for all the good you have done. in the name of god, go. cheering but as some tory mps rally around the prime minister tonight, we'll be trying to guage the level of threat to his premiereship. also tonight... england's plan b covid measures are being dropped completely. work from home ends today, face coverings are no longer required from the end of next week. inflation soars to its highest level in almost 30 years, driven by rising food prices and energy bills, and there are warnings of worse to come. coming up in sport on the bbc news channel, after last night's drama, england prepare to face australia again in the final of netball�*s quad series at london's copperbox. good evening from downing street, on a dramatic day in westminster as the prime minister fights for his political life in the face of intense pressure over parties held here during lockdown. for the second week in a row, borisjohnson faced calls for his resignation at prime minister's questions, among them from a former conservative cabinet member, david davis, who said, "in the name of god, go". and moments before the prime minister stood up in parliament, one of his own mps announced he was defecting to labour. borisjohnson again apologised for any misjudgments and told the commons that mps should wait for the results of an inquiry into the allegations, which is due next week. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. the editor, laura kuenssberg. atmosphere and the prii minister's the atmosphere and the prime minister's neighbourhood is the risk. danger dangles all around the borisjohnson risk. danger dangles all around the boris johnson with risk. danger dangles all around the borisjohnson with uncertainty hanging in the air. downing street confronting the truth that some of his own mps want him gone. as ministers gather to agree to ditch some covid rules this morning, some of his own side, waiting and watching, thinking about ditching him. is it under control, chief whip? yes, all is calm. do you think you might be in denial about that if this is calm? i you might be in denial about that if this is calm?— this is calm? i think we need to focus on dealing _ this is calm? i think we need to focus on dealing with _ this is calm? i think we need to focus on dealing with covid - this is calm? i think we need to focus on dealing with covid and i focus on dealing with covid and making sure that we have got that right. making sure that we have got that riuht. ., ., making sure that we have got that ri. ht. ., ., ., making sure that we have got that riuht. ., ., ., ., making sure that we have got that ri. ht. ., ., ., ., “ making sure that we have got that riuht. ., ., ., ., ~ , right. cannot go on like this could matter some _ right. cannot go on like this could matter some of _ right. cannot go on like this could matter some of your _ right. cannot go on like this could matter some of your mps - right. cannot go on like this could matter some of your mps are - right. cannot go on like this could i matter some of your mps are putting letters in. it is not perhaps ridiculous despite his allies claim to suggest their boss could be gone before too long. it was no ordinary wednesday. pressure on boris johnson, after weeks of claims about what went on in number ten during lockdown. 20 mps we discussed sending letters of no confidence in their leader, then a shock, political chat interrupted. we are heafina political chat interrupted. we are hearing that _ political chat interrupted. we are hearing that the _ political chat interrupted. we are hearing that the bury _ political chat interrupted. we are hearing that the bury mp - political chat interrupted. we are l hearing that the bury mp christian wakeford is defecting to labour. that is quite incredible. the first tory since 2007, christian wakeford, cheer to the rafters in the commons as he defected and took the seat for labour instead. flan as he defected and took the seat for labour instead.— labour instead. can i start by warmly welcoming _ labour instead. can i start by warmly welcoming the - labour instead. can i start by - warmly welcoming the honourable member_ warmly welcoming the honourable member for warmly welcoming the honourable memberfor bury warmly welcoming the honourable member for bury south to the parliamentary labour party? mr speaker, — parliamentary labour party? mr speaker, like so many people up and down _ speaker, like so many people up and down the _ speaker, like so many people up and down the country he has concluded that the _ down the country he has concluded that the prime minister, they can serve _ that the prime minister, they can serve the — that the prime minister, they can serve the party, have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country— leadership and government this country deserves. it leadership and government this country deserves.