themselves and the parties they have been going to rather than focusing on the issues that we need them to address as a country. hello, i'm victoria derbyshire. let us know what you think of the fine, of the breaknig of the law and what you thiink shld happene next — message me on instagram and tiktok and tiwtter. president biden has, for the first time, accused vladimir putin, of committing genocide in ukraine. i called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that putin is trying to wipe out the idea of people even able to be ukrainian and the evidence is mounting. police in new york are searching for a 62—year—old man following a shooting on the subway yesterday in which ten people were wounded. this is a test. hello and welcome to downing street. the uk's prime minister and finance minister are resisting calls to resign after they were fined, along with borisjohnson�*s wife carrie, for breaking covid lockdown laws. they all received fixed penalty notices for being at a birthday do for the pm in no 10 downing street when gatherings of more than two people indoors were banned. as a result, mrjohnson became the uk's first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law. all three have apologised, but both the pm and rishi sunak have rejected calls to resign. opposition leaders have accused mrjohnson and mr sunak of lying to the public after they both previously denied any wrongdoing. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, reports. the two men at the heart of government are now found to have broken the lockdown laws they set, designed to keep people safe during the pandemic. # happy birthday to you # june 2020, and borisjohnson visited a school on his birthday, which was allowed under the rules in place at the time. but later, he attended a gathering in the cabinet room of number 10, which police have decided broke the rules. rules which the prime minister has previously denied had been broken. i have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party, and that... and that no covid rules were broken and that is what i have been repeatedly assured. yesterday, though, he accepted the police findings and offered an apology. i understand the anger that many will feel that i myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government i lead had introduced to protect the public, and i accept in all sincerity that people have the right to expect better. and now i feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the british people. the chancellor, also fined for his attendance at the cabinet room gathering, was asked earlier this year what he knew of any events that may have broken the rules. for the record, chancellor, you knew of nothing of any of these gatherings, even one that happened outside that window? people think i'm standing out here looking outside that window. i spent half my time in the treasury as well as working here. but what i was focused on at that time, as were many people was making sure that we could help the country through a period of enormous anxiety and it was incredibly busy. yesterday, he offered an unreserved apology, saying... for those who followed the rules and lost loved ones to covid, apologies are not enough. this man, a man of honour, voted for you, and i actually believe you let him down. you let me down. i was really angry, but also very upset that he would think that that was ok. you see, you got to survive, boris, my husband didn't. and it smacks to me, as somebody who really thinks he's above everybody else. and i didn't think that is who he was. conservative mps, even those critical of borisjohnson in the past, argue that with war in ukraine, now is not the time for a leadership challenge. but opposition parties were quick to call for both men to go. this is the first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be in breach of the law and then he lied repeatedly to the public about it. britain deserves better. they have to go. if you lie to parliament, then you resign. there is no ifs, there is no buts. they must go, and they must go immediately so we can - get fresh leadership. the police investigation into parties in whitehall continues, meaning there could be more fines for government figures to come. and the civil servant sue grey's report is yet to be published in full. so the prime minister and the chancellor have survived a difficult day but the partygate saga is unlikely to be over. jonathan blake, bbc news. we can get more now from our political correspondent, nick eardley. it on to minutes ago from someone whose brother died of covid. he said that he wanted mps to get those letters of no confidence in the prime minister in now. is there any sense that mps around the country are actually thinking in those letters in any significant number? not at the moment, no. they have not been mps saying that this has pushed them over the edge and needs to be a change in leader. quite the contrary actually. what we have heard from some of the mps who had called for borisjohnson to go is that the war in ukraine changes the context and they are not prepared to force a leadership contest at the moment. that said, there are tory mps who have been deeply uncomfortable with this story for some time, deeply uncomfortable with the perception that it was one rule for the country and another rule for people working in government. it will be interesting to see if any of them decide that they need to break rank and call for the pm to go in the next few hours, in the next few days. i suspect some of the pressure is taken off by the fact that mps are not in westminster this week, it is the easter recess, so there is not as much opportunity for them to be discussing borisjohnson�*s future, and indeed the future of the chancellor rishi sunak as well. one tory mp, nigel mills, chancellor rishi sunak as well. one tory mp, nigelmills, has chancellor rishi sunak as well. one tory mp, nigel mills, has said this morning that he does not think boris johnson should or can remain in office after being fined yesterday, but he is the only mp at the moment who has come forward to say that. we have had a flavour of the arguments that the government is going to make to its own mps as well as it tries to its own mps as well as it tries to persuade them not to put those confidence letters in. essentially, it is, yes, the pm has been fine, he is mortified by it, but he is only human and he made a mistake and actually in the grand scheme of things he has done a lot of good as well. that is the argument that the transport secretary grant shapps made this morning on bbc breakfast. it is an event of two years ago and it is an event of two years ago and i feel_ it is an event of two years ago and i feel the — it is an event of two years ago and i feel the same anger as everybody else that _ i feel the same anger as everybody else that these events took place, not least — else that these events took place, not least because i did not know whether— not least because i did not know whether i— not least because i did not know whether i would see my dad ever, so i completely get it. i also know it was hot — i completely get it. i also know it was not done out of malice or with intent, _ was not done out of malice or with intent, it— was not done out of malice or with intent, it was an error. and ijudge somebody— intent, it was an error. and ijudge somebody overall for the way they perform _ somebody overall for the way they erform. . , ., �*, perform. that is the government's case for defending _ perform. that is the government's case for defending the _ perform. that is the government's case for defending the prime - case for defending the prime minister. i have to say i don't think the story is going away and there is the possibility of more fines still to be issued. when mps are back here in westminster next week there will be questions asked of the prime minister. in particular, did he mislead parliament when he said he did not think the rules had been broken in downing street? and there is another report to come from sue gray, the senior civil service looking into all of this. some people close to that process say they think that will be detailed about what went on and damning. then there is the fact opposition parties are not going to let up the criticism, particularly with local elections in a few weeks. this is the shadow chancellor rachel reeves. , ., ., ., , , reeves. they are totally distracted and not able _ reeves. they are totally distracted and not able to _ reeves. they are totally distracted and not able to do _ reeves. they are totally distracted and not able to do their _ reeves. they are totally distracted and not able to do theirjob - reeves. they are totally distracted l and not able to do theirjob because they are _ and not able to do theirjob because they are spending more time justifying themselves and the parties — justifying themselves and the parties they have been going to, rather— parties they have been going to, rather than focusing on the issues that we _ rather than focusing on the issues that we need them removed man is about to resign or be removed from office by their party. realistically do you think we are talking about the elections in may before potentially there is any movement on this? if the conservative party does take a hammering at the ballot box by people unhappy about what has happened, unhappy about the way borisjohnson and rishi sunak have handled all of this, will that make conservative mps change their minds about their confidence in the prime minister in a way that is not happening at the moment? i minister in a way that is not happening at the moment? i think the ublic happening at the moment? i think the public reaction — happening at the moment? i think the public reaction is _ happening at the moment? i think the public reaction is going _ happening at the moment? i think the public reaction is going to _ happening at the moment? i think the public reaction is going to be - public reaction is going to be absolutely crucial. having spoken privately to some mps in the last few hours and the last few days as well, there are almost two schools of thought on this. there are some tory mps who think quite frankly the public has moved on, that some of the anger that emerged when these parties were first reported in december and january has dissipated, and that means they will not see the same sort of pressure they did back then to call for the prime minister to be removed from office. there is another school of thought among conservative mps which is, quite frankly, that borisjohnson is going to struggle to move on from this. there are so many people who have seen what happened and to think it is hypocrisy for the people in charge of the rules to be breaking them themselves that they will not be able to forgive the prime minister and the conservative party and the government will not be able to move on while borisjohnson is prime minister. at the moment we don't know which of them is correct and the may local elections in many places will be a big test of that. but there are other factors at play here and we will be watching to see as well whether there are any more fines handed out to people in downing street, potentially to the prime minister himself or his wife, for other events that they are believed to have attended. as i say, the level of detail that sue gray goes into in her second report, which could come pretty quickly after the met finishes its investigation. i after the met finishes its investigation.— after the met finishes its investiuation. . , ., investigation. i am 'ust wondering if there _ investigation. i am 'ust wondering if there are more — investigation. i am just wondering if there are more fines, _ investigation. i am just wondering if there are more fines, and - investigation. i am just wondering if there are more fines, and we i if there are more fines, and we heard borisjohnson was back response to the fined yesterday issued in relation to the birthday party for him, saying he did not recognise at the time that there was anything wrong with what happened, he said, spending a few minutes with people he had been working with. if there are other events that he is fine for i suppose it becomes harder to rationalise those potentially and that clearly could be a difficulty for him, couldn't it? that that clearly could be a difficulty for him, couldn't it?— that clearly could be a difficulty for him, couldn't it? that is right, particularly _ for him, couldn't it? that is right, particularly if _ for him, couldn't it? that is right, particularly if a — for him, couldn't it? that is right, particularly if a pattern _ for him, couldn't it? that is right, particularly if a pattern emerges l particularly if a pattern emerges that the prime minister was at the number of events which potentially broke the rules. the truth is we don't know if that is going to happen. it is not completely clear to me speaking to people who have been fine, and people who were involved in some of the processes, exactly how the met is approaching this, what order they are doing anything in. there are some suggestions it might be chronological. i don't think that is right because i know some people have been fined for the party the night before prince philip's funeral for example. it is a complicated picture and it is complicated how this is going to develop over the next few hours and days and weeks as well. there is no sign that the prime minister or the chancellor after keeping quiet for most of yesterday, he said he was intending to get on with the job, there is no sign either of them are planning to resign. so the constituency to watch for over the next few weeks is conservative mps, whether any of them or more of them decide they need a change of leadership, and that would be the point at which borisjohnson is back in real trouble. boris johnson is back in real trouble. w' boris johnson is back in real trouble. . ~ boris johnson is back in real trouble. ., ,, , boris johnson is back in real trouble. . ~' , . trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is — trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is far _ trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is far from _ trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is far from over _ trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is far from over for - trouble. nick, thank you very much. the story is far from over for sure. l the story is far from over for sure. i will be interested to hear what you think. whoever your mp is, in the next elections, will you be voting for a conservative candidate? will you be doing the opposite of that because you are furious about what is happening here? let me know. you can do that on twitter and we will be back in downing street very soon. forthe will be back in downing street very soon. for the moment, will be back in downing street very soon. forthe moment, back will be back in downing street very soon. for the moment, back to you, victoria. thank you very much. let me read a few comments on this. richie power says both the prime minister and chancellor should both 90, minister and chancellor should both go, they broke the law, they broke the ministerial code. this is from dalejones the ministerial code. this is from dale jones who the ministerial code. this