breaches of covid rules. what were you doing — or not doing — on the 20th of may 2020 during the first lockdown? and do you want the prime minister to make it clear immediately whether or not he was at a drinks party in downing street on that date? get in touch with me on twitter, @annitabbc, and use the hashtag #bbcyourquestions. with freezing temperatures and a blanket of snow, the un appeals for $5 billion to help more than half of afghanistan's population get through this winter. one of britain's largest energy suppliers apologises after it advised customers they could cuddle pets and eat porridge to stay warm. and a man in the united states becomes the first person in the world to have a heart transplant from a pig. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the british prime minister is yet again under pressure after it emerged that as many as 100 people were invited to a "bring your own booze" drinks event in the downing street garden during the first lockdown. witnesses have told the bbc the pm and his wife were among about 30 people who attended the gathering on 20th may 2020. borisjohnson has declined to say whether he was among those who attended. the restrictions at the time of the party allowed you to only meet one other person from another household outdoors and larger gatherings were banned — a messaged reinforced by this tweet from the metropolitan police that day. the met says it's now in contact with the government over alleged breaches of covid rules. the labour deputy leader angela rayner, reacting to the latest allegations, said, "it's disgraceful and boris johnson should be ashamed." a civil servant, sue gray, is already investigating gatherings at downing street. 0ur political correspondent helen catt reports. in may 2020, restrictions on social contact were still very tight. in england, you could meet one other person from a different household outdoors. in the downing street garden, it seems a bigger gathering was organised, by a very senior official, the prime minister's private secretary, martin reynolds. he sent an e—mail which itv news got hold of to as many as 100 staff inviting them to bring their own booze for socially distanced drinks. messages sent between staff and shown to the bbc showed that some had questioned the event at the time. 0ne wrote, "um, why is martin encouraging a mass gathering in the garden?" another said, "is this for real?" a downing street spokesman said there is an independent process going on to look at this led by sue gray, a senior official. and that they couldn't comment while that was taking place. it is understood around 30 people attended the gathering, including, according to two eyewitnesses, the prime minister and his wife. borisjohnson had been asked about it early in the day yesterday. all of that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by sue gray. so have you already been interviewed by sue gray and, if not, would you object to her questioning you again about this? all that is subject to an interview, an investigation by sue gray. hannah brady lost her dad sean to covid four days before the e—mail invitation was sent. she was one of a small group who later met the prime minister in that same downing street garden. i think this pandemic for me is the story of two men. so one is my 55—year—old dad who is dead, having spent 42 nights on a ventilator fighting covid and no other illnesses. the other is a man who was 55 at the time of this party, borisjohnson, having survived covid himself, thought it was appropriate to host a party where you could bring your own booze, sit in the garden at downing street, where borisjohnson met me and four other bereaved families and told us to our faces, after listening to my dad's story, "i did everything i could to save him". labour's deputy leader angela rayner suggested borisjohnson should step down. i think he should go. i mean, there's no excuses and it will come as no surprise that i don't think borisjohnson is up to thejob but, more importantly, i think he's lost the confidence of the british public now with his lies, his deceit and his breaking of his own rules. some conservative mps say it is important to wait for the full report. we need to get to the bottom of this investigation, that's what sue gray is doing. and then if rules have been breached, people will have to suffer the consequences. meanwhile, the met police has said it's aware of the widespread reporting of alleged breaches at downing street on the 20th may and it's in contact with the cabinet office. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. let's get more on this from our political correspondent, nick eardley. i guess the big question lots of people are asking is why doesn't the prime ministerjust say people are asking is why doesn't the prime minister just say whether or not he was at a drinks party on that date? i think there is huge pressure for number ten to clarify a number of things this morning. why senior official decided to e—mail dozens of staff and ask them to country this gathering in the downing street garden, whether there is any defence number ten can think of that this was within the rules, if there is anyway they can see to justify it. and crucially why, as witnesses have claimed, borisjohnson and his wife carrie were at that gathering in the downing street garden. there is very little explanation from number ten at the moment, you are hearing a very similar answer to the one you heard in helen's piece from boris johnson, there is an investigation going on by sue gray in the cabinet office looking into these 0ffice looking into these allegations of parties, but it feels like what is being alleged and reported as extremely serious because we heard borisjohnson before christmas talk about his own anger at finding out some of the allegations about alleged rule breaking all potential gatherings taking place in number ten. the prime minister put on record, it was on television, his own displeasure at finding out about some of these accusations and if, as witnesses tell us, it turns out he was at one of these gatherings earlier in the year, it opens up a whole new can of worms for downing street about why borisjohnson was angry to worms for downing street about why boris johnson was angry to find worms for downing street about why borisjohnson was angry to find out about later events. understandably the labour party are asking for answers and reopening their rhetoric, accusing the prime minister of accusing the —— misleading the public. here is ed miliband. we can't talk about those issues when we have somebody leading the country who is telling everyone else on the most serious issue we have faced as a nation for generations, a massive public health crisis, when he is saying to people one thing and doing another and then coming to the house of commons and saying, "no rules have been broken, i haven't been part "of any rule breaking." i'm afraid this is a rotten culture. you know, ifaced david cameron for five years. i didn't agree with a lot of the things that david cameron did, but i've got to say this is of a wholly different order of magnitude when it comes to the integrity of the person who is leading our country. ed miliband en labour's view. some of that anger is definitely reflected both in the conservative party in parliament this morning, and he is saying what has been reported overnight is completely indefensible from number ten. it is also reflected in government, there are a number of people in and around number ten who were responding to the covid pandemic last year who were not involved in the gathering and are simply serious this morning. in terms of number ten's explanation, the truth is that at this stage there has not been won. the argument they are making is that there is an ongoing inquiry and for that reason they cannot go into the details. frankly, iam not sure that reason they cannot go into the details. frankly, i am not sure that will stand the test of time because any time you see a senior minister on the airwaves over the next few days they will be asked about this and it would not surprise me if we get some tory mps prepared to speak publicly about their own disquiet over the next few hours. but have a listen to the man who had the task of speaking on behalf of the government this morning, the health minister ed argar. well, i can entirely understand, as i say, that anger and upset. it's not a culture i'm aware of. i spent my time in the department of health looking down a zoom screen or a teams call most of the time, on calls about ventilators, hospital capacity, building nightingales and similar. but, as i've said, i can entirely understand why people who have lost loved ones or people who've had their lives hugely disrupted by these restrictions are angry and upset by these allegations. that's why it's right that ms gray is looking into the allegations and will report and she can go with this investigation where she needs to without fear or favour, and i hope she will report swiftly and, depending on what she finds in the investigation, if people are found to have broken the rules in that context, it is right that appropriate disciplinary action is taken. there will be a lot of focus over the next few others and days, i think, on what that disciplinary action could and should be. lots of pressure on the official who sent out the invitation to the meeting, lots of pressure on the prime minister to explain why he was there, as witnesses have told us, what he thought was going on and whether he thought it was within the rules. there is another tory mp on the phone now! but the crux of the issue will continue over the next he days, more and more pressure on the government. there is a daily briefing this morning that westminsterjournalists gathered from number ten, westminsterjournalists gathered from numberten, ithink westminsterjournalists gathered from number ten, i think there will be numerous questions about whether number ten thought this was in the rules and whether it was allowed to happen. i rules and whether it was allowed to ha en. ~' ., rules and whether it was allowed to ha en. ~ ., i. rules and whether it was allowed to hauen. ~' ., ~ , rules and whether it was allowed to hauen. ~ ., ~ , , , happen. i know you will keep us up to date. thank _ happen. i know you will keep us up to date. thank you _ happen. i know you will keep us up to date. thank you very _ happen. i know you will keep us up to date. thank you very much - happen. i know you will keep us up to date. thank you very much for l happen. i know you will keep us up l to date. thank you very much for the moment, nick eardley. earlier we spoke to jean adamson, a member of the group covid—i9 bereaved families forjustice, whose father passed away in april 2020 with coronavirus. he was from the windrush generation, came from barbados to england in the 1950s, hard—working man, worked hard all his life, family man. he contracted covid in a care home and subsequently died on a hospital covid ward. we miss him dreadfully. it has been a very difficult time, it is coming up to two years now. he died on the 15th of april and the funeral was on the 15th of may, just a a few days before this party took place at downing street. it is very upsetting, i think, about the sacrifices that we had to make at that time, you know? the funeral arrangements, not being able to be with him when he died, you know? very, very difficult time, the circumstances under which we lost my father, and to think that downing street were planning a jolly and breaking their own rules at that time, itjust beggars belief, really. it is very, very upsetting. jean adamson from covid—19 bereaved families forjustice group. joining me now is ruth davidson, former leader of the scottish conservative party. thank you for your time. let me read a little bit from your tweeter earlier, "nobody needs an official to tell them if they were at a boozy shindig in their own garden. people are rightly furious." is that how you feel, furious? are rightly furious. " is that how you feel, furious?— you feel, furious? yes, and disappointed _ you feel, furious? yes, and disappointed and _ you feel, furious? yes, and disappointed and aghast. you feel, furious? yes, and | disappointed and aghast and you feel, furious? yes, and - disappointed and aghast and almost in disbelief. i am trying to remember what was happening in may that year, the davies was happening, in scotland, a mile from my house in portobello beach, police removing individuals for sitting on the beach on the hottest day of the year. people were being told by police to get back in their house less than an hour before this was meant to have kicked off. we had a cabinet minister on television telling people you could only meet up with one person outside. i don't know if he knew there was an e—mail going around from the senior civil servant asking one people to take a bottle into the back garden 20 yards away. it is utterly appalling and i think it was right in your report from nick eardley to say that it is not just the labour party that are angry, there are plenty of my parliamentary colleagues who have no idea what anyone in that e—mail chain was thinking, this is utterly indefensible, it cannot be defended. the bbc has to sources saying that they sold boris johnson at the bbc has to sources saying that they sold borisjohnson at patrick's event along with his wife. why did you think he is yet to confirm he was there —— at this event, along with his wife. it was there -- at this event, along with his wife.— with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say _ with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i _ with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i was _ with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i was not _ with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i was not at _ with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i was not at a - with his wife. it is pretty easy for me to say i was not at a drinks . me to say i was not at a drinks party in the number ten garden, i don't know why his position is he needs sue gray to confirm whether or not he was there, i am not sure that line will hold if i am honest, if thatis line will hold if i am honest, if that is coming out of number ten. i cannot even understand it. looking at the time line, my understanding is the prime minister had only been out of hospital having been severely ill with covid for a few weeks when this was meant to be kicking off, i don't understand the private secretary who sent this e—mail thinking it was at all possible, i do not understand the dozens who appear to have gone, if the prime minister attended i do not understand why on earth he thought that was the right thing to do. given what we all were in our own lives and everything we know, the people i know who were unable to hug that none at their father's funeral to support her, how much they gave up, what happened to their own lives, to think this is going on, it is indefensible, it cannot be defended. is indefensible, it cannot be defended-— is indefensible, it cannot be defended. a ., ~ defended. michael fabricant mp has been tweeting _ defended. michael fabricant mp has been tweeting too _ defended. michael fabricant mp has been tweeting too today, _ defended. michael fabricant mp has been tweeting too today, he - defended. michael fabricant mp has been tweeting too today, he has - defended. michael fabricant mp has i been tweeting too today, he has been offering a defence. he says, "was the downing street party a flagrant breach of the rules as labour happily claim? sue gray will decide, but the otherfacts." happily claim? sue gray will decide, but the other facts." people say there are multiple in the complex with key workers operating closely together, you have probably seen that, just reading for the benefit of viewers. i5 that, just reading for the benefit of viewers-_ that, just reading for the benefit ofviewers. , ., ., . , of viewers. is that a defence? his oint of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears _ of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears to _ of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears to be _ of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears to be that - of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears to be that lots - of viewers. is that a defence? his point appears to be that lots of i of viewers. is that a defence? his i point appears to be that lots of key workers were working in the building and had a drink afterwards. because it was the same people working in the building, going outside for a drink means it is fine, but there were tens of thousands of key workers across the country, i do not think that hospital nurses and doctors were in the hospital garden after the shift ended having a glass of rose. i do not think bin men were backin of rose. i do not think bin men were back in the garage playing beer pong when they had to their runs. i don't think people making sure the country had food in supermarkets where having a big shindig get together in the loading docks when the shift finish. it felt is the line coming out of downing street then i think it is pretty weak and i do not think it is pretty weak and i do not think it will fly. it is pretty weak and i do not think it will fl . ., ., , ., it is pretty weak and i do not think it willfl . ., ., , ., it will fly. have any of your contact said _ it will fly. have any of your contact said to _ it will fly. have any of your contact said to you - it will fly. have any of your contact said to you all- it will fly. have any of your- contact said to you all confirmed to you that the prime minister was at this event? i you that the prime minister was at this event? ., ., you that the prime minister was at this event?— this event? i have not had any conversations _ this event? i have not had any conversations whether - this event? i have not had any conversations whether he - this event? i have not had any conversations whether he was | this event? i have not had any - conversations whether he was that would not, i do not know, but he knows whether or not he was there and does not need sue gray to tell people that. you and does not need sue gray to tell peeple that-— people that. you are allergic to aner people that. you are allergic to anger among — people that. you are allergic to anger among colleagues - people that. you are allergic to anger among colleagues of - people that. you are allergic to i anger among colleagues of yours, people that. you are allergic to - anger among colleagues of yours, how deep is that anger and what is the scale of arango? —— you alluded to. thinking of the by—election last month in shropshire and people like roger gale talking about three strikes and he is out? i do roger gale talking about three strikes and he is out?- roger gale talking about three strikes and he is out? i do not even think this is — strikes and he is out? i do not even think this is about _ strikes and he is out? i do not even think this is about which _ strikes and he is out? i do not even think this is about which colour - think this is about which colour rosette you wear, it is whether you had those experiences over the last two years where you were helping constituents, you had all of these cases of people who made massive sacrifices, whether you are personally getting any amount of abuse because what appears to have been going on within number ten, thatis been going on within number ten, that is notjust politicians but also civil servants and special advisers. i cannot conceive of how this ever happened, how it seems to have happened multiple times, how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan, organise, turn up to eight at nobody said, "hang on a minute, we are telling everybody else they are not allowed to meet, cannot go to relatives' funerals, they can't visit elderly people and homes, dying relatives." how is this defensible? it is not about being a politician, it is being lived in the uk during this time. if number ten does not understand the anger out there, they will find it out pretty soonin there, they will find it out pretty soon in the next couple of days because everybody has some form of sacrifice or somebody important to buy life that gave a huge sacrifice, that will never forgive what went on —— also be important in their life that gave a huge sacrifice. it makes a mockery of the national endeavour to keep everybody safe. do a mockery of the national endeavour to keep everybody safe.— a mockery of the national endeavour to keep everybody safe. do you think boris johnson's _ to keep everybody safe. do you think boris johnson's principal— to keep everybody safe. do you think boris johnson's principal private - borisjohnson's principal private secretary who wrote the e—mail, martin reynolds, ought to resign? do you think for the sake of the conservative party that boris johnson needs to consider his position? johnson needs to consider his osition? a johnson needs to consider his osition? , ., , ., position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, _ position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, i _ position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, i do _ position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, i do not _ position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, i do not have - position? martin reynolds, i have never met him, i do not have a i position? martin reynolds, i have. never met him, i do not have a dog in this fight but i don't know how he thought it was appropriate. i don't know how this has not come out in the last year if 100 people got an e—mail and in the last year if 100 people got an e—mailand it in the last year if 100 people got an e—mail and it has been kicking around on servers for that long, i do not know how he is still in position and how webby e—mail came out somebody didn't say you cannot do that and there was not a sanction the time, rather than, do that and there was not a sanction the time, ratherthan, gas, let's get a couple of tins and go out the back. i honestly, i don't know if you can tell from my voice, cannot understand the mindset. we you can tell from my voice, cannot understand the mindset. we heard the comment, understand the mindset. we heard the comment. was — understand the mindset. we heard the comment, was this _ understand the mindset. we heard the comment, was this for _ understand the mindset. we heard the comment, was this for real, _ understand the mindset. we heard the comment, was this for real, when - understand the mindset. we heard the comment, was this for real, when the | comment, was this for real, when the e—mail emerged. at the time, people were asking whether it was full real. there are questions about why it has taken so long to emerge. i feel sorry forjunior civil servant feel sorry for junior civil servant who are not very well paid, it is a very structured ladder, who were questioning this and were just told it was fine, because nobody wants to work on a compromised working environment and that is an enormous compromise of a position they were being put in, and unfair, and leadership is about setting an example. leadership is about setting an examle. , ., leadership is about setting an examde, , ., , example. sorry to interrupt... both talk — example. sorry to interrupt... both talk at _ example. sorry to interrupt... both talk at once - example. sorry to interrupt... both talk at once is - example. sorry to interrupt... both talk at once is | - example. sorry to interrupt... both talk at once is i may, i example. sorry to interrupt... - both talk at once is i may, the both talk at once is i may, the question of borisjohnson's question of boris johnson's position, question of borisjohnson's position, do you think many of his mps are fed up with all this? i think they got assurances before christmas that the sue gray investigation which put a stop to it, it has not, there is huge public angen it, it has not, there is huge public anger. there only two ways in which anger. there only two ways in which a conservative prime minister needs, one is falling on their swords, it is unlikely this will happen, it seems he wants to brazen it out and we still do not know whether he was at that, we still don't know whether he misled parliament or not, but thatis he misled parliament or not, but that is a very serious charge. the second way is that a number of mps write a letter to the 1922 committee. i think nobody will be taking the latter out of the 1922 committee after this event, let's put about way. committee after this event, let's put about way-— committee after this event, let's ut about wa . ,., ., put about way. ruth davidson, former leader of this — put about way. ruth davidson, former leader of this scottish _ leader of this scottish conservatives, thank you. joining us now is henry hill, the news editor for the conservative home website. henry, thank you for your time, i hope you were able to hear everything ruth davidsonjust said. alongside the public anger we clearly have anger within the conservative party overall of this. what are you hearing from your sources about the extent of that anger? sources about the extent of that anter? l, , sources about the extent of that aner? , ., . ., anger? basically the main source of frustration for _ anger? basically the main source of frustration for conservative - anger? basically the main source of frustration for conservative mps - anger? basically the main source of| frustration for conservative mps and activists about the story is the government is burning through its political capital for government is burning through its political capitalfor no government is burning through its political capital for no reason. government is burning through its political capitalfor no reason. a great device of conservatives is often looking back to margaret thatcher, but sometimes it is an instructive comparison —— the great vice of qatar conservatives. when she became very unpopular she was pushing through what she had the government considered to be very important but unpopular reforms, it was a unpopularity with the purpose, the government has had two games to try to make levelling up now before the next general election —— has had two years, but now we're seeing new cycles by these entirely self—inflicted wounds, error of judgment after error ofjudgment on judgment after error of judgment on the judgment after error ofjudgment on the part of people in downing street compounded by the fact that instead of coming clean at the beginning, which would have meant a couple of weeks of bad stories and it would have gone away, to the extent it would have gone away, but the government has been evasive and not open, meaning every bit of evidence put us back in the newspapers. but do ou put us back in the newspapers. but do you think it would have gone away? we have had a series of claims, a number ofapparent away? we have had a series of claims, a number of apparent events, we have to courses no sources saying they saw the prime minister and his wife at the event, the cumulative effect will not go away? it wife at the event, the cumulative effect will not go away?