— leadership and government this country deserves. a sting from keir starmer at — country deserves. a sting from keir starmer at a _ country deserves. a sting from keir starmer at a vulnerable _ country deserves. a sting from keir starmer at a vulnerable moment i country deserves. a sting from keir| starmer at a vulnerable moment for borisjohnson. bud starmer at a vulnerable moment for borisjohnson-_ boris johnson. and as for bury south, mr— boris johnson. and as for bury south, mr speaker... - boris johnson. and as for bury south, mr speaker... in - boris johnson. and as for bury south, mr speaker... in a - boris johnson. and as for bury i south, mr speaker... in a union boris johnson. and as for bury - south, mr speaker... in a union jack mask, the south, mr speaker... in a union jack mask. the new _ south, mr speaker... in a union jack mask, the new labour _ south, mr speaker... in a union jack mask, the new labour mp _ south, mr speaker... in a union jack mask, the new labour mp opposite, | mask, the new labour mp opposite, not sitting behind the prime minister this time. irate not sitting behind the prime minister this time.— not sitting behind the prime minister this time. we will win aaain in minister this time. we will win again in bury _ minister this time. we will win again in bury south. _ minister this time. we will win again in bury south. there - minister this time. we will win | again in bury south. there was minister this time. we will win - again in bury south. there was more ener: again in bury south. there was more energy from — again in bury south. there was more energy from the _ again in bury south. there was more energy from the prime _ again in bury south. there was more energy from the prime minister- again in bury south. there was more | energy from the prime minister today in a chaotic prime minister's questions as he sought to stand and fight, he was mocked by the labour leader. , �* _, , fight, he was mocked by the labour leader. , �* , , , leader. doesn't the country deserves a much better— leader. doesn't the country deserves a much better than _ leader. doesn't the country deserves a much better than this _ leader. doesn't the country deserves a much better than this out _ leader. doesn't the country deserves a much better than this out of - a much better than this out of touch, out of control, out of ideas and soon to be out of office prime minister? ~ , ., , ., , minister? when the history of this andemic minister? when the history of this pandemic comes _ minister? when the history of this pandemic comes to _ minister? when the history of this pandemic comes to be _ minister? when the history of this pandemic comes to be written - minister? when the history of thisi pandemic comes to be written and minister? when the history of this - pandemic comes to be written and the history— pandemic comes to be written and the history of— pandemic comes to be written and the history of the labor babe —— labour party— history of the labor babe —— labour party comes — history of the labor babe —— labour party comes to be written, it will show _ party comes to be written, it will show that — party comes to be written, it will show that we delivered, while they dithered, _ show that we delivered, while they dithered, and we vaccinated while they vacillated, mr speaker. just when he thought he might have got through without any wound, a brutal blast from his own side, a prominent tory quoting cromwell to try to oust the leader of the tories' 21st century revolution. j the leader of the tories' 21st century revolution.— the leader of the tories' 21st century revolution. i expect my leaders to _ century revolution. i expect my leaders to shoulder _ century revolution. i expect my leaders to shoulder the - leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take. yesterday he did the opposite of that. so i will remind him of a quotation, you have sat there all —— too long, for all of the good you have done, in the name of god, go! cheering david davis and borisjohnson used to be allies of a sort. what a day, we had the speaker, aghast. what a day. what else to say? a senior tory, the latest accor for the prime minister's exit, and the smiling labour leader a conservative to his fold. there have been more public efforts from conservatives to get out and defend. he efforts from conservatives to get out and defend.— efforts from conservatives to get out and defend. he is the bounce back king. _ out and defend. he is the bounce back king. i _ out and defend. he is the bounce back king, i have _ out and defend. he is the bounce back king, i have always - out and defend. he is the bounce i back king, i have always supported boris and i wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him.— boris and i wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. mps and ministers who want boris _ wasn't for him. mps and ministers who want boris johnson _ wasn't for him. mps and ministers who want boris johnson to - wasn't for him. mps and ministers who want boris johnson to stay i wasn't for him. mps and ministers l who want boris johnson to stay have who want borisjohnson to stay have been falling over themselves to call for cool heads all round, and one loyal cabinet minister even claimed the threat to borisjohnson wasn't real. it is true to say that no one can be sure and a secret process how many conservative mps are really willing to try to oust him, but today's chaos demonstrates clearly, there are members of different tory tribes, who want to see him gone. mr tribes, who want to