames dyson has said the urgent correspondence was only about compliance with rules and that his companyfit from the project which had cost it £20 million. but at prime minister's questions, the labour leader sir keir starmer focused his attack on the latest twist. what does the prime minister think is the right thing to do if he receives a text message from a billionaire conservative supporter asking him to fix tax rules? if he's referring to the request from james dyson, i make absolutely no apology at all, mr speaker, for shifting heaven and earth and doing everything i possibly could — i think any prime minister would, in those circumstances, to secure ventilators for the people of this country and to save lives. let's be clear what these texts show. the prime minister was lobbied by a wealthy businessman and a close friend for a change in the tax rules. tax rules. the prime minister responded, "i'll fix it". then, after a discussion with the chancellor, who everybody seems to be lobbying these days, the prime minister texted his friend to say, "it's fixed". how many other people wit

the prime minister of presiding over a government of sleaze in a row over lobbying involving sirjames dysona is suffering a second wave of covid with record numbers of daily deaths and infections. and a victory for the fans as plans for the european football superleague bite the dust. and coming up in the sport on the bbc news channel... a late penalty by heung—min son gives tottenham victory over southampton in their first game post—mourinho. good evening. within hours of the conviction of a former us police officerfor the murder of an african—american man a full federal investigation has been launched into policing practices in the city of minneapolis. the justice department will look at whether there has been a pattern of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. it follows national outrage over the killing of george floyd by derek chauvin. the former officer was convicted of all charges against him yesterday. president biden has described the conviction as "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in america". our north america correspondent nick bryant has the latest. guilty! chee

the latest revelations concern borisjohnson and the billionaire sirjames dyson, of vacuum cleanerfame from the prime minister. sirjames had moved his headquarters to singapore in 2019, his concern, if staff spent time in the uk working to develop them, they and the firm might have to pay more uk tax. the company had written to the treasury asking it to ensure usual tax rules would not apply but hadn't got an answer, so he'd raised it with borisjohnson. in direct text messages seen by the bbc, the prime minister responded to sirjames, promising, i will fix it tomorrow, then sent a message saying, the chancellor says it's fixed. sirjames, looking for a formal treasury response, wrote, i'm afraid we really need a response to our letter. mrjohnson replied, i am the first lord of the treasury and you can take it that we are backing you to do what you need. so did borisjohnson follow the rules governing ministers' conduct? it was a pandemic, an urgent situation, but contact should be reported and civil servants present if official business is discussed. today, the labour leader, sir keir st

internal inquiry into the leak of private text messages between boris johnson and the businessman sirjames dyson messages sent at the start of the pandemic, in which borisjohnson says he would "fix" tax rules that sirjames said presented an obstacle to making ventilators for the nhs. labour have called for all correspondence from mrjohnson�*s phone about government business to be released. this report from our political editor laura kuenssberg contains some flashing images. ticking. there wasn't time to waste. at the start of the pandemic, those at the cabinet table were under the most intense pressure. but were mistakes made in the rush? yesterday, we revealed the prime minister and the businessman sirjames dyson had been in touch by direct text. dyson had offered to make ventilators for the nhs in the uk, but the firm wanted guarantees they wouldn't have to pay extra tax if they brought more staff in. government business is meant to be transparent — labour's calling foul. we've got this bizarre situation, where you've got some people who've got the prime minister's number and can access him an

minister of being at the centre of government "sleaze" in a lobbying row — involving the businessman sirjames dysonn power — as plans for the european football superleague collapse in spectacularfashion. survivors of the fishmonger hall attack tell the inquest about the dramatic moment they stopped usman khan. india ravaged by a second wave of covid — record numbers of daily deaths and infections — hosptials are overwhelmed as oxygen supplies run out. and coming up later in the hour — seeds for the sea bed. how restoring an underwater meadow near plymouth, could fight climate change. good evening and welcome to bbc news. president biden has described the conviction of the former police officer derek chauvin for the killing of george floyd as a "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in america". chauvin was found guilty of all charges last night. he'll be sentenced in 8 weeks time. today the us justice department announced a sweeping investigation into policing practices in minneapolis where george floyd was murdered. our north america correspondent nick bryant reports. guilty! cheering.