— effect will not go away? it would not have gone — effect will not go away? it would not have gone away _ effect will not go away? it would not have gone away completely, j effect will not go away? it would - not have gone away completely, but the nature of the new cycle is that any story can only dominate full solar unless given press oxygen, so if this all came out at once in december when the vigil leak that would have been an awful lot of bad headlines, investigations and damage to the prime minister's reputation, but that would not have been continual front—page headlines of the sort that you get when you have a story continually topped up with revelations undermining the government story, which cast doubt on what the prime minister says. this is definitely a bad story either way, a catastrophic error of judgment of the government, but the way they handled it means it has lasted a lot longer, itjanuary. we do not know how many e—mails, video clips or other things are out there which could keep this going for however long. do you think there are more? i have no idea but it would not surprise me at this point. i spoke to a couple of members of the covid bereaved families with and one of them said to be the prime minister is hiding behind the investigation being carried out by senior civil servant sue gray. what is your take on why he has not simply said he was about or not at this gathering on the 20th of may 2020? ~ ., , . this gathering on the 20th of may 2020?~ ., , . , ., 2020? with regard since personal conduct, watch _ 2020? with regard since personal conduct, watch ruth _ 2020? with regard since personal conduct, watch ruth davidson - 2020? with regard since personal| conduct, watch ruth davidson was saying is perfectly accurate. he can saying is perfectly accurate. he can say personally if he was there or not and it is strange he does not. he has opportunity to make a responsibility to offer due process to other members of staff, but with regards to his personal conduct ruth davidson is right, he knows if he was there would not, if he was not he could just say so and that would make life considerably easier for him at the government, if you are a conservative mp it is deeply concerning that he cannot. hagar concerning that he cannot. how im atient concerning that he cannot. how impatient do — concerning that he cannot. how impatient do you _ concerning that he cannot. how impatient do you think conservative backbenchers are becoming with this string of allegations, claims that oral being investigated but every time one appears, and there has been a series of then, one mp or another has to come out on the morning media around and try to explain what is going on? —— claims that are all being investigated. it is going on? -- claims that are all being investigated. it is growing incredibly frustration, _ being investigated. it is growing incredibly frustration, especially because it follows on from the owen paterson story which is another example of borisjohnson shooting his government at the foot for no good reason and putting conservative in peace and a very hot position. it is frustrating for mps personally, they will be receiving communication from constituents and babel right back with the government story and if the government story turns out to be wrong it makes those mps personally look like liars —— and they will write back to them with they will write back to them with the government story. we had seen this in the growing rebellions over public health measures, it would have been very difficult for boris johnson to try to lock down over christmas even if he wanted to. we are fortunate because we seem to have turned a corner on the pandemic, if the prime minister wanted to impose the sweeping public health measures of 2020 and 2021, it is no longer clear that he has the political will to do it.— political will to do it. henry hill, news editor _ political will to do it. henry hill, news editor at _ political will to do it. henry hill, news editor at conservative - political will to do it. henry hill, i news editor at conservative home, thank with me now is dr hannah white, deputy director for the institute for government — a non—partisan think tank. she previously ran the committee on standards in public life in the cabinet office. you very much. thank you very much forjoining us. let's focus on that e—mail sent by the prime minister because my principal private secretary martin reynolds inviting 100 guests to bring their own booze to a gathering at downing street. in your opinion, is there anyway that e—mail which have been sent without the prime minister �*s knowledge? it the prime minister '5 knowledge? it is extremely difficult to think that somebody could invite 100 people to come to your back garden, this is the prime minister's home where he lives, without getting his ascent. evenif lives, without getting his ascent. even if he did not sense, even if his private secretary thought he knew the prime minister's mind without explicitly asking him, if the prime minister was there, he clearly knew it was happening and did not stop it, instead he went along. i think it is extremely difficult for the prime minister claim, as he has on some of these are the party allegations, that he was unaware, ignorant, he had not been briefed and he isjust as outraged as everybody else. the minister during the media rounds earlier has been saying, and this is the government line, this will be looked into by sue gray, the senior civil servants investigating other allegations into gatherings at downing street. how will the procedure work? her role, and it is actually a role she led in the past, within the cabinet office, her role is to look for the facts in all of this. she will be going around, talking to lots of people, dry to find out what happened, he was there, but communications were sent and what was said about these different parties but what she is going to do is put a report to the prime minister which will set out the facts and i think the first thing is it's really important that report is published in full so everyone can see what has been said, in the past, sometimes, when such reports have been conducted, only a summary version makes it into the public domain and i think given the profile of this issue, it will be really important the full thing is out there. but the key thing is it is up to the politicians to determine the consequences of the fact that she finds and this is where it starts to get difficult because in our ethical regulations system, ultimately it is for the prime minister to determine whetherfor for the prime minister to determine whether for example for the prime minister to determine whetherfor example the for the prime minister to determine whether for example the ministerial code has been breached, whether he wants to discipline any politicians who might have been involved in all of these parties and when he is one of these parties and when he is one of these parties and when he is one of the people being potentially investigated himself, over these allegations he was at this party on the 20th of may, that makes the system seem really peculiar indeed. very peculiar but does it make a mockery of it? the very peculiar but does it make a mockery of it?— mockery of it? the system is designed _ mockery of it? the system is designed because _ mockery of it? the system is designed because at - mockery of it? the system is designed because at the - mockery of it? the system is designed because at the end | mockery of it? the system is i designed because at the end of mockery of it? the system is - designed because at the end of the day, you could not have sue gray telling the prime minister at the prime minister is sacked, he is our prime minister is sacked, he is our prime minister is sacked, he is our prime minister because he leads the party with a majority in the house of commons. our system is designed on the basis that you would have people at the top of government who have integrity and follow the principles laid down by nolan of standards in public life and would act in a proper way and i think in the circumstances you expect there to be some consequences for people who potentially have broken the law, let alone regulations, ethical regulations. but there is no indication as yet as to how politicians will respond but at the end of the day, it will be up to them and that puts it in a difficult position when there are people right at the top being investigated. ihts i at the top being investigated. as i mentioned earlier the prime minister may not be facing the court of public opinion as it were in a general election imminently but undoubtedly, it will be those backbenchers, some of whom have been very disgruntled and openly expressed frustration about these incidents under investigation, it will be very ultimately and at least in the short term, making the judgment on the prime minister, i suppose. judgment on the prime minister, i suuose. , suppose. absolutely, in the end it comes down _ suppose. absolutely, in the end it comes down to _ suppose. absolutely, in the end it comes down to the _ suppose. absolutely, in the end it comes down to the politics, - suppose. absolutely, in the end it comes down to the politics, the i comes down to the politics, the political consequences of the facts on the ground and in this circumstance, the political consequences will be around the conservative party and what the party view is of whatever facts are found. those may be consequences for the prime minister, there may be consequences for other political figures, we don't know. but ultimately, it's going to come down to thejudgment of ultimately, it's going to come down to the judgment of individual mps, as you say, do they think now the party would be better off with a different leader? if they think that they would have to send their letters to the 1922 committee and potentially trigger a leadership election but it's far from clear as you say, two years are possibly from the next election, they will think they cannot ride this out and the people will have forgotten about it by the time the next election comes around. ., ., ., . ., ~ around. doctor hannah white, thank ou for around. doctor hannah white, thank you for your — around. doctor hannah white, thank you for your thoughts. _ joining me now is claire pearsall, a former conservative adviser. that was until 2019. thank you for your time. what is your reaction to all of this, if you had been advising the government in 2020, at the time of this apparent drinks party, in downing street, in the downing street garden, presumably you would have been saying we are in lockdown, you should not do it? absolutely. if you are standing out there telling the country as a whole to keep away from other people, to meet one person from outside your family outside with a two metre distance, then to have a party make absolutely no sense, even if it was outside and even if it was socially distance, it was still against the guidance being put out. what distance, it was still against the guidance being put out. what sort of reaction have — guidance being put out. what sort of reaction have you _ guidance being put out. what sort of reaction have you heard _ guidance being put out. what sort of reaction have you heard from - reaction have you heard from colleagues, former colleagues, about this? it’s colleagues, former colleagues, about this? �*, , , . this? it's been quite difficult, --eole this? it's been quite difficult, people don't _ this? it's been quite difficult, people don't want _ this? it's been quite difficult, people don't want to - this? it's been quite difficult, i people don't want to comment. this? it's been quite difficult, - people don't want to comment. people are hiding away, quite scared of what the reaction is going to be, especially for those who are elected councillors, as i am. people don't want to speak about this publicly because they are worried about what the effect will be on the doorstep. and quite right. i know people are very angry, some of my own residents have contacted me to say how disgusted they are and i have to assure them i was not part of it and was not invited and i should not have to explain that but i have. hagar have to explain that but i have. how have to explain that but i have. how have ou have to explain that but i have. how have you explained it? i _ have to explain that but i have. how have you explained it? i have - have to explain that but i have. how have you explained it? i have been l have you explained it? i have been uite have you explained it? i have been quite honest _ have you explained it? i have been quite honest with _ have you explained it? i have been quite honest with people, - have you explained it? i have been quite honest with people, my - have you explained it? i have been i quite honest with people, my opinion is the party should not have gone ahead. we were in the middle of lockdown, i was looking after some extremely scared and vulnerable people in my community so i would not have dreamt of breaking the rules stop they were there, oliver dowden said an hour before this alleged party that the public were to stay away from each other. i do not understand how this can now be dragging on again without the prime minister making a statement himself. which brings me to my next question, what do you want to hear from boris johnson now? i what do you want to hear from boris johnson now?— johnson now? i think he needs to confirm whether _ johnson now? i think he needs to confirm whether he _ johnson now? i think he needs to confirm whether he was - johnson now? i think he needs to confirm whether he was there - johnson now? i think he needs to confirm whether he was there at | johnson now? i think he needs to i confirm whether he was there at the party, i don't think we need to wait for sue gray to tell us, the prime minister should know and i think ruth davidson made this point clearly, the prime minister knew if he was there and he should now come out and tell us. ii he was there and he should now come out and tell us.— out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in _ out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in the _ out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in the next _ out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in the next day - out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in the next day or- out and tell us. if he does not, at least not in the next day or so? l least not in the next day or so? well i think what we are going to see as prolonged news headlines on this very issue which does not help anybody. it does not help the party, the country, and any important work thatis the country, and any important work that is going on in parliament is going to be completely overshadowed by an ongoing argument about parties. by an ongoing argument about arties. �* , by an ongoing argument about arties. v 1, , by an ongoing argument about arties. �*, , parties. it's boris johnson himself, do ou parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think. _ parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think, because _ parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think, because he - parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think, because he is - parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think, because he is not. parties. it's boris johnson himself, do you think, because he is not inl do you think, because he is not in this instance, for example, clearly saying whether he was there at the party or not, is he becoming too much of a distraction?— party or not, is he becoming too much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction — much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction or— much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction or not _ much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction or not i _ much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction or not i think _ much of a distraction? whether it is a distraction or not i think the - a distraction or not i think the general issue is people do not want to hear another set of denials and it's very difficult to have a conversation with anybody at the moment without this issue coming up. so if the prime minister were to come out i think it would start to clear the way of making an understanding as to what happened in may 2020. we understanding as to what happened in ma 2020. ~ ., ., ., , may 2020. we have heard as i mentioned _ may 2020. we have heard as i mentioned to _ may 2020. we have heard as i mentioned to ruth _ may 2020. we have heard as i mentioned to ruth davidson i may 2020. we have heard as i mentioned to ruth davidson a | may 2020. we have heard as i - mentioned to ruth davidson a little earlier from mentioned to ruth davidson a little earlierfrom michael fabricant mentioned to ruth davidson a little earlier from michael fabricant mp who has been defending the position, he says there were about 80 or 90 offices in the downing street complex, these people are working closely together, working hard, invited into the garden in a socially distance way, no one from outside was invited in. does that defence wash with you? i’m outside was invited in. does that defence wash with you? i'm afraid it does not. when _ defence wash with you? i'm afraid it does not. when you _ defence wash with you? i'm afraid it does not. when you hear _ defence wash with you? i'm afraid it does not. when you hear the - does not. when you hear the heartbreaking stories of those people who have lost loved ones who could not spend their last moments with them and were not allowed to attend a funeral, to hear that kind of excuse, i'm afraid, it does not wash. and these people have been quite rightly angry at the situation so i think this place into the fact that it seems the prime minister does not care and i am sure he does care. but this really is not going to watch for much longer. thank you for “oinin to watch for much longer. thank you forjoining us- _ police are in contact with the cabinet office over the latest claims. i'm joined by the former chief superintendent of the metropolitan police, dal babu thank you forjoining us. we are told from the metropolitan police in a lot of ways, this is a simple investigation because you have the most cc tv two area in the country. it is because you have the most cc tv two area in the country.— area in the country. it is important we do not — area in the country. it is important we do not have — area in the country. it is important we do not have a _ area in the country. it is important we do not have a situation - area in the country. it is important we do not have a situation where l area in the country. it is important i we do not have a situation where any of the tapes have been wiped. you have police officers left, right and centre, you need to sign in to get into downing street, there would be close protection officers there, the individual members of staff so you have a huge range of individuals who would be able to give independent evidence on what has been happening but i think the challenge has been this has been a growing issue and the government have decided up until now that they are going to not take this matter as seriously as members of the public have been. and the issues you are racing on your programme, loved one is not able to see theirfamily members programme, loved one is not able to see their family members and at the same time we have it in black and white, and e—mail, saying come along to a party, it is very worrying and i hope the police investigate these as independent people.— as independent people. there was some criticism _ as independent people. there was some criticism of— as independent people. there was some criticism of the _ as independent people. there was some criticism of the met - as independent people. there was some criticism of the met going i as independent people. there was i some criticism of the met going back over the last couple of months about what it said about other events or allegations that were made about events in downing street. around christmas time. last year. and people were saying it is the job of the police to go and look for evidence and find evidence. what reassurances can you give to the public that the met is doing all it can to investigate this and to ask the right questions? i can to investigate this and to ask the right questions?— can to investigate this and to ask the right questions? i think we have ot the right questions? i think we have got politicians _ the right questions? i think we have got politicians now, _ the right questions? i think we have got politicians now, this _ the right questions? i think we have got politicians now, this has - the right questions? i think we have got politicians now, this has gone i got politicians now, this has gone from a police investigation and has become incredibly political but the bottom line is in terms of evidence, you solve crimes in three ways, you have witnesses, you have forensics and in terms of a full and frank confession, we have not had that but we have lots of witnesses who have come forward and are prepared to say the party to place and there was individuals there. i think the second issue is around forensics, you need to look at the logs, that will show you who is going into downing street, anybody who has been to downing street know she will not be able to get past the guards and that she had a visit and you signing and in addition to that, you have witnesses and more and more people are coming forward and saying, this is what is happening. so i think we are getting more evidence, perhaps not a full and frank confession from individuals there but in terms of witnesses and forensics, there is a huge amount of evidence.- witnesses and forensics, there is a huge amount of evidence. given the ublic huge amount of evidence. given the public interest _ huge amount of evidence. given the public interest in _ huge amount of evidence. given the public interest in this, _ huge amount of evidence. given the public interest in this, will _ huge amount of evidence. given the public interest in this, will this - public interest in this, will this be an absolute top priority for the met? it be an absolute top priority for the met? , ., , . y ., met? it should be. once you get oliticians met? it should be. once you get politicians and _ met? it should be. once you get politicians and mps _ met? it should be. once you get politicians and mps raising - met? it should be. once you get i politicians and mps raising issues, i remember as a borough commander, the one thing i was always very conscious of those when mps got involved in an issue and you realised you have to give it absolute priority so they should be no different, when you've got mps asking questions, they should be an absolute priority. in terms of resources, the diplomatic protection group and the parliament area has got a huge amount of resources, lots of police officers there so it should be, in a lot of ways, relatively straightforward, you have a secure scene, cctv, lots of witnesses stop and really struggling to see why this would be a difficult investigation.