see him gone. m cummings, will you provide sue gray with evidence that borisjohnson lied? with evidence that boris johnson lied? ~ , ., , with evidence that boris johnson lied? ~ , .,, ., , lied? the prime minister has always had political — lied? the prime minister has always had political detractors _ lied? the prime minister has always had political detractors and - lied? the prime minister has always had political detractors and has - had political detractors and has gathered enemies along the way. he may not want to rest until this is over. and tory tradition shows that when the party concludes the leader is out of line, they are removed, but only two years after a huge election victory, borisjohnson will resist attempts for a changing of the guard. and laura joins me now. certainly a day of high drama and unexpected moments. tom certainly a day of high drama and unexpected moments.— unexpected moments. two big sur - rises unexpected moments. two big surprises for — unexpected moments. two big surprises for this _ unexpected moments. two big surprises for this place, - unexpected moments. two big surprises for this place, and i unexpected moments. two big surprises for this place, and a | unexpected moments. two big i surprises for this place, and a very uneasy mood around here. first off, the call from david davies, the former cabinet minister and fellow traveller on brexit, gave boris johnson a dramatic and clear indication, for a seniorfigure, calling for him to go, not something anyone was expecting this morning, then this defection, a conservative crossing the floor, politically and physically in the commons to go and sit with the labour party, we have not seen that for a very long time. on the one hand, shot like that, the 0n the one hand, shot like that, the nasty surprise, the last thing downing street needs, except that some mps feel that that is such a betrayal, that in the afternoon we have actually seen some conservative mps feeling that they perhaps ought to be rallying round borisjohnson a little bit more to protect the conservative party. but there is no question that there is no sense of peace and calm around, this is still a tricky, perilous period for the prime minister.— a tricky, perilous period for the prime minister. more from laura later on, thank— prime minister. more from laura later on, thank you. _ borisjohnson has announced that england's plan b measures are being dropped completely. from today the government is no longer asking people to work from home. from tomorrow, secondary school pupils in england will no longer have to wear face coverings in the classroom. and for everyone else — from next thursday — face coverings will no longer by required by law — though you'll still be advised to wear one in enclosed and crowded spaces. also from next thursday — a covid pass will no longer be required to go to nightclubs and large events. but the self—isolation regulations remain in place for now for those who test positive — though they could be phased out by the end of march. the health secretary sajid javid said tonight... the latest data showed the 0micron variant was in retreat. here's our health editor hugh pym. the rules have changed various times of the past two years but the government has now said mast will no longer be compulsory in shops and on public transport. the prime minister said masks would be advisable in some settings but it was now down to personal choice. the some settings but it was now down to personal choice-— personal choice. we will trust the 'ud . ment personal choice. we will trust the judgment of _ personal choice. we will trust the judgment of the _ personal choice. we will trust the judgment of the british _ personal choice. we will trust the judgment of the british people, l personal choice. we will trust the i judgment of the british people, and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.- no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported _ chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported the — chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported the easing _ chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported the easing of- chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported the easing of plan i chooses not to wear one. labour said they supported the easing of plan b l they supported the easing of plan b as long as it was backed up by the science. in bristol, people gave us their reaction. j science. in bristol, people gave us their reaction.— their reaction. i reckon it is a aood their reaction. i reckon it is a good thing — their reaction. i reckon it is a good thing that _ their reaction. i reckon it is a good thing that we _ their reaction. i reckon it is a good thing that we are i their reaction. i reckon it is a good thing that we are now. their reaction. i reckon it is a - good thing that we are now learning to live with the 0micron variant, and we can have the restrictions removed little by little. for and we can have the restrictions removed little by little.