Nearly six months on from covid cases starting to be reported in yemen, the bbc has become the First International broadcaster to reach there and gauge the impact of the virus. Yemen is divided between the houthi group based in the north and an internationally recognised government in the south. There are reports that the British Government is planning new legislation which could override elements of the Brexit Agreement signed last year with the European Union relating to northern ireland. Its thought this might potentially derail the prospects of a last minute trade deal between britain and the eu. Tennis and Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the us open in new york after accidentally hitting a linejudge. It happened in his fourth round match. In a statement the world number one said he was so sorry for what had happened. He now loses all prizemoney from the tournament. Now on bbc news, its time for a round up of the weeks
proceedings in westminster with the week in parliament. Hello again and welcome back to the week in parliament the week when millions of children went back to school and mps returned to westminster after their summer break. This has been a wasted summer the government shouldve spent it preparing for the autumn and winter. Instead, theyve lurched from crisis to crisis, u turn to u turn but borisjohnson said his government was turning the tide. In spite of the negativity and the constant sniping from the opposition, we are seeing a country that is not only going back to school, but going back to work. Also in this programme, Jacob Rees Mogg reveals his
up to the minute mobile ringtone. I wonder. Opera ringtone plays. Laughter. The first Prime Ministers questions since july saw borisjohnson and sir keir starmer clash over schools, the pandemic and the economy. The labour leader focused his early questions on the chaos over grades for students whose a level exams were cancelled due to the pandemic. There was an outcry when many students in england received lower than predicted grades, prompting the government to abandon the system and opt for grades based on teacher predictions. At question time, borisjohnson sidestepped a challenge to reveal when he knew there was a problem with the algorithm used to allocate the grades. He either knew of the problem with the algorithm and did nothing, or he didnt know when he should have. So let me ask again. When did the Prime Minister first know there would be a problem with the algorithm . Mr speaker, as he knows
perfectly well, quual made it absolutely clear time and again that, in their view, the system that was in place was robust. Quual, as he knows, is an independent organisation and credit had to be given to their views. He accused keir starmer of undermining confidence in the return to school. I think itd be a fine thing if today, after three months of refusing to do so, as pupils go back to school, if today, finally, he said that school was safe to go back to. Come on the Prime Minister isjust tin eared and making it up as he goes along. Im surprised. The education secretary stood at that dispatch box yesterday and said, and acknowledged, that labours First Priority has been getting children back to school. Thats been our top priority ive said it numerous at the despatch box. He knows very well, and he was just playing games. Keir starmer said his own children had been at school but that didnt deter the Prime Minister. This leader of the opposition said absolutely nothing to oppose the method of examinations that was proposed and, indeed, they opposed the opposed the teacher accreditation system that we eventually came up with. Is he now saying that those grades are not right . Or is he just captain hindsight, leaping on a bandwagon and opposing the policy that he supported two weeks ago . The problem is, hes governing in hindsight. Thats why hes making so many mistakes. This is been a wasted summer the government shouldve spent it preparing for the autumn and winter. Instead, they have lurched from crisis to crisis, u turn to u turn. To correct one error, even two might make sense. But when the government has notched up 12 u turns and rising, the only conclusion is serial incompetence. That serial incompetence is Holding Britain back. Will the Prime Minister take responsibility and finally geta grip . I take full responsibility for everything that has happened under this government, throughout my period in office and, actually, what has happened so far is that we have succeeded in turning the tide of this pandemic and, in spite of the in spite of the negativity in the constant sniping from the opposition, we are seeing a country that is not only going back to school, but going back to work. Hours before Boris Johnson highlighted the role of englands exam regulator in the chaos, quuals chair told mps it was a fundamental mistake to think that the public would accept a system of calculated grades to determine a level results. The Education Committee heard that ministers had been aware of the risks. What you are really saying in three words, if i had to describe it in a nutshell, is not me, guv. Is that a fair reflection of the statement, chair . I think, as we made clear in the statement, we fully accept our share of responsibility for what has gone wrong this year. I have personally apologised to students and parents for what has been, we recognise, an extremely anxiety making incident. It has been disruptive to this years candidates, it is been disruptive to higher education, it has been disruptive to next years candidates. Thank you. You say that in your statement but just specifically, is my summary of the statement accurate, in your view . What we would point towards is that the mistakes, that the fundamental mistake was to believe that this would ever be acceptable to the public. The Prime Minister has put the problems down to a mutant algorithm. Quual said thered been a Public Consultation on the principles of that algorithm. We, at the same time, had set up a working group with technical representatives from the exam boards. The decisions taken were ours,