— investigation. thank you. moving away from _ investigation. thank you. moving away from politics _ investigation. thank you. moving away from politics in _ investigation. thank you. moving away from politics in the - investigation. thank you. moving away from politics in the uk. - the start of a harsh winter is accelerating afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. since the taliban's arrival, and international sanctions, the economy has gone into freefall. the collapse of the previous afghan government and the withdrawal of western support has led to soaring unemployment. few can afford to feed their families or heat their homes. a million children are are at risk from severe malnourishment. the united nations issued an urgent call for aid for the country. quentin sommerville sent this report. victorious, the taliban now guard food queues. more than half the country is in need. these wheelbarrows are full of the very basic salt, rice, peanuts, cooking oil and for many of the people here, it's the first time they've had food in days and the interesting thing is, though, the bazaars, the markets in central kabul are full of produce but no—one here has any money. and this isn'tjust the case here in kabul, it's the same situation across afghanistan. the taliban are international pariahs so the economy is being crushed by sanctions. only humanitarian aid is allowed in. women are banned from work and education but have also lost another fundamental right — the ability to feed their families. has kabul ever been this hungry before? no, never, ithink. what is the message to the rest of the world? they should see us, how we are going to live here. they should see our challenges, our problems and the problems are increasing day by day here. living costs is increasing day by day here. there's new rules and new challenges makes our life hardship more than at any other time. and that's not fair for afghans. sabera cannot afford the dollar cab fare to take her home but she has just enough to hire a wheelbarrow. translation: what can we do? there is no money to buy food. all the men are jobless. they don't have work. there's nothing to eat and no firewood to warm our homes. on the city's edges it is even worse. the poorest are sinking deeper into poverty. this is what afghanistan's peace dividend looks like. a cold and bitter hunger, it's —6 at the moment and it's going to get colder because we are at the start of a long, hard four months of winter. ajhar moved here from nangarhar province. this house is home to fourfamilies. they cannot afford soap to wash the kids' faces. they burn plastic to keep warm. the air in here is thick and acrid. it still is not safe for them to return, he says. "we would have moved to pakistan, but pakistan closed its borders to us." afghanistan's long war may be over but the afghan people's suffering endures. the headlines on bbc news... a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of the home of the british prime minister at the height of the first lockdown. boris johnson faces fresh anger over claims he broke the rules. with freezing temperatures and a blanket of snow, the un appeals for $5 billion to help more than half of afghanistan's population get through this winter. one of britain's largest energy suppliers apologises after it advised customers they could cuddle pets and eat porridge to stay warm. staying with that story. the energy firm ovo has apologised after suggesting that customers should cuddle pets, do starjumps or eat porridge to stay warm. the tips were in a blog which it had sent to customers of sse, which it owns. let's talk to our personal finance correspondent, kevin peachey. good morning to you. tell us more about what this advice consisted of. when you consider the average household is bracing itself for an energy bill this rise of anything up to £700 or more, i think if you will appreciate some of these tips which as you say were sent through a link to a blog and on that blog, there were tips including eating porridge, putting on extra layers, cuddling your pet to keep warm, it does not suggest what kind of pets you have got, but to keep moving by doing some starjumps or a hula hoop challenge with your children. you can see this was written before many people would have seen these bill rises coming but it's clearly an idea that you should be saving energy rather than facing these big bills but mps are saying it is plainly offensive, the wording of it and the company has been quick to apologise. ovo owns sse and ovo says it was purelyjudged and unhelpful, it was purelyjudged and unhelpful, it is embarrassed about what it wrote and it will be taken down and rewritten with something a little more appropriate, if you like and it said it also understands the difficulties customers are facing which are essentially financially, facing these huge bills. it underlines the wider point around concerns around the cost of living crisis? it concerns around the cost of living crisis? ., , �* concerns around the cost of living crisis? ~ crisis? it does. and people will have these _ crisis? it does. and people will have these huge _ crisis? it does. and people will have these huge bills - crisis? it does. and people will have these huge bills coming i crisis? it does. and people will. have these huge bills coming and there is genuine advice about trying to save energy, to keep those bills down. so, for example, the energy saving trust which is a charity saying you could pop your thermostat down a degree, use led bulbs or you could try and draught proof your house and all of these two have an effect, they maybe take a little bit off the cost of your bills but ultimately, we are talking when the price cap is changed in april, hundreds of pounds put on an average household bill and as a result of that, clearly, tinkering around the edges, if you like, is going to ease some of that pain but certainly, there is going to be a considerable amount of financial difficulty for people, especially those on low incomes when they get those huge bills through. incomes when they get those huge bills through-— a us man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically—modified pig. doctors have described it as a �*breakthrough' that could make the use of animal organs in human transplants routine. this report from our north america correspondent david willis, contains images of the surgery. inside the box was the heart of a 240 lb pig. genetically engineered to survive inside a human body. but the question was, would the transplant work? after toiling for nearly nine hours, surgeons at the university of maryland medical centre removed the clamp restricting blood to the new organ and declared that it had. the pigs heart was pumping away, keeping alive a patient for whom all other options had run out. on the operating table was 57—year—old dave bennett, pictured here with his son and daughter. when doctors first proposed a pig's heart transplant, he thought they were joking, but four days on, he's said to be doing well and his doctors sound increasingly optimistic. we've never done this in a human. and i like to think that we have given him a better option than what continuing his therapy would have been. but whether it's a day, week, month, year, i don't know. advances in gene editing and cloning techniques have proved a game changer as far as this sort of surgery is concerned. and in a country in which more than 100,000 people are currently awaiting an organ transplant, dave bennett's operation could help change the lives and ease the suffering of so many. pictured here with the man who led the operation, mr bennett is now breathing on his own without a ventilator. having called the operation a shot in the dark, the hospital says he is now looking forward to being released from their care and reunited with his dog, lucky. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. one of the biggest illegal dark net websites has gone offline, after two years of selling class a drugs, counterfeit cash and hacking tools. the administrators of torrez shut the site down over christmas. but new ones are popping up all the time and bbc data shows just how resilient this online part of the drugs economy has become in recent years. let's talk to dr martin horton—eddison, cryptomarkets project lead at the global drugs policy observatory, which is a think—tank that looks at the impact of drugs policy. thank you forjoining us. down? thank you for “oining us. down? thank you for “oining us. down? thank you — thank you for “oining us. down? thank you for— thank you forjoining us. down? thank you for having _ thank you forjoining us. down? thank you for having me - thank you forjoining us. down? thank you for having me on - thank you forjoining us. down? thank you for having me on the| thank you for having me on the programme. we have seen a trend of these markets self—closing after the last year or two. it is a new feature of the dark net market space. it may be that the administrators felt as though they had made enough money and now it was time to go before the heat got hotter. and actually, we have seen a number of markets rise to prominence self—closing in this way over the past six months to a year or so for those reasons. for past six months to a year or so for those reasons.— those reasons. for every site that closes, those reasons. for every site that closes. how _ those reasons. for every site that closes, how many _ those reasons. for every site that closes, how many typically - those reasons. for every site that closes, how many typically are i closes, how many typically are opening up and how difficult is it for authorities to try and shut them down? we for authorities to try and shut them down? ~ , ., , ., for authorities to try and shut them down? , ., , ., f. for authorities to try and shut them down? , ., , ., _ down? we see a hydra effect so when an iven down? we see a hydra effect so when any given market _ down? we see a hydra effect so when any given market is _ down? we see a hydra effect so when any given market is closed _ down? we see a hydra effect so when any given market is closed down, i down? we see a hydra effect so when any given market is closed down, a i any given market is closed down, a number of other smaller markets pop up number of other smaller markets pop up and in fact in the case of torrez, they announced they were going to close down, and recommended a number of smaller markets for buyers and vendors to then go on and use after torrez. in buyers and vendors to then go on and use after torrez.— use after torrez. in terms of this whole dark _ use after torrez. in terms of this whole dark net, _ use after torrez. in terms of this whole dark net, how _ use after torrez. in terms of this whole dark net, how much i use after torrez. in terms of this whole dark net, how much of i use after torrez. in terms of this | whole dark net, how much of the use after torrez. in terms of this i whole dark net, how much of the dark net is engaged in what you might call nefarious activities? yes. net is engaged in what you might call nefarious activities?- call nefarious activities? yes, it is a ood call nefarious activities? yes, it is a good question. _ call nefarious activities? yes, it is a good question. the - call nefarious activities? yes, it is a good question. the people| call nefarious activities? yes, it i is a good question. the people use what we called the dark net but as academics we might call it a crypto market space for various activities, not all of which are nefarious. one might you start net software to go shopping for christmas presents without leaving cookie trackers on our computer or indeed very important for journalists, our computer or indeed very important forjournalists, political important for journalists, political distance, important forjournalists, political distance, operating in parts of the world for they may face political repression so the nefarious element of the dark net is relatively small. but it is significant and growing. in terms of the size of dark net markets which deal or enable the transaction of illicit drug substances, we can probably look at it, according to the whole world drug market, something like amazon is for the world commercial market, amazon sits at about 1% of the global commercial market, we might see the dark net are similar to that, 1-2% see the dark net are similar to that, 1—2% of the global drugs market. that, 1-2% of the global drugs market. . ~ that, 1-2% of the global drugs market. ., ~ , ., ., that, 1-2% of the global drugs market. . ., the us has recorded a new global record for confirmed covid cases in a single day. 1.35 million new infections were reported on monday. that's 30 percent higher than the previous record in the us. the number of americans hospitalized with covid—19 has surpassed last winter's peak. hospitalisations have increased 83 percent in the last two weeks. you're watching bbc news. laura podesta from cbs news and assessed how serious this wave is. it is a larger wave, new data shows that more than 142,000 people nationwide were hospitalised with covid—19 on sunday. that is more than the previous peak in january of last year. according tojohns hopkins, more than 1.4 million people tested positive at yesterday. and the biden administration announced that beginning on saturday, private insurers are now going to have to cover the cost of eight at—home tests per month. this is impacting everyone but specifically children. in the nation's third largest school district, for example, in chicago, teachers are finally going to be back in the classroom today after a four—day walk—out because they didn't like how the school district was handling the surge in covid infections. students are going to be returning tomorrow. and this is a situation that we are seeing nationwide, where you have students who want to have the right in—person learning but you have teachers and staff who don't want to be in the school because it can be a petri dish of infection. in chicago, the teachers' union and the city finally did reach an agreement over safety precautions around covid—19, and it includes a new metric for when schools go remote, and expanded testing. joanna will be here with you next. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. across scotland, northern ireland and northern england, you're in for a mostly dry day with a fair bit of sunshine. as we come further south across the rest of england and wales, there is a weather front sinking south, taking its cloud, drizzle, mist and murk with it. it is a cold front, hanging on to the milder conditions ahead of that, some cooler conditions as we push behind it. but we have a lot of clear skies, peppering of showers across the north and west of scotland, one or two of those getting into northern ireland and its breezy, gusty winds across the north and west and as this weather front sinks south, taking its murky conditions with it, it will brighten up across northern england, the north midlands, and northern and central wales. ten, 11 and 12 the top temperatures in the south, 5 to about 9 degrees as we push further north. this evening and overnight, eventually we say goodbye to the weather front leaving clear skies behind. we see mist and fog forming across the midlands, east anglia, the south—east and south—west, and the vale of york, and under clear skies, we have a widespread frost. moving further north, particularly into northern scotland, there will be more cloud and too much of a breeze for fog or frost. into wednesday, high pressure builds, the air moving around it, coming from the south—west, so the mildest conditions will be in the northern half of the country, quite cool conditions as we push further south but of course, with high pressure, things settle down. we have the fog to lift slowly during the course of wednesday morning but then there will be a lot of dry weather, fair bit of sunshine but still across the north west, thicker cloud with some showers and breezy conditions. here we have 10s, 11s, 12s the maximum temperature, in the south looking at 7, 8, or 9 degrees. thursday morning again quite a bit of fog around, slow to clear, some of it may linger all day, lifting into low cloud. a bit more cloud still across scotland with some highs of 11 degrees, into birmingham for example, if you are stuck under the fog, temperatures may only get to round 4 or 5 degrees. friday is almost an action replay, some fog slow to clear suppressing the temperatures, where it does linger. more cloud generally on friday, these are the temperatures, sixes up to about ten. this is bbc news — the headlines at 11: a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of number 10 at the height of the first lockdown — the prime minister faces fresh anger over claims he broke the rules. i cannot conceive of how this ever happened, how it seems to have happened multiple times. how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan it, to organise it, to turn up to it, and no—onejust said, "hang on a minute." i can entirely understand why people who have lost loved ones, or people who just had their lives hugely disrupted by these restrictions, are angry and upset by these allegations. that's why it's right that ms gray is looking into the fact... the metropolitan police say they are in contact with downing street over the alleged breaches of covid rules. one of britain's largest energy suppliers apologises — after it advised customers they could cuddle pets and eat porridge to stay warm. a man in the united states becomes the first person in the world to have a heart transplant from a pig. and, after 11:30, we'll answer your questions, as new coronavirus testing rules come in — people in england without covid symptoms no longer need a pcr test to confirm a positive lateral flow. the prime minister is yet again under pressure after it emerged that as many as 100 people were invited to a "bring your own booze" drinks event in the downing street garden during the first lockdown. witnesses have told the bbc the pm and his wife were among about 30 people who attended the gathering on may 20, 2020. borisjohnson has declined to say whether he was among those who attended. the restrictions at the time of the party allowed you to only meet one other person from another household outdoors and larger gatherings were banned. a messaged reinforced by this tweet from the metropolitan police that day. the met says it's now in contact with the government over "alleged breaches" of covid rules. the labour deputy leader, angela rayner, reacting to the latest allegations said: to the latest allegations said: "it's disgraceful should be ashamed." a civil servant, sue gray, is already investigating gatherings at downing street. our political correspondent, helen catt, reports. in may 2020, restrictions on social contact were still very tight. in england, you could meet one other person from a different household outdoors. in the downing street garden, it seems a bigger gathering was organised by a very senior official, the prime minister's private secretary, martin reynolds. he sent an e—mail, which itv news got hold of, to as many as 100 staff inviting them to bring their own booze for socially distanced drinks. messages sent between staff and shown to the bbc showed that some had questioned the event at the time. one wrote, "um, why is martin encouraging a mass gathering in the garden?" another said, "is this for real?" a downing street spokesman said there is an independent process going on to look at this led by sue gray, a senior official. and that they couldn't comment while that was taking place. it is understood around 30 people attended the gathering, including, according to two eyewitnesses, the prime minister and his wife. borisjohnson had been asked about it early in the day yesterday. all of that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by sue gray. so have you already been interviewed by sue gray and, if not, would you object to her questioning you again about this? all that is subject to an interview, an investigation by sue gray. hannah brady lost her dad sean to covid four days before the e—mail invitation was sent. she was one of a small group who later met the prime minister in that same downing street garden. i think this pandemic, for me, is the story of two men. so, one is my 55—year—old dad who is dead, having spent 42 nights on a ventilator fighting covid and no other illnesses. the other is a man who was 55 at the time of this party, borisjohnson, having survived covid himself, thought it was appropriate to host a party where you could bring your own booze, sit in the garden at downing street, where borisjohnson met me and four other bereaved families and told us to our faces, after listening to my dad's story, "i did everything i could to save him". labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, suggested borisjohnson should step down. i think he should go. i mean, there's no excuses and it will come as no surprise that i don't think borisjohnson is up to thejob but, more importantly, i think he's lost the confidence of the british public now with his lies, his deceit and his breaking of his own rules. some conservative mps say it is important to wait for the full report. we need to get to the bottom of this investigation, that's what sue gray is doing. and then if rules have been breached, people will have to suffer the consequences. meanwhile, the met police has said it's aware of the widespread reporting of alleged breaches at downing street on the 20th may and it's in contact with the cabinet office. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. our political correspondent, nick eardleyjoins me. there's going to be an urgent question on this today we understand ? that has been considerable pressure on at number 10 overnight entered into this morning to provide some answers to some questions about why this event was organised, about whether they accepted it broke covid rules, attended, and whether potentially borisjohnson himself broke the rules that his government was putting into place. we have not had many answers from the government and all of this morning, they had been silently want to wait for the inquiry that has been carried out by sue gray, a senior official in another government department. but there will be an urgent question in there will be an urgent question in the commons on this at about half past 12. i think that will be a significant moment because ministers will be under pressure to provide some answers to those questions. we have not had confirmation yet who will answer for the government, but there will be some pressure to come up there will be some pressure to come up with the answer is that a lot of people have been asking this morning, notjust opposition figures. we heard ruth davidson, the conservative peer and former scottish conservatives leader asking some questions. privately, there are many mps, many people in government who are absolutely fizzing about these latest revelations. i suspect some of that is going to use surface in parliament this afternoon about half past 12 when we get that urgent question. this morning, the health minister, edward argar, said he could understand public anger over the allegations. well, i can entirely understand, as i say, that anger and upset. it's not a culture i'm aware of. i spent my time in the department of health looking down a zoom screen or a teams call most of the time, on calls about ventilators, hospital capacity, building nightingales and similar. but, as i've said, i can entirely understand why people who have lost loved ones or people who've had their lives hugely disrupted by these restrictions are angry and upset by these allegations. that's why it's right that ms gray is looking into the allegations and will report and she can go with this investigation where she needs to without fear or favour, and i hope she will report swiftly and, depending on what she finds in the investigation, if people are found to have broken the rules in that context, it is right that appropriate disciplinary action is taken. the former leader of the scottish conservatives, ruth davidson, told my colleague, annita mcveigh, that she could not understand how the event had ever been allowed to happen. how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan it, to organise it, to turn up to it, and nobodyjust said, "well, hang on a minute, lads, we're telling everybody else that they are not allowed to meet a single person. we're telling them they can't go to relatives' funerals. we're telling them they can't visit elderly people in the care homes. we are telling them they can't visit dying relatives." how is this defensible? you know, it is not about being a politician, it's about being a human being that lived in the united kingdom during this time. if number 10 doesn't understand the anger that is out there, then they are going to find out that anger pretty soon in the next couple of days, because everybody has some form of sacrifice, or somebody important in their life gave a huge sacrifice, that will never forgive whatever went on, because itjust makes a mockery of this idea that we were doing a national endeavour to try and keep each other safe. do you think martin reynolds, borisjohnson's principal private secretary who wrote this e—mail, ought to resign? do you think for the sake of the conservative party that borisjohnson needs to consider his position at this point? i can't understand how martin reynolds — who to my knowledge i have never met, i don't have a dog in this fight — i don't know how, one, he thought it was appropriate. two, i don't know how this hasn't come out in the last year, to be honest with you, if 100 people got an e—mail and it's been kicking around on people's servers for that long. and i don't know how he is still in position. i don't know how, when that e—mail came out, somebody didn't say, "you can't do that," and there wasn't some form of sanction at the time, rather than, "yeah, let's get a couple of tins and go out the back." i just, honestly... i don't know if you can tell from my voice. i honestly cannot understand the mindset, i cannot understand it. there were the comments we heard, "is this for real" when the e—mail emerged, so at the time people were asking is this for real. so there are questions about why it has taken so long for this to emerge. who are not very well paid, you know, is a very structured ladder, down the bottom — who were questioning this and just being told that it was all fine because nobody wants to work in a compromised working environment. that is an enormously compromised position that they were being put in and an unfair one. leadership is about setting an example... you make sure that people stick to the rules too. finally, if i may, that question of borisjohnson's position. do you think that many of his mps are fed up with all of this? i think they got assurances before christmas at the last flurry of these that the sue gray investigation would put a stop to it. it hasn't, there is huge public anger about this was up there are only two ways that a conservative prime minister goes, one, he falls on his sword. to be fair, we still don't know whether he was there or not. we still don't know if what he said to parliament was misleading parliament or not, a really serious charge. the second way is that mps write a letter to the 1922 committee. i don't think anybody will be taking their letters out of the 1922 committee after this event, let's put it that way. earlier we spoke tojean adamson, a member of the group covid—19 bereaved families forjustice, whose father passed away in april 2020 with coronavirus. he was a windrush pioneer, came from barbados to england in the 19505. hard—working man, worked all his life, family man. he contracted covid in a care home and subsequently died on a hospital ward, a covid ward. we miss him dreadfully, it's been a very difficult time over the last coming up to two years now. he died on april 15 and the funeral was on may 15, which was reallyjust a few days before this party took place in downing street. so it's very upsetting when i think about, you know, the sacrifices that we have had to make at that time, you know, the funeral arrangements and not being able to be with him when he died. you know, very, very difficult time, difficult circumstances under which we lost my father. and to think that downing street were planning a jolly and breaking their own rules at that time, it just beggars belief, really. it's very, very upsetting. the conservative mp, michael fabricant, says the only people who will have attended the party are people who were working closely together inside downing street at the time. hejoins me now. you put out a tweet that there is less justification. tell us you put out a tweet that there is lessjustification. tell us more about how you see it. i lessjustification. tell us more about how you see it.