- and we can have the restrictions removed little by little. for me and my family. — removed little by little. for me and my family. i _ removed little by little. for me and my family. i have — removed little by little. for me and my family, i have elderly _ removed little by little. for me and my family, i have elderly parents, l removed little by little. for me and my family, i have elderly parents, i would _ my family, i have elderly parents, i would rather if we could keep the mask— would rather if we could keep the mask wearing, really. fit would rather if we could keep the mask wearing, really.— mask wearing, really. at this restaurant — mask wearing, really. at this restaurant they _ mask wearing, really. at this restaurant they welcomed i mask wearing, really. at this | restaurant they welcomed the scrapping of work from home guidance. scrapping of work from home ruidance. scrapping of work from home guidance-— scrapping of work from home ruidance. .,' . , . ,, , guidance. the office being back is amazin: , guidance. the office being back is amazing. and _ guidance. the office being back is amazing, and hopefully _ guidance. the office being back is amazing, and hopefully we i guidance. the office being back is amazing, and hopefully we will i guidance. the office being back is| amazing, and hopefully we will be back trading on a weekly basis because it has been very for us. so what is the trend now for covid cases? 0ne what is the trend now for covid cases? one of the most authoritative sources is the survey by the office for national statistics which picked up for national statistics which picked up those without symptoms. according to the 0ns, covid infections in the uk fell last week for the first time since late november. it is estimated 3.4 million people had the virus. infections came down in much of the uk including in england, where one in 20 people had the virus and in wales, with one in 25 and in scotland, one in 20, but in northern ireland also with one in 20, the trend was said to be uncertain. the head of the 0ns thinks this is a significant moment. the head of the ons thinks this is a significant moment.— head of the ons thinks this is a significant moment. we are certainly seeinr a significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major _ significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major turning _ significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major turning point, - significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major turning point, and i significant moment. we are certainly seeing a major turning point, and we are certainly seeing a real reduction. the question i ask is that we are not sure yet if that is going to continue to go down. j going to continue to go down. i raise the issue at the downing street briefing.— raise the issue at the downing street briefing. while we believe that overall _ street briefing. while we believe that overall we _ street briefing. while we believe that overall we will _ street briefing. while we believe that overall we will continue i street briefing. while we believe that overall we will continue to l street briefing. while we believe i that overall we will continue to see declines _ that overall we will continue to see declines in — that overall we will continue to see declines in cases that may plateau at some _ declines in cases that may plateau at some point as the infection is in various— at some point as the infection is in various different populations. it is very hard — various different populations. it is very hard to see beyond 2—3 weeks and clearly— very hard to see beyond 2—3 weeks and clearly the biggest change that will happen is people's behaviour. at this _ will happen is people's behaviour. at this hospital in walsall, the number of patients with covid in intensive care has come down a bit since last week but doctors are urging the public to remain cautious, as restrictions are eased. we are not in a bad play currently ljy we are not in a bad play currently by dropping a guard, at this point, is probably not the right choice, the right answer. we probably need to be vigilant, and make sure that we follow the precautions that have been put in place at the moment. jlu been put in place at the moment. in scotland, mandatory mask wearing will continue in most indoor public spaces, but most other restrictions will be lifted from monday. in wales, nightclubs can reopen at the end of next week, but they will remain closed for now in northern ireland. the devolved nations are moving at different speeds, charting their own courses through this stage of the pandemic. and hughjoins me now. the scientists agree with this? with some caveats. there has been debate about how accurately the statistics reflect what is going on. they only reflect what is going on. they only reflect people who have come forward for testing. the rules have changed. you do not need a confirmatory pcr if you have tested positive on a lateral flow. if you have tested positive on a lateralflow. the if you have tested positive on a lateral flow. the 0ns survey as we have been hearing as a much broader reflection because it picks up people who don't know they have got the virus because they don't have symptoms, and as we heard, are quite significant turning point has been spotted by the 0ns last week with cases now falling pretty much