foster who is in israel. here in the uk... the home office has earmarked at least £700 million to manage the arrival of migrants on small boats until 2030. the projections flew under the radar yet officials published them online last week, as home secretary james cleverly flew to rwanda to sign a new treaty to, quote, "stop the boats". they predict the channel crossings could continue up to 203k. 0ur chief political correspondent henry zeffman has more from downing street. it's been the government's mantra for the last three prime ministers, although that does not actually take you back that far in time, given the turmoil in the conservative party, but rishi sunak very much made it his own, at the start of this year he set out five promises for the year ahead and one of them was, in his words, to stop the boats. now, he was dealt a very significant setbackjust a month or so ago when the supreme court ruled that his plan to deport asylum seekers to rwanda was in its current form unlawful and tomorrow the house of commons will have its first vote on emergency legislation designed to effectively overcome, supersede, that supreme court ruling. now, rishi sunak is having a very tough time trying to persuade conservative mps to vote for this bill at this stage, and it is not just one chunk of his parliamentary party he has got to persuade, he has got the so—called one—nation mps on the left of the party, they are concerned that the government needs to ensure it is meeting its international human rights obligations, and on the right of the party he has got mps who fear that perhaps this bill doesn't do enough to stop appeals. so, to come back to where you started, it is little wonder that the government is nevertheless still setting aside money for effectively contingencies for those who do make it here across small boats because it is far from certain that rishi sunak is going to get the support that he thinks is necessary to get this policy going. henry zeffman from downing street there. we can go back live now to southern israel and my colleague anna foster who had to disappear during the headlines there with an alert being issued. back to you, anna foster. thank you, sorry about that, just to explain to you what happens here, people who live in this part of southern israel know it very well, it is called the red alert as you know that it is close because you hear it over loudspeakers so you might have heard it in the background during the headlines and that means we need to take cover and find some sort of solid shelter, and a puff of smoke has just about gone in the sky but it was a rocket attack from gaza so we moved to a sheltered area, you move quite fast which is why i am slightly out of breath and we heard the loud interception where the iron dome system intercept the rocket from gaza in the air and blows it up so you see this big puff of smoke on the horizon but everything is clear now so we are back to telling you about the story which is happening today. if you look at these live shots of gaza from southern israel, it has really been a very active morning this morning. we have seen and heard some really intensive airstrikes in gaza, you can see there the big, big plumes of smoke that have been rising into the sky. it is one of those mornings where it is clear enough to see right across to gaza and see how shattered that skyline is and it is also still in love that there was plumes of smoke hanging in the airfor love that there was plumes of smoke hanging in the air for longer than they do on windy days when they are blown away but you can really see this morning the impact of the intensity of the military operation thatis intensity of the military operation that is still going on, notjust in this part of northern gaza but all the way down to the southern city of khan younis as well. let's go back to the beginning because we were going to talk about the need for a new ceasefire, the fact that of course there are still israeli hostages being held inside gaza and qatar who are the key broker between israel and hamas have said that actually the window to try and negotiate a new ceasefire deal is narrowing, particularly given the intensity of that operation. and also diplomats at the united nations have said that the general assembly is going to vote on tuesday on another call for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. a seniorfigure in the hamas movement has also issued a threat to israel in the last few hours saying that not a single hostage will be allowed to leave gaza alive unless the group's demands are met. benjamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister, has called on hamas to lay down its arms, he also told the israeli people that some hamas members are now starting to surrender to israeli forces and there has also been a global call today for a general strike, this has come from palestinian groups and you see it already imports of the occupied west bank and parts of occupied east jerusalem and other countries in the middle east as well where we see that some of the day today activities have stopped, we see that shops are closed, schools are closed in some areas as well. you might also remember yesterday the world health organization was holding a special session on the medical situation in gaza and they have adopted a resolution after that calling for an increase in humanitarian aid for gaza. the head of the who has said that the war is having a catastrophic impact on healthcare, particularly for civilians inside gaza. i spoke a little earlier to neri zilber, an adjunct fellow at the washington institute for near east policy, and we talked