inquiry, facing mocking for claiming it was a work event, and calls to quit even from his own side. the other main story tonight... prince andrew faces a civil trial in the united states over accusations of sexual assault — after a judge refuses to dismiss it. virginia giuffre is suing the duke of york, claiming he abused her when she was 17 — allegations he strenuously denies. we'll be asking what it means now for the queen's second son. and soaring energy costs could affect household bills for at least two years, warns the boss of the uk's biggest energy supplier. and in the sport on the bbc news channel... novak djokovic admits to a serious covid breach before he arrived in melbourne. but with five days to go to the australian open, he's still in the drawer. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the prime minister has — for the first time — admitted that he attended a party in downing street at the height of the first lockdown. appearing in front of a packed house of commons, boris johnson apologised, saying he knew the rage people felt with him and the government. he said he was at the drinks in the downing street garden in may 2020 for about 25 minutes to thank staff, but insisted that he believed implicitly that the gathering was related to work. and that it was technically within the rules. at the time, it was forbidden to meet more than one person outside your household for social reasons. borisjohnson is facing intense pressure from all sides. the labour leader sir keir starmer called on him to resign, saying he was a "man without shame". the leader of the scottish conservatives, douglas ross, has also called for his resignation — saying his position is no longer tenable. our political editor laura kuenssberg has the latest. a mess. there is no other word. the prime minister belatedly trying to clean up. with an admission of possible rule breaking, an apology from a weakened leader. but while the answers to today's prime minister's questions see boris johnson through? mr minister's questions see boris johnson through? minister's questions see boris johnson throu~h? ~ ,,, . ~ ., johnson through? mr speaker, i want to apologise- — johnson through? mr speaker, i want to apologise- i _ johnson through? mr speaker, i want to apologise. i know _ johnson through? mr speaker, i want to apologise. i know that _ johnson through? mr speaker, i want to apologise. i know that millions - to apologise. i know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months and i know the rage they feel with me and with the government i lead when they think that in downing street itself the rules are not being properly followed. by the people who make the rules. there were things we simply did not get right. and i must take response ability.— response ability. claiming to disbelief in _ response ability. claiming to disbelief in the _ response ability. claiming to disbelief in the comments i response ability. claiming to l disbelief in the comments that technically a bring your own booze organised drinks event was within the lockdown rules. essen organised drinks event was within the lockdown rules.— organised drinks event was within the lockdown rules. even if it could be said technically _ the lockdown rules. even if it could be said technically to _ the lockdown rules. even if it could be said technically to fall _ be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way. well, there we have it. after months of deceit _ well, there we have it. after months of deceit and deception, the pathetic— of deceit and deception, the pathetic spectacle of a man who has run out _ pathetic spectacle of a man who has run out of— pathetic spectacle of a man who has run out of road. his defence that he didn't_ run out of road. his defence that he didn't realise he was at a party... laughter— laughter it is so ridiculous that it is actually— it is so ridiculous that it is actually offensive to the british publit — actually offensive to the british ublic. ., ,., actually offensive to the british ublic. ., ., , ., ~ public. labour able to mock the unusually subdued _ public. labour able to mock the unusually subdued tory - public. labour able to mock the i unusually subdued tory showman. public. labour able to mock the - unusually subdued tory showman. when the whole country _ unusually subdued tory showman. when the whole country was _ unusually subdued tory showman. when the whole country was in _ unusually subdued tory showman. when the whole country was in lockdown he was hosting _ the whole country was in lockdown he was hosting boozy parties in downing street _ was hosting boozy parties in downing street is_ was hosting boozy parties in downing street. is he now going to do the decent _ street. is he now going to do the decent thing and resign? | street. is he now going to do the decent thing and resign?- decent thing and resign? i regret very much _ decent thing and resign? i regret very much that — decent thing and resign? i regret very much that we _ decent thing and resign? i regret very much that we did _ decent thing and resign? i regret very much that we did not - decent thing and resign? i regret very much that we did not do - decent thing and resign? i regret i very much that we did not do things differently that even in. the very much that we did not do things differently that even in.