in most parts of the uk. that's cases. hospital admissions in england are coming down a bit, but not hugely. there is still pressure on the nhs. as doctor susan hopkins of the uk health security agency has been saying, it is hard to see beyond the next few weeks. so much will depend on people's behaviour, how they respond to advice on mask wearing rather than compulsion, and how they respond to move back to work. a lot of it is now down to the public. pain, thank you. —— hugh pym, thank you. latest figures show there's been a slight increase in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus, with 108,069 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average just over 93,000 new cases were reported per day in the last week. the number of people in hospital has fallen slightly, with just under 19,000 yesterday, and the number of people seriously ill on ventilators has also fallen slightly. there were 359 deaths reported in the latest 24—hour period of people who died within 28 days of a positive test. although there will be some amongst this number who have not died from covid. on average in the past week, 266 deaths were announced every day. 0n vaccinations, over 36.5 million people have now had a boosterjab, which means nearly 64% of people aged 12 and over have now had three vaccine doses. prices have risen at their fastest rate in almost 30 years. inflation climbed to 5.4% in december. it has been driven up by the soaring cost of food and energy amongst other things. the figure is more than double the bank of england's target for inflation. the last time inflation was higher was in march, 1992, when it was 7.1%. and with gas and electricity prices expected to rise sharply in the coming months, experts are warning there is much worse to come. 0ur economics editor, faisal islam, has more. up go the prices. this independent food retailer in ashford in kent has to move rapidly to keep up. every week when i get my invoice i check it against my price list. 0h, i'll need to put that up because, you know, the cost has gone up. and some of them go up in between the catalogue being published every other month to the invoice coming through. as a supplier of locally produced food, but also as consumers and parents, today's figure reflects the very real experience for the likes of katy. the price of everything's gone up. you have to make decisions as to what luxuries you then want. it's not, you know, we haven't been on holiday, notjust because of a global pandemic, but maybe because we can't afford it either. you know, there's various different reasons why. and i think it's all coming to a head all at once. 40 miles to the north is the isle of grain, where goods, electricity and gas enter the country from around the world and where the uk is importing energy at record high prices. it's been these energy costs that have pushed inflation so high, but in december that spread to food prices, pushing the main measure up to 5.4% — the highest level for three decades, well over the 2% target for inflation set by for inflation set for the bank of england. and forecasters fear that overall inflation could go as high as 7% in the spring. that can be seen in this increasingly common sight, a tanker of frozen liquid american gas unloading a third of daily british demand in kent. tankers such as this that have come from texas are only here in record numbers, in europe and the uk, because of the record prices your energy companies and power companies have paid for that gas, that normally goes to the far east. it means that there is inevitable, inescapable impact on consumer bills and potentially for the taxpayer. the only question is when this is paid for and whether this will lead to a further round of price rises and higher inflation. the inflation rate shooting up means some bills pegged to these figures, such as mobile phone, broadband and some railfares, will automatically go up, too. all of that is putting pressure on company bosses like here at this high—end radiatorfactory in birmingham to raise wages for his workers. we've paid them a winter fuel allowance off our own backs, because we recognise we don't want them to be worrying about how they're going to keep the heating on, particularly for a business like ours, which is about heating. so we've done that with them. but i can see that they are going to have to start coming back to us and looking for more money, of course they are. the cost of living is going up. you can see the spiral coming? absolutely. here comes the spiral. those discussions are taking place now. so that's going to increase prices again. of course it is. we've had three price increases. we've been forced to put our prices up three times. the bank of england governor, andrew bailey, expressed very great concern today about the crisis in ukraine prolonging the energy shock. more inflation is already in the pipe and not now just in our radiators. faisal islam, bbc news. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, who's on a visit to ukraine, has warned that russia could launch an attack on ukraine at very short notice. russia has around 100,000 troops massed on its borders. moscow has denied it is planning a military invastion. the us secretary of state has urged president putin to choose a peaceful path. america has also confirmed an extra $200 million in defence aid for ukraine. 