but we worked with around 20 different technical experts across the exam boards and chose then the algorithm that seemed to produce the most accurate results. And at what point did the algorithm mutate . I dont believe the algorithm ever mutated. Quuals chief executive has resigned and the department for educations top Civil Servant has been sacked, but the education secretary is still in a job. Gavin williamson came to the commons to explain, and apologise. Mr deputy speaker, this situation has, i know, caused a great deal of stress and uncertainty and i am deeply sorry that those who have borne the brunt of it have been students themselves. I can only apologise to them again for this. We took immediate action to provide certainty as soon as it was clear that if we didnt, too many students wouldve received grades that did not reflect their hard work
and their ability. He must now take responsibility for ensuring that a summer of incompetence does not descend further into an autumn of disaster and dismay. And any normal cabinet whose repeated failure to take responsibility would lead to his sacking, but this bullying government talks of mutant algorithms. His situation is not even on a shoogly peg. A shoogly peg is a wobbly one. Carol monaghan clearly surprised to find Gavin Williamson still in a job. Back at Prime Ministers questions, Boris Johnson came under pressure from sir keir starmer and others to extend the furlough or Job Retention scheme, under which the government pays some of the wages of those laid off during the crisis. The scheme is due to close at the end of next month. We all know thatjobs are under threat if the furlough scheme ends in october. The power to end this threat
lies with the Prime Minister. Will he do his duty and extend the furlough scheme, or are we going to return to levels of unemployment last seen under thatcher, with the resultant human misery . What we are doing is not only continuing with the furlough scheme, as he knows, until the end of this month which is by far by far more generous, by the way, than anything provided in france or germany, or ireland were continuing with it. But we will also, after that scheme elapses, we will get on with other measures to support people in work and, starting today, there is the kickstarter scheme to help young people get the jobs that they need. That is in addition to a £160 billion package that we have spent to support the economy throughout this crisis. This government has put its arms around all the people of this country to support them throughout the crisis. That is what were doing and we will now help them to get back into work
he will aware that as much as we want to see people back into work there are certain sectors, such as tourism, travel, hospitality and aerospace, where that will not be possible in the short to medium term. Therefore, can i encourage the Prime Minister to look at a targeted extension for those sectors . And also to look at a specific uk wide scheme to help those so far who have been excluded from the current schemes, including the newly self employed. The Prime Minister said there were a number of schemes helping people. But it is also very important that we get people back into the workplace in a covid secure way and, unlike the leader of the opposition, we do absolutely everything we can to give them confidence
that it is a good idea to go back and an ounce of confidence, mr speaker, is worth a tonne of taxpayers money. Borisjohnson. Time now for a brief look at some of the other goings on in the wider world of politics. The chancellor rishi sunak reassured recently elected tory mps there wont be a horror show of tax rises with no end in sight to pay for the costs of coronavirus. But if he is looking for cash raising ideas, the treasury Committee Heard from experts who think he should widen the range of goods being taxed. I think it would be beneficial to try and think about broadening the tax base. Because if we do not and simply rely on increases in rates, then that will increase the distortions that already exist in the system. But doing that in the past has proved quite difficult. If you look back at the attempt in 2012 to charge vat on a slightly broader range of products, including pasties, that created serious difficulties. But. You are not suggesting that a pastie tax will get us out