— differently that even in. the prime minister pretended _ differently that even in. the prime minister pretended that _ differently that even in. the prime minister pretended that he - differently that even in. the prime minister pretended that he had - differently that even in. the prime l minister pretended that he had been assured _ minister pretended that he had been assured there were no parties. now it turns _ assured there were no parties. now it turns out — assured there were no parties. now it turns out he was at the parties all aloud — it turns out he was at the parties allalong. council it turns out he was at the parties all along. council prime minister see why— all along. council prime minister see why the british public think he is lying _ see why the british public think he is lying his— see why the british public think he is lying his teeth? it is see why the british public think he is lying his teeth?— is lying his teeth? it is up to the rirht is lying his teeth? it is up to the right honourable _ is lying his teeth? it is up to the right honourable gentleman . is lying his teeth? it is up to the right honourable gentleman to | is lying his teeth? it is up to the - right honourable gentleman to choose how he conducts himself in this place. how he conducts himself in this lace. ., , how he conducts himself in this lace. . , , ., ., place. there was derision, laughter at the prime _ place. there was derision, laughter at the prime minister's _ place. there was derision, laughter at the prime minister's defence. i place. there was derision, laughter| at the prime minister's defence. six questions later, election winner borisjohnson questions later, election winner boris johnson looked questions later, election winner borisjohnson looked defeated. this is notjust borisjohnson looked defeated. this is not just a borisjohnson looked defeated. this is notjust a westminster drama. it is notjust a westminster drama. it is notjust a westminster drama. it is exactly mid—day, we are heading over to westminster... it is exactly mid-day, we are heading over to westminster. . ._ over to westminster... it was the must watch _ over to westminster... it was the must watch from _ over to westminster... it was the must watch from the _ over to westminster... it was the must watch from the morning - over to westminster... it was the i must watch from the morning sofa. the country seeing repeated calls for borisjohnson to quit. iltiui’iiiii the country seeing repeated calls for boris johnson to quit.- for boris johnson to quit. will the prime minister, _ for boris johnson to quit. will the prime minister, for _ for boris johnson to quit. will the prime minister, for the _ for boris johnson to quit. will the prime minister, for the good - for boris johnson to quit. will the prime minister, for the good of i for boris johnson to quit. will the i prime minister, for the good of the country. _ prime minister, for the good of the country, except that the party is over— country, except that the party is over and — country, except that the party is over and decide to resign? do the decent thing _ over and decide to resign? do the decent thing and _ over and decide to resign? do the decent thing and resign. - over and decide to resign? do the decent thing and resign. do - over and decide to resign? do the decent thing and resign. do the l decent thing and resign. do the honourable _ decent thing and resign. do the honourable thing _ decent thing and resign. do the honourable thing and _ decent thing and resign. do the honourable thing and resign. i decent thing and resign. do the | honourable thing and resign. he decent thing and resign. do the - honourable thing and resign. he must resin. and honourable thing and resign. he must resign- and a — honourable thing and resign. he must resign. and a concern _ honourable thing and resign. he must resign. and a concern on _ honourable thing and resign. he must resign. and a concern on his - honourable thing and resign. he must resign. and a concern on his own - resign. and a concern on his own side is potent. _ resign. and a concern on his own side is potent. the _ resign. and a concern on his own side is potent. the number- resign. and a concern on his own side is potent. the number of. resign. and a concern on his own i side is potent. the number of mps saying it is over for mr side is potent. the number of mps saying it is overfor mrjohnson growing in the shadows. and calls for him to quit out in the open now. even from the mp who is also the leader of the conservatives in scotland. i leader of the conservatives in scotland. , ., ., , , scotland. i explained to the premise toda that i scotland. i explained to the premise today that i felt _ scotland. i explained to the premise today that i felt he _ scotland. i explained to the premise today that i felt he should _ scotland. i explained to the premise today that i felt he should stand - today that i felt he should stand down because of this, but that is ultimately his decision. but down because of this, but that is ultimately his decision.— ultimately his decision. but does the conservative _ ultimately his decision. but does the conservative party, - ultimately his decision. but does the conservative party, let - ultimately his decision. but does the conservative party, let alone the conservative party, let alone the country, really have the appetite for more political turmoil? there was a sprinkling of supportive messages, notjust text there was a sprinkling of supportive messages, not just text from there was a sprinkling of supportive messages, notjust text from mr johnson himself. messages, not just text from mr johnson himself.