0ur diplomatic correspondent paul adams has more. british military equipment arriving in ukraine. short—range anti—tank missiles, with a small team of trainers to follow. the latest western gesture of support for a country facing of support to a country facing a mounting threat from russia. diplomatic support, too, with us secretary of state antony blinken flying to kyiv this morning promising relentless american efforts to prevent russia from invading. washington's message to ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky, there will be no talks about you without your involvement. the united states wants you to know this. as you stand up to efforts to divide, to intimidate, to threaten, the united states stands with you resolutely, in your right to make decisions for your own future, to shape that future as ukrainians, for ukraine. and all the while, russian troops maintain their menacing presence on ukraine's northern and eastern borders. now, in neighbouring belarus, too, preparing for what are called joint military drills. american officials say these could be used as a cover for an invasion of ukraine. kyiv says it has what it takes to withstand an attack. we have 261,000 in our ukrainian army. we have options to have the territorial defending forces, 130,000, we have 400,000 veterans of the ukrainian—russian war. so i'm sure that we have the capacity to deter this activity from moscow. last week we saw a diplomatic trail that crisscrossed europe from geneva to brussels and vienna. at the end of it, the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov appeared to throw in the towel. 0ur patience, he said, is at an end. and for days on the process is actually shifting up a gear. mr lavrov and antony blinken are due to meet on friday, once again in geneva. the talking, it seems, is not quite over. but the tremors of this crisis are being felt right across europe. 0n the baltic island of gotland, sweden is beefing up its presence, concerned about nearby russian activity and what it calls russia's direct threat to europe's security. paul adams, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other news. international aid efforts have been stepped up in tonga, after the scale of damage caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami was revealed. new pictures show the islands covered in a layer of volcanic ash, while, in coastal areas, waves tore down trees and ripped through buildings. international telephone links have now been restored and ships carrying aid are expected to arrive by friday. a belgian court has sentenced a vietnamese man to 15 years in jail after ruling he was the ringleader in the trafficking of 39 migrants found dead in a lorry in the uk. the victims, all vietnamese, were discovered on an industrial estate in essex in 2019. vo van hong was found guilty of having led a cross—channel people trafficking operation based in belgium. a second man in his 30s has been arrested by irish police investigating the murder of ashling murphy. the 23—year—old primary school teacher was attacked while out exercising beside a canal in tullamore, county 0ffaly, last wednesday. the man is being questioned in relation to the potential withholding of information. the person arrested yesterday, also in his 30s, continues to be questioned on suspicion of murder. back to our main story now, the prime minister fighting to stay here in downing street. a lot of focus in the past 24 hours has been on the tory backbenchers in the so—called red wall seats, where until two years ago, voters had always supported labour. that all changed in 2019 when they suddenly switched to the tories. 0ur north of england correspondent fiona trott has been speaking to voters in one such seat, bishop auckland, which went blue for the first time at the last election. a town where westminster feels a million miles away. in bishop auckland, people just want investment and jobs. it's why they voted for change. and today, over cake and coffee, politics was the talk of the tearoom. to stand up in the houses of parliament and say he doesn't know anything about it... voters weighing up their options once again. i won't be doing it again. even if ijust vote for the dog down the road. simple as that. but i won't be voting for borisjohnson, yeah. i'm thoroughly sick of hearing about it. i would rather hear them telling me what they're going to do about now and about our future. it's notjust bishop. i think there's a really i massive amount of poverty going on at the moment. everyone is struggling, _ and rather than highlighting poverty and other stuff that's _ going on because of all the budget cuts, itjust seems to be i about boris and the party. a lot of people round here took a risk and voted against what they would traditionally have voted against, or voted for, you know. and they feel now that they took that chance and they've just had their noses rubbed in it. bishop auckland is a symbol of borisjohnson's victory at the last election, a former mining town held by labour since the 1930s. today, those