earlier this week, the bbc published text messages between borisjohnson and businessman sirjames dysonand said he'd show senior officials his phone to prove it. this evening, mrjohnson fended off questions. i don't think people care. what they care about is... that's not really an answer. ..what was i doing back in march of last year. and people have attacked me for that. but did you finger him - as the source of that leak? i don't think people give a monkey's, to be frank, about, you know, who's briefing what to who. mr cummings has plenty more to get off his chest. the prime minister and his fiancee, carrie symonds, live in a flat in downing street. reports have been swirling about an expensive refurb, and mr cummings claims there were question marks over who'd pay for it. he says... a number 10 spokesperson says the government and ministers have acted in accordance with codes of conduct and electoral law on donations. now cast your mind back to last autumn. the decision to have a second lockdown in england was leaked and an inquiry launched to find out who'd done it. mr cummings sai

earlier this week, the bbc published text messages between boris johnson and businessman sirjames dysoned being the leaker and said he'd show senior officials his phone to prove it. this evening, mrjohnson fended off questions. i don't think people care. what they care about is... that's not really an answer. ..what was i doing back in march of last year. and people have attacked me for that. but did you finger him as the source of that leak? i don't think people give a monkey's, to be frank, about, you know, who's briefing what to who. mr cummings has plenty more to get off his chest. the prime minister and his fiancee, carrie symonds, live in a flat in downing street. reports have been swirling about an expensive refurb, and mr cummings claims there were question marks over who'd pay for it. he says... a number 10 spokesperson says the government and ministers have acted in accordance with codes of conduct and electoral law on donations. now cast your mind back to last autumn. the decision to have a second lockdown in england was leaked and an inquiry launched to find out who'd done i

between the pointed at dominic cummings by these leaks of texts between the prime minister and sirjames dyson "no it wasn't me, i have messages but not these ones, i have made a series of other damaging allegations about the prime minister as well." mo? it is prime minister as well." mo? it is mess in prime minister as well." mo? it is messy in a _ prime minister as well." mo? it is messy in a developing crisis for the government. i think it is easy in one hand — government. i think it is easy in one hand that this is the westminster bubble or the palace entry— westminster bubble or the palace entry type of story, you have the jilted _ entry type of story, you have the jilted former adviser and there has always— jilted former adviser and there has always been an element of ego and pride _ always been an element of ego and pride and _ always been an element of ego and pride and revenge but actually some of the _ pride and revenge but actually some of the allegations that he he has made _ of the allegations that he he has made our— of the allegations that he he has made our very serious and the

borisjohnson is challenged about texts which show he offered to fix tax rules — to encourage businessman sirjames dysonke ventilators for the nhs. if he's referring to james dyson, i make absolutely no apology at all for shifting heaven and earth to secure ventilators. sleaze, sleaze, sleaze, and it's all on his _ sleaze, sleaze, sleaze, and it's all on his watch. the queen says thank you for the support and kindness she's been shown since the death of the duke of edinburgh — in a message issued on her 95th birthday. in india, cases and deaths from coronavirus reach record numbers — two days before the countryjoins the travel red list. and, how the desire for an hourglass figure is fuelling use of a dangerous appetite stimulant, promoted on social media. and coming up on the bbc news channel: team gb — led by the interim england head coach hege riise — face the hosts japan, as part of the women's football groups, at the tokyo olympics. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. one of the architects of football's breakaway european super league, the chairman ofjuventus, has admitted the project

sirjames dyson has said the urgent correspondence related only to compliance with rules and that hispany didn't benefit from the project which had cost it 20 million pounds. but at prime minister's questions, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, focused his attack on this latest twist. what does the prime minister think is the right thing to do if he receives a text message from a billionaire conservative supporter asking him to fix tax rules? if he's referring to the request from james dyson, i make absolutely no apology at all, mr speaker, for shifting heaven and earth and doing everything i possibly could. i think any prime minister would in those circumstances to secure ventilators for the people of this country and to save lives and to roll a ventilator procurement which the labour—controlled public accounts themselves was a benchmark for procurement. mr speaker, let's be clear what these texts show. the prime minister was lobbied by a wealthy businessman and a close friend for a change in the tax rules. tax rules. the prime minister responded, "i'll fix it." who everybody seems

internal inquiry into the leak of private text messages between boris johnson and billionaire sirjames dysonsages sent at the start of the pandemic, in which borisjohnson says he would "fix" tax rules that the businessman sirjames said presented an obstacle to making ventilators for the nhs. labour have called for all correspondence from mrjohnson's phone about government business to be released. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, has more. ticking. there wasn't time to waste. at the start of the pandemic, those at the cabinet table were under the most intense pressure. but were mistakes made in the rush? yesterday, we revealed the prime minister and the businessman sirjames dyson had been in touch by direct text. dyson had offered to make ventilators for the nhs in the uk, but the firm wanted guarantees they wouldn't have to pay extra tax if they brought more staff in. government business is meant to be transparent — labour's calling foul. we've got this bizarre situation, where you've got some people who've got the prime minister's number and can access him and he apparently will resp