— messages, not just text from mr johnson himself. what is needed above all is _ johnson himself. what is needed above all is doubling _ johnson himself. what is needed above all is doubling down, - johnson himself. what is needed above all is doubling down, a - above all is doubling down, a determination to rebuild trust between the government and the prime minister— between the government and the prime minister leading and the british people — minister leading and the british --eole. �* ., , minister leading and the british --eole. �*, minister leading and the british people. boris johnson's admission and apology _ people. boris johnson's admission and apology in _ people. boris johnson's admission and apology in their _ people. boris johnson's admission and apology in their has _ people. boris johnson's admission and apology in their has bought i people. boris johnson's admission i and apology in their has bought him and apology in their has bought him a little time, a pose until the report into what did and didn't happen in at number 10 is complete. yet for many on his own side he has already lost the benefit of the doubt. growing numbers of his own mps want him out, discussing frantically how and when his exit could happen. it is not inevitable though that he will beat hastened out of office, but it is no longer impossible to imagine that the prime minister might be gone before too long. minister might be gone before too lon. _ ., ., “ minister might be gone before too lon._ ., minister might be gone before too loni_ ., , minister might be gone before too lon. ., , , , minister might be gone before too loni_ ., , , ,., long. look at this, this is a fantastic — long. look at this, this is a fantastic garden. _ long. look at this, this is a fantastic garden. it - long. look at this, this is a fantastic garden. it is - long. look at this, this is a i fantastic garden. it is indeed long. look at this, this is a - fantastic garden. it is indeed a beautiful garden. _ fantastic garden. it is indeed a beautiful garden. this - fantastic garden. it is indeed a beautiful garden. this was - fantastic garden. it is indeed a beautiful garden. this was a l fantastic garden. it is indeed a - beautiful garden. this was a former bomb crater- _ beautiful garden. this was a former bomb crater. a _ beautiful garden. this was a former bomb crater. a placer _ beautiful garden. this was a former bomb crater. a placer prime - beautiful garden. this was a former i bomb crater. a placer prime minister was ha - bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to — bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to show— bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to show off _ bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to show off in _ bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to show off in days - bomb crater. a placer prime minister was happy to show off in days gone i was happy to show off in days gone by. do you see yourself being here for the very long—term? brute by. do you see yourself being here for the very long-term?— for the very long-term? we are workini for the very long-term? we are working very — for the very long-term? we are working very hard. _ for the very long-term? we are working very hard. but - for the very long-term? we are working very hard. but his - for the very long-term? we are working very hard. but his time j for the very long-term? we are i working very hard. but his time in residence could _ working very hard. but his time in residence could be _ working very hard. but his time in residence could be brought - working very hard. but his time in residence could be brought to - working very hard. but his time in residence could be brought to anl residence could be brought to an early close by what happened literally in his own backyard. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the inquiry into a series of alleged parties held during lockdown in number 10 and whitehall is still ongoing. it's not known when the senior civil servant sue gray will release her findings. 0ur deputy political editor vicki young looks back she considers the political fallout of the last few months. it has been a disastrous three months for the prime minister and he stood here today accused of deception, of treating the british people with contempt. some on his own side think this could be a tipping point that leads to his downfall, but this is a man who has recovered from setbacks before and cabinet colleagues are rallying round. i cabinet colleagues are rallying round. ~ , cabinet colleagues are rallying round. ~' , ., round. i think it is right that he was saying _ round. i think it is right that he was saying today _ round. i think it is right that he was saying today he _ round. i think it is right that he was saying today he the - round. i think it is right that he was saying today he the house j round. i think it is right that he i was saying today he the house of commons that sue gray is given the time to conduct that investigation, there will be a full counting, the premise will come back to the commons and that is the right way to handle this. , ., ., , ., handle this. there is a long list of allegations _ handle this. there is a long list of allegations that _ handle this. there is a long list of allegations that covid _ handle this. there is a long list of allegations that covid rules - handle this. there is a long list of allegations that covid rules were l allegations that covid rules were broken in downing street starting during the first lockdown in 2020. a photo taken on by the 15th showed the prime minister, his wife and staff in the downing street garden with bottles of