of this hole were in due to coronavirus . Thats a hell of a lot of pasties precisely. I think that example shows the difficulty of doing something small. You cannot tell a narrative of why it is important to tax pasties but not something else. A minister has defended a trial scheme to pay workers on low incomes in parts of north west england where there are high rates of coronavirus £13 a day if they have to self isolate. Those who claim universal credit or working tax credit and cannot work from home can claim the money in addition to their benefits. Could the minister tell us what was the Evidence Base for the decision that £13 a day would be sufficient to persuade low paid workers to forgo their earnings and therefore self isolate . He did not answer it the first time around, perhaps he could answer it now. What was the criteria . My lords, the Evidence Base and the criteria were our discussion with local
authorities, with community leaders, on what would be an effective amount that would tip the balance on a personal decision to isolate. Those personal decisions are, as i said earlier, extremely tough, and it was agreed with local infection teams and authorities that this was the kind of sum that would make a difference. Ministers are under growing pressure to appoint a Patient Safety commissioner in england. The call was led by the chair of a review that found many lives have been ruined because officials failed to listen to women given drugs and procedures that caused them or their babies considerable harm. I stand before you as a person who is shaken by the experience of personally listening to over 700 women and theirfamilies families who have been damaged by the healthcare system. Their testimonies actually haunt me. Their bravery impels me. And it impels me to right their wrongs. She said there was widespread support for her review. The only cloud on the horizon is the department of health and social care, which simply does not get it. Simply asking everyone, as they are now, to Work Together better in the future just simply will not work. The department for International Development has formally merged with the foreign office. The newly anointed secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth Development affairs came to the commons to answer an urgent question from labour. The new foreign, Commonwealth Development office will deliver on this governments mission to forge a truly Global Britain to defend all aspects of the British National interests and to project this country as an Even Stronger force for good in the world. Lisa nandy. Can i thank him for that . But the truth is this is a complete mess. It has made a nonsense of his own review. The integrated department has come before the integrated strategy, thousands of staff with world renowned expertise have been treated disgracefully, Holding Meetings in recent weeks with senior Civil Servants who cant even answer basic questions about how this department is going to operate. And why . Because the government was shamed by a footballer into supporting some of the poorest children in this world. It does not bode very well for a commitment to the poorest people across the planet. The snp raised reports the government might ditch its commitment to spend 0. 7 of National Economic output on overseas development. On the 0. 7 , im grateful for his assurances and the Prime Minister has been very clear, but can i give him an opportunity to strengthen his own hand in these discussions that presumably that a trail of the manifesto commitment, were that come to pass, would be a resignation matter from the foreign secretary, because i dont see how anyone would possibly be able to pull that given that situation. An offer dominic raab felt able to decline, although he has rejected reports that the government might drop its target. The former australian Prime Minister tony abbott confirmed that hes been in discussions with the uk government about a possible trade talks role. It would be a controversial appointment, as hes been criticised for his views on Climate Change, coronavirus and women. Mps on the Foreign Affairs committee tried to find out more. You said that you applied for, or been in discussions about a job with government ministers here. I think id call it a role rather than a job. Whats the distinction you are drawing . What is the role then . Give it a title or pay grade. Again, i really think that is better addressed to ministers in the government. Its something which is not yet official. And i really dont think theres any more i can say
until things have been decided. Did they first approach you about this role or did you see an advert in the guardian or something . Im just not going to go into this any further. Can i get back to what you were invited to speak about, which was multinational diplomacy. Is it possible to come in there, tom . Very briefly. If it really is specific to the role of the Foreign Affairs committee and not something on a wider issue that mr abbott is not here to answer. It is an important question i want to ask. And welcome, mr abbott. In 2012, you said that men are, by physiology or temperament, more adapted than women to exercise authority or to issue command. Can you tell us whether you stand by that view and will you have any difficulty accepting the authority of liz truss