- lessjustification. tell us more about how you see it. i don't know about how you see it. i don't know about justification. _ about how you see it. i don't know aboutjustification. i'm _ about how you see it. i don't know aboutjustification. i'm trying i about how you see it. i don't know aboutjustification. i'm trying to i i aboutjustification. i'm trying to i shall give an explanation about how the mindset could even have allowed this to happen. people don't always understand precisely what downing street is like. there are over 100 offices, it is for the knocked into one, it is connected to the whitehall building, and there is an enclosed garden. all of that obviously is a very secure area. i know a lot of these people at that time were working 18 hour days to deliver, actually, one of the best vaccine programmes in the world. they were exhausted. now, if boris johnson has got a feeling, one of those failings is loyalty, to his friends and to his staff. whether it is right or not, legally, is something that the metropolitan police and sue great will it decide the... ., ., ., _ ., ., the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise _ the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it _ the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for _ the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for a _ the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for a how _ the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for a how you - the... you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for a how you see i contextualise it for a how you see it, how you say things where an inside number 10. the context for people out there in the country who have made sacrifices through that first lockdown, through the whole period of the pandemic will be missing funerals, not being able to hold a loved one's hands while they died, not being able to visit loved ones in care homes. the rules were made by those in at number 10. they see one rule for them and one for us. y ., see one rule for them and one for us. do you understand? my best friend, his _ us. do you understand? my best friend, his mother— us. do you understand? my best friend, his mother died - us. do you understand? my best friend, his mother died from i us. do you understand? my best friend, his mother died from an | friend, his mother died from an image tragic circumstances of covid in february of last year, so of course i understand. i understand the anger too, i'm course i understand. i understand the angertoo, i'm not course i understand. i understand the anger too, i'm not detached from it. the difference from funerals, marriage ceremonies, etc, is that you are meeting outsiders. this was not involving any outsiders, this was a secured area. the people that would have been on top of each other in these small offices, some of them then met in the garden. the in these small offices, some of them then met in the garden.— then met in the garden. the rules, though--- — then met in the garden. the rules, though--- you _ then met in the garden. the rules, though... you are _ then met in the garden. the rules, though... you are right _ then met in the garden. the rules, though... you are right about i then met in the garden. the rules, though... you are right about the i though... you are right about the rules. though... you are right about the rules- that _ though... you are right about the rules. that is _ though... you are right about the rules. that is not _ though... you are right about the rules. that is not something i i though... you are right about the rules. that is not something i am actually here to discuss now. just let me finish, and then i certainly will, you no checked is for people to understand that the circumstances in which this arose, people working long, long hours. don't forget boris that you might also court covid in downing street. the garden is an extension of the workplace, a secured area.— extension of the workplace, a secured area. ., , ., ., ., secured area. the rows did not allow for mitigation. _ secured area. the rows did not allow for mitigation, justification, - for mitigation, justification, explanation. police were removing people off of park benches, people were getting fined for breaching the rules. the rules were there for everybody and they were made in number 10. edit everybody and they were made in number 10-— everybody and they were made in number10. , ., ~ , number 10. of course, the workers in at number 10 — number 10. of course, the workers in at number 10 where _ number 10. of course, the workers in at number 10 where key _ number 10. of course, the workers in at number 10 where key workers, i at number 10 where key workers, designated as such. you are absolutely right. i remember, for example, in derbyshire you had a couple walking in the peak district and a drone caught them and they were prosecuted. yes, the rules were clear in those circumstances. the rules did not _ clear in those circumstances. the rules did not say _ clear in those circumstances. the rules did not say if you are a key worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide- — worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide. the _ worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide. the rules _ worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide. the rules did - worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide. the rules did not i worker, you are exempt. sue gray will decide. the rules did not say i will decide. the rules did not say if ou are will decide. the rules did not say if you are a _ will decide. the rules did not say if you are a key _ will decide. the rules did not say if you are a key worker, - will decide. the rules did not say if you are a key worker, you i will decide. the rules did not say if you are a key worker, you are. if you are a key worker, you are exempt from the rules that apply in any other context. key workers had to go to their place of work, they were also expected to go home at the end of whatever shift they have done, whether it was a gruelling shift in a hospital, cleaning bins, working in a supermarket... i understand what you say and i sympathise with what you say. there is an argument, i'm not presenting at necessarily as myself, that the garden is a part of the office. the doors open out into that garden, all of which is a secured area. from the of which is a secured area. from the of view, that will be decided by sue gray and the metropolitan police and we will have to see what i'm what i'm trying to explain is that boris and others felt sorry for people who are working long, long hours and that they were simply spilling out from their own offices into a secure garden, which is an integral part of number 10 downing st. garden, which is an integral part of number10 downing st. i garden, which is an integral part of number 10 downing st. i would rather have a prime minister who fell for his staff and all those hard—working people than some cold fish who really couldn't care.— really couldn't care. could it be accurately _ really couldn't care. could it be accurately described _ really couldn't care. could it be accurately described as - really couldn't care. could it be accurately described as spilling j really couldn't care. could it be i accurately described as spilling out when an e—mail was sent to 100 or so people, inviting them to a planned event, tables were put out, third was put out on tables. that is not an off the cuff spilling out, is it? you spill out from your offices into a secure area, there was no mixing. so many people who were prosecuted and felt they were breaking the rules were because there was at the risk of them mixing with other people whom they otherwise would not have met. these were at the same people who actually worked in tight offices, where of course the risk of contagion, as we know from boris's own contagion, the risk was less so in a space like the garden. i think the whole point that will be looked at by sue gray and at the metropolitan police is, was that garden, a walled garden with armed police patrolling outside, was that god an integral part of the office space? clearly, that was the view taken by some people who decided to get involved in that.— get involved in that. should we have to wait forcibly _ get involved in that. should we have to wait forcibly to _ get involved in that. should we have to wait forcibly to tell _ get involved in that. should we have to wait forcibly to tell us _ get involved in that. should we have to wait forcibly to tell us whether . to wait forcibly to tell us whether or not the prime minister was there? —— wait for sue gray. or not the prime minister was there? -- wait for sue gray.— -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met — -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, _ -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, yes. _ -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, yes. 0r— -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, yes. or it - -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, yes. or it may - -- wait for sue gray. presumably, or at the met police, yes. or it may be| at the met police, yes. or it may be this afternoon, there is going to be an urgent question, maybe it will be reviewed here. i don't know, i'm not part of the number 10 team. it reviewed here. i don't know, i'm not part of the number 10 team.- part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed _ part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed out _ part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed out that _ part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed out that he _ part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed out that he knows - part of the number 10 team. it has been pointed out that he knows if she was there. why doesn't he just say so? she was there. why doesn't he 'ust sa so? ., ., ., ., ., say so? you would have to ask the prime minister, _ say so? you would have to ask the prime minister, i _ say so? you would have to ask the prime minister, i can't _ say so? you would have to ask the prime minister, i can't speak- say so? you would have to ask the prime minister, i can't speak for. prime minister, i can't speakfor him. prime minister, i can't speak for him. , ., ~' prime minister, i can't speak for him. ~' , ., there him. do you think you should? there are circumstances _ him. do you think you should? there are circumstances by _ him. do you think you should? there are circumstances by which _ him. do you think you should? there are circumstances by which some - are circumstances by which some people might have felt it was actually quite lawful to go from his confine offices into a confined garden. this is not going into a public park where others could have mixed with them. that will be the argument i'm sure that the metropolitan police and sue gray will be considering. fix, metropolitan police and sue gray will be considering.— metropolitan police and sue gray will be considering. a quote from ruth davidson, _ will be considering. a quote from ruth davidson, "i _ will be considering. a quote from ruth davidson, "i cannot- will be considering. a quote from| ruth davidson, "i cannot conceive will be considering. a quote from i ruth davidson, "i cannot conceive of how this could have happened and it seems to have happened multiple times, and no one pointing out that people couldn't visit relatives in hospitals, they couldn't visit loved ones in care homes, they couldn't attend funerals." no mitigation, no defence? i attend funerals." no mitigation, no defence? ., �* ~ ., attend funerals." no mitigation, no defence? ~ ., ., attend funerals." no mitigation, no defence? ., �* ~ ., ., ., defence? i don't know to what degree how many times _ defence? i don't know to what degree how many times ruth _ defence? i don't know to what degree how many times ruth davidson - defence? i don't know to what degree how many times ruth davidson has i how many times ruth davidson has been to number 10 and health to she is with number 10. but you will note this is very different to going into a public area. a public area where they could be mixing with outsiders and therefore risking contagion, that would have been extremely serious indeed and a resigning matter. but this was not a public area, this is the same people who were working together indoors now going into a confined area outdoors, and therefore there was no mixing or contagion involved. that is the very thing that the metropolitan police and sue gray will be considering. how do you know she was invited and how this party was conducted in the garden? how this party was conducted in the carden? , , ., , garden? they were people within the downin: garden? they were people within the downing street _ garden? they were people within the downing street and _ garden? they were people within the downing street and cabinet - garden? they were people within the downing street and cabinet office . downing street and cabinet office complex. it has been very widely reported. i believe itv had the e—mail of the list of all the people that were invited. e-mail of the list of all the people that were invited.— that were invited. that list hasn't been published. _ that were invited. that list hasn't been published. in _ that were invited. that list hasn't been published. in terms - that were invited. that list hasn't been published. in terms of - that were invited. that list hasn't been published. in terms of your| been published. in terms of your conviction that these were people working in offices together and they would not have been mixing, how can you be so sure of that? if what you are saying is that they were working in groups in offices, anyone working in groups in offices, anyone working in an environment in that time had to do so in a socially distanced way. to do so in a socially distanced wa . ., to do so in a socially distanced wa , ., ., , ., to do so in a socially distanced wa . ., . , . , to do so in a socially distanced wa. ., .,, ., , way. you raise a very good point. there is no _ way. you raise a very good point. there is no evidence _ way. you raise a very good point. there is no evidence to _ way. you raise a very good point. there is no evidence to suggest l way. you raise a very good point. i there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case, but if it were to turn out that other people were invited to are not within the downing street complex where they are working all together and it is in effect when the building, if that would be very serious indeed, but there is no evidence of that whatsoever. it is a group of people who had been working together in the one building. i keep emphasising it, but there was no mixing, so the contagion couldn't spread. if boris has a fault, it's because he actually cares for the people who work for him in number 10 downing st. and i can see how this issue arose. , ., ., st. and i can see how this issue arose. ., ., , arose. even if you are outside, the bills at the — arose. even if you are outside, the bills at the time _ arose. even if you are outside, the bills at the time where _ arose. even if you are outside, the bills at the time where very - arose. even if you are outside, the bills at the time where very clear, | bills at the time where very clear, you couldn't congregate. you could meet one other person from one other household outdoors, whatever the context. people were not allowed to hang out in the girl groups and gardens. hang out in the girl groups and aardens. , , , ., gardens. this is the very thing that the metropolitan _ gardens. this is the very thing that the metropolitan police _ gardens. this is the very thing that the metropolitan police and - gardens. this is the very thing that the metropolitan police and sue i the metropolitan police and sue gray, the very senior cabinet office official who has been put in charge official who has been put in charge of the investigation internally. the permanent private secretary attended one of these parties, because he originally was going to be doing the investigation. it is for him to side, including the metropolitan police, may be the crown prosecution office whether an offence had been committed. but because it was a secure area, because you couldn't get people walking in off the street into that whole complex, the perception within downing street was that this was part of the office complex, therefore there was no mixing, they were not putting lives at risk. for example, this friend of mine whose mother was dying in hospital, one of the reasons he couldn't visit her, he was saying to me early on sunday, it is one year to the day that he last saw his mother going into the hospital in an ambulance, that was the last time he saw her, but the rows for that were very clear. that they did not want to see mixing and cross contagion. this would not have happened in this instance in downing street. joining me now is human rights barrister adam wagner, from doughty street chambers, he has clients who were threatened with prosecution for allegedly breaking lockdown rules. i don't know if you could hear michael fabricant there. i could. what about _ michael fabricant there. i could. what about his _ michael fabricant there. i could. what about his explanation - michael fabricant there. i could. what about his explanation of l michaelfabricant there. i could. i what about his explanation of how this might have been okayed? i thought it was valiant. i didn't think— thought it was valiant. i didn't think particularly the argument stood — think particularly the argument stood up — think particularly the argument stood up either of the law or the guidance — stood up either of the law or the guidance. just explain, at that time it was_ guidance. just explain, at that time it was a _ guidance. just explain, at that time it was a league goal for a person to be outside — it was a league goal for a person to be outside of the place they were living _ be outside of the place they were living without reasonable excuse. that reasonable excuse could include where _ that reasonable excuse could include where they— that reasonable excuse could include where they needed to work. as we can see from _ where they needed to work. as we can see from this — where they needed to work. as we can see from this e—mail, it does not look— see from this e—mail, it does not look like — see from this e—mail, it does not look like work, that ice is bring your— look like work, that ice is bring your own — look like work, that ice is bring your own booze to a party to help us thank— your own booze to a party to help us thank everybody for the hard work they have — thank everybody for the hard work they have been doing. who knows what a court _ they have been doing. who knows what a court would say if this ever went to court. — a court would say if this ever went to court. but— a court would say if this ever went to court, but it doesn't really stack— to court, but it doesn't really stack up. _ to court, but it doesn't really stack up, any of the argument that mr fabric_ stack up, any of the argument that mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation — mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation in _ mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation in the _ mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation in the rules _ mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation in the rules at - mr fabric count was making. was that any mitigation in the rules at the - any mitigation in the rules at the time that people working together could then hang out together in a social weight later because they were already in an environment together? were already in an environment touether? ., ., ., together? no. i have heard the term worklace together? no. i have heard the term workplace bubble _ together? no. i have heard the term workplace bubble used _ together? no. i have heard the term workplace bubble used quite - together? no. i have heard the term workplace bubble used quite a - together? no. i have heard the term workplace bubble used quite a few i workplace bubble used quite a few times— workplace bubble used quite a few times in— workplace bubble used quite a few times in relation to this party and the other— times in relation to this party and the other parties. it suggests an invention. — the other parties. it suggests an invention, it never existed. iwas interested — invention, it never existed. iwas interested to hear what mr fabricant was saying _ interested to hear what mr fabricant was saying about the prime minister being _ was saying about the prime minister being kind _ was saying about the prime minister being kind to his staff in a non—dangerous way. but the guidance at the _ non—dangerous way. but the guidance at the time _ non—dangerous way. but the guidance at the time was very clear, it is said _ at the time was very clear, it is said to — at the time was very clear, it is said to avoid gatherings in the workplace, because the whole idea, the safe _ workplace, because the whole idea, the safe working guidance from the government for people who had to go into the _ government for people who had to go into the office, remember only a limited _ into the office, remember only a limited number of people were allowed — limited number of people were allowed to go into the office, key workers. — allowed to go into the office, key workers, the guidance was very clear to key— workers, the guidance was very clear to key people and groups, to not encourage — to key people and groups, to not encourage gatherings. rather than being _ encourage gatherings. rather than being a _ encourage gatherings. rather than being a safe, it was probably bringing _ being a safe, it was probably bringing to people who were not regularly— bringing to people who were not regularly working together in a way which _ regularly working together in a way which would potentially expose them to covid _ which would potentially expose them to covid i _ which would potentially expose them to covid. i know that the government will see, _ to covid. i know that the government will see, it _ to covid. i know that the government will see, it was socially distanced. but one _ will see, it was socially distanced. but one of— will see, it was socially distanced. but one of the other things we also heard _ but one of the other things we also heard from — but one of the other things we also heard from the comet throughout the pandemic, _ heard from the comet throughout the pandemic, prophetically throughout 2020 when they were justifying closing — 2020 when they were justifying closing pubs was that once people start drinking alcohol, it is much more _ start drinking alcohol, it is much more difficult to maintain social distancing requirements. ijust distancing requirements. i just think— distancing requirements. i just think this _ distancing requirements. ijust think this was a recipe for a disaster. _ think this was a recipe for a disaster, to bring together all these — disaster, to bring together all these people if may not be working closely _ these people if may not be working closely together but would be close together— closely together but would be close together in what is not a very big garden — together in what is not a very big carden. �* . together in what is not a very big carden. . ., ., ,., ., garden. and what would potential fines be for _ garden. and what would potential fines be for organisers _ garden. and what would potential fines be for organisers of - garden. and what would potential. fines be for organisers of something that looked and sounded like a party at the time? fit} that looked and sounded like a party at the time?