at the centre of government "sleaze" in a fresh row over lobbying involving the businessman, sirjames dysonsurvivors of the fishmonger hall attack tell the inquest about the dramatic moment they stopped usman khan. india ravaged by a second wave of covid — record numbers of daily deaths and infections, hosptials are overwhelmed as oxygen supplies run out. fan power — celebrations as plans for the european football super league collapse in spectacularfashion. and coming up on the bbc news channel. manchester city look to bounce back from their fa cup semifinal defeat against aston villa in the premier league. we'll be live at villa park. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. president biden has described the conviction of the former police officer derek chauvin for the killing of george floyd as a "a giant step forward in the march toward justice in america". chauvin was found guilty of all charges last night. he'll be sentenced in eight weeks' time. the video of him kneeling on mr floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as he repeatedly said, "i can't breathe" sparked protests no

at the height— minister and sirjames dyson at the height of— minister and sirjames dyson at thes himself hasn't responded _ dominant, cummings himself hasn't responded to requests to say whether or not— responded to requests to say whether or not he _ responded to requests to say whether or not he was involved, but it is interesting _ or not he was involved, but it is interesting downing street hasn't yet produced any evidence that he was involved in those leagues. additionally, of course, they are saying _ additionally, of course, they are saying that this is going to be a cabinet — saying that this is going to be a cabinet office, whitehall enquiry into the — cabinet office, whitehall enquiry into the leaking of the exchanges, the text _ into the leaking of the exchanges, the text exchanges between the prime minister— the text exchanges between the prime minister and james dyson, and yet, it would _ minister and james dyson, and yet, it would appear, given that three national— it would appear, given that three national newspapers are carrying those _ national newspapers are ca

regarding the leak of text messages between borisjohnson and sirjames dyson. ion gleaned from those text messages. today, dominic cummings denied he was part of that leak. he said he does have text messages relating to dyson's business, but it's much more related to the ventilators and covid. it has nothing to do with the tax issues that the bbc has been reporting on earlier this week. there was also a second leak story that dominic cummings touches on. cast your mind back to november last year, and there was leaked information that borisjohnson was on the verge of announcing a second lockdown and england. that led downing street to launch an inquiry into who was behind that leak. mr cummings says he was cleared of that along with the director of communications at the director of communications at the time, lee cain, but he goes on to say in this blog about the prime minister doesn't want or didn't want our —— an inquiry. there was a third issue that dominic cummings raises in this blog, and that is an issue of the rabid renovation of the downing street flat. i

wilson suggested he would have to inform officials about contacts with sirjames dyson. we know the issue was discussed very clearly with the text that has just been set out by laura. there is some sympathy for the prime minister from out by laura. there is some sympathy for the prime ministerfrom a previous prime minister, a previous labour prime minister at that. tony blair did seem to think when he spoke to the new channel earlier, in the midst of a national crisis, perhaps we should give the prime minister some leeway. you shouldn't bypass official channels, but on the other hand, if there is an urgent situation, and i do — having sat in the prime minister's seat myself and i know what it's like to be in the middle of a crisis — i do understand how these situations arise. when i was prime minister i never actually had a mobile phone! interestingly, as tony blair points out, he did not have a mobile phone so there is no way you can go back in time and look at those records. perhaps it is faithful senior ministers not to have that form of communication. there is questi

demands an investigation into text messages exchanged between borisjohnson and the businessman sirjames dysonemand for foodbanks goes up by a third, footballer and campaigner marcus rashford teams up with chef tom kerridge to create cheap, healthy family meals. if i could literally go back as a kid, this is the thing that i'd learn to do. as well as, like, do what i was doing with my football and stuff, when i went home, i would have loved to have been able to sit down and just learn to cook. the brit awards ceremony will go ahead next month — with a live audience of 4,000, who don't need to wear masks or socially—distance, but will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test. hello, good morning and welcome to bbc news. more than 100,000 black and asian service personnel who died fighting for the british empire were not properly commemorated due to "pervasive racism" — that's according to a new report. the commonwealth war graves commission has apologised after it found the troops were not formally remembered in the same way as their white counterparts. the director—general gave this a

