at the heart of westminster. the isolation period for anyone with covid in england is being cut from seven to five full days — from next week. no let—up in the pressure on borisjohnson, as some tory mps say he should resign, for attending a drinks the isolation period for anyone with covid in england is being cut and coming up on the bbc news channel... the teams are yet to be finalised, but team gb and paralympics gb set their medal targets for the upcoming winter games in beijing. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. buckingham palace has announced prince andrew is returning his royal and military titles to the queen. he will no longer be referred to as his royal highness in any official capacity. it comes just a day after prince andrew's lawyers failed to persuade a judge in america to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him that accuses him of sexually abusing a teenager two decades ago. the duke of york has denied the allegations. buckingham palace says he will continue not to carry out any private duties and will defend the case as a private citizen. the duke of york, near his home in windsor great park today. behind—the—scenes, there were clearly discussions with his advisors and with other members of his family. it is clear the impossibility of his retaining his honorary military positions had been accepted by the queen, particularly after yesterday's court ruling in new york. he is therefore, no longer the honorary colonel of the grenadier guards. that will be a relief to them, his continued links to the regiment had become an embarrassment. a statement from buckingham palace a short time ago said... with the queen's approval and agreement, the duke of york's royal affiliations and patronage should have been returned to the queen. the duke of york will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case is a private citizen. that certainly seems to suggest that andrew is determined to fight on, but steps are being taken to insulate, as far as possible, the royalfamily insulate, as far as possible, the royal family from further embarrassment. nick is with me now and this is breaking news this evening. swift action from buckingham palace after the ruling yesterday? buckingham palace after the ruling esterda ? , , ., ., ., , yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about — yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about it _ yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about it and _ yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about it and it _ yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about it and it was _ yesterday? yes, they have had months to think about it and it was pretty - to think about it and it was pretty clear after the hearing, the way in which this was heading. we understand from sources at buckingham palace that there has been considerable discussion within the family, obviously involving the queen, which has resulted in this statement tonight. he is not losing his h r h styling, but he will not use it, and in terms of the military patronage is, the honorary position that he held, it was just becoming absolutely clear that it was untenable for him to continue in these last remaining royal roles. we talked last night about the grenadier guards, his position as honorary colonel as the grenadier guards. it will be a great relief to the regiment he has disassociated himself from them. no longer using his h r h. in terms of responses from his own team, they are indicating that he is going to continue to fight on. they are saying the ruling in new york yesterday was not a judgment on the merits of miss giuffre's allegations. this is a marathon, not allegations. this is a marathon, not a sprint and the duke will continue to defend himself against these claims. that would suggest he is not, at least at this point, going to seek an out—of—court settlement. and virginia giuffre's loi has indicated she is not interested in a purely monetary settlement. it may be she wants some sort of public acknowledgement. but clearly from andrew's side, he is, we understand, fighting on. andrew's side, he is, we understand, fiaahtin on. . ~' ~ andrew's side, he is, we understand, fighting on-— fighting on. thank you. mi5 has issued a rare _ fighting on. thank you. mi5 has issued a rare alert _ fighting on. thank you. mi5 has issued a rare alert to _ fighting on. thank you. mi5 has issued a rare alert to mps - fighting on. thank you. mi5 has i issued a rare alert to mps warning an agent has been working for the chinese state trying to influence british politicians. the security services claims that christine lee was engaged in political interference on behalf of the chinese communist party. the home secretary said it was deeply concerning but insisted the uk had strong structures in place to identify and deal with such matters. a figure at the heart of westminster, with access to politicians from all sides and the funds to back it up. but today, lawyer, christine lee, is accused of working secretly on behalf of the chinese state. in a highly unusual move, mi5 issued the selected parliaments. it warned that she has been working with an arm of the chinese communist party to covertly interfere in uk politics through establishing links with the established and