— at the time? £60 was the fixed enal at the time? £60 was the fixed penalty notice _ at the time? £60 was the fixed penalty notice at _ at the time? £60 was the fixed penalty notice at the _ at the time? £60 was the fixed penalty notice at the time, - at the time? £60 was the fixed penalty notice at the time, it i at the time? £60 was the fixed i penalty notice at the time, it later went up. if you were found to be in breach of the regulations, you would be given a fixed penalty notice, but there was also the possibility of charging someone with a criminal offence. the whole point of a fixed penalty notice is that it allows you to avoid being charged with a criminal offence.— to avoid being charged with a criminal offence. thank you for 'oinin: criminal offence. thank you for joining us- _ criminal offence. thank you for joining us. some _ criminal offence. thank you for joining us. some breaking i criminal offence. thank you for| joining us. some breaking news criminal offence. thank you for- joining us. some breaking news about the urgent question in the commons. we are hearing that the paymaster general, michael ellis, will be responding to the urgent question on that downing street event on may 20, 2020. that is the person who will be dealing with the issue in the commons later. we heard from a health mr elder who referred questions around it to what is happening with the investigation thatis happening with the investigation that is being carried out by sue gray, the civil servant. we will have to see where that michael ellis is going to directly answer your questions when he appears in the commons at half past 12 in an hour's time. michael ellis, in the commons, we will have live coverage on bbc news. anyone who records a positive lateral flow test in england, but doesn't have symptoms, no longer needs to take a pcr from today. it's hoped the relaxation of testing rules will improve the speed of pcr tests for key workers, amid concerns about staff shortages. northern ireland, scotland and wales have already implemented the change. and in just a few minutes after 11.30, we'll be answering your questions on the new covid testing rules. if there's anything you want to know about what tests you now need to take for travel or if you suspect you have covid, get in touch those are the sort of questions we will be answering on your questions answered shortly. over half of people in europe are on track to contract the omicron coronavirus variant in the next two months if infections continue at current rates, the world health organization said tuesday. hans kluge, regional director for who's european office said forecasts that more than 50% of the population in the region will be infected in the next six to eight weeks. our health correspondent naomi grimley is here. wow, that will be a huge number. scary numbers. one word of caution, discovers a very large region including places like russia, turkmenistan, uzbekistan, so areas where vaccine coverage is not as good as it is in a country like the uk. but certainly in the last two weeks they have seen infections doubling, 7 million newly reported cases of covid—i9 in the first week of year and it was been described as like a tidal wave moving from west to east. so they are clearly very worried about the pressures on health care workers and they say some schools in the region may struggle to keep open.- some schools in the region may struggle to keep open. thank you very much- _ hello this is bbc news. a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of number 10 at the height of the first lockdown. the prime minister faces fresh anger over claims he broke the rules. i cannot conceive of how this ever happened, how it seems to have happened multiple times. how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan it, to organise it, to turn up to it, and no—onejust said, "hang on a minute." i can entirely understand why people who have lost loved ones, or people who just had their lives hugely disrupted by these restrictions, are angry and upset by these allegations. that's why it's right that ms gray is looking into the fact... the metropolitan police say they are in contact with downing street over the alleged breaches of covid rules. one of britain's largest energy suppliers apologises, after it advised customers they could cuddle pets and eat porridge to stay warm. and a man in the united states becomes the first person in the world to have a heart transplant from a pig. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's hollie. good morning. novak djokovic�*s former coach boris becker says the events of the last six days have left his former player shell shocked, but accepts the world number one will face some tough questions in the coming days. he's been back out on court practising at the rod laver arena having won his appeal against the government's decsion to revoke his visa. immingration minister alex hawke could yet overturn that, no decision is expected today. becker urged djokovic to get vaccinated to avoid encountering similar issues at other tournaments. i'm sure the french open will watch the melbourne saga, as i want to call it, i'm sure wimbledon will watch it and i'm sure they're going to have strict rules of who can play and who cannot play. now, again, it's anybody�*s choice whether they want to vaccinate, but life is more and more difficult for people who don't want to be vaxxed. so, personally, i would advise him to get vaccinated eventually, because life would be easier for him. but again, he's old enough. it's his choice, it's his body, it's his life, and we have to respect that. andy murray continued his preparations for the australian open with a straight sets win over viktor durasovic in the first round of the sydney international. he faces the second seed, nikoloz basilashvili, next. but there was a crushing defeat for emma raducanu, in her first match since recovering from coronavirus. she only took one game against the world number 13 elena rybakina, in a match lasting less than an hour. the defeat came on the same day raducanu was given a seeding of 17 for the australian open, which starts on monday. now, we know a number of stars from the premier league are off playing in the africa cup of nations — and a big miss for liverpool will be mo salah, who's been the best player in england so far this season. his egypt side get their campaign under way this afternoon against nigeria. the egyptians are the most successful team in the history of the competition, with seven wins, but they haven't lifted the trophy since 2010. this is the only thing i did not win yet. but i was lucky that we got to the world cup after 28 years, maybe 30 years, now. but i always say i would love to win something with my country. i came here. i'm proud to wear the shirt. i give my best to the team. hopefully, we can do something this time. mark cavendish says he has no choice but to get on with life, after a burglary and assault at his home in november. he was attacked by armed men while he was recovering from injury, while his wife and children were threatened. he says he wants to spend more time with his family, but he's pleased to be preparing for the new season. people have had worse setbacks than i've had. and it is how you deal with them that matters the most. unfortunately, things happen, things continue to happen, you have to try and get on with things, bounce back, and i think that's the way you can go forward. that's all the sport for now. from today in england, people who test positive for coronavirus on a lateral flow device are no longer required to take a confirmatory pcr test, but they must isolate immediately. the uk health security agency says this is a temporary measure while infection rates remain high. it comes after testing rules for travel changed last week. here to answer your questions on all the new testing requirements are professor derek ward who's the director of public health for lincolnshire and lisa francesca nand who hosts the big travel podcast. coming to you derek with a question from alan, a question lots of people are asking. if people no longer have to take a pcr, then surely it will drastically reduce the recorded case numbers. the government will not be able to report or deal with the numbers as they will not know what they have also, if there were a mutation, it would take longer to come to the attention of the testers and scientists. i come to the attention of the testers and scientists.— and scientists. i think the first thin to and scientists. i think the first thing to say — and scientists. i think the first thing to say it _ and scientists. i think the first thing to say it is _ and scientists. i think the first thing to say it is not _ and scientists. i think the first thing to say it is not accurate l thing to say it is not accurate people no longer have to take a pcr. you have to take a pcr if you have any of the three key symptoms. that is a new continuous calf, a temperature or a change in your sense of taste or smell. any of those can must isolate straightaway and go and get a pcr. the changes for lateral flow of those testing themselves twice a week and have not got any symptoms. that is the first thing to say. having said that, i agree with alan, there is a concern and it is something we share locally that we won't pick up as many infections, so it is really important that if anyone tests positive on a literal flow they go on to the government website and register that. the dater i get, 750,000 people, includes people whether they test positive with a pcr or lateral flow, whether they test positive with a pcr or lateralflow, but whether they test positive with a pcr or lateral flow, but i only know if people register it. so please register it. if people register it. so please register it— if people register it. so please register it. and what about the oint register it. and what about the point about — register it. and what about the point about mutations, - register it. and what about the point about mutations, it i register it. and what about the | point about mutations, it being harder to keep a track. another really good _ harder to keep a track. another really good point. _ harder to keep a track. another really good point. the - harder to keep a track. another really good point. the issue i harder to keep a track. anotherl really good point. the issue with lateral flow tests as it is great telling you whether you have got the virus and infectious, but they don't genotype the virus, we only get that from some of the pcr test. not every pcr test is genotyped. there will still be lots of pcr tests for those with symptoms so we will check them for new variants. there is also lots of research going on at the moment and people will test themselves with pcr as part of the research programme so hopefully we pick them up programme so hopefully we pick them up pretty quickly if there is a new variant. , . ,, up pretty quickly if there is a new variant. , ., , , , variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and l— variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and i would _ variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and i would like _ variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and i would like to _ variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and i would like to visit i variant. kitty asks, my mum lives in rome and i would like to visit her. l rome and i would like to visit her. i have had two vaccinations, no boost yet, i want to go to rome soon first up is the booster mandatory for travel and what test do i need to do and when? i for travel and what test do i need to do and when?— for travel and what test do i need to do and when? i am glad you asked this because — to do and when? i am glad you asked this because it _ to do and when? i am glad you asked this because it shows _ to do and when? i am glad you asked this because it shows the _ to do and when? i am glad you asked this because it shows the changing i this because it shows the changing nature _ this because it shows the changing nature of— this because it shows the changing nature of travel. italy has been a country — nature of travel. italy has been a country that has chopped and changed the rules— country that has chopped and changed the rules quite a lot. it depends when _ the rules quite a lot. it depends when you — the rules quite a lot. it depends when you mean about soon because from february they will ask for proof— from february they will ask for proof of— from february they will ask for proof of the booster. if you mean soon _ proof of the booster. if you mean soon in _ proof of the booster. if you mean soon in the — proof of the booster. if you mean soon in the next couple of weeks, you will— soon in the next couple of weeks, you will be — soon in the next couple of weeks, you will be ok, but from february you will be ok, but from february you will— you will be ok, but from february you will have to get your booster and wait — you will have to get your booster and wait for the proof to come through — and wait for the proof to come throuuh. , ~ ~ , through. derek, andrew asks is there any incentive. — through. derek, andrew asks is there any incentive, going _ through. derek, andrew asks is there any incentive, going back— through. derek, andrew asks is there any incentive, going back to - through. derek, andrew asks is there any incentive, going back to what i any incentive, going back to what you are talking about, the repartee lateral flow test, won't people ignore the result in order to avoid quarantine? this will lead to a false sense of security as the number of positive cases fall. people can easily say they have lost taste or smell and get a test anyway also. i taste or smell and get a test anyway also. ~ , , taste or smell and get a test anyway also. ~' , , ., ., ., also. ithink firstly, lateralflow tests are very _ also. ithink firstly, lateralflow tests are very good _ also. ithink firstly, lateralflow tests are very good at - also. ithink firstly, lateralflow tests are very good at picking l tests are very good at picking people up who are infectious and the reason the government has moved to this process, which we had at this time last year as well, is two fold. when there is so much covid around in the population, in lincolnshire, three quarters of a million people, we had 10,000 positives over the past week, when i was so much covid around, lateralflow past week, when i was so much covid around, lateral flow tests, past week, when i was so much covid around, lateralflow tests, the likelihood of telling you you are positive if you are not is very slim. probably two or three people out of 10,000 would be false positives. it is a good indicator. and when there is so much covid around, it is important we maintain the capacity of the gold standard tests, the pcr tests for those people we really need it for. that is front—line health and social care workers, may be blue light people we need to know for sure if they have it or not. that is why we are where we are. i think the point about whether people, it is an incentive, i think the british public and across the planet, the vast majority of people recognise the risk covid poses and have been testing themselves and will continue to do so. the key thing is to report the result. ,., so. the key thing is to report the result. ., ., ., ., result. lisa, karina asks, i have 'ust result. lisa, karina asks, i have just returned — result. lisa, karina asks, i have just returned from _ result. lisa, karina asks, i have just returned from the - result. lisa, karina asks, i have just returned from the states i result. lisa, karina asks, i havej just returned from the states to result. lisa, karina asks, i have i just returned from the states to see my son for the first time in two years. why is nobody monitoring the charges and performance of testing companies? i used a trusted company, paid a lot of money, paid for tests that never arrived and the results never arrived. the preflight company asked me to send them a a review which i only gave two stars. they said they were refunding my 106 £9 and to remove the review which had gone on to trust pilate. had it been a small amount, i probably would have received. this way the companies are providing those with edited reviews. someone should investigate them. it is edited reviews. someone should investigate them.— investigate them. it is so frustrating, _ investigate them. it is so frustrating, the - investigate them. it is so i frustrating, the companies are investigate them. it is so - frustrating, the companies are not regulated, — frustrating, the companies are not regulated, you're going to the government website and they give you a list of— government website and they give you a list of companies where you can buy your— a list of companies where you can buy your tests run, some say they are from _ buy your tests run, some say they are from and _ buy your tests run, some say they are from and so my £169. i have had reports _ are from and so my £169. i have had reports of— are from and so my £169. i have had reports of day two tests turning up on day _ reports of day two tests turning up on day six — reports of day two tests turning up on day six was to thankfully we don't _ on day six was to thankfully we don't have _ on day six was to thankfully we don't have to isolate until that result— don't have to isolate until that result now but by then it is absolutely useless and it is so frustrating. the government are not regulating _ frustrating. the government are not regulating it, i frustrating. the government are not regulating it, lam not someone frustrating. the government are not regulating it, i am not someone to call a _ regulating it, i am not someone to call a scam — regulating it, i am not someone to call a scam so quickly, but it feels like that, — call a scam so quickly, but it feels like that, like a moneymaking exercise _ like that, like a moneymaking exercise i_ like that, like a moneymaking exercise. i have no answers unfortunately, but i equal your frustration. unfortunately, but i equalyour frustration.— unfortunately, but i equalyour frustration. , ~ ,, , frustration. derek, steve writes, i have had three _ frustration. derek, steve writes, i have had three false _ frustration. derek, steve writes, i have had three false positive i have had three false positive lateral flow tests on three different occasions was that each with a very faint lines up on each occasion i had a pcr quickly after that showed i was negative. with the removal of pcr after positive lateral flow tests, is there any option i can use based on my history? it seems my only choice is isolating. history? it seems my only choice is isolatina. . , history? it seems my only choice is isolatina. ., , , ., history? it seems my only choice is isolatin.. ., , , ., ., isolating. that is unusual. i have never heard _ isolating. that is unusual. i have never heard of— isolating. that is unusual. i have never heard of that _ isolating. that is unusual. i have never heard of that before. i isolating. that is unusual. i have never heard of that before. the | isolating. that is unusual. i have i never heard of that before. the key point comes to at the moment with so much covid around, the scientific evidence would suggest the likelihood of getting a false positive on a lateral flow is only two or three out of every 10,000. at the moment there isn't any other option because we are suspending the need for a confirmatory pcr test. clearly if anyone has got any symptoms you still go and get a pcr test. it is very unusual, in my experience, to have three false positive lateral flow tests confirmed by pcr. aha, positive lateral flow tests confirmed by pcr. positive lateral flow tests confirmedb pcr. . , ., ., confirmed by pcr. a question about travel, confirmed by pcr. a question about travel. i've — confirmed by pcr. a question about travel, i've had _ confirmed by pcr. a question about travel, i've had my _ confirmed by pcr. a question about travel, i've had my two _ confirmed by pcr. a question about travel, i've had my two vaccinationsj travel, i've had my two vaccinations plus booster and planning to go to mauritius in march. how come that inch chip should go ahead and what tests do i need to do and when? —— how confident should i be pasta to enter mauritius in the proof of vaccination, negative pcr test and fill in a health form. m50 vaccination, negative pcr test and fill in a health form.— fill in a health form. also need to have health _ fill in a health form. also need to have health insurance _ fill in a health form. also need to have health insurance or- fill in a health form. also need to have health insurance or a i fill in a health form. also need to l have health insurance or a specific covid _ have health insurance or a specific covid travel — have health insurance or a specific covid travel insurance which is quite — covid travel insurance which is quite accessible to get these days. i'm reasonably confident you will no, i'm reasonably confident you will go. let's— i'm reasonably confident you will go, let's hope, it is not that long to wait, — go, let's hope, it is not that long to wait, so— go, let's hope, it is not that long to wait, so let's hope you are going — to wait, so let's hope you are anoin. , to wait, so let's hope you are aoian. , to wait, so let's hope you are aoain. , ., going. ellen writes, i have completed _ going. ellen writes, i have completed my _ going. ellen writes, i have completed my ten - going. ellen writes, i have completed my ten days i going. ellen writes, i have i completed my ten days isolation taken a lateral flow completed my ten days isolation ta ken a lateral flow tests. completed my ten days isolation taken a lateral flow tests. it is showing a faint line but according to rules, i am able to go about my business today that i keep getting confusing information saying after ten days there is no need to do a lateral flow. ten days there is no need to do a lateralflow. are ten days there is no need to do a lateral flow. are we still infectious if there is a faint line? this is where i point everybody to the government guidance because that is updated really regularly based on the science bit at the moment allen is right, after ten days you don't need to take a lateral flow test as long as you haven't got a temperature, then you can release yourself from self isolation. a very faint line, there is very little evidence, we have done a bit of a review locally, we have found a few studies that would suggest the strength of the line might be indicative of how much virus you have actually got and how infectious you might be but there is no definitive guidance on this. i would say in all in's case is to avoid coming into close contact with anybody who might be at a higher risk of covid and that is part of the government guidelines. but the guidances after ten days, you can release yourself as long as you do not have a high temperature. dagid not have a high temperature. david and martha — not have a high temperature. david and martha london _ not have a high temperature. david and martha london says _ not have a high temperature. david and martha london says he - not have a high temperature. david and martha london says he is going to northern ireland in a few days, what tests should i do? i am fully vaccinated and a british citizen. ii vaccinated and a british citizen. if you are fully vaccinated you will be absolutely fine, just to show we vaccination certificate and on the return, _ vaccination certificate and on the return, you — vaccination certificate and on the return, you have got to do your lateral— return, you have got to do your lateral flow test. no more pcr is, which _ lateral flow test. no more pcr is, which is _ lateral flow test. no more pcr is, which is very good news, and no more isolating _ which is very good news, and no more isolating. another piece of very good _ isolating. another piece of very good use _ isolating. another piece of very aood use. ., . , isolating. another piece of very good use-— good use. francis says my observations _ good use. francis says my observations of _ good use. francis says my observations of lateral i good use. francis says my| observations of lateral flow good use. francis says my i observations of lateral flow tests in my family have confirmed how excellent they are at picking up covid—19 variants. the greater indicating the peak of the infection and returned a negative. however everyone has reacted differently to the disease with negative results at nine, ten and 15 days. moving the goalposts to seven days with two negative result is unlikely to work for everyone. how will this be safe? i think it is a good question about how effective it will be and whether we will see an impact on infection rates. lots of research going on at the moment, the uk guidance is now, still ten days isolation but you can take a lateral flow test on day six and seven as long as it is 2a hours apart and both are negative, then you can come out of self isolation. it comes back to the question about how effective lateral flow tests are. the evidence says they are very effective and if you are getting a negative, you are not likely to be infectious. but that doesn't stop you minimising your risk. if you have just you minimising your risk. if you havejust come out you minimising your risk. if you have just come out of and know you have just come out of and know you have had to covid, staying away from people as much as possible who don't live with your family, staying away from people may be at a higher risk, it is a sensible thing to do and it's looking after each other which is really important.