is from dalejones who says, it is ok, grant shapps has now wheeled out new apologies and excuses today. apparently it was done without malice or intent. mark says the sanctimonious reaction of opposition parties who instead of doing their job of holding the policies of this government to account in the current serious crisis are instead using personal abuse and instigating media attacks over historical mistakes that today are insignificant. figures released by the uk's largest independent producer of official statistics show that the cost of living has risen again last month, partly driven by higher fuel prices. the office for national statistics figures show prices have risen by 7% in the 12 months to march, the fastest rate for 30 years. to march, the fastest rate for 30 the inflation figures are up from 6.2% in february inflation is expected to rise even further after the energy price cap was increased, driving up gas and electricity bills for millions. the office for national statistics said the biggest contributor to rising inflation was transport, with average petrol prices rising by 12.6p per litre between february and march, the largest monthly rise since records began in 1990. our economics correspondent andy verity told me more it is the fuel, the energy. as you mentioned in the vt, we are seeing these big increases in the price of petrol and diesel. in fact, according to the office for national statistics, they are at record highs right now. a litre is about 1.61 as a litre, and a litre of diesel is about £1 70, the highest they have ever been. also the rise since last year is about 30%. you cannot have that happening without it having knock—on effects. as we were hearing there, the price of containers, generally the price of raw materials, is going up at record rates. we saw a 19% increase in the prices manufacturers pay for raw materials. sometimes they can absorb those fluctuations but it is too much, they have to pass it on to consumers. that is what you have got 7% inflation. if you look at the old—fashioned retail prices when we were kids and mars bars are going up from 5p up to 10p, that is the highest it has been since 1991, the rpi at 9%. that matters because a lot of pensions are linked to the retail prices index, so for pension schemes to pay those pensions it makes it more expensive. the government has something like £343 billion of debt where it has issued bonds in order to borrow money. they are like ious and it is like the government saying i owe you money and i will pay you a rate of interest and that rate of interest is linked to rpi, so they are paying 9%, so that means the debt interest costs of the government are higher. apart from just a frightening nature of the whole thing, it is goods which are really driving prices and increases and that is a global phenomenon. the price of energy is a global phenomenon. if you look at services they are only growing by about 4%. it is not like we have a wage driven inflation, wages are lagging behind and that is why millions of families are feeling the squeeze. if it is a global phenomenon, is there nothing anyone can do to try to control inflation? traditionally we talk about interest rates from the bank of england and the bank of england has been raising interest rates and it is expected to raise them again. normally the theory is if you raise interest rates and make it more expensive for some people to pay mortgages or make it more expensive to borrow to invest, you slow down economic activity. but that work has already been done by the bank of england by what is happening to energy bills. if your energy bill is going up by 28%, as gas bills dead, and that is before the rise in the price cap which is another 50% on top, if you have that, that is often an expenditure you do not have any choice about, particularly older people who need to heat their homes to a decent temperature, they do not have any choice and it takes money away from other areas where they might spend money and slows down economic activity generally. what we have here is economic growth of 0.1%, and we used to call that a growth recession, and that is happening at the same time as inflation we have not seen the like are for 30 years. the term is stagnation inflation and it is a stagnant economy and runaway inflation that the bank of england cannot really do much about. the hope is that after this surge caused by the war and the reopening of the global economy post—pandemic things will settle down, so it will peak this year close to 9%, but will come down after that and we will all be hoping that that prediction is true. there's been a warning that students and graduates in england will pay up to 12 per cent interest on their loans this autumn, up from the current four and a half per cent. let's talk to our education editor branwen jeffreys. 1296, 12%, how come? that is an eye waterin: 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure _ 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure but _ 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure but it _ 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure but it will- 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure but it will be i 12%, how come? that is an eye watering figure but it will be a l watering figure but it will be a short, sharp spike because in march it will come back down to around 7%, march next year. why these fluctuations? it is really hard for people to understand. it is because it is linked to inflation. we have been hearing about prices going up across the board and the interest rate of student loans is calculated by using one of those inflation measures call the rpi, the retail price index, plus 3%. so the price of everything goes up, the interest rates on student loans go up. the institute for fiscal studies says over 30 years of your loans, the spikes, these ups and downs, will not make a huge difference, but they are worried it could deter some students looking at going to university this autumn or that some graduates could think, wow, i should raid my savings and pay down my loan, which financially would not make sense. for most people long term this will not be a huge impact. so 12% for about half a year, do we know in terms of figures how much more that would be for a graduate? i can give you one example. please don't tar everyone at home throwing things at your telly when i say this, but for the very highest earners, graduates, that is people earning over £49,000, which is obviously a lot of money, if they have £50,000 loan, that would mean £3000 in extra interest over six months. it is worth saying when you graduate the amount of interest you pay is linked to how much you earn. so if we think about the lowest earning graduates, at the moment they are paying around 1.5%, but that will go up to 9% this autumn. at a time when people are worried about the cost of living and a lot of young graduates are worried about managing all these price increases, psychologically this is something else which could alarm people, even though in the very long time their loans will be written off after 30 years. loans will be written off after 30 ears. ~ ., ., , ,, ,, , , years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? _ years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? i— years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? i will— years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? i will not- years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? i will not bore - years. what does the iss suggest it should be done? i will not bore youj should be done? i will not bore you with the technical _ should be done? i will not bore you with the technical details _ should be done? i will not bore you with the technical details because l with the technical details because we might both struggle with that, but they say there are ways through setting the race a little bit earlier, allowing a bit of time to see how things look over the next few months you could substantially even this out. 50 few months you could substantially even this out.— few months you could substantially even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? — even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so _ even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it _ even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it is _ even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it is much _ even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it is much more - even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it is much more of. even this out. so it is much more of a plateau? so it is much more of a l a plateau? so it is much more of a lateau a plateau? so it is much more of a plateau to — a plateau? so it is much more of a plateau to send — a plateau? so it is much more of a plateau to send reassuring - a plateau? so it is much more of a plateau to send reassuring signals| plateau to send reassuring signals to people. if you are thinking this is worrying, i am starting university in 2023 next year, it will all change then. the interest rate will be fixed atjust inflation, just at rpi, as part of a big package of changes which will also see graduates repaying for up to 40 years. also see graduates repaying for up to 40 years— also see graduates repaying for up to 40 years. thank you very much. let's stick with the cost of living because it's notjust the uk that's seeing prices rise. across the pond inflation has reached a 40—year high in the united states, spurred by the soaring cost of energy. the consumer price index there rose to 8.5% year on year. here's our us business correspondent michelle fleury with more. americans are paying more for pretty much everything. the latest government report shows us consumer pricesjumped 85% in march, the fastest inflation rate since the reagan administration in 1981. it easily erases most wage increases. we were expecting an ugly result from the cpi numbers and we got it. inflation continues to accelerate, setting a new 40 year high as we have seen prices up 8.5% and in the month of march more than half the monthly increase was driven by the increase in gasoline prices. maw; increase in gasoline prices. many blame paying _ increase in gasoline prices. many blame paying at _ increase in gasoline prices. many blame paying at the _ increase in gasoline prices. many blame paying at the pump. - increase in gasoline prices. many blame paying at the pump. the price of petrol has surged following russia's invasion of ukraine, but because had been rising steadily before, the result of supply chain issues as the us emerge from the pandemic. to drive down fuel prices the white house is allowing the sale of gases that use a higher ethanol blend over the summer and the sale of this fuel is usually banned in the warmer months because of her pollution concerns. president biden and the waiver at an ethanol plant in iowa as he attempted to cat ahead of the criticism that his administration was not doing enough to lower prices. the administration was not doing enough to lower prices-— to lower prices. the family budget, ou are to lower prices. the family budget, you are going _ to lower prices. the family budget, you are going to — to lower prices. the family budget, you are going to fill _ to lower prices. the family budget, you are going to fill your— to lower prices. the family budget, you are going to fill your tank, - you are going to fill your tank, whether a dictator at the close war and commits genocide half a world away. i have authorised the use of1 million barrels a day for the next six months. million barrels a day for the next six months-— million barrels a day for the next six months. ,, , ., ., six months. pressure is also on the federal reserve _ six months. pressure is also on the federal reserve to _ six months. pressure is also on the federal reserve to tame _ six months. pressure is also on the federal reserve to tame inflation l federal reserve to tame inflation without stifling growth. america's central bank has already begun to raise interest rates and it is expected to continue to move aggressively well into next year. of course the us is not the only country grappling with this issue right now. inflation is raising the cost of living around the world. inflation is raising the cost of living around the world. it's notjust europe and the us that's dealing with a sharp rise in the cost of living. new data out of india shows that retail inflation rose almost 7% in march compared with the year before. the 17—month high was driven by the rising cost of food, followed by fuel and electricity prices. now let's get the latest lines on ukraine. there are growing signs that russia could be close to fully capturing the key southern port city of mariupol, which has already suffered intensely in the past six weeks. president biden has accused putin of genocide and says he's trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be ukrainian. and finally, ukraine's deputy prime minister iryna vereshchuk says it won't be possible to open humanitarian corridors to allow people to escape today as the situation remains too dangerous. let's just listen to what president biden had to say. i called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that putin is trying to wipe out the idea of being a ukrainian. the evidence is mounting and more evidence is coming out of literally the horrible things that the russians have done in ukraine and we are only going to learn more and more about the devastation and we will let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, but it sure seems that way to me. russia's defence ministry says that more than a thousand ukrainian soldiers have surrendered in mariupol, a strategic port city in eastern ukraine that has been besieged by moscow's troops for over a month. general igor konashenkov described an alleged capture near a key factory. in mariupol, near an iron and steel factory, as a result of a successful offensive of russian troops and militia forces, 1026 ukrainian militaries from the 36th brigade have voluntarily laid their arms down and surrendered. there were 151 wounded among those from the 36th brigade who received immediate medical assistance and were taken to mariupol hospital for further treatment. president biden's comments come as ukraine and russia are building up their forces in the east of the country, ahead of a major escalation in the war, with a new russian offensive. the mayor of the besieged ukrainian city of mariupol says he estimates that 21,000 civilians there have been killed. moscow says its war aim, is the "complete liberation" of the eastern donbas region. kremlin—backed separatists have held significant territory there, and the area has been marred by conflict for many years. our defence correspondent, jonathan beale, is in the city of kramatorsk in the donbas, travelling with ukrainian forces. he sent this report. this is where the war in ukraine will be won or lost. the wide open landscape of the east. we went with ukraine's army to see artillery already firing on russian forces, nervously watching for signs of russian aircraft. at their position, american—made stinger anti aircraft missiles were ready to fire. the continuing supply of western weapons will be crucial to their success. ukraine's military might be