in particular about those suggestions that hamas is starting to degrade both in terms of their system and their leadership. well, obviously it has had a major impact, weeks of air strikes and also now four divisions of the israeli army operating inside the gaza strip so undoubtedly it has had a major impact but reports and even comments by certain israeli officials to the effect that hamas is on the verge of collapse i think is at the current moment wildly optimistic. while it is true that hamas in the northern gaza strip is disintegrating, is, as other israeli officials have put it, eroding, we have to remember that even by israel's own count, about 7,000 hamas fighters have been killed over these two—and—a—half months of war and of an estimated total of 25,000 to 30,000 hamas fighters, and hamas has five brigades in the gaza strip from north to south, about two brigades in the north have actually suffered extreme damage, but that also leaves three brigades remaining in southern gaza still fighting. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has been very clear about the objective of this war to entirely remove hamas from gaza but what does that look like in practice, is it the senior leadership, is it a certain amount of the infrastructure or is it everybody who may be a hamas sympathiser, who may have voted for hamas at some point in the past, what would that actually look like? so, according to my own reporting, there is a very clear war objective by the israeli side in terms of what they call destroying or eliminating or neutralising hamas as both a military and governing force in the gaza strip. it would entail eliminating at least the three top leaders of hamas, yahya sinwar, mohammed deif and marwan issa, and also degrading a majority of hamas�*s 2a battalions which are under those five brigades, still a lot of work to do in that respect, and also eliminating hamas�*s stockpile of weapons and primarily rockets. as we know hamas is still firing rockets into southern and even central israel, so those are the actual military objectives of the israeli army that would extend in their minds to elimination of hamas as a military force in the gaza strip and also a governing force in the gaza strip and on that side of the ledger, a bit more progress, at least in israeli minds, hamas has effectively lost a lot of control even in southern gaza about what happens above ground in terms of governing and internal law and order. but a lot of work to be done and even according to my own reporting there is still at least a month left of this high—intensity ground operation from the israeli point of view. that was neri zilber from the washington institute for near east policy. i also spoke earlier with jeremy hopkins, from unicef, based in cairo in egypt and he was explaining how the very small amount of humanitarian aid that is getting into ghazi at the moment is nowhere near enough to meet the desperate civilian need. what we are seeing going in is, yes, a slight improvement in the last few days as compared to the last week for example but the gap is enormous, the humanitarian needs are huge, we have 2.1 million people who need life—saving humanitarian support in all its forms, and that ranges from food, nutrition support, clean water, medical assistance, medicines, reusable medical equipment, that sort of thing. the trickle of trucks going in is a trickle and it is not enough and we really need to see all the borders open between israel and gaza to supplement the corridor that we currently have going from egypt into gaza. prior to the crisis there were 400 trucks entering gaza every day, and we're lucky here if we're getting 100 trucks in a day. so, if you like it is a quarter of what we need and added to that is the fuel needs, so it is all very well getting humanitarian support into gaza but if we can't transport it around gaza, which requires fuel, and if we can't operate the water pumps and the hospitals and health centres with simple electricity, which requires fuel, then that is an added impediment and if i may, the final, if you like the most important, constraint is that we cannot safely move around gaza, we need to reach every child in gaza, in any part of gaza, and to do that we need guarantees of huanitarian protection for our work. that was jeremy hopkins from that wasjeremy hopkins from unicef in cairo. ijust want that wasjeremy hopkins from unicef in cairo. i just want to that wasjeremy hopkins from unicef in cairo. ijust want to show that wasjeremy hopkins from unicef in cairo. i just want to show you again the live pictures of gaza as seen from southern israel here. i was telling you it has been a particularly active morning, even as i am speaking we can hear again the sounds of artillery fire and mortar fire, we've seen some big airstrikes this morning in the northern part of the gaza strip and you can really see it there on the skyline, there have been huge plumes of smoke, columns of smoke rising into the skies, that intense military operation continues notjust in the north of the strip but down to the south and the main southern city of khan younis as well. much more to come from here in southern israel throughout the day but for now let's go back to samantha simmonds in london. rishi sunak, the british prime minister, will appear before the covid inquiry shortly, where he'll face questions about the decisions he made as chancellor of the exchequer during the pandemic. this was him arriving a little earlier at the central london hearing. those decisions that he made are expected to include relating to the eat 0ut made are expected to include relating to the eat out