— is really important. another a uestion is really important. another question about _ is really important. another question about what - is really important. another question about what tests l is really important. another i question about what tests people need to take. it indicates how complicated it is with different rules in different countries. this is from monday. she says, me and my husband had covid and both are fine now, were to go to barcelona for a weekend in march was not what tests do we need to do before we go? flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you — flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you don't _ flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you don't need _ flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you don't need to _ flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you don't need to do i flying out friday the 18th. the good news is you don't need to do any i news is you don't need to do any tests_ news is you don't need to do any tests to — news is you don't need to do any tests to get into spain and ijust went_ tests to get into spain and ijust went there and it was lovely for w does _ went there and it was lovely for w does need — went there and it was lovely for w does need proof of vaccination is that the — does need proof of vaccination is that the problem is on the way back. if it is _ that the problem is on the way back. if it isj'ust— that the problem is on the way back. if it isjust for a weekend, i suggest _ if it isjust for a weekend, i suggest you book your lateral flow test for _ suggest you book your lateral flow test for the return here before you io test for the return here before you go because — test for the return here before you go because i know people stuck in spain _ go because i know people stuck in spain and — go because i know people stuck in spain and couldn't access the tests here because they were running short _ here because they were running short. that was a little bit frustrating and they had to go for one of— frustrating and they had to go for one of the — frustrating and they had to go for one of the expensive ones. nothing to get— one of the expensive ones. nothing to get into — one of the expensive ones. nothing to get into spain, just proof of vaccination, betterthan to get into spain, just proof of vaccination, better than before you io vaccination, better than before you go because — vaccination, better than before you go because you are only going for two days, — go because you are only going for two days, but your lateral flow for the return — two days, but your lateral flow for the returnjourney. two days, but your lateral flow for the return journey.— two days, but your lateral flow for the return journey. the return 'ourney. sarah says, can ou the return journey. sarah says, can you please — the return journey. sarah says, can you please ask _ the return journey. sarah says, can you please ask the _ the return journey. sarah says, can you please ask the government - the return journey. sarah says, can you please ask the government to l you please ask the government to explain how we are to access lateral flow test. my local chemist and library out of step with no idea when more will be available. i have tried online and there are none there either. i am staying with my 90—year—old mother who is high risk and they need to make sure i do not bring covid into her house. what is the latest on stock of lateral flow test? , ~' the latest on stock of lateral flow test? , ~ ., , test? the stock has been problematic, _ test? the stock has been problematic, we - test? the stock has been problematic, we have - test? the stock has been i problematic, we have seen test? the stock has been - problematic, we have seen that locally as well. the advice i can give is to keep trying on the government website. i went on this morning, my son who is in school tested positive, so we are testing ourselves every day and we are running low for supper managed to get a pack through the home delivery channel —— i managed to get a pack. keep going into the website, different times of day and what happened since they release more and more throughout the day was that the government say they are doubling capacity and they will improve the flow of lateral flow test kits into pharmacies and other sites as well. so all i can say is keep persevering we are assured by the government there will be more test kits available. there will be more test kits available-— there will be more test kits available. . ~ i. , there will be more test kits available. . ~ , . available. thank you both very much for answering _ available. thank you both very much for answering the _ available. thank you both very much for answering the questions - available. thank you both very much for answering the questions this - for answering the questions this morning. cabinet has finished. our political correspondent said the prime minister did not mention the event held in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020 to his cabinet ministers when they met this morning. there will be an urgent question in the commons at 12:30pm on what happened in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020. it is at 12:30pm, paymaster general michael ellis will respond to the question. the energy firm, ovo, has apologised after suggesting that customers should cuddle pets, do starjumps or eat porridge to stay warm. the tips were in a blog which it had sent to customers of sse, which it owns. here's our personal finance correspondent, kevin peachey. and on that blog there were tips, including, as you say, eating porridge, putting on extra layers, cuddling your pet to keep warm, which somewhat suggests what kind of pet you've got, i guess. also, to keep moving by doing a few starjumps or a hula hoop challenge with your children. so, you can see that this was written before many people would have seen these bill rises coming, but it's clearly an idea that these should be saving energy rather than facing these big bills. but mps saying it's plainly offensive, the wording of it, and the company has been quick to apologise. ovo, as you say, owns sse, and ovo said it was poorly judged and unhelpful, it is embarrassed about what it wrote and that it's going to be taken down and rewritten with something a little more appropriate, if you like. and it said it also understands the difficulties that customers are facing, which are essentially financial, with these huge bills coming down the line. a us man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically—modified pig. doctors have described it as a "breakthrough" that could make the use of animal organs in human transplants routine. this report from our north america correspondent david willis, contains images of the surgery. inside the box was the heart of a 240 lb pig. genetically engineered to survive inside a human body. but the question was, would the transplant work? after toiling for nearly nine hours, surgeons at the university of maryland medical centre removed the clamp restricting blood to the new organ and declared that it had. the pig's heart was pumping away, keeping alive a patient for whom all other options had run out. on the operating table was 57—year—old dave bennett, pictured here with his son and daughter. when doctors first proposed a pig's heart transplant, he thought they were joking, but four days on, he's said to be doing well and his doctors sound increasingly optimistic. we've never done this in a human. and i like to think that we have given him a better option than what continuing his therapy would have been. but whether it's a day, week, month, year, i don't know. advances in gene editing and cloning techniques have proved a game changer as far as this sort of surgery is concerned. and in a country in which more than 100,000 people are currently awaiting an organ transplant, dave bennett's operation could help change the lives and ease the suffering of so many. pictured here with the man who led the operation, mr bennett is now breathing on his own without a ventilator. having called the operation a shot in the dark, the hospital says he is now looking forward to being released from their care and reunited with his dog, lucky. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. species from around the world that "hitch a lift" on ships, are threatening antarctica's marine ecosystem. a study by the university of cambridge tracked vessels which regularly visit the isolated region, and found they bring species including mussels and crabs, which go on to disrupt the habitat and harm wildlife. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol. hello again. across scotland, northern ireland and northern england, you're in for a mostly dry day with a fair bit of sunshine. as we come further south across the rest of england and wales, there is a weather front sinking south, taking its cloud, drizzle, mist and murk with it. it is a cold front, hanging on to the milder conditions ahead of that, some cooler conditions as we push behind it. but we have a lot of clear skies, peppering of showers across the north and west of scotland, one or two of those getting into northern ireland and its breezy, gusty winds across the north and west and as this weather front sinks south, taking its murky conditions with it, it will brighten up across northern england, the north midlands, and northern and central wales. ten, 11 and 12 the top temperatures in the south, 5 to about 9 degrees as we push further north. this evening and overnight, eventually we say goodbye to the weather front leaving clear skies behind. we see mist and fog forming across the midlands, east anglia, the south—east and south—west, and the vale of york, and under clear skies, we have a widespread frost. moving further north, particularly into northern scotland, there will be more cloud and too much of a breeze for fog or frost. into wednesday, high pressure builds, the air moving around it, coming from the south—west, so the mildest conditions will be in the northern half of the country, quite cool conditions as we push further south but of course, with high pressure, things settle down. we have the fog to lift slowly during the course of wednesday morning but then there will be a lot of dry weather, fair bit of sunshine but still across the north west, thicker cloud with some showers and breezy conditions. here we have 10s, 11s, 12s the maximum temperature, in the south looking at 7, 8, or 9 degrees. thursday morning again quite a bit of fog around, slow to clear, some of it may linger all day, lifting into low cloud. a bit more cloud still across scotland with some showere snad highs of 11 degrees, into birmingham for example, if you are stuck under the fog, temperatures may only get to round [i or 5 degrees. friday is almost an action replay, some fog slow to clear suppressing the temperatures, where it does linger. more cloud generally on friday, these are the temperatures, sixes up to about ten. this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. the headlines: a "bring your own booze" party in the garden of number 10 at the height of the first lockdown. the prime minister faces fresh anger over claims he broke the rules. i cannot conceive of how this ever happened, how it seems to have happened multiple times. how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan it, to organise it, to turn up to it, and no—onejust said, "hang on a minute." these were the same people who had actually worked in tight offices, where of course the risk of contagion, as we know from boris's own infection, the risk of contagion is far less in an open space like the garden. the metropolitan police say they are in contact with downing street over the alleged breaches of covid rules. there will be an urgent question in the commons in the next half hour as the commons in the next half hour as the government comes under intense pressure to explain what went on in may 2020. one of britain's largest energy suppliers apologises after it advised customers they could cuddle pets and eat porridge to stay warm. and, a man in the united states becomes the first person in the world to have a heart transplant from a pig. labour has been granted an urgent question in the house of commons in the next half hour over the row after it emerged that as many as 100 people were invited to a "bring—your—own—booze" drinks event in the downing street garden during the first lockdown. witnesses have told the bbc the prime minister and his wife were among about 30 people who attended the gathering on 20 may 2020. borisjohnson has declined to say whether he was among those who attended. the restrictions at the time of the party allowed you to only meet one other person from another household outdoors and larger gatherings were banned. a messaged reinforced by this tweet from the metropolitan police that day. the met says it's now in contact with the government over "alleged breaches" of covid rules. the labour deputy leader, angela rayner, reacting to the latest allegations said, "it's disgraceful and borisjohnson should be ashamed." the prime minister held a cabinet meeting this morning, but the party was not mentioned. we will hear from the government at 12.30 when they answer an urgent question on the matter in the house of commons. a civil servant, sue gray, is already investigating gatherings at downing street. our political correspondent, helen catt, reports. in may 2020, restrictions on social contact were still very tight. in england, you could meet one other person from a different household outdoors. in the downing street garden, it seems a bigger gathering was organised by a very senior official, the prime minister's private secretary, martin reynolds. he sent an e—mail, which itv news got hold of, to as many as 100 staff inviting them to bring their own booze for socially distanced drinks. messages sent between staff and shown to the bbc showed that some had questioned the event at the time. one wrote, "um, why is martin encouraging a mass gathering in the garden?" another said, "is this for real?" a downing street spokesman said there is an independent process going on to look at this led by sue gray, a senior official. and that they couldn't comment while that was taking place. it is understood around 30 people attended the gathering, including according to two eyewitnesses the prime minister and his wife. borisjohnson had been asked about it early in the day yesterday. all of that, as you know, is the subject of a proper investigation by sue gray. so have you already been interviewed by sue gray and, if not, would you object to her questioning you again about this? all that is subject to an interview, an investigation by sue gray. hannah brady lost her dad sean to covid four days before the e—mail invitation was sent. she was one of a small group who later met the prime minister in that same downing street garden. i think this pandemic, for me, is the story of two men. so, one is my 55—year—old dad who is dead, having spent 42 nights on a ventilator fighting covid and no other illnesses. the other is a man who was 55 at the time of this party, borisjohnson, having survived covid himself, thought it was appropriate to host a party where you could bring your own booze, sit in the garden at downing street, where borisjohnson met me and four other bereaved families and told us to our faces, after listening to my dad's story, "i did everything i could to save him". labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, suggested borisjohnson should step down. i think he should go. i mean, there's no excuses and it will come as no surprise that i don't think borisjohnson is up to thejob but, more importantly, i think he's lost the confidence of the british public now with his lies, his deceit and his breaking of his own rules. some conservative mps say it is important to wait for the full report. we need to get to the bottom of this investigation, that's what sue gray is doing. and then if rules have been breached, people will have to suffer the consequences. meanwhile, the met police has said it's aware of the widespread reporting of alleged breaches at downing street on the 20th may and it's in contact with the cabinet office. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. this morning, the health minister edward argar said he could understand public anger over the allegations. well, i can entirely understand, as i say, that anger and upset. it's not a culture i'm aware of. i spent my time in the department of health looking down a zoom screen or a teams call most of the time, on calls about ventilators, hospital capacity, building nightingales and similar. but, as i've said, i can entirely understand why people who have lost loved ones or people who've had their lives hugely disrupted by these restrictions are angry and upset by these allegations. that's why it's right that ms gray is looking into the allegations and will report and she can go with this investigation where she needs to without fear or favour, and i hope she will report swiftly and, depending on what she finds in the investigation, if people are found to have broken the rules in that context, it is right that appropriate disciplinary action is taken. let disciplinary action is taken. me bring you word fror street let me bring you word from downing street on martin reynolds, the prime minister's principal private secretary. numberio minister's principal private secretary. number 10 has said, minister's principal private secretary. numberio has said, "he continues in his role and he has the full confidence of borisjohnson." full confidence of boris johnson." he full confidence of borisjohnson." he is the person that sent the e—mail inviting more than 100 employees to a gathering at downing street. numberio employees to a gathering at downing street. number 10 says he continues in his role and continues to have full confidence of borisjohnson. earlier we spoke tojean adamson, a member of the group covid—i9 bereaved families forjustice, whose father passed away in april 2020 with coronavirus. he was a windrush pioneer, came from barbados to england in the 1950s. hard—working man, worked all his life, family man. he contracted covid in a care home and subsequently died on a hospital ward, a covid ward. we miss him dreadfully, it's been a very difficult time over the last coming up to two years now. he died on april 15 and the funeral was on may 15, which was reallyjust a few days before this party took place in downing street. so it's very upsetting when i think about, you know, the sacrifices that we have had to make at that time, you know, the funeral arrangements and not being able to be with him when he died. you know, very, very difficult time, difficult circumstances under which we lost my father. and to think that downing street were planning a jolly and breaking their own rules at that time, itjust beggars belief, really. it's very, very upsetting. our political correspondent, nick eardley, is at westminster. we understand that it's going to be the paymaster general, michael ellis, responding to the urgent question from labour's deputy leader, angela right there. he is a junior minister and i suspect that will raise some questions about whether the government is going to continue to say it can't answer questions on this despite the growing pressure to come up with some answers. the message we have got from downing street and various ministers this morning is that they are going to wait for a cabinet office investigation, led by a woman called sue gray about the various allegations of parties and rule breaking in at downing street before answering any questions. we will see how that pans out in 20 minutes or so. at the moment i have the labour chairman, anneliese dodds. do you think that borisjohnson himself has broken the lockdown rules and potentially the law?— potentially the law? what is certainly very _ potentially the law? what is certainly very clear - potentially the law? what is certainly very clear is - potentially the law? what is certainly very clear is that l potentially the law? what is . certainly very clear is that boris johnson has not told the truth about these parties. he's been asked about downing street party is 11 times and in parliament now. every single time we now know he was failing to tell the truth. he is running away from telling the truth in a few moments time by putting up a junior minister. that matters because the british public overwhelmingly follow the rules was that i think they feel appallingly disrespected by this prime minister and his antics. it also matters because the scandals around parties, scandals around sleaze are happening at a time when we have a cost of living crisis in this country and the conservative government seems to be unable to get a grip on in. taste government seems to be unable to get a ur'- on in. ~ . government seems to be unable to get au-rionin.~ . ., government seems to be unable to get au-rionin.~ . . ., government seems to be unable to get a grip on im— a grip on in. we have had a number of conversations _ a grip on in. we have had a number of conversations and _ a grip on in. we have had a number of conversations and questions - a grip on in. we have had a number of conversations and questions in l of conversations and questions in parliament about what went on towards christmas, that seem to be the focus in december, what went on in 2020. i have spoken to some people in the conservative party this morning who feels this is a bit more serious, because it was during that first lockdown when people were very strict with the rules. if boris johnson did attend the gathering in the downing street garden, what do you think happens next? do you think he can stay in hisjob?i you think happens next? do you think he can stay in hisjob?— he can stay in his 'ob? i think ultimately h he can stay in his 'ob? i think ultimately boris _ he can stay in his job? i think ultimately boris johnson - he can stay in his job? i think ultimately boris johnson has | he can stay in his job? i think. ultimately boris johnson has got he can stay in his job? i think- ultimately boris johnson has got to ultimately borisjohnson has got to be open now and tell the truth about what happened. for as long as he fails to tell the truth, i think the british public feels incredibly let down by this prime minister. we are talking about a time when people could not provide the kind of funeral they wanted to provide for their loved ones. a time when the police were actually tasked with breaking up parties of more than two households, parties of the type it seems when happening in downing street itself. so there are huge questions for boris johnson street itself. so there are huge questions for borisjohnson at right now and he seems to be unable to get a grip on this crisis. irate now and he seems to be unable to get a grip on this crisis.