if you are working under her command at the board of trade . Im not sure that i ever did say that, if you would like to privately provide the Committee Secretariat with your source, i would happily have a look at it but it doesnt sound like anything i have said. International trade questions on thursday offered another opportunity. The appointment of the sexist and homophobic tony abbott is also the appointment of a Climate Change denier, so does this indicate that the government is moving away from any commitment in trade deals to maintain Environment Protection . If not, why have you put him in thejob . The reality is that those on the left of politics always are intolerant of anybody who doesnt agree with them but are prepared to defend anything from their own friends. Liz truss. This week saw a Record Number of migrants cross the English Channel in small boats on a single day. On wednesday, more than 400 people took advantage of flat seas and reached the uk. The next day, the man whos been given the job of stopping the illegal crossings told mps on the home Affairs Committee it was an incredibly complex problem and praised the work of the french authorities. We have made a number of offers to the french for additional capability in terms of people and kit and we have provided significant uplifting french resources, and we paid for drones, we paid for night vision equipment and weve offered use of aerial Surveillance Aircraft to the french. So there is a lot ofjoint working and it is delivering results. It is nowhere near the level we wanted to be and that is frustrating. It is frustrating for us and frustrating for the french. But it means in the region of 3000 interceptions prevented 3000 interceptions this year it prevented. They prevented 3000 people from crossing the channel this year. Including yesterday, close to 200 just yesterday alone were prevented from leaving the beaches of france. So it is delivering the results. One of the french mps has spoken about it on television. Ive debated with him. He said his conversation with some of the people trying to get over, they say it is easier to work illegally in the uk and to live undercover, which clearly isnt the case, but that seems to be a perception. Under operation focal, a joint operation with the french, again, financed a lot by the british taxpayer, this sort of misinformation should be dealt with, but it would appear that french members of parliament are party to putting around these misconceptions about how theyre actually going to be looked after if they do make it to the uk. Thats part of the problem, isnt it, that people are coming here on a false premise . I think thats absolutely correct and that way i see this operation i am delivering is that it is both an operation in the traditional sense but its also a Behavioural Change campaign which will be enabled as time goes on with a Strategic Communication effort. It is exactly the phenomenon you just described, these ruthless criminals are taking advantage of these migrants, some of whom who dont even want to come to the uk. We hear through debriefing a lot of stories of migrants who are literally forced onto boats, have no idea where they are when they get to the uk because the facilitators dont get paid until they do that last leg of the journey, so there is a huge Misinformation Campaign going on with the facilitators who told him that the streets are paved with gold in the uk and anybody knows whos travel to france knows it is a perfectly civilized country that has a fully functioning
asylum system and what we find is when we deliver the migrants to the reception centres, they do in fact claim asylum in france. To holyrood now, where the first minister has set out her governments plans for the next year. Besides a guarantee of a job, education or formal training for young people, Nicola Sturgeon also announced that there would be a draft bill on a second independence referendum. This will include the governments preferred question that would be asked, and the timescale in which it believes the vote should be held. But at first ministers questions, she found herself like the uks other leaders, under pressure over education. I know that the first minister doesnt like to be asked questions on the record but the fact is that she deserves to be challenged of this. It was her that said education would be her number one priority. It wasnt us. It was her who said that flagship Education Bill was needed to fix scottish education, not us. It was her that said closing the attainment gap was what she wanted to be judged by and her record simply doesnt stand the test. Not only am i perfectly willing and happy to have questions asked of me about my record, my policies and my plans, im happy to allow the scottish people tojudge that in an election. Applause. Instead, we have ruth davidson, who wants to continue to be a politician but without the consent of a Single Person across this country. And yet, shes heading to an unelected parliament but has the brass neck to lecture the rest of us on scrutiny and accountability. There is no ermine cloak in the world that will cover up that hypocrisy. Ruth davidson will join the house of lords next year. The scottish labour leader hopes to stay at holyrood but is facing internal calls to quit. He asked about a newly announced independent review