wine and cheese. when asked about it borisjohnson said... a few days later about 100 people were invited by e—mail to socially distance drinks in the number 10 garden. today the prime minister admitted he attended for around 25 minutes. and on the 15th of december multiple sources told the bbc there was a christmas quiz for number 10 staff. borisjohnson took part remotely but others gathered in one room. a video obtained by itv news showed the prime minister's then press secretary allegra stratton joking about reports of an event on the 18th of december saying this fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially distance. those that worked with theresa may in downing street say going back support can be difficult. the issues this government are suffering from at the moment are also conflicted winds and about the way in which the prime minister is running his government. it is not clear to me that he is ever going to be able to fully recover his reputation from what has happened, but the starting point i think has to be to get all of the facts out there and to be completely honest about what has happened at conservative mps wanted persons and as a leader because they thought he could win him elections, brexit and his unique campaigning style made him a vote winner. but governing brings different challenges, the endless scrutiny having to watch every word you say #forcedwhite some fear it is his flawed judgment that is now being exposed. bud fear it is his flawed judgment that is now being exposed.— fear it is his flawed judgment that is now being exposed. and on that his former closest _ is now being exposed. and on that his former closest adviser - is now being exposed. and on that his former closest adviser dominicj his former closest adviser dominic cummings has become his harshest critic accusing him of not being up to thejob. for critic accusing him of not being up to the job. for months there were questions about how mrjohnson paid for a lavish refurbishment of his downing street flat. the standards adviser said he had acted unwisely. and then when foreign minister 0wen paterson was involved in a row over sleaze he tried to change the rules to protect him, backtracked, and the lib dems then won the safe tory seat. borisjohnson's authority has been severely dented and all this is a huge distraction from the policies he promised to deliver. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. and our political editor laura kuenssberg joins us from westminster. can he ride this out? it isa it is a very, very bad situation for borisjohnson tonight, there's no doubt about that. he has got to big nasty problems. first by his own admission he said millions of members of the public will feel full of rage finding out exactly what has happened and as one man suggested to me today that what seem to some people as i shall apology saying, he thought it was fine and technically within the rules, that to some people might actually have made all of this worse. the second problem is one at home, inside his own party. yes, there are still mps who want him to be able to work this out and still mps who believe that it can be sorted and that borisjohnson can get out of what is a very significant scrape and forgive the very noisy motorbike going past. but i have to say it feels today in the last 2a hours that there has been a real poison starting to spread through the conservative party and the attitude towards borisjohnson. politics can change extremely quickly so it is far too early to say that this is terminal, but it is the case that there are more conservatives by the hour coming to the conclusion that borisjohnson, who was that great election victor for them, who was that great election victor forthem, is who was that great election victor for them, is fast becoming more of a liability. #forcedwhite thank you. prince andrew has failed to get a civil case in the united states — which accuses him of sexually assaulting a teenage girl — dismissed. virginia giuffre is suing the duke of york, claiming that he abused her when she was 17 at the homes ofjeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell. the prince has strenuously denied the allegations. but the ruling by the judge in new york today means the civil trial can now go ahead. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. everything for andrew had rested on this ruling and it has gone against him. in his 43 page ruling in the case of virginia giuffre and prince andrew duke of york, the judges conclusion was very straightforward. the defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint is denied in all respects, thejudge the complaint is denied in all respects, the judge wrote. the complaint is denied in all respects, thejudge wrote. the possibility of appealing at this stage appears to be remote, though these are andrew's basic options. he can settle out of court, there would be no admission of liability but he would pay a perhaps substantial sum to virginia giuffre. you can default, but is ignore the court case and by default they would be a finding against him. finally he could fight it out in court. he would have to give a deposition under oath, bible stories would be tested, the matter would be decided in open court. lawyers who have been following the case say none of the options will be attractive to him. andrew has got no good options now. he can't make things better, so essentially i think he is either going to have to engage in the trial process or he is going to have to settle. that may well be is least worst option. but