talk us through it. and to sirjames dyson more recently. talk us through it.was _ recently. talk us through it. well, i think it was shakespeare, - recently. talk us through it. well, i think it was shakespeare, i'm i i think it was shakespeare, i'm likely wrong, who said that revenge is a dish best served cold. and i should've thought that dominic cummings's dishes been in the fridge for a few weeks. this smacks of someone trying to get even. dominic cummings certainly in business terms was asked to go, and if indeed it is true, because this isjust was asked to go, and if indeed it is true, because this is just alleged and the thoughts of the prime minister — i must stress that, but if it is true, that i think it's a great breach of trust. when you leave a position, be a good lever and honour the office that you held. but if it is true and these have been leaked, then it is embarrassing for the prime minister, and it's even more embarrassing that the prime minister really did go out and defend dominic cummings when cummings thought that you drive a car for 30

yesterday, we revealed the prime minister and the businessman sirjames dyson had been in touch by directby telling people that he'll get things done and then you've got the vast majority of people who've got no such access. dyson spent £20 million and didn't get a contract in the end. the firm says they were only trying to comply with the rules. sirjames became a uk tax resident again this week and ministers have defended what went on. what the prime minister did was to ensure that things happened. now this is the dither and delay of the socialists. they don't want to do things, they want to put the process ahead of succeeding. let us praise dyson for all that he has contributed to british manufacturing — the huge success that he has been. there were concerns in government, though, about how boris johnson communicates. 0ne senior whitehall figure told me there was great anxiousness about this prime minister doing deals on whatsapp. nobody trusted him, nobody knew what was improper. and number 10 did not officially deny today claims that borisjohnson had been advised to change his phone n

, boris johnson insisting he has done nothing to apologise for after those texts emerged from sirjames dysonleaders and politicians, something that happens quite a lot, talk us through this, maya. happens quite a lot, talk us through this, ma a. , ., , , ., ., this, maya. yes, what this guardian sto is this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying _ this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is — this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is that _ this, maya. yes, what this guardian story is saying is that orest - story is saying is that orest johnson and his others are regularly texting by business leaders and politicians, and the ministerial code actually only requires meetings and not text messages to be disclosed, so there is a concern around government by whatsapp, as this guardian article says, and that text messaging is not really sustainable. and i suppose there's a number of different things here to touch upon. one is i think it is never really good that people with money have access to government decision—making just because they have the prime initial�*s n

she raises the issue of sirjames dyson and doesn't acknowledge the fact that sir james — acknowledgeounds of his— james spent millions of pounds of his own money in order to try to — of his own money in order to try to ensure that we had ventilators to save those on the frontline. she doesn't mention— the frontline. she doesn't mention that the ventilator challenge was investigated by the public accounts committee and said — the public accounts committee and said it was a model of public— and said it was a model of public procurement. she doesn't mention— public procurement. she doesn't mention the fact that the changes to the prime minister '5 tlat— changes to the prime minister '5 flat were paid for by the prime _ '5 flat were paid for by the prime minister himself. that can't be bullying harassment leaking — can't be bullying harassment leaking of— can't be bullying harassment leaking of taxpayer- can't be bullying harassment leaking of taxpayer money . can't be bullying harassmentj leaking of taxpayer money or can't be bullying harassment- leaking of taxpayer money or no actuai—

borisjohnson is challenged about texts which show he offered to fix tax rules — to encourage businessman sirjames dysonr prime minister tony blair, says he s worried that minister tony blair, is being discredited around the world because of what he calls unjustified anxieties about its safety and efficacy. he wants the government here to publish more data about the jab to combat vaccine hesitancy. mr blair spoke to my colleague victoria derbyshire ealier in different parts of the world, you have got different regulators, some saying it should not be used for over 65s, some saying it should not be used for under 65s, we come across several african countries where people are now refusing to take the astrazeneca vaccine and yet when you look at the data that is being published so far, it is a highly effective vaccine, it stops hospitalisations, stop deaths and reduce them dramatically, and so it is really important to restore the credibility because it is the astrazeneca vaccine along with thejohnson & johnson vaccine, that are going to be the workhorse vaccines of the world and what we have learnt i thin