aspiring parliamentarians. the established and aspiring parliamentarians. the fact this alert has become _ parliamentarians. the fact this alert has become public- parliamentarians. the fact this alert has become public today| parliamentarians. the fact this i alert has become public today in parliamentarians. the fact this - alert has become public today in the way in which it has is really a very strong illustration of how our intelligence and security agencies have been working together to really spot and identify this type of activity, activity that could potentially do harm to our country and harm to our democracy. there was no one here — and harm to our democracy. there was no one here today _ and harm to our democracy. there was no one here today at _ and harm to our democracy. there was no one here today at christine - and harm to our democracy. there was no one here today at christine lee's i no one here today at christine lee's london office and she has not yet responded. the allegation is she was funnelling money to politicians, claiming it came from within the uk, when it came from china. all in order to secure influence for the chinese communist party. former labour frontbencher, chinese communist party. former labourfrontbencher, barry gardner labour frontbencher, barry gardner received labourfrontbencher, barry gardner received more than £400,000 from her over five years. received more than £400,000 from her overfive years. in received more than £400,000 from her over five years. in a statement today, he said he had been liaising with mi5 and he stopped receiving money for parliamentary researchers in 2020, although her son was working in his office, until he resigned today.— resigned today. this is really serious. we _ resigned today. this is really serious. we don't _ resigned today. this is really serious. we don't play - resigned today. this is really serious. we don't play this i resigned today. this is really - serious. we don't play this down. i am not running scare stories, i am genuinely concerned and shocked that this has been allowed to happen. we need to understand why and we need to do something about it. we also have to recognise the chinese government poses a clear and present danger and stop messing around. that danger and stop messing around. at mi5, concerns about chinese influence have been growing in recent years. this move is assigned the fears go right to the heart of westminster. and today's alert comes after what i understand was a lengthy and serious investigation by mi5, just down the road. they revealed that christine lee had an wide set of contacts across all parties here at westminster. it is noticeable that even though mi5 felt they had to act, she is not being prosecuted. it is not about spying in the traditional sense, about someone stealing secrets. it is about influence and the view was, the best way to disrupt those alleged activities was by issuing this very unusual warning. the health secretary, sajid javid, has announced that he's cutting the isolation period for people testing positive for covid in england from seven to five full days. from monday people who've tested positive for covid can leave isolation at the start of day six as long as they have a negative test on days five and six. it's hoped it will ease pressure on employers hit by staff absences. here's our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson. this restaurant in manchester, one of six in a group employing around 500 people. today, senior managers were raising a glass to government plans to lower the number of days for self isolation.— for self isolation. from a business persoective. _ for self isolation. from a business persoective. it _ for self isolation. from a business perspective, it will— for self isolation. from a business perspective, it will give _ for self isolation. from a business perspective, it will give people . perspective, it will give people confidence to come out again. we have seen that in the last few months and we really need to take the shackles off and get things moving. irate the shackles off and get things movinu. ~ ., the shackles off and get things movinu. ~ . ., . , ., ., moving. we have made the decision to reduce the minimum _ moving. we have made the decision to reduce the minimum self— moving. we have made the decision to reduce the minimum self isolation - reduce the minimum self isolation period _ reduce the minimum self isolation period to — reduce the minimum self isolation period to five full days in england. from _ period to five full days in england. from monday, people can test twice before _ from monday, people can test twice before they go, leaving isolation at the start _ before they go, leaving isolation at the start of day six. and before they go, leaving isolation at the start of day six.— the start of day six. and some scientists _ the start of day six. and some scientists agree, _ the start of day six. and some scientists agree, it _ the start of day six. and some scientists agree, it is - the start of day six. and some scientists agree, it is the - the start of day six. and some scientists agree, it is the right balance of risks. the scientists agree, it is the right balance of risks.