smaller, but they have been more mobile. translation: if we stay in one position for more | than a couple of days, we usually become the target. but if we fire one or two shelves, nothing will happen. these artillery pieces are well hidden. just hearing some artillery in the distance there. but they are targeting russian military positions from here. unlike the russian artillery, which seems to be often targeting ukrainian towns and cities. columns of russian armour have already been spotted moving from the north. western officials believe russia is trying to double, even treble the strength of its military forces here in the east. ukraine is also having to keep an eye on its own population. there is pro—russian sentiment in this region. those who they fear may be passing on information to the russians. this shows they are notjust having to worry about russian armour, a russian offensive coming in this direction, but also having to worry about the enemy within. it is a job made all the more difficult by the regular threat of russian air strikes and artillery. we have to head to a bunkerfor shelter. there, victor tells me, they are arresting people nearly every day. we look for bad people who helped the enemy. we find them, and then hand them over to the intelligence services. ukraine is already taking casualties. among the most recent here, this woman's only child, alexander, who was killed on the front line. there will be many more grieving families in the weeks to come. this next phase of the war could be decisive, but it will also be bloody. we spoke earlier to our reporter danjohnson, who's in lviv, about whether mariupol is about to fall. that seems to be the sense. they actually claimed that had happened yesterday. the ukrainian resistance says it is clinging on, but that some of its soldiers are trapped in the city, that has not been confirmed by the ukrainian defence forces yet. are encircled and can't get fresh supplies. there are reports in the last few minutes that more than 1,000 ukrainian soldiers in mariupol have actually surrendered. they have not been able to keep up the resistance and have put down their weapons and handed themselves over to the russians. that has not been confirmed by the ukrainian defence forces yet. but my word, how the people of mariupol have suffered over the weeks of this invasion. it's the place that has seen the most intense and prolonged fighting, right since day one of the war. we know that the city has been bombed and bombed again. there is very little left. so many homes, so much of the city's infrastructure has been destroyed. so many people have been killed there. it is hard to verify the numbers. the city's mayor says his officials aren't even able to be out counting and collecting the bodies any more. but he reckons at least 21,000 of mariupol�*s residents have lost their lives. and it is looking even harder to offer safe passage to anybody left there who wants to try to get out to escape what could now be the final hours or days of the battle for that port city. so still no chance of some kind of agreement whereby anybody who is still alive and who will have been in a basement and not had any electricity or food or water for weeks now could get out safely. no chance of some kind of agreement from the russians? 638 to clear there is a chance but they have not been able to agree today. the fighting is too intense and we have seen in previous days, even when safe routes have been agreed, the ceasefires haven't been respected, the attacks have continued, people who have been trying to flee have come under attack and some of them have lost their lives trying to get to safety. so it is a desperate situation for the people there. mariupol must be one of the grimmest places on earth and it looks like it is getting into the final stages of what has already been this a prolonged bombardment and could now be an intense battle as russia tries to complete its takeover of that city, which would then essentially give it control of that whole south—eastern and eastern flank of ukraine. there is more military equipment coming in to bolster the russian units in the donbas as well as they prepare to launch this fresh offensive to take even more of ukraine from the east. and briefly, the significance of president biden using the word genocide. it's a powerful word, it's an important statement and it sounded at first like he said it off the cuff in the middle of a speech about fuel prices, but he has repeated it and stood by it. he says he has got good reason and evidence to back that up, the sort of thing we have seen in the places around kyiv that the russians have already withdrawn from. but what does it mean in terms of a response? will it actually make any difference? is the us going to do anything else to support ukraine? is nato going to take any action? that's the question that has not been answered yet, the sort of thing president zelensky will now be looking for. on monday the austrian chancellor karl nehammer became the first european leader to meet presidnet putin since russia launched its invasion of ukraine. let's talk to his foreign minister alexander schallenberg. why did he want to go to moscow? the war in ukraine affects us directly. it is about our security. the border of ukraine is closer to the westernmost part of austria and it is not a big country and we don't want to reproach ourselves not having tried everything to have left stones unturned. his party is leading to destruction and he himself will be held accountable for the act. . , ., ., the act. that is what he said to him, the act. that is what he said to him. was _ the act. that is what he said to him. was it? — the act. that is what he said to him, was it? absolutely, - the act. that is what he said to him, was it? absolutely, he i the act. that is what he said to i him, was it? absolutely, he went there with _ him, was it? absolutely, he went there with a _ him, was it? absolutely, he went there with a clear— him, was it? absolutely, he went there with a clear message i him, was it? absolutely, he went there with a clear message that l him, was it? absolutely, he went. there with a clear message that we want the end of hostilities, aggression, humanitarian corridors. it has to be an international organisation. with a very clear political messages. european union had a very strong stance on the bar in ukraine and while he is attacking the security, that we have been building up since the second world war since the fall of the berlin wall. , , , , ., war since the fall of the berlin wall. , , ,, ., ., wall. did he get the impression that president putin _ wall. did he get the impression that president putin cares _ wall. did he get the impression that president putin cares if— wall. did he get the impression that president putin cares if he _ wall. did he get the impression that president putin cares if he is - president putin cares if he is isolated, cares about the deaths of civilians? taste isolated, cares about the deaths of civilians? ~ �* ., ., , civilians? we didn't have any unrealistic _ civilians? we didn't have any unrealistic expectations. i civilians? we didn't have any unrealistic expectations. we | civilians? we didn't have any i unrealistic expectations. we didn't expect him to change his mind and his cause. but i believe it makes a difference to come face to face, eye to eye and make him understand what the world actually looks like outside of the world of the kremlin. what did mr putin say in return? he: basically restated what he said in public statements, accusing the west, accusing ukraine and he didn't move on that substance, but i believe in international politics it is important to deliver messages face to face from time to time. it was a risky trip, absolutely, but i think it was worthwhile. we don't want to reproach ourselves after trying everything. did want to reproach ourselves after trying everything-— want to reproach ourselves after trying everything. did he come away feelin: trying everything. did he come away feeling clear— trying everything. did he come away feeling clear about _ trying everything. did he come away feeling clear about what _ trying everything. did he come away feeling clear about what it _ trying everything. did he come away feeling clear about what it would i feeling clear about what it would take for president putin to stop doing what he is doing? we have to exect doing what he is doing? we have to expect that — doing what he is doing? we have to expect that the _ doing what he is doing? we have to expect that the war _ doing what he is doing? we have to expect that the war in _ doing what he is doing? we have to expect that the war in ukraine i doing what he is doing? we have to expect that the war in ukraine is i expect that the war in ukraine is becoming more brutal. we are witnessing what seems to be the concentration of a whole military might to the east of the country and mariupol and we have to expect that you might see even worse pictures. the chancellor, before he went to moscow, he had a lengthy discussion with president zelensky and we continue to try to do everything. standing clearly on the side of gold who absolutely refuse everything putin is standing for.— putin is standing for. there are some countries _ putin is standing for. there are some countries who _ putin is standing for. there are some countries who could i putin is standing for. there are some countries who could do i putin is standing for. there are i some countries who could do more. germany continues to buy gas from russia, thus helping fund the very war that germany and the rest of europe is against.— war that germany and the rest of europe is against. what do you think of that? this — europe is against. what do you think of that? this is — europe is against. what do you think of that? this is a _ europe is against. what do you think of that? this is a debate _ europe is against. what do you think of that? this is a debate that was i of that? this is a debate that was not part of the discussion between the chancellor and putin. i am askin: the chancellor and putin. i am asking what — the chancellor and putin. i am asking what you _ the chancellor and putin. i am asking what you think - the chancellor and putin. i am asking what you think as i the chancellor and putin. i am asking what you think as a i the chancellor and putin. i am asking what you think as a foreign minister. �* , ., , ., asking what you think as a foreign minister. �* , .,, ., .., , minister. any european country, austria included, _ minister. any european country, austria included, are _ minister. any european country, austria included, are dependent| minister. any european country, i austria included, are dependent on gas from russia and this is a pity of a reality. we would like to have it otherwise but we cannot change that in a couple of weeks. what we are doing with sanctions is attack the military complex of russia. at least the front to get from gas cannot be used efficiently to find out war he is conducting. but this is a reality. as the european union and european states, we have diversified, try to lessen our dependence on russia two oil. it is a bitter lesson but we cannot change reality for the time being. 50 a bitter lesson but we cannot change reality for the time being.— reality for the time being. so when are ou reality for the time being. so when are you going _ reality for the time being. so when are you going to — reality for the time being. so when are you going to change _ reality for the time being. so when are you going to change reality? i reality for the time being. so when l are you going to change reality? we are you going to change reality? - are working on it very actively and the commission came forward with some interesting proposals and we have to become quickly as possible independent or more independent from russia two oil and gas. this is not something we take two will take place overnight. but one issue and one point which is very important to us, with sanctions becoming very drastic in the last couple of weeks, and we are very to adopt five sentient passages, that is the bottom line. sentient passages, that is the bottom line-— sentient passages, that is the bottom line. ., ., , bottom line. you might not be able to do that- — bottom line. you might not be able to do that- we _ bottom line. you might not be able to do that. we may _ bottom line. you might not be able to do that. we may not _ bottom line. you might not be able to do that. we may not be - bottom line. you might not be able to do that. we may not be able i bottom line. you might not be able to do that. we may not be able to i to do that. we may not be able to reconcile that. it to do that. we may not be able to reconcile that.— reconcile that. it is a difficult task and i— reconcile that. it is a difficult task and i continuously i reconcile that. it is a difficult task and i continuously have| task and i continuously have discussions. many countries, hungary, for example, are dependent on gas deliveries for industries and energy supply and we will be talking with other partners like qatar on whether we can work on as quickly as possible on diversifying these resources. put up to now that european union and the whole west is standing together as one on this issue and we want to discuss them with partners, keep the consensus on russia and these are the discussions we have two conduct.— we have two conduct. thank you for talkin: to we have two conduct. thank you for talking to it- _ we have two conduct. thank you for talking to it. austria's _ we have two conduct. thank you for talking to it. austria's foreign i talking to it. austria's foreign minister. china is in the middle of its most severe covid outbreak to date, with shanghai, the international financial hub, as the epicentre. the communist party has implemented rigid policies to achieve its "zero covid" goal. but the result has been a food crisis, medical resources shortages, children seperated from their parents and economic disruption, all challenging the communist party 5 credibility. robin brant reports. more than two years after covid first emerged here, china is still trying to keep it out and this is how it is doing it. tens of thousands of people forced into government—run quarantine. in one of china's most advanced cities the conditions for some are awful. translation: the moment i really broke down - was when i entered the cabin hospital. we spoke to this 26—year—old, she tested positive a few days ago. in china, symptoms or no symptoms, you are forced to quarantine. we were first assigned to the shared area. the conditions were terrible. my roommate and i had two camp beds and there was only one bathroom and one wash basin on each floor. many slept next to each other. i was terrified, i broke down and cried. forced quarantine is one of two often brutal measures that china is using to try to beat covid. the other is citywide lockdowns. i am two weeks into the one here, along with the other 25 million people who live in shanghai. for me, that means you can't step out of your date and for some it means you cannot even go beyond your front door. also daily worries about food, for some even about water. for some the plight is now desperate, a battle to place an order on your phone or a fight with the authorities, alljust to get food in. seeing video of communist party officials berated like this is rare here, but the party is digging in. everyone is being repeatedly tested, but this has become less about science. it is now a battle between a resurgent virus and communist party credibility. every province in this country has been told to prepare facilities like this, as fears of a wave spread. old, young, and up until a few days ago babies, all quarantined on their own. in china it is the price they pay, the sacrifice they make. the official figures suggest the confirmed cases may have started to fall yesterday but tipped up again today. those figures also claim there has not been a single covid death this time round, not one. no one has officially died here from covid and zero covid remains the goal. china is still determined to prove it can beat nature. robin brant, bbc news, locked down in shanghai. professorjane duckett, from the university of glasgow, is the director of the scottish centre for chinese research. she has written extensively on health and social policy in china. this what do you think of what is going on there?