voters seem more divided. there are people who feel he has let them down, and businesses who still back the leader who promised more investment. shop owners like suzanne, who opened up just before christmas. i think you should. i think you should just give him a chance, see how things go. it's getting the shops open, that's the problem. and we can't get the customers down if the shops aren't open. so that's the main thing that we need to prioritise around here. and the support that we've been offered through the whole of lockdown, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that. so as a business person, yes. personally, some of the things i've had to go through personally in my life, i'd probably say no, i think he should step down from it. in this corner of england they're wondering if their hopes can still be tied to a man who is fighting for his own future. fiona trott, bbc news, bishop auckland. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, is in westminster. so, what now? it is very difficult to tell, sophie, _ so, what now? it is very difficult to tell, sophie, but _ so, what now? it is very difficult to tell, sophie, but there - so, what now? it is very difficult to tell, sophie, but there is i so, what now? it is very difficult to tell, sophie, but there is no l to tell, sophie, but there is no question it is very, very difficult right now for downing street. they are not in control of events and that in government is a significant problem because it is notjust that it is hard for them to know whether or not borisjohnson is going to survive but it also means it is very difficult for them to get anything else done at all. viewers will remember how this all started, allegations about what was going on behind closed doors during the pandemic, which upset so many of the public as well as so many mps, because of the whiff of double standards, but also for mps crucially about how boris johnson has handled the events. and it's that, really, which is seen by many mps as having been a mistake, which is at the root of the concern here, it's not necessarily always what happened, but about how downing street had been handling things. there is a very uneasy limbo, though, quite a lot of mps and ministers still reserve in judgment until the official inquiry into exactly what happened done by the senior official sue gray emerges. that's now probably won't happen until the beginning of next week. a lot still could change in the next few days, borisjohnson seem today to have more fight about him, but no 10 certainly right now can't afford any more nasty surprises. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. for much of the day across england and wales we had some cloud and rain but it was a fine end to the day on the south coast. in northern scotland it has been a windy day and we have had some snow showers in shetland. as the colder air has come in behind this weather front we are starting just to see the first signs of showers across the north of mainland scotland turning to sleet and overnight tonight, as the colder air continues to other income we will see some snow showers in the north of scotland, the main risk is icy stretches, and some showers down the north coast, however for most of us it will be just a cold the north coast, however for most of us it will bejust a cold night the north coast, however for most of us it will be just a cold night with a widespread and fairly sharp frost. a cold start on thursday, which looks to be the coldest day of the week. for most of us, sparkling sunshine from dawn till dusk, but there will be a few showers in northern scotland, quickly turning back into rain and sleet. also some showers are possible along the north sea coast, but for the most part the winds will be keeping most of them out to sea. norfolk will have the highest risk of seeing frequent showers. high pressure is still in charge for friday and the weekend but the air will start recirculating around our area, with the mildest air pushing into the north and west. in this area there will be a lot of cloud and some fog and occasional drizzle, but for most it will be dry. temperatures could reach 9—10 for western scotland. beyond that, into the weekend, even into next week, the high pressure is going to be with us. there are no great changes in the forecast. if anything, the temperatures will creep up to average or a little bit above. but the weather will stay dry for most of the weekend and most of next week as well. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm chetan pathak. coming up on tonight's programme... after last night's drama, england prepare to face australia again in the final of netball�*s quad series at the copper box. looking to win her home grand slam — world number one and wimbledon champion ash barty�*s into the third round of the australian open. as is rafa nadal — could he be the first of the big three to reach 21 grand slam titles? and we'll be in adelaide as england prepare for the start of the women's ashes. also coming up in the programme before seven: and we'll tell you why the upcoming world rally championship is promising to be greener and faster than ever. it is an ever—changing world, and it is our