— balance of risks. the negative im acts balance of risks. the negative impacts of— balance of risks. the negative impacts of the _ balance of risks. the negative impacts of the isolation - balance of risks. the negative impacts of the isolation on . balance of risks. the negative| impacts of the isolation on our services, on our schools and jobs is probably not worth the additional benefits. and i think the five—day rule at the moment is probably the right thing. 50 rule at the moment is probably the riaht thin. ., ., ., , right thing. so how long does it take to stop — right thing. so how long does it take to stop being _ right thing. so how long does it take to stop being infectious i right thing. so how long does it i take to stop being infectious after getting covid? estimates suggest that at ia days, the original isolation period, just i% of people remain infectious. at seven days, that figure increases to i6%. and i5 days, the new minimum isolation period from next week, that figure increases again to around a third of people who are still infectious. that's why people will be required to have two negative lateral flow results before being released from self isolation. the first test can be taken on day five, but some are urging caution. if be taken on day five, but some are urging caution-— urging caution. if you do test neaative urging caution. if you do test negative and _ urging caution. if you do test negative and you _ urging caution. if you do test negative and you are - urging caution. if you do test negative and you are going i urging caution. if you do test| negative and you are going to urging caution. if you do test - negative and you are going to come out of isolation on day six, you should still be cautious, particularly about interacting with vulnerable people. you still should be concerned that you might be infectious. , be concerned that you might be infectious-— be concerned that you might be infectious. , , ., infectious. the rules bring england into line with _ infectious. the rules bring england into line with scotland, _ infectious. the rules bring england into line with scotland, but - infectious. the rules bring england into line with scotland, but self. into line with scotland, but self isolation is still seven days long in wales and northern ireland. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the government's latest coronavirus figures. show there were 109,133 new infections in the latest 2a—hour period. 19,721 people are in hospital with covid. another 335 were reported of people who died within 28 days of a positive test. on average in the past week, there were 261 deaths per day. 0n vaccinations, 36,079,875 people have had a boosterjab, that's more than 62.7% of those aged 12 and over. in france, where daily new infections hit more than 360,000 yesterday, the government has announced it is now reopening its borders to british travellers and holidaymakers. before christmas, france imposed a blanket ban on most people entering the country from the uk to try to slow the spread of 0micron. but from tomorrow, all vaccinated travellers willjust have to show a negative pcr or lateral flow taken 2a hours before departure. england's deputy chief medical officer, professor sirjonathan van—tam, has announced that he's stepping down from the role in march and will return to his work at the university of nottingham. it isa it is a bit like being up in a football game, and thinking you cannot lose this now, but how many times have you seen the site coming back and beating you? borisjohnson has thanked him for what he called his "extraordinary contribution to our country. the number of people on a hospital waiting list in england has hit another record high. figures for the end of november show six million people were waiting for routine surgery. and in december — nearly 13,000 patients had to wait more than 12 hours in a&e for a bed to become available, another record. 0ur health editor hugh pym sent this report from birmingham. birmingham, the pandemic�*s cast a long shadow here. the spread of covid may be slowing, but as in many communities, it could take years to clear the backlog of cancelled operations. 0llie, who works in a car dealership, needs surgery, but he hasn't even been put on the waiting list yet. they've supported me really, really well. 0llie has crohn's disease, which causes inflammation of the digestive system. he needed a bowel operation and now has a stoma and waste bag. he's still waiting to have that reversed. it's life changing, obviously. there's obviously restrictions that i've got, there's self—awareness, there's mental issues that you're always thinking are people looking at you? do i look different? so there's a lot, there's a lot of aspects, and i'd like to obviously draw a line in it, have it done, have that procedure done then move on with my life, really. to give an idea of the scale of the waiting list, birmingham has a population ofjust over1 million. close to six times that number are now waiting for planned surgery or procedures in england. clearing the backlog is one thing, but here in the west midlands and elsewhere, hospital staff are struggling with daily emergencies and colleagues getting ill. more staff are off sick every single day. kishan is a doctor working locum shifts in a&e departments in the area. it's been very stressful in a&e. there were days