of adult social care. So, first minister, will you give a commitment today to appoint trade Union Representatives and representatives of care users to the review Panel Announced yesterday so that the voices of those who deliver care and those who receive it are at the centre of that review . We want to move on this quickly, which is why we have asked the independent review to give us a report byjanuary. Im not sure whether Richard Leonard will still be standing in his place by then, we will wait and see. Nicola sturgeon. Now, Margaret Thatcher famously said u turn if you want to, the ladys not for turning. But u turns are increasingly popular at the moment. Newspapers have counted a dozen by Boris Johnsons government in his first year. And now, for us at the bbc, theres a u turn closer to home. Will my right honourable friend join me in noting that the bbc are now going to broadcast land of hope and glory as it should be heard . They have, as they put it, reversed their decision. A description that in the context of anything to do with this government, they would characterize as a u turn. Can my right honourable friend give any reason for this curious inconsistency . Leader of the house. Mr speaker, i wonder. Song plays. Laughter. How dare you mr speaker, i of course apologise for any offence i may have given to the house but when britain first at heavens command arose from the azure main, this was the anthem of the land and Guardian Angels saying this strain, britannia, rule the waves, britons shall Never Never Never be slaves, and lets hope the bbc will recognise the virtues of britannia in this land of hope and glory. The word perfect Jacob Rees Mogg. Now, although the government wants people to go back to work, if they can, social distancing rules make it hard for mps to appear in the chamber. And there are other good reasons for working from home. Conservative Jonathan Gullis was left holding the baby when the Education Committee continued its investigation into the exams chaos, challenging him to a little multi tasking. Baby amelia isnt the first to have fallen asleep during parliamentary proceedings. Well, that was the week in parliament. Thank you for watching, and staying awake. I hope you canjoin me on Bbc Parliament on monday evening at 11 oclock for the latest from the commons and the lords. Until then, from me, david cornock, bye for now. Hello there. On sunday, we had quite a bit of cloud that developed through the afternoon, notably across parts of eastern england, where we had showers, especially for yorkshire and also parts of lincolnshire, bringing us some rain here through the course of the afternoon. Now, talking of rain, weve got more of that on the way right now, with rain already spreading into scotland and northern ireland. Here, its going to turn increasingly windy over the next few hours. But for many of us at least, temperatures holding up into double figures as we head into the first part of monday. Now, the rain is all associated with this area of low pressure thats up near iceland. Weather fronts pushing into High Pressure and weakening as they reach towards the south east. And that means, actually, well see rain across northern and western areas, where its going to be quite windy. But through the day on monday, it will probably stay dry, with sunshine across the south east of england, turning increasingly hazy. So, this is how the charts look through monday. You can see the rain spreading from scotland and northern ireland, into the north of england, across wales. But after a sunny start elsewhere in england, yes, it will tend to cloud over, with the best of any sunshine through the afternoon hanging on across east anglia and south east england, where it will be relatively warm, with temperatures into the low 20s. Brighter skies, eventually, late in the day, edging into the far north west. Now, for tuesday, we have another weather front crossing the uk. This one bringing a broad warm sector. And this wadge of warm air will be pushing right the way across the country, so it will start to feel a little bit more humid. Mind you, its also likely going to be quite cloudy, particularly across western areas, with the cloud thick enough for some patches of drizzle around some of our coasts and hills, particularly through the morning. A little bit of rain at times across the north west as well, but where we do see some cloud breaks, and a bit of sunshine coming through,
it certainly will feel on the warm side. And actually, for many of us, those temperatures will lift into the low 20s on tuesday. Tuesday promises to be the warmest day of the week. Now, that warmer air is going to get shoved southwards as a cold front moves in. Now, this boundary is the cold front. Its going to be bringing cloud across england and wales, with outbreaks of rain. Again, the rain not really amounting to too much across south east england. It is a weak front. But eventually, well get fresher air blowing into the northern half of the uk. Sunshine, a few showers in the north west. Temperatures for most of us into the mid to high teens, so feeling pleasant in the sunshine. But across the south east, before the front arrives, well still see temperatures running into the low 20s for wednesday afternoon. Thats your latest weather. Welcome to bbc news. Im james reynolds. Our top stories first a war, now a pandemic. We report from inside yemen, as the country struggles to cope with tragedy upon tragedy. Translation the patients are our responsibility. They depend on us to live and we do want them to get better. It is so hard. Reports emerge that the uk government is considering overturning part of the brexit withdrawal deal, jeopardising trade negotiations. Hundreds of holidaymakers, trapped by raging wildfires in california, are airlifted to safety. And Novak Djokovic is kicked out of the us open after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball
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