nina warhurst asked the company's founder — sirjames dyson — why. it doesn't matter.ountries in manufacturing four different countries. we are a global business and asia is the fastest growing market in the world by a long way and it is very important that we are there and we have a good presence there. it would be arrogant to think we could design and develop products for asia in britain. we can develop technology but understanding what asians want and what works in the market we have to be there. �* , ., there. but there is a difference _ there. but there is a difference between l there. but there is a - difference between feeling british and being a british business that creates jobs. you are in a unique position to make your entire supply chain here in the uk and yet you do not. ~ ., ~ _, , not. we make consumer electronics _ not. we make consumer electronics and - not. we make consumer electronics and those i not. we make consumer| electronics and those are not. we make consumer- electronics and those are just not made here. but electronics and those are 'ust not

year, denied leaking private text messages between mrjohnson and the billionaire businessman sirjames dysonan answer. ..what was i doing back in march of last year? and people have — people have attacked me for that. but did you finger him as a source of that leak? i don't think people give a monkey's, to be frank. vickijung vicki jung says the prime minister is facing tough questions. now, tonight, some in government are trying to downplay all of this, saying dominic cummings is disgruntled and discredited but it can cause real problems for the prime minister, i think. firstly, it could be seen as a reflection on his leadership, presiding over a team that at times in the last few months has looked pretty dysfunctional. there is also a problem because it is a massive distraction. we have had all of those allegations about lobbying. this, too, is about standards and conduct in public life. and finally, they cannot control this, downing street. they simply don't know what is coming next. dominic cummings suggesting he has kept phone records, and no—one knows quite what else he is willing to s

series of texts in which the prime minister offers to fix tax rules on behalf of businessman sirjames dysonin march last year, borisjohnson assures sirjames that neither his singapore—based company, nor its senior employees would have to pay more uk tax if they were to make ventilators for the nhs. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. who you know, notjust what you know can matter round here. but revelations about connections between government and business have raised eyebrows of late, and now it's conversations of the prime minister himself under the spotlight. last year, the prominent tory—backing businessman sirjames dyson wanted to help make desperately needed ventilators for the nhs. but his firm wrote to the government asking, if they did, would they have to pay any more tax? official queries and conversations like that are allowed, but the rules for ministers say they have to be transparent, and civil servants should be involved. but in a series of direct text messages between borisjohnson and sirjames, the prime minister promised, "i will fix it tomorrow." the prime minist

labourare communications with the businessman sirjames dyson.al security payments, they are just not enough to cover essentials so during the pandemic we�*ve that significantly exacerbated is almost double the amount of people are now on social security as they were at the start of the pandemic and so more and more people are turning to social security for that safety net but falling through the cracks, and sadly into foodbanks. haifa but falling through the cracks, and sadly into foodbanks.— sadly into foodbanks. how are you manauuin sadly into foodbanks. how are you managing to _ sadly into foodbanks. how are you managing to keep _ sadly into foodbanks. how are you managing to keep pace _ sadly into foodbanks. how are you managing to keep pace with - sadly into foodbanks. how are you managing to keep pace with that l managing to keep pace with that demand? you rely on donations and i know a lot of people are conscious of needing to donate at the start of the pandemic but that needs to be sustained. it�*s the pandemic but that needs to be susta

is looking into the leak of the prime minister's private communications with the businessman sirjames dysonthe production of ventilators at the start of the pandemic.- production of ventilators at the start of the pandemic. leila nathoo, thank ou. scottish labour has launched its manifesto for the holyrood election next month. the party is pledging to increase free childcare to 50 hours a week for every youngster. labour also says it will guarantee a job for every young scot. focusing on the impact of covid, the party's leader anas sarwar called for scotland to unite behind a national recovery plan. imagine what we could achieve if we put aside those things that we disagree on and focused on the things we agree on. imagine if we obsessed about education in the next parliament. the nhs in the next parliament. imagine if we obsessed aboutjobs and the economy in the next parliament. imagine we obsessed about eradicating child poverty in the next parliament. imagine we obsessed about challenging the climate emergency in the next parliament. just imagine the kind of scotland we could build toget

sacked last year, denied leaking private text messages between mrjohnson and the businessman, sirjames dysont they care about is what was i doing back in march of last year? and people have attacked me for that. but year? and people have attacked me for that-— me for that. but do you think him as a _ me for that. but do you think him as a source _ me for that. but do you think him as a source of— me for that. but do you think him as a source of that - me for that. but do you think him as a source of that leak? me for that. but do you think. him as a source of that leak? i him as a source of that leak? don't think him as a source of that leak? i don't think people give a monkey's, to be frank. 0ur political correspondent vicky young has this analysis. tonight someone in government have some in government are trying to downplay this, saying dominic cummings is disgruntled and discredited but it can cause real problems for the prime minister, i think. firstly could be seen as a reflection on his leadership, presiding over a team but at times in the last few months has looked pretty dysfunctiona