to help 0ut scheme, with cut—price meals, and a scheme, with cut—price meals, and a scheme which has since been blamed for helping to increase covert deaths. live now to our health correspondent, ellie price who is at the inquiry. what kind of line of questioning to go think the prime in will face? well, it is an interesting today today, by the way it is the last day of witness statements that we are going to have in this part of the inquiry so it is significant because obviously over the last few weeks we've had from the scientific advisers, from political advisers, from former cabinet ministers, last week we had two days�* worth of boris johnson, then prime minister, and today we got rishi sunak, who obviously is still the british prime minister, but was at the time the chancellor of the exchequer. so, interesting because of his liver decisions he made, he was not the final make—up of decisions if you like, that was borisjohnson, but he was obviously very significant because he was an influential figure, influencing some of those key moments in the pandemic here in the uk and as you say, that issue of eat 0ut the uk and as you say, that issue of eat out to help 0ut the uk and as you say, that issue of eat out to help out i think we'll definitely come up, it is something which has been talked about for weeks and weeks here at the inquiry, this scheme that was introduced in the summer of 2020, shortly after the summer of 2020, shortly after the first lockdown here in the uk, essentially giving everyone up to £10 towards a meal out in a restaurant. there has been criticism that that lead to an increase in the virus, but there has also been other scientific advice, actually, that it did not necessarily increased prevalence of the virus, it was more that it had an impact on the governments and messaging. so i think we are going to hear a little bit about that. there is a broader point which is, how much was rishi sunak pushing back against scientific advice to lockdown and introduce tougher restrictions, particularly by the autumn of 2020, and i think we are going to hear questions about that, we have already heard that he has been referred to by some scientists as dr death, the treasury was referred to as the pro death squad. i think there will be broader questions about how much he was reticent to introduce some of those are stricter than rules or indeed restrictions generally and how much that had an influence on government policy at the time. i think there will also be questions on the furlough scheme here, this was the scheme introduced by the treasury which was welcomed by the treasury which was welcomed by a number of business leaders, effectively it offered businesses help to pay up to 80% of an employee's salary. welcomed at the time by many business leaders and indeed people who work in a sense keptin indeed people who work in a sense kept injobs indeed people who work in a sense kept in jobs that they could not go to. but obviously there were also criticisms at the time that it didn't take adequate money to the low—paid and self—employed, so i think there are plenty of questions today to the prime minister, for his then role as chancellor. ali price, thanks very much. you can follow all of the developments today at the inquiry, website. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 29—year—old woman is appearing before croydon magistrates later charged with four counts of manslaughter after her two sets of twins died in a fire in south london. leyton and logan hoath were three years old and kyson and bryson were four when they died in december 2021. their mother deveca rose has also been charged with child abandonment. a 58—year—old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of anthony littler, who was beaten to death outside east finchley tube station in may 1984. the arrest comes days after the metropolitan police launched a fresh appeal for information. the met says the 58—year—old man bailed untiljanuary pending further inquiries. the uk 5 health security agency is warning that longer and warmer summers could increase the risk of mosquitoes becoming established in the uk. the insects can spread diseases including dengue fever and zika virus. the report is based on a worst case scenario temperature increase of four degrees celsius, which would also see an increase in heat—related deaths and flooding. you're live with bbc news. with 2a hours to go before the scheduled end of talks at the cop28 climate conference in dubai an agreement meant to phase out fossil fuels is not guaranteed as not all countries are on board. draft language for a possible deal is expected in the next few hours. earlier today the un secretary general urged negotiators to show maximum ambition and flexibility. antonio guterres said countries must leave the talks with a clear understanding of what's required saying not all countries must phase out fossil fuels at the same time. we can get more now with our correspondent carl nasman who is in dubai following elements.