— this what do you think of what is going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch _ going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch point. _ going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch point. it _ going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch point. it has _ going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch point. it has been i going on there? it... we are coming to the crunch point. it has been a i to the crunch point. it has been a question for many people over the last few months about whether chinese government could really contain covid, given that the omicron variant being so transmissible, and now we are at the sharp end and it is getting increasingly difficult to balance economic and social costs of lockdown is against their chances of hospitals being overwhelmed and high numbers of deaths. i think it they are being tested to the limit, given that shanghai is such an important part of the economy and link to the outside world so it is well connected and more difficult to hide the problem is out. so its connected and more difficult to hide the problem is out.— the problem is out. so is the zero tolerance to _ the problem is out. so is the zero tolerance to covid _ the problem is out. so is the zero tolerance to covid going - the problem is out. so is the zero tolerance to covid going to i the problem is out. so is the zero tolerance to covid going to have i the problem is out. so is the zero l tolerance to covid going to have to give? tolerance to covid going to have to rive? , ., tolerance to covid going to have to . ive? , ., , tolerance to covid going to have to rive? , ., , ., ., , give? there is no sign of that yet. i think give? there is no sign of that yet. i think they _ give? there is no sign of that yet. i think they are _ give? there is no sign of that yet. i think they are hanging _ give? there is no sign of that yet. i think they are hanging in - give? there is no sign of that yet. i think they are hanging in there, | i think they are hanging in there, as your correspondent said. the leadership have almost two years been building the political capital on this and they have touted it is a sign of superiority of china's superiority to the west. it would be challenging them to seek death writing. so i think they will hang on a long as they can but they economic costs are rising, particularly the import, export economy. supply chains are being disrupted so the economic pressures are building, as well as use from that report, the social pressures, the impact on people and living in the impact on people and living in the city. in the impact on people and living in the ci . , ., ., the city. in terms of import and exort, the city. in terms of import and export. why — the city. in terms of import and export. why are _ the city. in terms of import and export, why are they _ the city. in terms of import and i export, why are they recommending that people stop ordering stuff from abroad? . . , that people stop ordering stuff from abroad? . ., , , ., ., that people stop ordering stuff from abroad? . , ., ., ., abroad? that has been going on for some time- — abroad? that has been going on for some time- it _ abroad? that has been going on for some time. it has _ abroad? that has been going on for some time. it has long _ abroad? that has been going on for some time. it has long been - abroad? that has been going on for some time. it has long been a i abroad? that has been going on for| some time. it has long been a policy to try to minimise infections coming in from outside. it is a strange one because scientifically it is thought to be a low risk issue. transmission through physical goods. but it seems perhaps they are trying to stop any thought of the import of cases and they want to be seen to be doing everything that is possible, given the demands on the population at the moment or some part of the population. moment or some part of the population-— moment or some part of the --oulation. ., ,, ., ., ,, ., population. thank you for talking to us. thank you for talking to us. health officials say they are investigating a spike in cases of hepatitis in children in the uk. 74 infections have been registered since the start of the year. doctors say they can't rule out a link with covid—19 cases. let's speak to our global health correspondent, naomi grimely. what is hepatitis? hepatitis is an umbrella term in this case for information of the liver and normally you might expect to find certain viruses behind those cases. but actually in these particular cases, and you mentioned they have been 74 detected, they haven't been able to find the usual viruses. so thatis able to find the usual viruses. so that is leading to this medical mystery to find out what is behind them, and there are various theories. one is that possibly it is to do with covid, that they are not sure about that. another one is what seems to be the main line of inquiry is that it might be to do with anotherfamily of is that it might be to do with another family of viruses. they normally, things like colds, diarrhoea, vomiting but in rare cases it can also cause hepatitis. and so if children have hepatitis, however they been treated? flan and so if children have hepatitis, however they been treated? can it be serious? that — however they been treated? can it be serious? that is _ however they been treated? can it be serious? that is a _ however they been treated? can it be serious? that is a good _ however they been treated? can it be serious? that is a good question. i serious? that is a good question. yes, it can be serious. health officials in the uk have put out some guidance gps and it mentions that some of these children have had to be treated in specialist liver units and a small number, it says, i've had two had liver transplants. that is a sign of how serious might be. sometimes hepatitis can be caused by toxins, but in this case the numbers seem to be spread across the numbers seem to be spread across the uk, so it doesn't appear to be some kind of environmental cause. thank you very much, naomi. lawyers for the actorjohnny depp and his former wife amber heard have given their opening statements in his defamation case in the us. depp is suing ms heard for $50 million over an article this she wrote about being a survivor of domestic violence that didn't mention him by name. david sillito reports from virginia, where the trial is taking place. fairfax, virginia, and in court today, a hollywood star — johnny depp, who was here to sue his ex—wife, amber heard, for libel. this is a defamation case. it's a case about how devastating words can be when they are false and uttered publicly. in court, both barely even glanced at one another as this $15 million libel suit began, a case about an article in the washington post in which amber heard talked about enduring sexual assault and how institutions protect violent men. she did not namejohnny depp, but his lawyers say she didn't need to — everyone knew who she was talking about. his legal team said the allegations were all lies. amber heard was the abuser, notjohnny depp. she has been preparing to give the performance of her life in this trial. but this trial is about the evidence. it's about a man's reputation. his legal team described johnny depp as a kind soul who would never raise his hand to a woman. amber heard was characterised as being troubled, manipulative, but it's worth remembering this is not the first time the couple has met in a libel court. at a previous hearing in london, a judge ruled almost overwhelmingly in amber heard's favour. may i approach? yes, sir. and, just as in london, amber heard's lawyers today presented a very different picture of the star — a man prone to rages, a hidden side amber heard described as "the monster". you're going to see who the realjohnny depp is. behind the red carpets, behind the fame, behind the money, behind the pirate costumes, you're going to see who that man really is. so, two years on from that case in london, a second attempt to clear johnny depp's name begins, this time with a jury. jurors have been told this could take up to seven weeks. david sillito, bbc news, fairfax, virginia. police in new york say they have recovered a handgun, a hatchet and a range of potential incendiary devices at the brooklyn station where a man opened fire on commuters on tuesday morning. david willis reports. panic on a packed subway train at the height of the morning rush hour. screaming. passengers were sent spilling onto the platform after a gunman detonated smoke bombs between stations and fired 33 times before the doors opened. he fled to the sound of screams, and the sight of people collapsing, bloodied and wounded. i saw a lot of people coming out of the train station, screaming, yelling for help. i saw a lady, she was shot right in her leg. police have released these pictures of a man they want to interview in connection with the attack. he's 62—year—old frankjames, and on monday, he rented a van that was found abandoned about five miles from the scene of the shooting. keys and a credit card discovered on the train linked mrjames to the vehicle, but officials are not saying if he is a suspect in the case. the suspect is a dark skinned male, and was wearing a neon orange vest and a grey coloured sweatshirt. we do have a person of interest in this investigation. but we need the public�*s assistance with additional information. detectives recovered a handgun, additional smoke grenades, gasoline and a hatchet at the scene at the attack. they believe the gun may have jammed, preventing what might otherwise have been a far more serious incident. new york has seen a sharp rise in shootings recently but the city's mayor says such violence is not confined to the big apple. these relentless shooters are an american problem. it these relentless shooters are an american problem.— these relentless shooters are an american problem. it will take all levels of government _ american problem. it will take all levels of government to - american problem. it will take all levels of government to solve. it| american problem. it will take all. levels of government to solve. it is going _ levels of government to solve. it is going to _ levels of government to solve. it is going to take the entire nation to speak— going to take the entire nation to speak out— going to take the entire nation to speak out and push back. a difficult object _ speak out and push back. a difficult object that— speak out and push back. a difficult object that has taken hold of this nation _ police believe the man who carried out this attack may also have been responsible for a series of vitriolic rants on social media, some of them attacking the mayor. his security has been beefed up as a result, and a massive manhunt is now under way. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. more parts from david willis on that case today. if you want to find out the very latest in what is happening, go to the bbc news website, particularly when it comes to what is happening in ukraine. the live page is updated, it seems to be every five minutes or so, to be honest. if you want to get in touch with me, you are very welcome. you can message me on instagram or tick tack or twitter. you can do that anytime of day or night, if you really wish. thanks for your company today. the headlines coming next. over the next few days it will turn warm up for all the buzz put into it next week it will be freshening up again. today we have this weather front pushing into the northern isles are taking reign with it. there is not much in the way of breeze or even wind today. but the crowd continues to break up. sunny spells develop, further showers across parts of england and wales. lines from wales towards lincolnshire and the south—west of england towards east anglia. these are the ones that are likely to be heaviest and some thunder. we are looking at offshore breeze today across eastern parts of england, so it won't feel as cool a the north sea coastline as it did yesterday. temperatures ranging from seven in the north to 19 in the south. this evening and overnight, clear skies, low cloud, mist and fog lapping onshore across the west and the south and some could be drifting in land. a weather front approaching northern ireland, introducing rain and it will be a cooler night than last night. thursday, high pressure is still in charge of our weather. weather fronts coming in from the atlantic, bumping into high pressure so there will be fairly weak affairs and we still have low cloud, mist and we still have low cloud, mist and fog across parts of the english channel and parts of western england and west wales, most receding back towards the coast. a fair bit of sunshine around. some showers coming in across the south—east and then we have rain coming in across northern ireland and western scotland. on good friday we will have a low cloud, mist and fog across parts of the english channel coastline and also the west coast. some drizzle coming out of that. some brighter skies as well but in the sunshine temperatures could be as high as 21 or 22 degrees. the general rage will be about 12 to about 20. into the weekend. —— general range. weather pushes towards the east, allowing pressure to come in from the east. we will see some rain coming in but for most of us it will be mainly dry. there it will be born but still overnight mist and fog to watch out for. good morning. i'm annita mcveigh, live in downing street this morning. the prime minister and the chancellor both say they won't quit — despite being fined by police for attending parties in lockdown. there's no sign of parliament being recalled to discuss it... ..and conservatives this morning remain largely loyal to borisjohnson and rishi sunak. the opposition are continuing their calls for the pair to quit. i completely get it. i also know it wasn't done out of malice or with intent. it was a mistake, and error. and ijudge somebody overall for the way that they perform. they are totally distracted and not able to do theirjob because they are spending more time justifying themselves and the parties they have been going to rather than focusing on the issues that we need them to address as a country. i'm lewis vaughanjones, with the rest of today's stories. prices are rising at their fastest rate for 30 years — with higher costs for fuel and food pushing inflation to seven per cent. graduates in england will pay up to 12 per cent interest on their loans this autumn — nearly triple the current rate. president biden has — for the first time — accused vladimir putin of committing genocide in ukraine. three, two, one... and thunderbirds are go... the theme tune to the classic children's show — as well as others from the �*50s and �*60s — will be performed by a live orchestra for the first time. hello and welcome back to downing street. the prime minister and the chancellor are resisting calls to resign after they were fined, along with borisjohnson's wife carrie, for breaking covid lockdown laws. they all received fixed penalty notices for being at a birthday do for the pm in no 10 downing street — when gatherings of more than two people indoors were banned. as a result, mrjohnson became the uk's first serving prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law. all three have apologised, but both the pm and rishi sunak have rejected calls to resign. opposition leaders have accused mrjohnson and mr sunak of lying to the public after they both previously denied any wrongdoing. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, reports. the two men at the heart of government are now found to have broken the lockdown laws they set, designed to keep people safe during the pandemic. # happy birthday to you # june 2020, and borisjohnson visited a school on his birthday, which was allowed under the rules in place at the time. but later he attended a gathering in the cabinet room of number 10, which police have decided broke the rules. rules which the prime minister has previously denied had been broken. i have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party, and that... and that no covid rules were broken and that is what i have been repeatedly assured. yesterday, though, he accepted the police findings and offered an apology. i understand the anger that many will feel that i myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government i lead had introduced to protect the public, and i accept in all sincerity that people have the right to expect better. and now i feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the british people. the chancellor, also fined for his attendance at the cabinet room gathering, was asked earlier this year what he knew of any events that may have broken the rules. for the record, chancellor, you knew of nothing of any of these gatherings, even one that happened outside that window? people think i'm standing out here looking outside that window. i spent half my time in the treasury as well as working here. but what i was focused on at that time, as were many people was making sure that we could help the country through a period of enormous anxiety and it was incredibly busy. yesterday, he offered an unreserved apology, saying... for those who followed the rules and lost loved ones to covid, apologies are not enough. this man, a man of honour, voted for you, and i actually believe you let him down. you let me down. i was really angry, but also very upset that he would think that that was ok. you see, you got to survive, boris, my husband didn't. and it smacks to me, as somebody who really thinks he's above everybody else. and i didn't think that's who he was. conservative mps, even those critical of borisjohnson in the past, argue that with war in ukraine, now is not the time for a leadership challenge. but opposition parties were quick to call for both men to go. this is the first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be in breach of the law and then he lied repeatedly to the public about it. britain deserves better. they have to go. if you lie to parliament, then you resign. there is no ifs, there is no buts. they must go, and they must go immediately so we can - get fresh leadership. the police investigation into parties in whitehall continues, meaning there could be more fines for government figures to come. and the civil servant sue grey's report is yet to be published in full. so the prime minister and the chancellor have survived a difficult day — but the partygate saga is unlikely to be over. jonathan blake, bbc news. the majority of conservative voices we've heard from so far since those fines were issued have been supportive of the prime minister and rishi sunak, saying no is not the time for them to go. but a little earlier today on bbc radio derby we heard from the conservative mp nigel mills and he says he thinks the prime minister should step down. in all conscience, i don't think a prime minister can survive or should survive breaking the rules he put in place and he was on the tv every few nights, reminding us all that we should observe. i just... we have to have higher standards than that of people at the top. he has been fined. i don't think his position is tenable, in my view. that was nigel mills, the conservative mp for amber valley. we can get more now from our political correspondent, nick eardley. i guess, those voices like nigel mills are fairly conspicuous by their absence at the moment, at least relative to just a few weeks back, before the war in ukraine, when more conservatives were openly saying that the prime minister really needed to consider his position? really needed to consider his osition? . really needed to consider his position?— really needed to consider his osition? . ., , ,., , position? yeah, absolutely right. if ou think position? yeah, absolutely right. if you think back to _ position? yeah, absolutely right. if you think back to the _ position? yeah, absolutely right. if you think back to the start - position? yeah, absolutely right. if you think back to the start of- position? yeah, absolutely right. if you think back to the start of the i you think back to the start of the year, there was a genuine question over borisjohnson's year, there was a genuine question over boris johnson's future year, there was a genuine question over borisjohnson's future and a lot of it seemed to come down to the question of what would be said by the civil servant looking into all of this, and whether the prime minister would face a fine. we now know that he has faced a fine, that the met police have decided that the prime minister broke the very rules he was responsible for fermenting. but it does feel like the political mood around here is a bit different. firstly, mps are away, it is the easter recess so they are not all here talking to themselves and talking to us about what they think about mrjohnson's future. the mps i have spoken to in the last 24 hours or so, have spoken to in the last 24 hours orso, many have spoken to in the last 24 hours or so, many have said the war in ukraine changes things, the cost of living crisis means they don't want to rock the boat at the moment, and it would take three months to have a leadership election, and that's not something they want to do at the moment. there's also the question of who would take over from boris johnson. a lot of mps were hoping it might be rishi sunak, that seems less and less likely after he himself received a fine and of course all the questions over his tax affairs. so it doesn't feel at the moment like there is a clamour of tory mps that our... there are many sitting on their hands waiting to see what happens over the next few days and potentially the next few days and potentially the next few weeks as well. but we got a flavour of the argument you are going to hearfrom ministers when they are trying to persuade their colleagues to keep borisjohnson in place from the transport secretary this morning. his argument was essentially, look, the prime minister made a mistake, but we should move on from it. have a listen. everyone is human, people make mistakes. in this case, it's led to a fixed penalty fine of £50. he's paid the fine. it's an event of two years ago. i feel the same anger as everybody else that these events took place, not least because i could not see my own dad, who i did not know whether we would see again, ever, so i completely get it. i also know it was not done out of malice or with intent, it was a mistake, an error. and ijudge somebody overall for the way they perform. so that's the case for the defence. this isn't going away, though. and it's one of those stories thatjust keeps rambling on and on. we are going to hearfrom keeps rambling on and on. we are going to hear from the keeps rambling on and on. we are going to hearfrom the prime minister next week in parliament, he will face accusations from opposition parties that he misled mps when he said that there were not parties in downing street. so that's a point of pressure. there could be more fines to come. it's worth bearing in mind that the event in the cabinet room, the birthday celebration for the prime minister, was seen by some as one of the potentially less serious events. that has led some to speculate, we don't know this for sure, but to speculate that the bar for fining people might be quite low. so it's possible there could be a lot more fines to come for some other parties in downing street, some of which borisjohnson has been said to have been attending. there is also the second part of the sue gray report, remember her? the civil servant who at one point seem to hold the prime minister's future in her hands. her report was heavily redacted because of the met investigation. we are going to get the full thing when the met have finished their probe into all of this. that could be within the next few weeks, and i've been told it is detailed and potentially really damaging for a lot of politicians and senior civil servants. and you are going to keep hearing from opposition parties over the next few days and weeks, the idea that borisjohnson is no longer fit to lead the country. have a listen to the shadow chancellor. they are totally distracted and not able to do theirjob because they are spending more time justifying themselves and the parties they have been going to, rather than focusing on the issues that we need them to address as a country. there was talk about parliament being recalled this week to discuss the use of chemical weapons in ukraine. i think parliament should be recalled, but now the government are recoiling from that because they know if parliament is recalled, they will be asked questions about all these parties and all the lies. so the idea we cannot change leadership now because of the war in ukraine or the economic crisis, i think it is actually the other way round — that, actually, we need fresh leadership and we need leaders who can concentrate on the job in hand. so is it your sense that it's only at the ballot box in the elections in may, the wakefield by—election and so on, that we are going to see potentially anything shifting because with such a large majority as the conservatives have that certainly removes some of the pressure from them?- certainly removes some of the pressure from them? there is no sign the prime minister _ pressure from them? there is no sign the prime minister or— pressure from them? there is no sign the prime minister or the _ pressure from them? there is no sign the prime minister or the chancellor l the prime minister or the chancellor are going to resign. at the moment there isn't a clamour of mps on the conservative benches calling for that, so in that sense it doesn't feel like there is an imminent threat in the next few days. to borisjohnson. however, you make a really good point, because the thing a lot of tory mps have done over the last few weeks and months with this story and will continue to do is listen to their constituents. there was a lot of anger back injanuary when these stories were dominating the headlines, that was reflected in a lot of the frustration you heard from tory mps. a lot of the frustration you heard from tory mp5. i think a lot of them will wait to see what happens over the next few days. and from the tories i have been speaking to, there are almost two schools of thought on this — one is that the country has moved on from covid and that that means a lot of people are not as angry as they might have been, but there's also another argument that people are still furious and there will be a lot of people who see the fact the prime minister has been found to have broken the rules he set as grossly hypocritical, the love of god are people who suffered loss on their own family won't be able to forgive the government. so that school of thought would mean that the prime minister will find it very hard to move on from this crisis. the local elections in may will be potentially one way ofjudging that, but i think a lot of conservative mps will be listening to their constituents over the next few days before they make their minds up for sure. hick. the next few days before they make their minds up for sure.— their minds up for sure. nick, thank ou. you their minds up for sure. nick, thank you- you may _ their minds up for sure. nick, thank you. you may well— their minds up for sure. nick, thank you. you may well be _ their minds up for sure. nick, thank you. you may well be able - their minds up for sure. nick, thank you. you may well be able to i their minds up for sure. nick, thank you. you may well be able to hear l their minds up for sure. nick, thank| you. you may well be able to hear in the background the sound of some protests here, just beyond the gates of downing street. it's a pretty well—known beastie boys song, i don't need to spell out the title of that for you. i also want to let you know about a letter from the head teachers union, the naht, which has been sent to the education secretary today, and it is in response to something that borisjohnson loyalist michael fabricant said loyalist michael fabrica nt said yesterday loyalist michael fabricant said yesterday when he was interviewed about the fine given to the prime minister. he said, i don't think it any time he thought he was breaking the law, he thought like many teachers and nurses who after a very long shift would go back to the staff room and have a quiet drink, so in response to that the general secretary of the naht is saying this suggestion was wholly inaccurate and deeply insulting to teachers as a profession. he is saying, i cannot overstate the hurt and anger these comments have caused. he said that during the pandemic head teachers had followed government guidance meticulously and that mr zaha whee himself had praised them for doing so. he said most teachers kept a small bottle there were bubbles during the pandemic and many had eaten lunch alone in their classrooms. the moment, it is back to you in the studio. and we will be back at westminster and a little while when we get more developments. now let's get the latest on ukraine. there are growing signs that russia could be close to fully capturing the key southern port city of mariupol, which has already suffered intensely in the past six weeks. president biden has accused putin of genocide and says he's trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be ukrainian. ukraine's deputy prime minister, iryna vereshchuk, says it won't be possible to open humanitarian corridors to allow people to escape today, as the situation remains too dangerous. our correspondent is in ukraine for us. can you start by telling us where you are and what is happening there? , , , ., there? this is in the kyiv region, one of the _ there? this is in the kyiv region, one of the towns _ there? this is in the kyiv region, one of the towns that _ there? this is in the kyiv region, one of the towns that was i there? this is in the kyiv region, one of the towns that was under| one of the towns that was under russian control, and listening to whatjoe biden has been saying about genocide, about wiping out the idea of being ukrainian, this is an apartment block, or it certainly was. you can see how it used to be one building but it has completely collapsed in the middle when it was sheued collapsed in the middle when it was shelled by the russians. what they are doing is pulling it down and then when they clear the rubble they are going to go into the basement of this building because they know there are other bodies in the air of people who were hiding when that attack happened. they said the last building they did, they found 50 bodies in the basement. and itjust gives you an idea. this isjust one building, the scale of the destruction here is extraordinary. you can see down by my feet there are these huge craters where russian shells hit right in the centre of town. you can see all the way round where the flats have been targeted, and if i take iran on this site, you can see the scale of the clean—up operation that's going on, where they are pulling out all the metal, they are pulling out all the metal, the broken glass, there are teams of people doing this today. this is one corner of the town you are seeing right now. if we are talking about the impact of a town like this being occupied by russian forces and the impact, the number of people who lost their lives, this isjust impact, the number of people who lost their lives, this is just one part of it, the scale of this is far larger. and you can see the devastation that has been left behind here.