last week where i was receiving messages asking if i could come in to work just for a few hours. but the concern that i have is how unpredictable it is, with nhs staff going off sick and not knowing from one day to the next whether there'll be enough staff in the hospital on the floor able to look after the patients who are there. i spoke to an a&e nurse in a welsh hospital who wished to remain anonymous. we've got elderly patients in cupboards on trolleys, i for hours on end. they're cupboards that don't fit beds and thisl is what we're dealing with, - it's a logistical nightmare and it's unsafe and it'sjust not. what we all signed up for. we are running an escalation of numbers every day. while not under the same pressure, most hospitals like this one in warrington are very busy with normal winter demands, as well as covid adding to the strain. nhs england said staff dealt with a record number of life threatening ambulance call outs last month and services like cancer care were still prioritized. with changing seasons, the pressure may ease but the nhs faces a difficult future. workforce shortages and rising waiting lists, issues which will feature prominently in the political landscape. hugh pym, bbc news birmingham. cabinet ministers have pledged their support for the prime minister, after he admitted attending a drinks party in the downing street garden during the first coronavirus lockdown. borisjohnson apologised yesterday, saying he thought the gathering in may 2020 was work—related, but he's been facing calls from some senior conservatives to resign. with all the latest, here's our political metropolitan police tonight said it had ongoing contact with the cabinet office, which is conducting an inquiry into the gatherings at number 10, inquiry into the gatherings at number10, and if inquiry into the gatherings at number 10, and if evidence is found a behaviour that is a potentially criminal offence, it will be passed to the police. here is a war political correspondent, alex forsyth. there is no easy way to clean up the current situation and, since first thing, no sign of the prime minister. a planned public visit was cancelled because one of his family has covid, while he hunkered down here, others spoke up for him after yesterday's apology. he here, others spoke up for him after yesterday's apology-— yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced, he yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced. he was _ yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced, he was upset, _ yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced, he was upset, he _ yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced, he was upset, he was - yesterday's apology. he was ashen faced, he was upset, he was trulyl faced, he was upset, he was truly genuinely hot felt sorry for the upset and the rage that people are feeling. he upset and the rage that people are feelina. , upset and the rage that people are feeling-_ 0n _ upset and the rage that people are feeling._ on the - feeling. he gets it. on the airwaves. _ feeling. he gets it. on the airwaves, there _ feeling. he gets it. on the airwaves, there was - feeling. he gets it. on the airwaves, there was a - feeling. he gets it. on the i airwaves, there was a chorus feeling. he gets it. on the - airwaves, there was a chorus of loyalty. airwaves, there was a chorus of lo al . , ., , ., , loyalty. there is no question in my mind itoris — loyalty. there is no question in my mind boris johnson _ loyalty. there is no question in my mind boris johnson was _ loyalty. there is no question in my mind boris johnson was acting - loyalty. there is no question in my mind boris johnson was acting in l mind borisjohnson was acting in good _ mind borisjohnson was acting in good faith. mind boris johnson was acting in aood faith. ~ mind boris johnson was acting in good faith-— good faith. with hindsight, he recrets good faith. with hindsight, he regrets going _ good faith. with hindsight, he regrets going out _ good faith. with hindsight, he regrets going out to _ good faith. with hindsight, he regrets going out to the - good faith. with hindsight, he i regrets going out to the garden. good faith. with hindsight, he - regrets going out to the garden. he: has regrets going out to the garden. has apologised very, very clearly. the cabinet have shown their support, including the chancellor, though from him, support, including the chancellor, thoughfrom him, it support, including the chancellor, though from him, it was quieter. mr speaker, i want to apologise. for many, yesterday's apologyjust many, yesterday's apology just didn't many, yesterday's apologyjust didn't cut it. the mood among tories is dim. some critics are keeping their council for is dim. some critics are keeping their councilfor now, is dim. some critics are keeping their council for now, waiting perhaps to hear from their constituencies. in stamford, rock—solid tory turf, long—standing members of the conservative association were as one. if he wants to be remembered _ to be remembered as a good prime minister, then i think he has to be considered —— like he has to consider, _ considered —— like he has to consider, is— considered —— like he has to consider, is at the time now to resign? — consider, is at the time now to