— a grip on this crisis. we know boris johnson is not _ a grip on this crisis. we know boris johnson is not turning _ a grip on this crisis. we know boris johnson is not turning up _ a grip on this crisis. we know boris johnson is not turning up in - johnson is not turning up in parliament this afternoon, the government is continuing to say it is waiting for that investigation thatis is waiting for that investigation that is being carried out by sue gray, a senior civil servant. do you have faith in that investigation? sue gray has a very strong reputation, but i have to say that the conservative government can't hide behind these investigations, they can't keep pushing decisions are back. borisjohnson has got to be open and transparent about these parties, he has got to be open and transparent about all the sleaze that has engulfed his government, and he has also got to be acting quickly on the cost of living crisis, where he is failing to take actions that labour set out to slash vat on household bills, something the families up and down the country are desperate to see because that crisis is affecting them right now. half past 12 in the commons, we will get that urgent question from the labour party. we will be watching out for a number of answers. it is a junior minister turning up, so whether we get them, we will have to wait and see. we will be back in the commons with nick as we wait for that statement to begin at half past. just to tell you that the prime minister's principal private secretary, martin reynolds, has the full confidence of borisjohnson, full confidence of boris johnson, number 10 full confidence of borisjohnson, number 10 has said this morning. if you are watching us on bbc two now, it is time to say goodbye. let's stick with more reaction to those events of may 2020. the former leader of the scottish conservatives, ruth davidson, told my colleague annita mcveigh that she couldn't understand how the event had ever been allowed to happen. how anyone thought it was a good idea to plan it, to organise it, to turn up to it, and nobodyjust said, "well, hang on a minute, lads, we're telling everybody else that they are not allowed to meet a single person. we're telling them they can't go to relatives' funerals. we're telling them they can't visit elderly people in care homes. we are telling them they can't visit dying relatives." how is this defensible? you know, it is not about being a politician, it's about being a human being that lived in the united kingdom during this time. if number 10 doesn't understand the anger that is out there, then they are going to find out that anger pretty soon in the next couple of days, because everybody has some form of sacrifice, or somebody important in their life that gave a huge sacrifice, that will never forgive whatever went on, because itjust makes a mockery of this idea that we were doing a national endeavour to try and keep each other safe. do you think martin reynolds, borisjohnson's principal private secretary who wrote this e—mail, ought to resign? do you think for the sake of the conservative party that borisjohnson needs to consider his position at this point? i can't understand how martin reynolds — who to my knowledge i have never met, i don't have a dog in this have a dog in this fight — i don't know, one, how he thought it was appropriate. two, i don't know how this hasn't come out in the last year, to be honest with you, if 100 people got an e—mail and it's been kicking around on people's servers for that long. and i don't know how he is still in position. i don't know how, when that e—mail came out, somebody didn't say, "you can't do that," and there wasn't some form of sanction at the time, rather than, "yeah, let's get a couple of tins and go out the back." i just, honestly... i don't know if you can tell from my voice. i honestly cannot understand the mindset, i can't understand it. there were the comments we heard, "is this for real" when that e—mail emerged, so at the time people were asking is this for real. so there are questions about why it has taken so long for this to emerge. what i also feel sorry for, you know, junior civil servants — who are not very well paid, you know, it's a very structured ladder, down the bottom — who were questioning this and just being told that it was all fine, because nobody wants to work in a compromised working environment. that is an enormously compromised position that they were being put in and an unfair one. leadership is about setting an example... you make sure that people stick to the rules too. finally, if i may, that question of borisjohnson's position. do you think that many of his mps are fed up with all of this? i think they got assurances before christmas at the last flurry of these that the sue gray investigation would put a full stop to it. it hasn't, there is huge public anger about this. there are only two ways that a conservative prime minister goes, one, he falls on his sword. to be fair, we still don't know whether he was there or not. we still don't know if what he said to parliament was misleading parliament or not, a really serious charge. the second way is that mps write a letter to the 1922 committee. i don't think anybody will be taking their letter out of the 1922 committee after this event, let's put it that way. the conservative backbencher, michael fabricant, has been defending the downing street event. he spoke to me earlier. i'm trying to actually give an explanation about how the mindset could _ explanation about how the mindset could have even allowed this to happen — could have even allowed this to happen. people don't always understand precisely what downing street _ understand precisely what downing street is _ understand precisely what downing street is like. there are over 100 officers. — street is like. there are over 100 officers. its — street is like. there are over 100 officers, its three buildings knocked into one, is connected to the whitehall building, the cabinet building. _ the whitehall building, the cabinet building, and that is an enclosed garden — building, and that is an enclosed garden. all of it, obviously, is a very— garden. all of it, obviously, is a very secure _ garden. all of it, obviously, is a very secure area. i know a lot of these _ very secure area. i know a lot of these people at that time were working — these people at that time were working 18 hours days to deliver, actually. — working 18 hours days to deliver, actually, one of the best, if not the best. — actually, one of the best, if not the best, vaccine programme in the world _ the best, vaccine programme in the world they— the best, vaccine programme in the world. they were exhausted. now, if boris _ world. they were exhausted. now, if borisjohnson has got world. they were exhausted. now, if boris johnson has got a feeling, world. they were exhausted. now, if borisjohnson has got a feeling, one of those _ borisjohnson has got a feeling, one of those failings is loyalty— loyalty— of those failings is loyalty— loyalty to his friends and loyalty to his _ loyalty to his friends and loyalty to his star. whether it was right or not legally— to his star. whether it was right or not legally is something that the metropolitan police and sue gray will decide. ., metropolitan police and sue gray will decide-— will decide. you have obviously wanted to _ will decide. you have obviously wanted to contextualise - will decide. you have obviously wanted to contextualise it - will decide. you have obviously wanted to contextualise it for l will decide. you have obviously i wanted to contextualise it for how you see it, how you say things went inside number 10. the context for people out there in the country who have made sacrifices through that first lockdown in particular, through the whole period of the pandemic will be missed at funerals, not being able to hold loved one's' hand while they were dying, not being able to visit loved ones in care homes. the bills were made by a number 10. what they see as one rule for them and one for us. {lit number 10. what they see as one rule for them and one for us.— for them and one for us. of course i understand- — for them and one for us. of course i understand- my _ for them and one for us. of course i understand. my best _ for them and one for us. of course i understand. my best friend, - for them and one for us. of course i understand. my best friend, his - understand. my best friend, his nrother— understand. my best friend, his mother died in the most tragic circumstances of covid in february last year. — circumstances of covid in february last year. so— circumstances of covid in february last year, so of course i course i understand _ last year, so of course i course i understand. i understand the anger too, ihr— understand. i understand the anger too, l'm not— understand. i understand the anger too, i'm not detached from it. the difference — too, i'm not detached from it. the difference from funerals, magic ceremonies, all the rest of it, is that— ceremonies, all the rest of it, is that you — ceremonies, all the rest of it, is that you are _ ceremonies, all the rest of it, is that you are meeting outsiders. this was knocked involving outsiders, this was— was knocked involving outsiders, this was a — was knocked involving outsiders, this was a secure area. so the people — this was a secure area. so the people who were on top of each other in the _ people who were on top of each other in the small— people who were on top of each other in the small pokey offices in at nunrber— in the small pokey offices in at number 10 and downing st, some of them _ number 10 and downing st, some of them then— number 10 and downing st, some of them then met in the garden, so there _ them then met in the garden, so there was— them then met in the garden, so there was no chance of... but the rules... there was no chance of... but the rules--- you _ there was no chance of... but the rules... you are _ there was no chance of... but the rules... you are right _ there was no chance of... but the rules... you are right about - there was no chance of... but the rules... you are right about the i rules... you are right about the rules, rules... you are right about the rules. but _ rules... you are right about the rules, but that _ rules... you are right about the rules, but that is _ rules... you are right about the rules, but that is not _ rules... you are right about the| rules, but that is not something rules... you are right about the i rules, but that is not something i am actually sure to discuss now. let me finish— am actually sure to discuss now. let me finish and then i will certainly, you know — me finish and then i will certainly, you know... it's for people to understand that the circumstances in which _ understand that the circumstances in which this— understand that the circumstances in which this arose. people working long. _ which this arose. people working long. long — which this arose. people working long, long hours. don't forget boris too among — long, long hours. don't forget boris too among many other people had caught— too among many other people had caught covid in number 10 downing st. caught covid in number 10 downing st the _ caught covid in number 10 downing st. the garden is an extension of the workplace in a secure area and there _ the workplace in a secure area and there was— the workplace in a secure area and there was no mixing with outside people — some breaking news from scotland. football fans should be able to return to stadiums in scotland to watch matches as early as next week. bbc scotland understands the scottish government has no plans to renew restrictions on large outdoor gatherings which are due to expire on january 17. other measures, including limits on numbers attending theatres and cinemas, are likely to remain in place for a little bit longer. the first minister, nicola sturgeon will update parliament this afternoon on the decisions reached by the scottish cabinet. we will have the latest on what happened may 20, 2020, with that urgent question in the commons in a ten minutes or so. anyone who records a positive lateral flow test in england, but doesn't have symptoms, no longer needs to take a pcr from today. it's hoped the relaxation of testing rules will improve the speed of pcr tests for key workers, amid concerns about staff shortages. northern ireland, scotland and wales have already implemented the change. the energy firm, ovo, has apologised after suggesting that customers should cuddle pets, do starjumps or eat porridge to stay warm. the tips were in a blog which it had sent to customers of sse, which it owns. here's our personal finance correspondent, kevin peachey. and on that blog there were tips, including, as you say, eating porridge, putting on extra layers, cuddling your pet to keep warm, which somewhat suggests what kind of pet you've got, i guess. also, to keep moving by doing a few starjumps or a hula hoop challenge with your children. so, you can see that this was written before many people would have seen these bill rises coming, but it's clearly an idea that these should be saving energy rather than facing these big bills. but mps saying it's plainly offensive, the wording of it, and the company has been quick to apologise. ovo, as you say, owns sse, and ovo said it was poorly judged and unhelpful, it is embarrassed about what it wrote and that it's going to be taken down and rewritten with something a little more appropriate, if you like. and it said it also understands the difficulties that customers are facing, which are essentially financial, with these huge bills coming down the line. a us man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically—modified pig. doctors have described it as a "breakthrough" that could make the use of animal organs in human transplants routine. this report from our north america correspondent, david willis, contains images of the surgery. inside the box was the heart of a 240lb pig genetically engineered to survive inside a human body. but the question was, would the transplant work? after toiling for nearly nine hours, surgeons at the university of maryland medical centre removed the clamp restricting blood to the new organ and declared that it had. the pig's heart was pumping away, keeping alive a patient for whom all other options had run out. on the operating table was 57—year—old dave bennett, pictured here with his son and daughter. when doctors first proposed a pig's heart transplant, he thought they were joking, but four days on, he's said to be doing well and his doctors sound increasingly optimistic. we've never done this in a human. and i like to think that we have given him a better option than what continuing his therapy would have been. but whether it's a day, week, month, year, i don't know. advances in gene editing and cloning techniques have proved a game changer as far as this sort of surgery is concerned. and in a country in which more than 100,000 people are currently awaiting an organ transplant, dave bennett's operation could help change the lives and ease the suffering of so many. pictured here with the man who led the operation, mr bennett is now breathing on his own without a ventilator. having called the operation a shot in the dark, the hospital says he is now looking forward to being released from their care and reunited with his dog, lucky. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. more comments from the number 10 as official spokesperson around the events of may 20, 2020, that e—mail sent out inviting 100 people to a gathering at number 10, saving bringing your own booze. the prime minister's official spokesman said it would not be appropriate to comment while claims about parties in downing street are under investigation and the government would not prejudge the outcome. holding the line that the health minister took this morning and not responding to specific allegations. the spokesman for the prime minister said the prime minister has full confidence in his private secretary, martin reynolds, who remains in post. the spokesman confirmed that the inquiry by senior civil servant sue gray would be paused if the metropolitan police launched an investigation, but did not comment on communications between the force and the cabinet office. labour will be granted an urgent question in the house of commons. let's go back to nick eardley. nick, it does not sound like we'll get any new information in response to this urgent question when the response is continually, "that is the investigation under way, we will leave it to back.". i investigation under way, we will leave it to back. "._ investigation under way, we will leave it to back. ". leave it to back.". i would not hold our leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath _ leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath for _ leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath for much _ leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath for much clarity - leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath for much clarity in - leave it to back.". i would not hold your breath for much clarity in the | your breath for much clarity in the next hour or so. the government seems to think the best strategy at the moment when it comes to details of this event of may 20, 2020, is just to say someone is looking into it, so let's wait to see what she says when she comes back with her report. however, overthe next says when she comes back with her report. however, over the next hour or so, report. however, over the next hour orso, i report. however, over the next hour or so, i think there will be a lot of pressure on the government to rethink their strategy, because there are a number of mps, some of them conservatives, who want to know more. they want to know why such a senior official in at number 10 and thought it was ok to invite 100 people to a bring your own booze eventin people to a bring your own booze event in the garden. they want to know if the prime minister and his wife attended that event. crucially, they want to know that the government accept that was a breach of the rules at the time, the rules that everyone was being asked to follow by government ministers on the very same day at a press conference at downing street? there is a lot of pressure on the government to move, and it does feel like rather than as being something that we will talk about for a day or so before it potentially fades into insignificance, it feels until that clarity is forthcoming from the government this could keep going and potentially snowball. remember, we have prime minister's questions tomorrow, so borisjohnson at some point will have to face questions on what he knew and whether he attended the event in his own garden at downing street. lots of questions that are being asked around parliament, lots of angry mps. increasingly, some in the conservative party. we heard baroness ruth davidson say earlier this morning, we are dealing out privately from a number of tory mps as well, people who are absolutely fizzing at this. before christmas we were talking about those allegations of christmas parties, alleged rule braking back then. this is something that isn't going to go away because allegations keep coming. there are tory mps banging their heads against brick walls this morning because they think the government doesn't have control over this and it is not going away. figs have control over this and it is not going away-— going away. as you say, this has been going _ going away. as you say, this has been going on — going away. as you say, this has been going on for— going away. as you say, this has been going on for weeks, - going away. as you say, this has been going on for weeks, at - going away. as you say, this has l been going on for weeks, at least, months, this drip drip of allegations and specifics. we got the e—mail. that has to be the question of what else might continue to come out. i question of what else might continue to come out-— to come out. i think that is the fear that many _ to come out. i think that is the fear that many around - to come out. i think that is the - fear that many around westminster have, particularly around the conservative party, that there may be more allegations to come that they be borisjohnson isn't completely on top of this and may be that there are other e—mails that suggest that other events took place during lockdown in downing street. that is someone who has been tasked with looking at all of this, sue gray, a senior official in michael gove's local government department. she is looking at whether these parties potentially broke these rules. remember, the man who was originally looking into this, simon case, had to recuse himself from the process because it turned out he had attended a drinks event in the cabinet office as well. that is the snowball effect in all of this, rather than the government getting on top of this and finding answers to justify what had gone on, we have had answers along the lines of we are confident no rules had been broken. that government line that no rules had been broken hasn't been forthcoming around the events of may 2020. it also reminds us of the last time borisjohnson 2020. it also reminds us of the last time boris johnson face 2020. it also reminds us of the last time borisjohnson face questions about this at prime minister's questions. he talked about his own outrage about finding out about allegations when the video surfaced of one of his aides making light of an event that had taken place in downing street. borisjohnson distanced himself from the and suggested he had only found out about these events,. if it turned out that he was at a gathering in the doughty garden in may 2020 which potentially broke those rules, then it adds even more pressure to hen and gives him even more to answer about potentially his own culpability in this. it does feel that rather than the story being a tag onto what we were seen at the end of last year, it is coming back with a vengeance and could be one that we talk about a lot. thea;r with a vengeance and could be one that we talk about a lot.— that we talk about a lot. they are almost about _ that we talk about a lot. they are almost about to _ that we talk about a lot. they are almost about to wrap _ that we talk about a lot. they are almost about to wrap up - that we talk about a lot. they are almost about to wrap up the - that we talk about a lot. they are i almost about to wrap up the current business and commons, so we'll go there as soon as the urgent question is asked. in terms of when sue gray will report, when will that be? that in terms of when sue gray will report, when will that be? that is a auestion report, when will that be? that is a question we — report, when will that be? that is a question we have _ report, when will that be? that is a question we have been _ report, when will that be? that is a question we have been asking - report, when will that be? that is a question we have been asking and l report, when will that be? that is a i question we have been asking and the answer we get from the government is it is up to her. the thinking was that process would be speedy, the government were certainly intending it to be done fairly quickly until simon cayce had to step aside. the uruent simon cayce had to step aside. the urgent questions being asked. let's go. urgent questions being asked. let's co. urgent questions being asked. let's .o_ , , ., urgent questions being asked. let's co. , , . ., go. the deputy leader of the opposition — go. the deputy leader of the opposition angela _ go. the deputy leader of the opposition angela rayner. i go. the deputy leader of the - opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr seaker opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr speaker stop _ opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr speaker stop to _ opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr speaker stop to ask _ opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr speaker stop to ask the _ opposition angela rayner. thank you, mr speaker stop to ask the prime - mr speaker stop to ask the prime minister to make a statement on reported events held in the downing street garden on the 20th of may 2020. ., ~ street garden on the 20th of may 2020. ., , ,., street garden on the 20th of may 2020. ., , y., , street garden on the 20th of may 2020. ., ~ _, y . ~ 2020. thank you very much, mr seaker. 2020. thank you very much, mr speaker. both _ 2020. thank you very much, mr speaker. both the _ 2020. thank you very much, mr speaker. both the prime - 2020. thank you very much, mr. speaker. both the prime minister 2020. thank you very much, mr - speaker. both the prime minister and i came at the house in december to set out the details of the investigation being allowed by the cabinet office into the allegations of gatherings in downing street and the department for education in november and december of 2020. as i did then, mr speaker, i apologise again unreservedly for the upset of these allegations have caused. the prime minister has asked for an investigation under the terms of reference for the investigations that are already been published. i that are already been published. i cannot hear what is being said. it is quite _ cannot hear what is being said. it is quite obvious it is not the prime minister— is quite obvious it is not the prime minister and is quite obvious it is not the prime ministerand so we is quite obvious it is not the prime minister and so we don't need to keep— minister and so we don't need to keep asking that question was up can i keep asking that question was up can i hear— keep asking that question was up can i hear what _ keep asking that question was up can i hear what the minister has got to say. i hear what the minister has got to say he _ i hear what the minister has got to say he has — i hear what the minister has got to say. he has got a toughjob as it is, do _ say. he has got a toughjob as it is, do not — say. he has got a toughjob as it is, do not make it harder for him! the prime — is, do not make it harder for him! the prime minister has asked for an investigation to take place and the terms of reference for the investigation is under way have already been published. and deposited in the libraries of this house and in both houses. the investigations are now being led by sue gray, she is the second permanent secretary at the office and the department for levelling up and the department for levelling up and a former director general of propriety and ethics. the government has committed to publishing the findings of the investigation and providing these to parliament in the normal way. the terms of reference are set out that where there are credible allegations relating to other gatherings, it is open for others to be investigated. and i can confirm to the house, mr speaker, this includes the allegations relating to the 15th and 20th of may 2020. it will establish the facts and if wrongdoing is established, there will be requisite disciplinary action taken. as with all internal investigations, if evidence emerges of what was potentially a criminal offence, the matter would be referred to the metropolitan police. i'm the cabinet office is' work may be paused. those relating to the adherents of the law are matters for the metropolitan police to investigate and the cabinet office will liaise with them as appropriate. as i am sure members of this house will appreciate, it will not be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation. and the government has little to updating the house in due course. mr speaker, i must point out as i did in december, and i know the house will also understand there is a long—standing practice of successive administrations that any human resources matters concerning personnel relating to individuals does need to remain confidential. but mr speaker, both the prime minister and i came before this house in december, we set out the details of the investigation being led by the cabinet office into these allegations of gatherings and those investigations are continuing. let’s investigations are continuing. let's co investigations are continuing. let's no to the investigations are continuing. let's go to the deputy — investigations are continuing. let's go to the deputy leader of the opposition, angela rayner. we don't need clapping!