settle. that may well be is least worst option-— settle. that may well be is least worsto-tion. �* ., , , ., worst option. but it would be up to viri inia worst option. but it would be up to virginia giuffre _ worst option. but it would be up to virginia giuffre to _ worst option. but it would be up to virginia giuffre to decide _ worst option. but it would be up to virginia giuffre to decide whether. virginia giuffre to decide whether to accept any article settlement. at the moment she doesn't seem inclined to do so. in a statement her lawyer said... virginia giuffre is of course pleased that prince andrew's motion to dismiss has been denied and that evidence will now be taken concerning her claims against him. she looks forward to a judicial determination of the merits of these claims. all of which leaves andrew facing the prospect of a bruising court case and the queen, in this her platinum jubilee year, of enduring months of upset. in his newsnight interview, the one in which he said he couldn't remember meeting the then 17—year—old virginia giuffre, andrew whether he felt his behaviour had damaged the queen and the royal family. i damaged the queen and the royal famil . ., �* , .,, damaged the queen and the royal famil. .,�* , , family. i don't believe it has been damaiiin family. i don't believe it has been damaging to _ family. i don't believe it has been damaging to the _ family. i don't believe it has been damaging to the queen _ family. i don't believe it has been damaging to the queen at - family. i don't believe it has been damaging to the queen at all. - family. i don't believe it has been damaging to the queen at all. it. family. i don't believe it has been i damaging to the queen at all. it has too many. if i was in a position to be able to answer all these questions in a way that gave sensible answers other than the ones that i have given that gave closure, i would love it but i'm afraid i can't because i am just as much in the dark as many people. if can't because i am just as much in the dark as many people. if andrew does fi i ht the dark as many people. if andrew does fight on _ the dark as many people. if andrew does fight on people _ the dark as many people. if andrew does fight on people have - the dark as many people. if andrew does fight on people have to - the dark as many people. if andrew| does fight on people have to answer all the other side's questions under oath and he will be able to declare his innocence and his lawyers will be able to test virginia giuffre's allegations. but at what price do the reputation of the royal family? as lawyers are saying, he has no good options. nicholas witchell, bbc news. let's join our north america correspondent nada tawfik now, who's in new york for us. in legal terms, what happens next? essentially, this case moves forward. there is a long shot that his team could appeal, but that would require the judge's his team could appeal, but that would require thejudge's permission and that is not looking promising at all, given this 46 page decision. now, even if an appeal is made, the discovery process will move forward as scheduled with deadlines this summer. and that is the stage where each side has to disclose a wealth of information and documents. we already know from virginia giuffre's lawyers that they have demanded prince andrew's medical records after he alleged that her claims are false because he is unable to sweat. claims he made in a jaw—dropping newsnight interview. and it is worth noting that if he does fight this case, he will face questioning from ms giuffre's loya david moyes, considered one of the greatest trial lawyers in america. so while prince andrew has always denied the allegations, he now has legal decisions to make. —— daivd boys. and our royal correspondent nicholas witchelljoins me now. this is a monumental mess for andrew and very damaging to the royal family and the weight ofjudgment and lawyers would be he needs to require an out—of—court settlement, but that needs both sides to acquiesce and there are suggestions that at the moment, whether for tactical reasons or not, that virginia giuffre wants her day in court. and all of this, two or three or three days after buckingham palace confirmed the programme for the platinumjubilee. can palace confirmed the programme for the platinum jubilee. can we palace confirmed the programme for the platinumjubilee. can we really suppose that we can have a platinum jubilee with the queen happily taking part in it whilst charges of the serious nature, civil charges, are laid against her second son and he is defending them in the autumn? can we suppose that he is going to take part in thejubilee trooping the colour, raiding as he is entitled as colonel of the grenadier guards? we mock his repeated protestations of his innocence, but i do think that many people will now feel it is time for him to withdraw, gracefully and completely now. nicholas witchell, thank you. the time is 18:20. our top story this evening: the prime minister admits attending a garden party in downing street at the height of lockdown in may 2020, and apologises. coming up... we'll hear what voters in the west midlands make of today's developments. and in the sport on the bbc news channel: there were farcical and embarrassing scenes at the africa cup of nations, as the referee blows for full—time too early in the match between mali and tunisia. the boss of the company which owns british gas has warned that soaring energy costs could affect household bills for the next two years at least. bills are expected to rise to up