resign? |— consider, is at the time now to resi . n? ~' ., consider, is at the time now to resin? ~' ., , , resign? i think it would be better if he 'ust resign? i think it would be better if he just resigned, rather - resign? i think it would be better if he just resigned, rather than i if he just resigned, rather than waiting — if he just resigned, rather than waiting for— if he just resigned, rather than waiting for a _ if he just resigned, rather than waiting for a vote _ if he just resigned, rather than waiting for a vote of _ if he just resigned, rather than. waiting for a vote of confidence. if he just resigned, rather than i waiting for a vote of confidence. i think— waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you — waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you would _ waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you would get _ waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you would get a _ waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you would get a lot - waiting for a vote of confidence. i think you would get a lot more i think you would get a lot more respect — think you would get a lot more respect it_ think you would get a lot more resect. �* ., ., ., , respect. a lot of the long serving members in _ respect. a lot of the long serving members in the _ respect. a lot of the long serving members in the association - respect. a lot of the long serving members in the association have respect. a lot of the long serving - members in the association have very vocally said that it is time for him to go. vocally said that it is time for him to .o_ ., ., �*, vocally said that it is time for him to no. . h .,y ., vocally said that it is time for him tom, ., �*, ., to go. scotland's tory leader has already said _ to go. scotland's tory leader has already said the _ to go. scotland's tory leader has already said the same. _ to go. scotland's tory leader has already said the same. his - to go. scotland's tory leader has already said the same. his call. to go. scotland's tory leader has. already said the same. his call for borisjohnson to resign because something of a party row. jacab something of a party row. jacob rees-mogg _ something of a party row. jacob rees-mogg is _ something of a party row. jacob rees-mogg is entitled - something of a party row. jacob rees-mogg is entitled to - something of a party row. jacob rees-mogg is entitled to his i rees—mogg is entitled to his opinions... rees-mogg is entitled to his opinions- - -— rees-mogg is entitled to his opinions... rees-mogg is entitled to his oinions... , . opinions... jacob rees-mogg had called him _ opinions... jacob rees-mogg had called him a _ opinions... jacob rees-mogg had called him a light _ opinions... jacob rees-mogg had called him a light and _ opinions... jacob rees-mogg had called him a light and today - called him a light and today questioned his loyalty. he also suggested lockdown rules might have been too tough at the time of the downing street gathering. there is a frenzy of finger—pointing. whether public or private, there is real anger across the conservative party at borisjohnson. but many mps are waiting for the findings of the official investigation before passing finaljudgment. even when thatis passing finaljudgment. even when that is published in the next week or so, it is likely it will be the political mood that follows that ultimately determines the prime minister's fake. labour says there is no reason to wait. he knowingly misled, he lied _ is no reason to wait. he knowingly misled, he lied to _ is no reason to wait. he knowingly misled, he lied to parliament, - is no reason to wait. he knowingly l misled, he lied to parliament, which in itself_ misled, he lied to parliament, which in itself is _ misled, he lied to parliament, which in itself is a — misled, he lied to parliament, which in itself is a resignation offence under— in itself is a resignation offence under the — in itself is a resignation offence under the ministerial code. in itself is a resignation offence underthe ministerial code. but we are also— underthe ministerial code. but we are also calling for him to resign because — are also calling for him to resign because of— are also calling for him to resign because of the damage that he has done to— because of the damage that he has done to public trust and public confidence in health measures at a crucial— confidence in health measures at a crucial time. confidence in health measures at a crucialtime. for confidence in health measures at a crucial time-— confidence in health measures at a crucial time. for now, boris johnson is in downing _ crucial time. for now, boris johnson is in downing street, _ crucial time. for now, boris johnson is in downing street, but _ crucial time. for now, boris johnson is in downing street, but make - crucial time. for now, boris johnson is in downing street, but make no i is in downing street, but make no mistake, this matter is far from closed. tonight, there has been a new statement from the metropolitan police, who say they are also waiting for the findings of that cabinet investigation. they say if the inquiry finds evidence of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence, it will be passed to the met full further investigation. that already criticised