— dubai following elements. that's ri . ht. , no dubai following elements. that's right., no updated _ dubai following elements. that's right. , no updated text - dubai following elements. that's right. , no updated text yet, - dubai following elements. that's right. , no updated text yet, we | dubai following elements. that's l right. , no updated text yet, we are right., no updated text yet, we are still waiting for that to drop, in the meantime let's talk about some of the science behind what is going on here, and for that we have the chair of the into government or panel on climate change, kind of the face of the science, if you like to put it that way. one of the big sticking point so far has been around the fate of fossil fuels, where there there should be a phase—out or a face down, what does the science say about the fate of fossil fuels, the science say about the fate of fossilfuels, like coal the science say about the fate of fossil fuels, like coal or gas? well, let's face it, we've said that emissions — well, let's face it, we've said that emissions have to fall by approximate e by 2030 and get to net zero by— approximate e by 2030 and get to net zero by the _ approximate e by 2030 and get to net zero by the middle of the century. f0ssil— zero by the middle of the century. fossil fuels account for about two thirds _ fossil fuels account for about two thirds of— fossil fuels account for about two thirds of emissions of greenhouse gases, _ thirds of emissions of greenhouse gases, just the carbon dioxide, so, untess— gases, just the carbon dioxide, so, unless we — gases, just the carbon dioxide, so, unless we address the question of fossil— unless we address the question of fossil fuels, which are the biggest part of— fossil fuels, which are the biggest part of the emissions inventory, the problem _ part of the emissions inventory, the problem will not get sold, and i think— problem will not get sold, and i think that — problem will not get sold, and i think that is why they are getting the attention.— the attention. what kind of consequences _ the attention. what kind of consequences are - the attention. what kind of consequences are we - the attention. what kind of. consequences are we looking the attention. what kind of- consequences are we looking at if these talks fail to conclude with a meaningful agreement that would address many of those big and difficult goals you've just mentioned? difficult goals you've 'ust mentioned?i difficult goals you've 'ust mentioned? . . mentioned? right, well, we can already see _ mentioned? right, well, we can already see the _ mentioned? right, well, we can already see the effects - mentioned? right, well, we can already see the effects of - mentioned? right, well, we canl already see the effects of climate change _ already see the effects of climate change taking place this year, extreme — change taking place this year, extreme weather, wildfires et cetera~ — extreme weather, wildfires et cetera~ if _ extreme weather, wildfires et cetera. if we go beyond 1.5 degrees warming. _ cetera. if we go beyond 1.5 degrees warming, which is within sight if we don't _ warming, which is within sight if we don't take _ warming, which is within sight if we don't take more ambitious action, we're _ don't take more ambitious action, we're going — don't take more ambitious action, we're going to see much wider effects. — we're going to see much wider effects, all of these other things will become more extreme, but we could _ will become more extreme, but we could atso— will become more extreme, but we could also see effects on the food productivity, which will affect food systems. — productivity, which will affect food systems, we could see permafrost melting, _ systems, we could see permafrost melting, which will provide a kind of multiplier effect, so if we don't -et of multiplier effect, so if we don't get hold _ of multiplier effect, so if we don't get hold of the problem, the impacts will become all the more severe. | will become all the more severe. wanted to will become all the more severe. i wanted to ask you as the chair of the ipcc, we've had some growing voices recently saying that that goal of 1.5 celsius may already be out of reach, what do you say, can we still meet that target?- we still meet that target? well, 'ust it is we still meet that target? well, just it is not _ we still meet that target? well, just it is not quite _ we still meet that target? well, just it is not quite a _ we still meet that target? well, just it is not quite a one-word i just it is not quite a one—word answer— just it is not quite a one—word answer to— just it is not quite a one—word answer to that, it is stilljust possible _ answer to that, it is stilljust possible that we could put average temperatures, averaged over a period that evens _ temperatures, averaged over a period that evens out the variability from one year— that evens out the variability from one year to — that evens out the variability from one year to another, it isjust possible. _ one year to another, it isjust possible, only with the most ambitious and immediate action, we have almost run out of rope on this one _ have almost run out of rope on this one. ~ , have almost run out of rope on this one. . , ., ., . have almost run out of rope on this one. ~ , ., ., . ., have almost run out of rope on this one. . , ., ., . ., ., one. we saw this dramatic moment a few da s one. we saw this dramatic moment a few days ago — one. we saw this dramatic moment a few days ago here — one. we saw this dramatic moment a few days ago here in _ one. we saw this dramatic moment a few days ago here in cop28, - one. we saw this dramatic moment a few days ago here in cop28, you - few days ago here in cop28, you sitting shoulder to shoulder with the cop president sultan al—jaber after some criticism for comments he made in the past saying that there is no science behind a fossil fuels phase—out, do you think that this summit has been guided by the science? . ~ summit has been guided by the science? . ,, ., , , ., science? yeah, i think it does, you 'ust need science? yeah, i think it does, you just need to _ science? yeah, i think it does, you just need to look _ science? yeah, i think it does, you just need to look at _ science? yeah, i