to £2000 per household from april, when a new energy price cap takes effect. the chief executive of centrica, chris 0'shea, says there's no suggestion that wholesale prices will come down any time soon. our business editor, simonjack, has been speaking to him. millions of households may see any disposable income go up in flames this spring, as average energy bills rise by an estimated 50%. households like sean's, in the forest of dean. and we're not talking 5,10,15 quid here. this is catastrophic, really, for me, as i will have no more money in my personal income to do anything. this wipes out my spare money. we'll have nothing left. this is no short—term price shock, according to the uk's biggest energy supplier, who says an international scramble for gas means higher prices are here to stay. i can't say that this will be done in six months or nine months, in a year. i can simply look at what the market says at the moment, and the market suggests the high gas prices will be here for the next 18 months to two years. he says customers are rightly concerned, and something must be done to protect them. when i talk to our customers and i hear how distressed they are at the increase in prices that are coming, then i think it's inconceivable that we don't do something to help those people. and when he says "we", he — like other providers — is looking mainly at the government. options for the treasury include scrapping vat of 5% on energy bills. that will be worth about £100 a year. quick, easy, but blunt. better—off households would benefit too. more targeted — reform the warm homes discount, a one—off payment of £140, available to a limited number of people on certain benefits. make that more generous and widen the eligibility. then there are green charges on our bills of £170 a year. we could scrap those, or move them into general taxation. maybe fairer, because higher earners would pay more. and how to pay for all of this? maybe a windfall tax on the gas producers making big profits as prices soar. chancellors, both conservative and labour, have done it before. that would deter investment in domestic gas sources like the north sea, says 0'shea. one way or another, the uk's rising energy bill has to be paid. ultimately, everybody in the uk is a taxpayer and an energy cofisuttiei'. so, the cost of this is going to have to be paid by uk citizens. the question as to whether that's paid through the energy bill or through general taxation is one for the government. the government has promised answers before the new price cap is set in early—february. simon jack, bbc news. the government's latest coronavirus figures show another fall in new cases. 129,587 new infections in the latest 24—hour period. 148,357 new cases per day in the last week. 19,735 people are in hospital with covid — a slight fall since yesterday. and the number on ventilators has also fallen to its lowest since the middle of october — just under 800. but deaths have risen again — another 398 people who died within 28 days of a positive test, the highest for almost a year. on average, in the past week, there were 246 deaths per day. 0n vaccinations, almost 36 million people have had a boosterjab. that's more than 62.5% of those aged 12 and over. the high court has ruled that the government's use of a so—called vip lane to award contracts for ppe — personal protective equipment — to two companies during the first wave of the pandemic was unlawful. the department of health agreed deals worth almost £600 million with a pest control firm and a hedge fund. our special correspondent lucy manning is here. what more can you tell is about this? it is about the way the government spent taxpayers' money on protective equipment for staff in hospitals. for more than a year, we have reported on gowns and masks that can't be used in the nhs. this particular case was, as you said about the vip lane. what it meant was during the height of the pandemic, if you are a company and you had any contacts with ministers, mps, civil servants, you could go on the vip lane and it meant your bid would get considered earlier. it would get considered earlier. it would get considered earlier. it would get looked at a bit earlier than other firms. two campaign groups complain that this was unfair. thejudge agreed and said the vip lane was unlawful. ayanda capital and pestfix were put on it, they got deals of hundreds of millions of pounds and the judge found they were given preferential treatment by being on that vip lane. a bit of a caveat, as always with court cases, the judge also found that they didn't get to the contracts because they were on the vip lane,, was likely they would have got those contracts anyway. so both sides claiming success with this case, but not a good look for the government that their scheme has been found to be unlawful. luca; been found to be unlawful. lucy mannini , been found to be unlawful. lucy manning, thank _ been found to be unlawful. lucy manning, thank you. _ french police have arrested a suspect in connection with the unsolved murder of a british family and a french cyclist in the alps in 2012. saad al—hilli, his wife iqbal, her mother, suhaila al—allaf, and cyclist sylvain mollier were found shot dead on a road near lake annecy. the family's two young daughters survived the attack. novak djokovic says he made an "error in judgement", after admitting he broke covid rules in serbia last month by attending an interview when he knew he'd tested positive. the world tennis number one, who is preparing for the australian open in melbourne, has also blamed his agent for wrongly filling out his entry forms to australia. the australian government is still deciding on whether to cancel his visa. back to our main story — the prime minister has apologised for attending a party in the downing street garden at the height of the first lockdown in may 2020. 