by some, but for now, all eyes on the investigation being led by the civil service. it is not clear what it will find or how definitive it will be, but it will set the tone for what follows. alex, thank you. the time is 18:19. our top story this evening: the duke of york loses his titles, he will no longer known as his royal highness. and still to come... coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel: the fifth ashes test gets under way in hobart overnight. we hearfrom the england camp on salvaging pride and managing injuries. shoppers splashed out at christmas last year, despite the arrival of the 0micron variant. retail christmas sales soared, according to the latest figures. tesco and marks and spencer had a particularly good christmas, compared to two years ago, with m&s's overall sales up around 9% and tesco's up by 7.5%. 0ther other brands including sainsbury�*s, nxt and b and m have also reported strong christmas sales. but retailers are now wondering what will happen to consumer spending, given the looming squeeze on living standards from rising bills. our business correspondent emma simpson reports from colchester. carol singing christmas in colchester, a town that likes to put on a show. it feels a long time ago now, so how did it go? fenwick�*s is the biggest store on the high street. it's done well all year. this whole chain's had a good christmas too. overall, we traded very, very strongly and our full—price sales were significantly up on 2019. and of course, we performed massively better than 2020. as for 0micron, having most of your shops in smaller towns has been a help. footfall impact in london is massively down, compared to a location like colchester. i think people are falling back in love with local towns. it's easier, sometimes, especially if you're working from home. 0micron did have an impact. footfall in december was still nearly a fifth lower than it was before the pandemic, but it didn't stop us spending. and despite all the supply—chain problems and labour shortages, christmas actually turned out to be pretty decent for retailers overall. as for this one, it had its best ever food sales in the week before christmas. supermarkets getting a boost from more dining and drinking at home. consumers were splashing the cash, but will it last? do you think you're going to be reining back on spending now a bit? yes. yeah. we were just talking - about that, weren't we? yeah. — we just were, yeah. yeah, got to be careful now. i spent an awful lot on food. so, and we want holidays, so now it's been relaxed, we're going to cut back on the shopping side. that's not what retailers want to hear. the retailers i'm talking to are nervous about the impact of inflation on the amount of money that people will have in their pockets, how much tax they need to pay, the inflation that they will see on their energy bills and on some of the goods that they buy, and all of those things could well dampen demand for retail products. as they try to clear the way for the new year, retailers are also wondering how much of their own rising costs they can pass on. emma simpson, bbc news, colchester. staff shortages because of covid mean many care homes and home care companies are having to turn vulnerable people away in england. at least a9 out of 150 councils in england are introducing emergency measures to ration the care they provide to older and disabled people. increased pressures caused by 0micron means demand is huge. here's our social affairs editor, alison holt. this council—run team is at full stretch, trying to get patients home from hospital in central norfolk. any falls reported? today, they have more than 2a0 people who are well enough to be discharged, but need support in the community to be safe. so many care homes are now closed because of covid. the virus, and shortages of care staff, mean there simply aren't enough care home places or home care services available for all those needing help. it means that the demand on our service is greater than it ever has been, but the numbers of resources that we can get — you know, care homes or providers — is less than it ever has been. the pressures that the team in there are facing trying to get the right support for people are pressures that are being faced in many different parts of the country, and that means some really difficult decisions are having to be made. deep—rooted staffing shortages mean many care services like this home care company, have had to stop taking on new clients. across norfolk, there are now 870 people waiting for care. it is one of at least a9 councils in england bringing in emergency measures to ration social care. when you go into something like a pandemic with an already stretched system, then you get very close to the edge... the man who runs norfolk�*s care services says they have no choice. when you're this pressured, then you've got to start making decisions that balance the individual person's need with the safety of the wider community. so, for example, if someone's getting four visits a day for social care support, we might have to look at a situation where we're saying, one of those visits could perhaps stop and we could use that visit for somebody else who-s— waiting for social care. chris, your tea's ready. it's on the table. thank you. - but