— devastation that has been left behind here. �* , ., ., behind here. indeed. let's move now to the east. — behind here. indeed. let's move now to the east, attention _ behind here. indeed. let's move now to the east, attention focused - behind here. indeed. let's move now to the east, attention focused a i to the east, attention focused a course on mariupol with hopes of ukrainian forces being able to hold out getting slimmer and slimmer. that's right. we are led to believe that the battle for mariupol which has been raging for around six weeks orso has been raging for around six weeks or so now, the intelligences that thatis or so now, the intelligences that that is perhaps nearing its end and nearing its end in favour of russian forces. the suggestions are that the pockets of mariupol which are still held by ukrainian forces are very small, reallyjust the main iron and steel works and part of the port. it is important to say, whenever we talk about what's happening on mariupol, is extremely difficult to verify any of that because that city has been surrounded, its civilian population have been largely cut off. what russia is hoping, if it can take mariupol fully, it will give it that vital land corridor between russia and annexed crimea, but also military analysts say it would free up russian troops from that battle to be able to move further east and take part in the next phase of this russian offensive, where they are really going to focus on the dom bess region. and that is why you've heard president zelensky say repeatedly that ukraine needs more military assistance, because he believes that what we have seen so far during the first six and a half weeks of this war is really only the beginning. he believes the next phase could be even more devastating. let’s believes the next phase could be even more devastating. let's come back to those _ even more devastating. let's come back to those comments _ even more devastating. let's come back to those comments on - even more devastating. let's come i back to those comments on joe biden back to those comments onjoe biden calling what is happening where you are a genocide. on the one hand, it's a technical legal argument that lawyers will pick over after events, but here and now, is that what it feels like to ukrainian people when you speak to them? is a feels like to ukrainian people when you speak to them?— you speak to them? is a very good oint ou you speak to them? is a very good point you make — you speak to them? is a very good point you make about _ you speak to them? is a very good point you make about the - point you make about the technicalities of the time genocide. most people do you speak to will just think of it as the large—scale killing of a lot of people, and, yes, that is what you see here, and we showed you those apartment blocks, and the number of people who were high doing, sheltering in the basement of what is very clearly civilian infrastructure. that is not an oil storage depot, is not a military training facility. it is a block of flats that people live in. when you travel around this area and you see where shops have been completely destroyed, petrol stations, restaurants, cafes, all these things, you speak to people who have seen bodies lying on the streets with their hands tied, people who have been shot. a lot of ukrainians have seen in this area that kind of devastation. and for them, yes, it will feel like genocide. and when they see that acknowledged or the start of that acknowledged or the start of that acknowledged outside ukraine, it does feel to them like the world is starting to acknowledge the truth that they feel very strongly that they have experienced here. thank ou for they have experienced here. thank you for giving _ they have experienced here. thank you for giving us — they have experienced here. thank you for giving us such _ they have experienced here. thank you for giving us such a _ they have experienced here. thank you for giving us such a vivid i you for giving us such a vivid picture of the awful destruction where you are. figures released by the uk's largest independent producer of official statistics show that the cost of living has risen again last month, partly driven by higher fuel prices. the office for national statistics figures show prices have risen by 7% in the 12 months to march, the fastest rate for 30 yea rs. the inflation figures are up from 6.2% in february 2022. inflation is expected to rise even further after the energy price cap was increased, driving up gas and electricity bills for millions. the office for national statistics said the biggest contributor to rising inflation was transport, with average petrol prices rising by 12.6p per litre between february and march, the largest monthly rise since records began in 1990. our economic correspondent andy verity has more. we're seeing these big increases in the price of petrol and diesel. in fact, according to the office for national statistics, they are at record highs right now. a litre of unleaded is on their average about £1.61 a litre, and a litre of diesel is about £1.70, the highest they have ever been. also the rise since last year is about 30%. you cannot have that happening without it having knock—on effects. as we were hearing there, the price of containers, and generally, the price of raw materials, is going up at record rates. we saw a 19% increase in the prices manufacturers pay for raw materials. sometimes they can absorb those fluctuations, but it is too much, they have to pass it on to consumers. that is why you have got 7% inflation. if you look at the old—fashioned retail prices index from when we were kids and mars bars are going up from sp to 10p, that is higher than it has been since 1991, the rpi, at 9%. that matters because a lot of pensions are linked to the retail prices index, so for the pension schemes to pay those pensions, it makes it more expensive. the government has something like £343 billion of debt where it has issued bonds in order to borrow money. they are like ious. you issue them and it is the government telling you, "i owe you money and i will pay you a rate of interest." that rate of interest the government pays is linked to rpi, so they are paying 9%, so that means the debt interest costs of the government are higher. you have got to look here, breaking it down a little bit, apart from just the frightening nature of the whole thing, it is goods which are really driving prices increases and that is a global phenomenon. the price of energy is a global phenomenon. if you look at services, they are only growing by about 4%. it is not like we have wage—driven inflation, here. wages are lagging behind and that is why millions of families are feeling the squeeze. let's get an idea of what's underneath all those numbers. joining me now to talk about the rise in food prices is attilio sergi, owner of pasta 51 restaurant in liverpool. thank you for coming on the programme. what are the price increases you have been noticing those that have hit you the highest? oh, my goodness! i'm a fresh pasta manufacturer, so the 7% is fantastic for considering that my grain went up for considering that my grain went up about 55%... so this information is driven by commodity prices, but there is also not much we can do about it. the mostly hit sectors are transportation and hospitality, and the 7% is... could be good, in a way, in terms of inflation, but we are talking about 45 or 50% increase on ingredients. are talking about 45 or 50% increase on ingredients-— on ingredients. given that massive increase in — on ingredients. given that massive increase in the _ on ingredients. given that massive increase in the cost _ on ingredients. given that massive increase in the cost of— on ingredients. given that massive increase in the cost of ingredients | increase in the cost of ingredients for you, increase in the cost of ingredients foryou, how increase in the cost of ingredients for you, how are you dealing with that? are you having to absorb those prices or pass them on? i that? are you having to absorb those prices or pass them on?— prices or pass them on? i have not assed prices or pass them on? i have not passed them _ prices or pass them on? i have not passed them on — prices or pass them on? i have not passed them on yet. _ prices or pass them on? i have not passed them on yet. the - prices or pass them on? i have not passed them on yet. the best i prices or pass them on? i have not| passed them on yet. the best thing to do is the relationship with the supplier... my main ingredient is durham flower, we can only import that from italy, and fortunately i have a very good relationship with the supplier, they send me three tonnes of that flow mac, semolina, three months ago at £1 20 a kilo. and nothing can be done with the price now which is £2 per kilo. so what you want the government to do? what kind of help is available? the what kind of help is available? tue: government can what kind of help is available? ti9 government can do what kind of help is available? ti9: government can do something for hospitality. they have not been generous but they have been very popular with lockdown, and now they are dropping us into the oceans with vat, which should be 0% like the supermarkets in the restaurants. we have moved from 12.5 to 20%. that is bad for the industry. the other one that could be done in terms of business rates, it doesn't make any sense to have business rates in today's market, and the other one is today's market, and the other one is to look after employees. the employees, they are talking a lot about tips and gratuity — that should be at 0%. so i would say go zero, zero, zero and everything in terms of hospitality.— zero, zero, zero and everything in terms of hospitality. good luck with t in: to terms of hospitality. good luck with trying to cope _ terms of hospitality. good luck with trying to cope with _ terms of hospitality. good luck with trying to cope with these _ terms of hospitality. good luck with trying to cope with these increased | trying to cope with these increased prices, we appreciate your thyme. thank you. let's go back to ukraine now. president volodymyr zelensky says mariupol has been �*burned to ashes�*. russia's defence ministry says more than a thousand ukrainian soldiers have surrendered their world the us and britain say they are looking into reports that russian forces have used chemical weapons in the city. at the same thyme, both ukraine and russia are building up their military forces in the eastern regions of donetsk and luhansk. russian officials say they expect russian officials say they expect russia to double or even triple its troop level in the donbas. i'm joined now by mykola bielieskov in lviv. he is the research fellow at ukraine 5 national institute for strategic studies in kyiv. thank you for coming on the programme. let's focus on the east where most people love attention is at the moment. the ukrainian forces are bracing for an increase, an escalation in the conflict there. what in your view to those ukrainian forces need most to try and repel the russian troops?— forces need most to try and repel the russian troops? first, i want to recall the president _ the russian troops? first, i want to recall the president of _ the russian troops? first, i want to recall the president of world - recall the president of world history... new police sleep where it's taken was. as we know, the defensive side was successful because it has ample thyme and there was no surprise attack, so the offensive side was not a festival. so we know where the enemy is going to attack, we're going to calculate the major roads he will take, and we are in preparation for the attack, and if we are talking specifically what we need most, the president of ukraine clearly stated we need first and foremost systems that ensure firepower. artillery muscles and also western governments could provide fighters, but that is more difficult. if we are talking specifically about number one priorities, definitely tube artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometres, that it's one thing to destroy enemy armour and equipment one by one using javelin, using systems produced in ukraine, is another thing to destroy en masse enemy targets at longer ranges. so that call for artillery and the list you mentioned have gone out yet again to the west for help. i want to focus on... we are the russian offensive so far across the hold of ukraine has been way, way underperforming expectations. do things change now when they are focusing just on the east? suddenly their numbers advantage could potentially be more effective for them. how worried are you about that? , :, , them. how worried are you about that? , ., y them. how worried are you about that? ,._ ., , them. how worried are you about that? , , ., ,, that? history has ample examples where the number _ that? history has ample examples where the number was _ that? history has ample examples where the number was not - that? history has ample examples where the number was not a i that? history has ample examples i where the number was not a decisive factor. on the other hand, we would demonstrate what it means to be able to penetrate the defence that has the biggest density of missiles in the biggest density of missiles in the world, so there was this chinese battle, this war between israel and egypt, it would pale in comparison. the offending side would pay a steep price. the numbers won't help them, it won't be a decisive factor. that's quite a confident prediction, that the numbers won't be decisive. i can tell you are emphasising again firepower. is it your belief ukraine can successfully defend the donbas? if we are provided with additional firepower we can definitely using this active defence approach, so you are notjust waiting for them to attack but you are targeting in turn. so if we are provided with enough firepower we can demonstrate another... {ltic enough firepower we can demonstrate another... :, : :, enough firepower we can demonstrate another... :, . :, , another... 