0ur political correspondent, alex forsyth, has been to the west midlands to find out how voters are feeling after borisjohnson admitted he had joined number 10 staff for the drinks. mr speaker, i want to apologise. prime minister's questions isn't usually a blockbuster event at this boutique cafe on the outskirts of wolverhampton but, today, some staff did stop to watch. silly boris. all conservative supporters, they were keen to hear what the prime minister had to say. but for millie, it didn't cut it. i'm angry. i think he's broke the rules. everyone who's broke the rules in government have resigned, i and i do think it's time he needs to resign, personally. _ i think he's broke the rules and i |think that's what he's got to do. j her colleagues, though, think he deserves another chance, though they are frustrated. kind of could almost excuse the christmas event but this, like, 40 people in a garden, no. that's not a work meeting, or event. i'm angry with him, because it's sad because i really liked him. i thought he was doing a good job. i'm not angry about what's happened, i'm disappointed that they've - had to admit to this. i think all the goodwill they've - built up is beginning to fade away. i'm still a big supporter, _ but i think the mood of the country is turning against them. just over two years ago, this part of wolverhampton turned to the conservatives from labour, as borisjohnson toppled seats across the midlands and north of england. now some tories worry what this politically toxic issue will cost. some people who voted conservative for the first time at the last general election say it was the fact boris johnson wasn't like other politicians. he didn't play by the same rules as others — that was part of his appeal. now it's that same sense that, for some, is causing such anger. i can't stand him, really. how much longer can he go on saying sorry? so many times. and he isn't really sorry, is he? he wanted to say thankl you for all the hard work that was done and i understand that, but in the light of what was - going on in everybody else's home, i mean, j you know, there's a lot of people that i would have liked _ to say thank you to, _ but we weren't allowed to gather. outside the city centre, retailer mark says he was well supported by the government during the pandemic, but now he's frustrated that while his business was locked up, others were meeting up. i do feel quite angry about it, really, the way that we've kind of been almost mistreated in a way and kind of, you know, disregarded a little bit really. you know, i think a lot of local small businesses are very hard—working, so it's almost like a kick in the teeth a little bit really. winning in places like this is the reason borisjohnson's been popular within his party. be in no doubt, if the voters turn away, that support will soon fade too. alex forsyth, bbc news, wolverhampton. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. a beautiful blue sky and it was wonderfulfor a lot of a beautiful blue sky and it was wonderful for a lot of people today. shall we pause and breed that in? glorious, we haven't seen a lot of sunshine so far this year so it was a glorious day for most of us, not for all. this was wrexham, the best of the sunshine today across england and where is, but the best of the temperature is reserved for eastern scotland. why? we have got high pressure centred across england and wales at the moment. this little patch of cloud here, that is fog and some of that was snow —— max lowe to lift away. toppling across the high, south—westerly wind, just driving in more moisture and a little bit of drizzle across the far north and west of scotland, but most of us had got a glorious day. tonight, we keep some of those clear skies and temperatures falling away quite sharply and fog will form once again across england and wales. temperatures for england and wales may be down as low as —3. very mild indeed into the far north, but we could have a problem not only for tomorrow morning, but friday morning as well with fog. if you get it, some of it can be dense in places and some could take time to live, it may well lift into low cloud and that could impact temperatures. it could be a foggy start, but a frosty one with some lovely sunshine for england and way is. the cloud continues to feed and across the far north west of scotland. sheltered eastern areas of scotland, aberdeenshire into perth, seeing sunshine as well. more of a breeze into the far north and west, but elsewhere, very light winds and that is half the problem as it means it is half the problem as it means it is not steering the fog up. top temperatures once again across england and wales about six to 8 degrees, may be only one or two if you keep the fog all day, much milder once again further north. the high pressurejust milder once again further north. the high pressure just starts to release its grip only very slowly as we move through friday and into the start of the weekend, so that means we keep a good deal of dry weather around, potentially more fog on friday. and perhaps a little less in the wave sunshine. but certainly dry. and if you want to take the dog for a walk like me, it has beenjust recently! thank you. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me.