think it does, you just need to look at the _ science? yeah, i think it does, youj just need to look at the documents and the _ just need to look at the documents and the speeches being made by different— and the speeches being made by different delegates, all of them have referred to the science, all of them _ have referred to the science, all of them have — have referred to the science, all of them have referred to ipcc. so, everybody— them have referred to ipcc. so, everybody has penned their banner to ipcc everybody has penned their banner to ipcc in _ everybody has penned their banner to ipcc in taking things forward. i think— ipcc in taking things forward. i think it — ipcc in taking things forward. i think it has driven it, without the science _ think it has driven it, without the science we — think it has driven it, without the science we would not even have a concept _ science we would not even have a concept of — science we would not even have a concept of net zero in the political negotiations. concept of net zero in the political negotiations-— negotiations. very briefly if you don't mind. _ negotiations. very briefly if you don't mind, this _ negotiations. very briefly if you don't mind, this will _ negotiations. very briefly if you don't mind, this will probably i negotiations. very briefly if you | don't mind, this will probably be the first cop that really deals with fossil fuels, the first cop that really deals with fossilfuels, tackles the first cop that really deals with fossil fuels, tackles that language, what is your reaction to seeing finally, after so many years, fossil fuels coming to the forefront of? well, there are many different things— well, there are many different things we need to do to get to net zero emissions. the fact that we have _ zero emissions. the fact that we have taken— zero emissions. the fact that we have taken on the most important part of— have taken on the most important part of it. — have taken on the most important part of it, fossil fuels, is important, but let's not forget all the other— important, but let's not forget all the other things, transport, buildings, agriculture, land use, we need _ buildings, agriculture, land use, we need to— buildings, agriculture, land use, we need to act— buildings, agriculture, land use, we need to act on every front to get to net zero _ need to act on every front to get to net zero h— need to act on every front to get to net zero. �* . , need to act on every front to get to net zero. . . , . ., net zero. a multilayered challenge, chair of the — net zero. a multilayered challenge, chair of the intergovernmental - net zero. a multilayered challenge, l chair of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, thank you so much for your perspective and for bringing us the science behind everything that has been happening here at dubai. we will bring you updates as we get them. just wanted to show you the scene live, this is southern israel, the live point that we have, the pictures showing you the north of gaza where it looks like there has been some heavy shelling in the past few hours, our correspondent anna foster me saying that she has seen and heard quite a lot of artillery and mortar fire outgoing from israel into gaza but also some rockets being fired from gaza into israel intercepted by israel's iron dome. about 200 elite afghan special forces trained and funded by the uk face imminent deportation back to their taliban—controlled homeland, the bbc has learned. the figures gathered by a network of afghan veterans reveal the scale of what one former uk general called "an absolute betrayal". the soldiers concerned fled to pakistan which now says it will expel what it considers to be refugees. newsnight 5 international correspondentjoe inwood has the story they were afg hanistan's they were afghanistan's elite, known as the triples. initially set up to tackle the opium trade, they soon became specialists in fighting the taliban. translation: �* , ~ ., translation: at first we kitted out thousands of — translation: at first we kitted out thousands of operations _ translation: at first we kitted out thousands of operations to - translation: at first we kitted out thousands of operations to destroy i thousands of operations to destroy the drugs trade. then after 2007, when the telephone networks gradually started their activities, we kitted out operations against them whenever they were. mi we kitted out operations against them whenever they were. ali spent nearl two them whenever they were. ali spent nearly two decades _ them whenever they were. ali spent nearly two decades on _ them whenever they were. ali spent nearly two decades on frontlines. i nearly two decades on frontlines. this is him with members british special forces. the this is him with members british special forces.