0k. how much i do it be? how much — another... ok. how much i do it be? how much harder— another... 0k. how much i do it be? how much harder will— another... 0k. how much i do it be? how much harder will it _ another... 0k. how much i do it be? how much harder will it be _ another... 0k. how much i do it be? how much harder will it be to - how much harder will it be to do that if for example mariupol does fall to the russians?— fall to the russians? mariupol -la ed its fall to the russians? mariupol played its major _ fall to the russians? mariupol played its major role, - fall to the russians? mariupol played its major role, so i fall to the russians? mariupol. played its major role, so it won't create a major opportunity for now russians to penetrate further. my pal played its part, they paid a steep price, but now it won't be a kind of fall in ukrainian defence that would allow russians to move on. so we definitely have that sector of our defence would have reserves to move on in case needed. and if russia is successful in its objectives in the donbas region, when ukrainian official warned they would try again to move back to kyiv, is that assessment? l would try again to move back to kyiv, is that assessment? i am would try again to move back to kyiv, is that assessment? i am 100% sure that they _ kyiv, is that assessment? i am 100% sure that they won't _ kyiv, is that assessment? i am 100% sure that they won't be _ kyiv, is that assessment? i am 100% sure that they won't be successful, l sure that they won't be successful, and if they are successful in dundas, the russians won't have the resources to concentrate on kyiv so everybody in the ukrainian army will do its best to ensure that russian offensive capability would cease to exist in the donbas.— exist in the donbas. thank you for 'oinin: exist in the donbas. thank you for joining us- — we will catch up on the sports news now and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's ben. good morning. chelsea manager thomas tuchel said his side had nothing to regret — after real madrid thwarted what could have been one of the greatest comebacks in champions league history. chelsea overturned a 3—1 first leg deficit in their quarterfinal, but karim benzema's extra—time goal knocked the defending champions out. olly foster reports from the spanish capital. the hours before kick—off are always full of hope, never mind that chelsea's manager had effectively written off their chances in madrid, describing the tie as irretrievable and almost impossible. we can do it. this is a champions league winning team, so why not? win. end of, miracle madrid. this was chelsea's first match in the bernabeu. when they knocked out the spanish giants last season, it was behind closed doors at another stadium. after 15 minutes, the home support was silenced... commentator: and it's. exactly what they needed. mason mount gave chelsea belief and real were rattled. half—time didn't stop their momentum. nothing was going to stop antonio rudiger. it was all square. it was all chelsea. they had a goal disallowed before timo wernerjinked his way past desperate real defenders and sent chelsea into dreamland. commentator: still timo werner - it's in! _ into the semifinals? no! luka modric picked out the substitute rodrygo. he'd been on the pitch forjust two minutes. that sent the game into extra time. chelsea had chances there as well, but karim benzema, who scored a hat—trick at stamford bridge last week, delivered the knockout blow. we were unlucky, that's why we are disappointed. we got beaten by pure individual quality and conversion, offensive conversion of our mistakes. unfortunately, we had two mistakes after ball wins, the most crucial moments in games against real madrid. so in the end we were unlucky. this has been a cruel, cruel night for chelsea. very few teams come here and win. they were brilliant, but they'll just regret those missed chances and mistakes in the first leg last week at stamford bridge. and that is why real, the greatest european team of all time, are into the semifinals. olly foster, bbc news, madrid. the northern ireland women's manager kenny shiels has been criticised after saying women are more emotional than men — leading to them conceding goals quicker. it came after his side lost 5—0 to england in women's world cup qualifying. sheils said, "when a team concedes a goal, they concede a second one in a very, very short space of time. right through the whole spectrum of the women's game, because girls and women are more emotional than men. so, they don't take a goal going in very well." former england keeper siobhan chamberlain described shiels' remarks as bizarre, adding he should know the value words can hold, whilst former arsenal and england striker ian wright said shiels was talking foolishness. his comments followed the end of northern ireland's hopes of qualifying for a first world cup finals. lauren hemp and georgia stanway here both scoring twice for england in front of a record crowd for a women's international at windsor park. scotland's outside hopes of automatic qualification are over, as they were beaten 2—0 by spain at hampden park. jennifer hermoso scored in each half to seal top spot in group b for the visitors while scotland remain second, in a play—off position, with two games remaining. wales manager gemma grainger described natasha harding's goal on her 100th cap as a perfect story. a 3—0 win over kazakhstan takes wales up to second in group i, with a play—off spot now in their own hands. that's all the sport for now. more from us a little later on. three women, who were groomed and raped as children by gangs of men in rochdale, have received an apology from greater manchester police after a ten—year battle. chief constable stephen watson said the force failed to protect them or properly investigate their abusers at the time. phil mccann reports. after dark in rochdale, and unseen by the authorities, and by theirfamilies, girls like daisy were being abused. she was 12. i had one shoe, no coat, it was freezing and the police officers picked me up and said, "what's happened?" i said these men had taken me in the car and asked for sex. he said, "what's their names?" "i only know nicknames." the police didn't even take me to the police station to question me, they didn't even ask for the phone numbers, they took me home to my dad and said, "keep your daughter in." in fact, daisy found herself arrested dozens of times for being drunk and disorderly. none of her abusers were arrested. daisy, which is not her real name, spoke to us two years ago, as she launched a civil action against greater manchester police. how did all these authorities get away with it? calling a child a prostitute? people say we are suing for compensation. that's not the truth. i want the police to be held accountable for what they've done, for their failings, for their misconduct, for not being there. can you get down, please, or else i'm going to have to ask you to leave? daisy is one of three victims who have won substantial damages from the force. another had her story depicted in the bbc drama three girls, where she was called ruby. billy what? don't know. if he's your boyfriend, do you not think it's a bit strange you don't know his last name? in their legal claim, the women argued the police breached their human rights by failing to investigate offenders, failing to record crimes, and failing to collect intelligence. we took legal action against the police force on the basis that they had failed to protect them against degrading and inhuman treatment. greater manchester's chief constable would not do interviews but in a statement, he said the force could and should have done much more. he added, "we are committed to leaving no stone unturned to bring these offenders to justice, no matter the passage of time." the claims were settled before getting to court. a claim against the crown prosecution service is still ongoing. daisy said, "i don't know if i believe that greater manchester police have really changed their ways, but i'm happy that they have taken into account their failings and there has finally been some accountability." that report was from phil mccann. the government has announced that it has reached an agreement with the housing industry to contribute a sum of £5 billion towards building safety measures, following the grenfell tower tragedy in 2017, where more than 70 people died. a widespread inquiry into flammable rooftop covering or cladding has been under way since the incident. joining now is news correspondent james reynolds. just talk us through the agreement? there are essentially two parts to it, the first is this, 35 major developers have pledged to spend up to £2 billion fixing potentially dangerous problems in buildings they themselves developed over the last 30 years. that is the first bit. the second bit is a building safety levy which will be levied on buildings which will be levied on buildings which need significant restoration on developers and this is for a ten year period on buildings over 11 metres tall. the idea behind all of this is to get developers to pay for fixing buildings and not leaseholders because of course, as you will know, since the grenfell fire in 2017 in which 72 people were killed, there has been profound worried by leaseholders that they might have to pay the bill. it now looks according to this particular pledge that developers themselves will have to pay the bill. find pledge that developers themselves will have to pay the bill.— will have to pay the bill. and that will have to pay the bill. and that will be a significant _ will have to pay the bill. and that will be a significant relief - will have to pay the bill. and that will be a significant relief to - will have to pay the bill. and that| will be a significant relief to many people who feel effectively trapped in their properties because of this hanging over them? it in their properties because of this hanging over them?— in their properties because of this hanging over them? it will. i think the will hanging over them? it will. i think they will have _ hanging over them? it will. i think they will have significant - they will have significant questions, though, particularly on the building safety levy which is meant to cover the cost for developers who cannot be found, the so—called orphan blocks. how long will it take to fix their problems? will they be able to sell their houses in the meantime? some campaign groups have said they have tracked pledge after pledge in recent years and want to make sure nothing. ruin the detail this time. just take us back to the grenfell fire itself where all of this started. , :: ' fire itself where all of this started. , ::' ., , ., fire itself where all of this started. , ii' . , ., ., fire itself where all of this started. ::' ., ., started. june 2017, anyone who was watchin: started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at — started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at the _ started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at the time _ started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at the time i _ started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at the time i don't - started. june 2017, anyone who was watching at the time i don't think i watching at the time i don't think will ever be able to forget the pictures of grenfell tower in west london in flames. the grenfell tower inquiry has found there were significant issues on the cladding and flammability of that cladding, and flammability of that cladding, and significantly notjust found in grenfell, there were potential problems in many other high—rise and medium rise buildings in the country which is why this problem has expanded since then.- which is why this problem has expanded since then. thank you for 'oinin: us. expanded since then. thank you for joining us- james — expanded since then. thank you for joining us. james reynolds, - expanded since then. thank you for joining us. james reynolds, there. | police in new york have named a person of interest, after a morning rush—hour shooting at a subway station left more than 20 people injured. authorities want to speak to 62—year—old frank rjames in connection to the incident. david willis reports. panic on a packed subway train at the height of the morning rush hour. screaming. passengers were sent spilling onto the platform after a gunman detonated smoke bombs between stations and fired 33 times before the doors opened. he fled to the sound of screams, and the sight of people collapsing, bloodied and wounded. i saw a lot of people coming out of the train station, screaming, yelling for help. i saw a lady, she was shot right in her leg. police have released these pictures of a man they want to interview in connection with the attack. he's 62—year—old frankjames, and on monday, he rented a van that was found abandoned about five miles from the scene of the shooting. keys and a credit card discovered on the train linked mrjames to the vehicle, but officials are not saying if he is a suspect in the case. the suspect is a dark skinned male, and was wearing a neon orange vest and a grey coloured sweatshirt. we do have a person of interest in this investigation. but we need the public�*s assistance with additional information. detectives recovered a handgun, additional smoke grenades, gasoline and a hatchet at the scene at the attack. they believe the gun may have jammed, preventing what might otherwise have been a far more serious incident. new york has seen a sharp rise in shootings recently but the city's mayor says such violence is not confined to the big apple. police believe the man who carried out this attack may also have been responsible for a series of vitriolic rants on social media, some of them attacking the mayor. his security has been beefed up as a result, and a massive manhunt is now under way. david willis, bbc news, los angeles. let's get more on the cost of living. there's been a warning that students and graduates in england will pay up to 12% interest on their loans this autumn, up from the current 4.5%. that s because it's calculated using the retail price index measure of inflation — plus 3%. our education editor is branwen jeffreys. that is an eye watering figure but it will be a short, sharp spike because in march it will come back down to around 7%, march next year. why these fluctuations? it is really hard for people to understand. it is because it is linked to inflation. we have just been hearing about