— need clapping! thank you, mr seaker, need clapping! thank you, mr speaker. for _ need clapping! thank you, mr speaker, for granting - need clapping! thank you, mr speaker, for granting the - need clapping! thank you, mr i speaker, for granting the urgent question and it is incredibly disappointing but not unsurprising that the prime minister, of whom i asked this question, is not here today despite not having any official engagements. and i think, mr speaker, his absence speaks volumes, as does his smirks on the media, the public have already drawn their own conclusions, he can run but he cannot hide. mr speaker, i received an e—mail this morning from a man called john who told me on the 20th of may 2020, i found my long—term partner dead on the bathroom floor, i had been unable to get a gp visit for her and she had suffered terribly for some time before the blood clots stopped her heart. at day, the house heard from the prime minister himself that at 181 nhs workers and 131 social care staff had died. many people made huge personal sacrifices and the minister quite frankly hides behind the grey investigation. there is no need for an investigation into the simple central question today— did the prime minister attended the eventin the prime minister attended the event in the downing street garden on the 20th of may? it won't wash to blame this on a fewjunior civil servants, so the prime minister sets the tone. if the prime minister was there, surely he knew. the investigation was sent the invitation was sent to 100 staff. many of them his own most personal senior appointees. this was organised in advance, so did the prime minister know about this beforehand and did he give his permission for it to go ahead? if so, did he believe the was in keeping with the restrictions at the time and the guidelines and was the chief medical officer consulted before it went ahead? and what did the chancellor know about the party, giving he lives and works next? and can do prime minister can then no other ministers were present? finally, can i ask the minister here today does he still believe the prime minister to be a man of honour and integrity? the prime minister to be a man of honour and integrity?— and integrity? the first point was the prime minister _ and integrity? the first point was the prime minister was _ and integrity? the first point was the prime minister was not - and integrity? the first point was the prime minister was not here| and integrity? the first point was. the prime minister was not here in person. she knows as well as everyone else that it is not routine for the prime minister to answer urgent questions before this house. his ministers are appointed to do so. but he also attends the house must often than anyone else to answer questions and will be doing so tomorrow in the normal manner in prime minister question time. she mentioned the loss of the back row suffered by one of her constituents and my heart goes out to that constituent and to all of the others for whom we have heard on all sides of this house who have suffered a tragic loss as a consequence of this appalling pandemic. there is a need for investigation, she said there wasn't. there is a need and that need is clear. the investigation is in progress, conducted by someone with whom we have great confidence and a paragon of independence and integrity and in the civil servants of long—standing. she is conducting the investigation and the prime minister was himself affected by the consequence of covid—19. he takes this matter very seriously as does everyone in government. but i will say this, she asks if i have confidence in the prime minister's integrity and honour and i do. so desmond swain. all of this should be a powerful— desmond swain. all of this should be a powerful corrective to the urge to the rest _ a powerful corrective to the urge to the rest of— a powerful corrective to the urge to the rest of our lives. we a powerful corrective to the urge to the rest of our lives.— the rest of our lives. we each of us in this house _ the rest of our lives. we each of us in this house and _ the rest of our lives. we each of us in this house and no _ the rest of our lives. we each of us in this house and no doubt - in this house and no doubt everywhere else live our lives in the best way we can. there was the first in the positions of responsibility acknowledge that. that is why there is an investigation in progress which will get to the bottom of all of these matters and that is in progress. leader of the snp ian blackford. thank— leader of the snp ian blackford. thank you. can i congratulate my right honourable friend for obtaining this question. mr speaker, let's look around, where is the prime minister? he should be here to answer these serious questions. where is the government front bench and ira the government backbenches? this is the most serious of matters because this is the prime minister who has been accused of breaking a law that he himself set. it cannot be more serious. and the minister, the fall guy having to answer this today. the harsh reality is that people around these islands watched while it or loved one is dying and missed funerals and the prime minister and his staff parted behind the walls of his private garden. mr speaker, on that very day there was a tweet from the metropolitan police reminded people of the responsibilities for w could only meet with one person outside. the cabinet secretary for culture gave a press conference at 5pm reiterating that message. there was one rule for the rest of us and another rule for those in number 10. the minister is seeking to hide behind the investigation, but let me ask the minister, was sue gray one of those invited to that party? and did indeed she attend? mr speaker, this is a prime minister that has lost his moral authority. he doesn't deserve the respect and trust of the people of these islands. and if he were to do the decent thing and recognise that he arched to resign, i say to the minister and i say to the conservative backbenchers that they will have to do what the prime minister has failed to do and force him from office and do it now. i him from office and do it now. i don't accept the characterisation that the right honourable gentleman puts. it is clear in this country the same rules apply to everyone. and that is why there is an investigation in progress. i hope he will not adopt the approach of questioning the integrity of any civil servant investigating this matter. we know that sue gray is someone who has conducted previous investigations with thoroughness and vigour and i think we can rest assured that that the result of the enquiry will be in the public domain in due course. but she is a person of integrity and upstanding. so i hope you will not adopt that approach. hope you will not adopt that approach-— hope you will not adopt that auroach. , , ., ., approach. does my right honourable friend aaree approach. does my right honourable friend agree with _ approach. does my right honourable friend agree with me _ approach. does my right honourable friend agree with me that _ approach. does my right honourable friend agree with me that it - approach. does my right honourable friend agree with me that it is - friend agree with me that it is important that this place does debate such serious allegations but that we debate them once the evidence has been collected. i that we debate them once the evidence has been collected. i hope that is not evidence has been collected. i hope that is rrot a — evidence has been collected. i hope that is not a question _ evidence has been collected. i hope that is not a question on _ evidence has been collected. i hope that is not a question on me - that is not a question on me granting _ that is not a question on me granting this question. but my friend agree — granting this question. but my friend agree with _ granting this question. but my friend agree with me - granting this question. but my friend agree with me that - granting this question. but my friend agree with me that it i granting this question. but my friend agree with me that it is| friend agree with me that it is important that there is a debate once the final recommendations have been put forward by sue gray? because it is important we look for the evidence. i because it is important we look for the evidence-— the evidence. i thank the right honourable — the evidence. i thank the right honourable lady _ the evidence. i thank the right honourable lady for _ the evidence. i thank the right honourable lady for her- the evidence. i thank the right i honourable lady for her question the evidence. i thank the right - honourable lady for her question and she is agreeing i think with the leader of the opposition because she is the one —— he is the one saying letting the enquiry play out. i think the point is a good one, that we should wait to see what the result of this investigation is rather than prejudge it. taste]!!! result of this investigation is rather than prejudge it. rather than pre'udge it. well the minister set _ rather than prejudge it. well the minister set out _ rather than prejudge it. well the minister set out what _ rather than prejudge it. well the minister set out what he - rather than prejudge it. well the minister set out what he thinks l minister set out what he thinks should happen if a conservative mp is found to have flouted and broken a covid la? it is not for me to pass judgment or pass sentence. first of all the natural order ofjustice, as i am sure he knows is as an investigation of fair and impartial nature takes place before there is a nature takes place before there is — judge jury and executioner. what judgejury and executioner. what needs to happen is that investigation needs to take its natural course in an orderly way rather thanjudge guilt natural course in an orderly way rather than judge guilt or innocence beforehand. i of course have great confidence in beforehand. i of course have great confidence . , confidence in the way the prime minister has _ confidence in the way the prime minister has governed - confidence in the way the prime minister has governed the - confidence in the way the prime l minister has governed the country but would the minister agree with me that we need the report urgently in the house so we can debate it and reach a conclusion? i'm slightly worried by the minister saying that this would have to be paused if there was a metropolitan police investigation. is he confident that we will get a report before to this house quickly and if he could give us an indication of when. i thank my honourable friend. the prime minister did ask for the investigation to be conducted swiftly investigation to be conducted swiftl, . ~ investigation to be conducted swiftlj . ,, . , investigation to be conducted swiftl . ,, . , ., swiftly and i think that is on the record. swiftly and i think that is on the record- as _ swiftly and i think that is on the record. as to _ swiftly and i think that is on the record. as to how _ swiftly and i think that is on the record. as to how long - swiftly and i think that is on the record. as to how long it - swiftly and i think that is on the record. as to how long it lasts, | swiftly and i think that is on the | record. as to how long it lasts, i don't know because we have not stipulated a time. sue gray is conducting the investigation independently of the executives directions, as would be expected. we hope for a result swiftly but that will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster— will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster if— will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster if sue _ will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster if sue gray - will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster if sue gray we - will be a matter for her. perhaps it would be faster if sue gray we are| would be faster if sue gray we are to investigate the days there were not parties! now, the minister, i have sympathy for him because he has been sent with his gatherings excuse to defend the utterly indefensible. we know, do we not, mr speaker, that an invite to a bring your own booze party was sent out for the 20th of may when 268 people died in hospital on that day. we know it was illegal to meet anyone outside of your own household except one person overnight. so what is bad to wait for? prime minister should come now and confess and tell us what happens! and confess and tell us what ha ens! ., ., . , . , and confess and tell us what hauens! ., ., . , . happens! the honourable lady has an excellent reputation _ happens! the honourable lady has an excellent reputation in _ happens! the honourable lady has an excellent reputation in this _ happens! the honourable lady has an excellent reputation in this house - excellent reputation in this house amongst other things for fairness and i know that she would want a fair investigation to take place before any comment was made. so i'll we're asking do is to wait a swift period of time for the investigation to conclude. that is in the order of justice, natural order of fair play. this is an important matter, no doubt. but there will be a full investigation made into this matter and that is the most important thing to remember. does my right honourable friend agree with me that the time of this house is better spent at this moment in time as we recoverfrom the spent at this moment in time as we recover from the pandemic debating how we will build back better and level up? that is what my constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right _ constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right to _ constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right to mention - constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right to mention it - constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right to mention it is - constituents are looking for. she is absolutely right to mention it is in | absolutely right to mention it is in the governance of the country and the governance of the country and the performance of the executive in delivering for the people of this country both in dealing with the problems of the pandemic but also in matters such as levelling up, it is this government which is performing and which it is prioritising the step she is right to focus on that. this is of course a matter of concern to the house and that is accepted and that is why we are before the house today but this matter will be investigated and take place in the proper order of events. we know that the prime minister is socially distanced from accountability, responsibility and integrity. but can we be absolutely sure that he will be here tomorrow to face the music instead of hiding behind sue gray? mr to face the music instead of hiding behind sue gray?— to face the music instead of hiding behind sue gray? mr speaker, they want is hiding- _ behind sue gray? mr speaker, they want is hiding. the _ behind sue gray? mr speaker, they want is hiding. the fact _ behind sue gray? mr speaker, they want is hiding. the fact of - behind sue gray? mr speaker, they want is hiding. the fact of the - want is hiding. the fact of the matter is that the prime minister will be before at the house for prime minister's questions in the normal course of events. tomorrow at this time he will be in this chamber. the reality of the matter is that at the moment the position is that at the moment the position is that at the moment the position is that we are awaiting the outcome of an investigation in progress. i know he won two well want to approach this matter recently, and in that is to await the results of the investigation.— in that is to await the results of the investigation. why can't all the di linen the investigation. why can't all the dirty linen be _ the investigation. why can't all the dirty linen be washed _ the investigation. why can't all the dirty linen be washed out - the investigation. why can't all the dirty linen be washed out once? i the investigation. why can't all the l dirty linen be washed out once? why are we getting this drip drip feed of parties? surely of the civil service must have known that there was a party on my 20 and they should have referred already to the inquiry? that on may 20. mr; inquiry? that on may 20. my honourable _ inquiry? that on may 20. m honourable friend makes inquiry? that on may 20. m1: honourable friend makes a inquiry? that on may 20. m1 honourable friend makes a good point. the reality is that we have a number of dates that have come out at different times and that will presumably have an effect of delaying matters. we have commissioned the terms of reference of the investigation that came before this house on december 9 and has played in the libraries of both houses, that any dates that the second permanent secretary feels are appropriate to investigate, she will. i have confirmed to this house that the 15th and 20th of may 2020 and now amongst those dates. does the paymaster— and now amongst those dates. does the paymaster general— and now amongst those dates. does the paymaster general agree with me that it would be utterly obscene... or dot, somebody�*s phone is going or dot, somebody's phone is going off i or dot, somebody's phone is going off i think — or dot, somebody's phone is going off i think. i. or dot, somebody's phone is going off i think. i, i, , , off i think. that would be utterly obscene that _ off i think. that would be utterly obscene that at _ off i think. that would be utterly obscene that at the _ off i think. that would be utterly obscene that at the same - off i think. that would be utterly obscene that at the same time l off i think. that would be utterly i obscene that at the same time that a support group was contacting me, a support group was contacting me, a support group was contacting me, a support group for recovering alcoholics desperate to meet because they needed the mutual support to manage that addiction during the crossing isolation of lockdown, that staff at number 10 that not only being encouraged to gather but were being encouraged to gather but were being told to bring their own booze while doing so. i appreciate the prime minister is not here to answer for his actions but does the paymaster general agree that would be obscene? i’m paymaster general agree that would be obscene?— be obscene? i'm not going to presuppose _ be obscene? i'm not going to presuppose any _ be obscene? i'm not going to presuppose any conclusions l be obscene? i'm not going to| presuppose any conclusions of be obscene? i'm not going to i presuppose any conclusions of the inquiry. even the leader of the opposition has said that we should let the inquiry play out and see what the findings are. and conclusions can be drawn then. studio: lets go to nick eardley, who has been watching that session in the commons with us. nick, what do you take from it?— you take from it? michael ellis, the pa master you take from it? michael ellis, the paymaster general _ you take from it? michael ellis, the paymaster general there, - you take from it? michael ellis, the paymaster general there, that i you take from it? michael ellis, the paymaster general there, that that | paymaster general there, that that event on may 20, 2020 will now be investigated by sue gray, the senior civil servant who is now looking into all these allegations of rule breaking that we have seen over the past few weeks. also a promise from thee, that if any rule breaking took place there be disciplinary action. if there is any sign that a crime has been committed, it will be passed to the police. let's be honest, in terms of the specific allegations we are talking about today about that event that took place in the downing street garden, the governmentjust does not want to get into those details. we had mr ellis they are saying that because the inquiry is taking place he is not going to prejudge that by answering those questions. but those questions are going to keep coming. we heard it from the labour party, was the prime minister up there? that he know that lawbreaking was taking place in his garden? that is a significant question i think we are eager to hear again and again in the run—up to prime minister's questions tomorrow. then there are also broader questions about what that means for the government's integrity when it comes to telling people to follow the bills. there is a lot of disquiet within the conservative party about this this morning, tory mps very worried about the idea that this shows a double standards. there is concern opposition parties are going to keep talking about this over the next few days. i'm not sure michael ellis has done very much at all, really, to quell some of the anger that we have seen over the past 2a hours. i would expect this to be a big issue this week. i ~' expect this to be a big issue this week. i ,, , expect this to be a big issue this week. ., , ii, , expect this to be a big issue this week. «i , ii, , week. one o'clock news coming up in a few moments _ week. one o'clock news coming up in a few moments with _ week. one o'clock news coming up in a few moments with clive _ week. one o'clock news coming up in a few moments with clive myrie i a few moments with clive myrie first. first, ilook at the weather. lots of settled dry weather over the next few days, high pressure in charge, plenty of wintry sunshine, but also some fog. some of that fog will linger into the afternoon and one or two places, giving way to a cloud grey sort of day. here is the miller map for today, there is a front getting some spots of light rain. that will move out of the skies will clear over england and wales this evening. with the light winds, it means a touch of frost on the way for england and wales. nate is the wind is blowing out of western scotland. a bit more and frost—free. a light frost expected in england and wales at 5am. frost—free. a light frost expected in england and wales at sam. the forecast for wednesday, high pressure over the uk dominating weather right across europe, parts of iberia as well. around this pressure milder air spreads into the northern half of the uk, whereas the south that is colder weather coming off the near continent, with that these calm, windless foggy conditions. some of that fog will linger, but it is a case of wintry sunshine for most of us. western scotland with a few showers, temperatures into double figures for stornoway, it could be quite mild even across aberdeen, weather it is single figures for england and wales. similarfor single figures for england and wales. similar for thursday. single figures for england and wales. similarforthursday. foggy in the morning, some of it lingering into the afternoon. these temperatures are in the sunnier weather. 5—8 were the fog sticks around, temperatures could be close to freezing all through the day. i think that could be more likely through the course of the week, set on a friday and saturday morning that fog could become a little more extensive. temperatures a little lower here. even if that fog does not linger, it could mean low grey skies. very unsettled weather over the next few days, hardly any rainfall insight. with a bit of luck, most of us should have some fine sunny weather rather than thick fog. today at one, police say they're in contact with the government after it emerges 100 people were invited to drinks in the garden at downing street, during the first lockdown. more pressure on the prime minister, as labour and families affected by coronavirus, show their anger. borisjohnson, having survived covid himself, thought it was appropriate to host a party where you could bring your own booze, sit in the garden at downing street where borisjohnson met me and four other bereaved families and told us, to our faces, after listening to my dad's story, i did everything i could to save him. this was organised in advance, mr speaker, so did the prime minister know about the event beforehand and did he give his permission for it to go ahead? one minister has just apologised unreservedly

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