— this is him with members british special forces. the triples were at the front-end _ special forces. the triples were at the front-end of— special forces. the triples were at the front-end of the _ special forces. the triples were at the front-end of the uk _ special forces. the triples were at | the front-end of the uk supported the front—end of the uk supported counter—terrorism operation, they did the _ counter—terrorism operation, they did the most dangerous, the most difficult, _ did the most dangerous, the most difficult, the most important missions— difficult, the most important missions accompanied by british soldiers — missions accompanied by british soldiers and did many things that british— soldiers and did many things that british soldiers didn't do. now ali is in hiding _ british soldiers didn't do. now ali is in hiding in _ british soldiers didn't do. now ali is in hiding in pakistan. _ british soldiers didn't do. now ali is in hiding in pakistan. he - british soldiers didn't do. now ali is in hiding in pakistan. he showsj is in hiding in pakistan. he shows us around the single room where he and his family have barely left for three months. along with hundreds of his colleagues, ali couldn't get on evacuation flights when the taliban returned, so he headed to pakistan where he assumed he would get help from the uk's afghan relocation and assistance scheme. he was wrong. translation: i have been so disappointed. _ translation: i have been so disappointed. i— translation: i have been so disappointed. i served - translation: i have been so disappointed. i served in - translation: i have been so - disappointed. i served in different, high racking positions and fulfilled my duties honestly. == high racking positions and fulfilled my duties honestly. -- high-ranking. he has twice — my duties honestly. -- high-ranking. he has twice been _ my duties honestly. -- high-ranking. he has twice been rejected _ my duties honestly. -- high-ranking. he has twice been rejected on - my duties honestly. -- high-ranking. he has twice been rejected on the - he has twice been rejected on the grounds that he did not work for even with the uk. according to the man who set up the triples, they didn't just man who set up the triples, they didn'tjust work man who set up the triples, they didn't just work with the man who set up the triples, they didn'tjust work with the uk, they were entirely funded by them. 50. didn't just work with the uk, they were entirely funded by them. so, we have one mission, _ were entirely funded by them. so, we have one mission, being _ were entirely funded by them. so, we have one mission, being british, - were entirely funded by them. so, we have one mission, being british, and| have one mission, being british, and the donorfor this have one mission, being british, and the donor for this mission, have one mission, being british, and the donorfor this mission, these triples, where britain, the british government. it is crystal clear. so, 100% we worked together. that work made them fierce _ 100% we worked together. that work made them fierce enemies _ 100% we worked together. that work made them fierce enemies of - 100% we worked together. that work made them fierce enemies of the - made them fierce enemies of the taliban. forali made them fierce enemies of the taliban. for ali and his being sent home could be a death sentence. translation: ~ ~ ., sentence. translation: ~ ., ., ., , ., translation: we know of many former soldiers who were _ translation: we know of many former soldiers who were recognised _ translation: we know of many former soldiers who were recognised and - soldiers who were recognised and have disappeared, almost certainly killed. when iran and pakistan deep or people, the taliban have a list in our biometric data. the or people, the taliban have a list in our biometric data. the scheme is manaued in our biometric data. the scheme is managed by — in our biometric data. the scheme is managed by the _ in our biometric data. the scheme is managed by the uk _ in our biometric data. the scheme is managed by the uk ministry - in our biometric data. the scheme is managed by the uk ministry of - managed by the uk ministry of defence. in a statement, they said, each application is assessed individually and in accordance with published policy. we do not automatically make a decision on eligibility based on a job role. as pakistan seeks to find and deport afghans living there illegally, ali says time is running out. he hopes the uk will help him before it is too late. joe inwood, bbc news. in the next few minutes rishi sunak will begin to give evidence at the covid inquiry. he will face questions about the decisions he made as chancellor during the pandemic. those questions are expected to include ones around his eat out to help out skin. you remember it was introduced in the summer of 2020 with the aim of reviving the hospitality trade with cut—price meals in pubs and restaurants. the scheme has since been blamed by some for increasing covid deaths. ellie price reports. katsu curry. it was a "don't give up the dayjob" moment. his dayjob at the time was chancellor of the exchequer. he didn't give it up — but ended up eventually getting promoted to the topjob. here we go — brilliant! the eat out to help out scheme was his department's brainchild and it's something that keeps coming up at this inquiry. rishi sunak has repeatedly said the government followed the scientific advice, but... i think there were definitely periods when it was clear that the unwelcome advice we were giving was, as expected, not loved. this is exactly encouraging what we've been trying to suppress and get on top of in the last few months. so it didn't feel sensible to me. it would have been prudent, i let's put it that way, for them to have thought about discussing it before it was launched. _ oh, my golly, that's fantastic! the idea behind it, giving us all up to a tenner towards a meal in a restaurant, was to kick start the economy after the first lockdown. the inquiry has heard there's limited evidence that it contributed to hugely spreading the virus, but scientists suggest it sent the wrong message. and it was one of the reasons the then chancellor, whose job it was to promote the economy after all, got the unfortunate nickname among some scientists as dr death. i want to reassure you that we have a comprehensive plan to protectjobs and businesses in every region and nation of the united