let's go to the denial first of all regarding the leak of text messages between borisjohnson and sirjames dysonic cummings has denied he was part of that leak. he said he does have messages relating to dyson's business with the government but it's much more related to the ventilators and to covid—19 policy and nothing to do with the tax issues the bbc has a reporting on earlier this week. but also a second leaked story that dominic cummings touches on. cast your mind back to november last year, and there was a leaked information that boris johnson was on the verge of announcing a second lock down in england. that led downing street to launch an inquiry into who was behind that leak. now mr dominic cummings said he was cleared of that along with the director of communications at the time, but he goes on the same in his blog that the prime minister does not want or did not want an inquiry into the leak because it could cause him great personal difficulty. there is a third issue that dominic cummings raises in this blog and that is the issue of the renovation of the downing street flap where he re

denials over accusations he leaked text messages sent between the prime minister and businessman, sirjames dyson paper describes it as "all—out war" between mr cummings and his former boss, borisjohnson. the i strikes a similar tone on its front page, noting dominic cummings�* attacks on the prime minister's competence and integrity. that story also the lead for the telegraph — but its front page also carries a message from government scientists who claim facemasks may not be needed this summer as the vaccine does the "heavy lifting" in the battle against coronavirus. "unethical and foolish" is the quote the times lifts from dominic cummings�* blistering attack on borisjohnson. the former adviser�*s remarks were part of a i,000—word post on his blog. the guardian describes mr cummings�* attack on the pm as "astonishing" but the paper also carries news of the biggest miscarriage ofjustice in uk history — the wrongful conviction of dozens of post office workers. the express marks that story on its front page — celebrations outside the high court as those convictions against 39 former postmasters a

sirjames dyson is absolutely one of them, though. what did he have to say? it was a fascinating day yesterday. good morning. sirjames dyson is hiring. as you say, one of the most famous business owners in britain. his vacuums, hair and hand dryers are credited with making life easier for millions, but he's also caused controversy by backing brexit then moving manufacturing abroad. he told me he's a global thinker, but what does that mean forjobs here? yesterday i had an exclusive snoop around his secretive hq in wiltshire. it is quite a conservative haircut, it is not a particularly artistic one. ., ., �* ~' it is not a particularly artistic| one— the it is not a particularly artistic one. ., ., �* ~ the treat one. you don't think so? the great lockdown level, _ one. you don't think so? the great lockdown level, how _ one. you don't think so? the great lockdown level, how is _ one. you don't think so? the great lockdown level, how is the - one. you don't think so? the great lockdown level, how is the home l lockdown level, how is the

minister of being at the centre of government "sleaze" in a lobbying row — involving the businessman sirjames dyson

for a "thorough investigation" into the prime minister's text messages with the businessman, sirjames dysonked to make ventilators early in the coronavirus crisis. it wants a committee of mps to examine the exchanges, claiming borisjohnson was attempting to selectively target tax breaks for a politicalfriend. mrjohnson has insisted he was right to move "heaven and earth" to secure ventilators. india is being devastated by a second wave of covid, which the country's prime minister has called a coronavirus storm. in the past 2a hours, almost 300,000 new cases were reported — the biggest daily rise in any country — and more than 2,000 people died. officials said hospitals across india were at breaking point. the brit awards will go ahead with a live audience next month, as part of the government's research into how large scale events can reopen safely in the pandemic. the ceremony will take place in front of 4000 people inside london's o2 arena on may the 11th. 0ur entertainment correspondent colin paterson has more. can you imagine? just the feeling of bein: back can you imagine? just the fee

she raises the issue of sirjames dyson, she does acknowledge the fact that sirjames spent going to pouncend a great deal of the things my right honourable friend has just said but, let's face it, there is not a great deal of public confidence in priority and ethics in politics in this country, and that is to be laid at the tour of all political parties over a very long period. what would begin to restore public confidence in these matters would be to have more genuine discussion about principles and values and how conflicts of interest should be better managed have rather less quibbling about whether they were inside or outside certain rules and have fewer vaccinations, perhaps less blaming as well. can i commend my right honourable friend to the letters sent by the chair of the committee on standards in public life to the prime minister last week, which recommended a number of changes to the role, that he should be able to initiate his or her own inquiries, should be able to publish a summary of their findings and also recommended that the prime minister should retain the right to decide