for someone like chris evans, any cuts to his three care visits a day would have a huge impact. he needs support after a bleed on his brain. the care also allows his wife to work. very important to me. it helps me feel... works towards more independence. for people who are assessed i as needing care, the care visits that they have are important. and i would think that it's a very dangerous path - that they would be treading - because it leaves people vulnerable. the government says it has put significant extra money into social care and staff recruitment. not a single river in england is free from pollution, according to the findings of an influential group of mps. the environmental audit committee says it's uncovered a "chemical cocktail" of sewage, agricultural waste and plastic, in our waterways. they're calling for tougher enforcement of rules on dumping, and better monitoring of the problem. here's our environment correspondent, jonah fisher. see that down there? i don't know what that is. it looks a bit like poo, doesn't it? ashley smith is searching for sewage. look at these particles coming out. this is shill brook, in 0xfordshire, a stream that receives the outflow from two water treatment plants. with this camera, we've seen basically chopped up, untreated sewage coming out. his videos are evidence of an ecosystem being steadily poisoned. it's one of many. today's environmental audit committee report found that not a single river in england is free of pollution, with many a "chemical cocktail" of sewage, agricultural waste and plastic. water companies, farmers and regulators are all to blame, the mps say. as are many of us. if you throw sanitary products down the toilet, stop. removing the blockages and fatbergs they cause costs about £100 million every year. in this report, mps call for tougher financial penalties for those who pollute, and describe the current water testing system as "outdated and inadequate". but with new homes being built and climate change likely to bring more rain, cleaning up england's rivers is going to take one thing more than any other, and that's money. the problem has arisen from a chronic, long—term under—investment in sewers, in water quality monitoring, in regulation. it's not surprising at all. we need to take it seriously and we need to do more, faster. the government welcomed the report, saying many of the issues raised were already being tackled. so, whhen the sewage has been fully treated in the sewage works... the water companies' attention has been focused once again on how regularly they claim exceptional circumstances and allow untreated water into our rivers. we regard all discharges of untreated sewage as unacceptable. but it's going to take a long time to get that problem completely solved. the question is whether the political will and funds exist to try and fix what the mps called "a mess". for years, the state of our rivers was something of a dirty secret. now, it's very much in the open. jonah fisher, bbc news. prince andrew has returned all of his military honours and royal titles and will no longer be known as his royal highness in any official capacity. nicholas witchell is with me for a last word. quite a moment for the queen and the royal family. moment for the queen and the royal famil . , , ., , ., family. yes, it is, no question about that- — family. yes, it is, no question about that. they _ family. yes, it is, no question about that. they have - family. yes, it is, no question about that. they have reacted | family. yes, it is, no question - about that. they have reacted very quickly, as i think they had to. and i think that one must suppose princes charles and william will have had considerable influence within that discussion with the queen. this is all about now protecting the royal family from reputational damage, protecting the queen's platinumjubilee reputational damage, protecting the queen's platinum jubilee from embarrassment. so to recap, he has given up, by mutual agreement, we are told, his remaining honorary military roles. there are more than a dozen regiments he is colonel of in this country, canada and new zealand, and i think it is fair to say tonight there is considerable relief in military circles that this has happened. and as you say, he will no longer be known as his royal highness. he has not been stripped of it, but he will no longer be known as it. but he says, or sources close to him say, he will continue to defend himself against these claims. ., ~' , ., time for a look at the weather. here's tomasz schafernaker. good evening, lots of fog in the forecast tonight and into tomorrow. it really could be quite dense across more southern and central parts of the uk and sometimes, it a chilly forms later in the morning rather than right from the word go. it is brought by this large area of high pressure which is across many western parts of europe, light winds, clearskies, moisture and western parts of europe, light winds, clear skies, moisture and the perfect recipe for fog. this evening, that fog will be forming across the midlands, parts of wales, in the south of the country as well, becoming really quite dense in places. further north, i don't think it will be quite as foggy or as cold. in western scotland, temperatures of around 8 degrees, whereas across