kingdom. there will also be questions about whether his concerns over the economic impact led to a delay in the second lockdown. he was, of course, the man who introduced the furlough scheme. we're setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme. but this inquiry has already heard financial relief for the self—employed and low paid may not have been enough. i've just been to buckingham palace and accepted his majesty, the king's invitation to form a government in his name. rishi sunak didn't make the final decisions during the pandemic, but he is in charge of the country now, and the verdict on his choices then may yet shape his future. ellie price, bbc news. we can go live to ellie price now. we can go live to ellie price now. we can go live to ellie price now. we can see some of the protesters behind you, just describe the atmosphere there and the reactions when mr sunak arrived this morning? yeah, there's still a few of them standing there now, actually far more of them when rishi sunak arrived about an hour and half ago and in fact he was heckled on the way in, somebody shouting lives are worth more than money, mr sunak. that gives you a bit of a sense of some of the feeling that there will indeed be people in the public gallery today, gone into listen to rishi sunak to see what he has to say. of course it is not going to be all about eat out to help out but i think it is a scheme that we have heard so much about over the last few weeks, questions about it keep coming back. i'mjoined now few weeks, questions about it keep coming back. i'm joined now by ione wells, our political correspondent. so much has been made in the papers about eat out to help out, but it's notjust about eat out to help out, but it's not just about that, is about eat out to help out, but it's notjust about that, is it, it's about a broader sense of, was rishi sunak worrying more about the economy than the health of people during the pandemic?— during the pandemic? that's right. and i think during the pandemic? that's right. and i think as— during the pandemic? that's right. and i think as you _ during the pandemic? that's right. and i think as you say _ during the pandemic? that's right. and i think as you say there - during the pandemic? that's right. and i think as you say there is - and i think as you say there is understandably a lot of focus on that particular skin, it is one that a tot— that particular skin, it is one that a lot of— that particular skin, it is one that a lot of people remember, they remember the slogan, the pictures of him serving _ remember the slogan, the pictures of him serving out chicken curries, et cetera. _ him serving out chicken curries, et cetera. so — him serving out chicken curries, et cetera, so that is something which has stuck— cetera, so that is something which has stuck in — cetera, so that is something which has stuck in people's mind and it is something — has stuck in people's mind and it is something which has come up already in the _ something which has come up already in the inquiry, there has been this concern _ in the inquiry, there has been this concern raised that scientists were not on _ concern raised that scientists were not on board with the scheme so he is iikeiy— not on board with the scheme so he is likely to _ not on board with the scheme so he is likely to face some drilling on that issue — is likely to face some drilling on that issue but as you say i think it is a much — that issue but as you say i think it is a much broader point about how much _ is a much broader point about how much was — is a much broader point about how much was the economy prioritised at certain— much was the economy prioritised at certain moments and i think there are other— certain moments and i think there are other questions he is likely to face around for example claims that he made _ face around for example claims that he made when he was running to be the conservative party leader in an article _ the conservative party leader in an article in _ the conservative party leader in an article in the spectator where he said that — article in the spectator where he said that he was one of the people in government arguing against further— in government arguing against further restrictions, there is also for example the self—isolation payments that were given to some workers. _ payments that were given to some workers, questions about who was eligible _ workers, questions about who was eligible for — workers, questions about who was eligible for that, also, what different sectors opened before others — different sectors opened before others. there were periods weather example _ others. there were periods weather example pubs were open but certain beauty _ example pubs were open but certain beauty businesses were not or there were still— beauty businesses were not or there were still restrictions around who you could — were still restrictions around who you could bring if you were giving birth— you could bring if you were giving birth in— you could bring if you were giving birth in a — you could bring if you were giving birth in a hospital. to be with you. so i birth in a hospital. to be with you. so i think— birth in a hospital. to be with you. so i think those questions about what _ so i think those questions about what opened when and why and weather the scientists were consulted will be things— the scientists were consulted will be things that he is questioned on today _ borisjohnson was ultimately making the decisions as prime minister but rishi sunak was very influential, the right—hand man at the time. obviously crucially he cannot get away from the fact he is in