prices going up across the board and the interest rate of student loans is calculated by using one of those inflation measures called the rpi, the retail price index, plus 3%. so the price of everything goes up, the interest rates on student loans go up. the institute for fiscal studies says over 30 years of your loans, these spikes, these ups and downs, will not make a huge difference, but they are worried it could deter some students looking at going to university this autumn or that some graduates could think, "wow, i should raid my savings and pay down my loan," which financially would not make sense. for most people long term, this will not be a huge impact. joining me now is peter taylor—gooby, who is a professor of social policy at the university of kent and also one of the trustees at the canterbury foodbank. thank you forjoining us. it is a thank you for 'oining us. it is a pleasure. — thank you for 'oining us. it is a pleasure. to _ thank you forjoining us. it is a pleasure. to let's _ thank you forjoining us. it is a pleasure. to let's talk - thank you forjoining us. it is a pleasure. to let's talk about i pleasure. to let's talk about inflation and _ pleasure. to let's talk about inflation and the _ pleasure. to let's talk about inflation and the rising - pleasure. to let's talk about inflation and the rising cost| pleasure. to let's talk about i inflation and the rising cost of living, focusing first on food, we spoke to a restaurant owner in the last hour who was talking about the price of some of his ingredients going up 40—50%, this headline figure of 7%, he laughed when he heard it and he said he would welcome it if his prices were only going up 7%. let's focus on food, what impact of the price rises having? what impact of the price rises havin: ? ~ ., , what impact of the price rises havinu? ~ . , ., , what impact of the price rises havinu? ~ ., , . , ., having? we are seeing many more --eole having? we are seeing many more peeple coming _ having? we are seeing many more peeple coming to _ having? we are seeing many more people coming to us, _ having? we are seeing many more people coming to us, demand - having? we are seeing many more people coming to us, demand is i people coming to us, demand is really going up very rapidly and that has been the case really since last october when there was universal credit cut. but since then, we have had these big increases in fuel prices and they have fared through with other factors into the price of food. and also we have had the impact of the fact that supermarkets are finding it much more difficult to keep the discounts going on there cheaper items so it is a big impact on household budgets at the bottom end. and what has happened for us is that demand for food parcels and what has happened for us is that demand forfood parcels is really rocketing up and that has been the case since last october and a big spike up over christmas, went down a bit injanuary but since then, it has actually gone up by around about a third in terms of demand. 50 a third in terms of demand. so demand is up by a third and with no sign of inflation slowing down at the moment, are you expecting that to continue, for things to continue to continue, for things to continue to get worse?— to continue, for things to continue i to get worse?_ what to get worse? yes, definitely. what can be done — to get worse? yes, definitely. what can be done about _ to get worse? yes, definitely. what can be done about that? _ to get worse? yes, definitely. what can be done about that? well, - to get worse? yes, definitely. what can be done about that? well, this| can be done about that? well, this is really up — can be done about that? well, this is really up to _ can be done about that? well, this is really up to the _ can be done about that? well, this is really up to the government. - can be done about that? well, this i is really up to the government. they have to look at seriously reducing the rise in fuel prices. that means finding much better ways of giving people discounts on their bills than they have got so far. the discounts they have got so far. the discounts they have got so far. the discounts they have arranged so far are relatively small in relation to the way bills are going up. they have got to increase that. so they have got to increase that. so they have got to increase that. so they have got to get some money from somewhere. the possibilities are a windfall tax on energy suppliers, who are doing very well and have done very well over the last year. but i think they have got to be much more imaginative about tax. what they have done is the big national insurance like which really hits working people worse. —— national insurance hike. they need to think about taxing wealth. people who are seriously rich with money invested in the stock exchange has been doing very well indeed for the last ten years or so, and taxes in that area are not well enforced and are not increasing anything like taxes on working people are.— working people are. well, those chan . es, working people are. well, those changes, moving _ working people are. well, those changes, moving away - working people are. well, those changes, moving away from - working people are. well, those| changes, moving away from that taxing people who are working and moving towards the taxing of wealth, what chances do you think those changes come in?— what chances do you think those changes come in? absolutely zero, under this government. _ changes come in? absolutely zero, under this government. so - changes come in? absolutely zero, under this government. so are - changes come in? absolutely zero, i under this government. so are there an other under this government. so are there any other changes, _ under this government. so are there any other changes, if _ under this government. so are there any other changes, if they _ under this government. so are there any other changes, if they think - under this government. so are there any other changes, if they think you | any other changes, if they think you are recommending you don't actually think will work, are there any other leavers that can be pulled? i think will work, are there any other leavers that can be pulled?- leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxinu leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxing of— leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxing of when _ leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxing of when full— leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxing of when full gains - leavers that can be pulled? i think the taxing of when full gains for i the taxing of when full gains for energy companies is realistic. fik. energy companies is realistic. 0k. they would _ energy companies is realistic. 0k. they would not — energy companies is realistic. ok. they would not go out of business, they would continue to supply energy and we could put that money into discounting energy bills. {lila and we could put that money into discounting energy bills. 0k, thank ou ve discounting energy bills. 0k, thank you very much _ discounting energy bills. 0k, thank you very much for _ discounting energy bills. 0k, thank you very much for coming - discounting energy bills. 0k, thank you very much for coming on - discounting energy bills. 0k, thank you very much for coming on and i you very much for coming on and talking to us. health officials say they're investigating a spike in cases of hepatitis in children in the uk. 7a infections have been registered since the start of the year. doctors say they can't rule out a link with covid—i9 cases. our health correspondent naomi grimley has been following the story. hepatitis is an umbrella term in this case for inflammation of the liver and normally, you might expect to find certain viruses behind those cases, but actually, in these particular cases, and you have mentioned there have been 7a detected, they have not been able to find the usual viruses. and so that is leading to this sort of medical mystery, to find out what is behind them, and there are various theories. one is that possibly it is to do with covid but they are not sure about that, and another one, which seems to be their main line of enquiry for health officials, is that it might be to do with another family of viruses, adenoviruses, which normally cause things like colds, diarrhoea and vomiting but in rare cases, it can also cause hepatitis. china is in the centre of its most serious covid outbreak to date with shanghai at the epicentre. the government has permitted lockdown policies to intermittent zero cove goal but the result has been a crisis of food and shortages with children separated from their parents and so false. such challenges are challenging the communist party's credibility. robin brant reports. more than two years after covid first emerged here, china is still trying to keep it out and this is how it is doing it. tens of thousands of people forced into government—run quarantine. in one of china's most advanced cities, the conditions for some are awful. translation: the moment i really broke down was when i entered - the cabin hospital. we spoke to this 26—year—old, she tested positive a few days ago. in china, symptoms or no symptoms, you are forced to quarantine. we were first assigned to the shared area. the conditions were terrible. my roommate and i had two camp beds and there was only one bathroom and one wash basin on each floor. many slept next to each other. i was terrified, i broke down and cried. forced quarantine is one of two often brutal measures that china is using to try to beat covid. the other is citywide lockdowns. i am two weeks into the one here, along with the other 25 million people who live in shanghai. for many, that means you can't step out of your gate and for some, it means you cannot even go beyond your front door. also daily worries about food, for some, even about water. for some, the plight is now desperate, a battle to place an order on your phone or a fight with the authorities, alljust to get food in. seeing videos of communist party officials berated like this is rare here, but the party is digging in. everyone is being repeatedly tested, but this has become less about science. it is now a battle between a resurgent virus and communist party credibility. every province in this country has been told to prepare facilities like this, as fears of a wave spread. old, young and, up until a few days ago, babies, all quarantined on their own. in china, it is the price they pay, the sacrifice they make. the official figures suggest the confirmed cases may have started to fall yesterday but tipped up again today. those figures also claim there has not been a single covid death this time round, not one. no one has officially died here from covid and zero covid remains the goal. china is still determined to prove it can beat nature. robin brant, bbc news, locked down in shanghai. the scottish author douglas stuart won the booker prize in 2020 with his first novel shuggie bain — a harrowing account of his own childhood in glasgow, with his alcoholic mother. his second book — published this week — is called young mungo. it's about two young teenage boys who fall in love in glasgow in the '80s in a world of homophobia, violence and sectarianism. our arts correpondent rebecca jones has been to meet the author. glasgow in the 1970s, a city with cramped council flat and rundown housing estate. unemployment was high, prospects were low, with the young all too often written off. it is highlighted by this news report of a visit to a youth centre by princess anne. unless things improve dramatically, gary's chances of getting a job in a few years' time are woefully slim. this is the world that douglas stuart grew up in. his mother, a single parent, was an alcoholic. the family was poor and relied on benefits. my mother was forever doing a type of mother's math, where she was paying maybe the gas bill but not paying the electric bill, where she was feeding us but she couldn't pay for clothes. whatever it was, we never had enough money to go around. but douglas stuart also had a secret. he was gay. i liked dolls. i liked skipping rope. i was the class champion at skipping rope! i remember being about six or seven and it was a wet wednesday, and the boys just sort of looked at me in this classroom and said, "what is wrong with you?" his troubled childhood inspired his new novel, young mungo, a gay love story about two teenagers who dream of a different way of life, just like douglas stuart. he finished school, studied textiles, became a fashion designer in new york and eventually started writing. shuggie bain by douglas stuart. and he won the booker prize in 2020 with his first novel. yet for all his success, doubts remain. i think i have always felt a little bit of an imposter my whole life. we can't ever underestimate what childhood trauma does to people and how it can undermine their confidence. and i try to be very candid and very honest in saying that i still carry a lot of that with me. i have a lot of chips on my shoulder. and he worries writers from similar backgrounds still face too many obstacles. you can't possibly understand this country unless you are fairly represented with working—class voices — because we are such a massive part of the population. and i think for any working—class creative, whether that is fashion or literature, there are going to be so many more barriers for you and things that you are going to have to overcome. one barrierfor him was growing up in a house with no books. they were too expensive. i haven't seen this before. it is amazing! an even greater thrill then to hold his own new novel in his hand for the first time. some breaking news now out of ukraine from reuters which concerns sanctions. the uk sanctions 178 russian separatists in breakaway regions in ukraine. a bit more detailfrom this. the uk says regions in ukraine. a bit more detail from this. the uk says the new sanctions also target oligarchs�* family members, close associates and employees, so again, new details about yet more sanctions introduced ljy about yet more sanctions introduced by the uk. the uk says secondary legislation to be later this week banning the import of steel and iron products and the export of luxury goods. so a new secondary legislation is to be laid in the uk and this week, it would effectively ban the import of steel and iron products and also the export of luxury goods. when we get a bit more detail on those latest rounds of sanctions, we will of course bring them to you. ok, time to take a look at the weather now. hello again. temperatures today are going to be that bit higher than they were yesterday, more or less across the board. we�*ve got a fair bit of cloud around, but that�*s continuing to break up. we will see further showers develop, some of those in the south and south—east could prove to be heavy and also thundery. and we�*ve got rain moving up into the northern isles. temperatures seven to about 19 degrees, but feeling as cool along the north sea coastline today as it did yesterday. now, through this evening and overnight, low cloud, mist and fog will lap onshore across the west of the country and through the english channel, and some of that will push inland. we also have a weather front coming into the west which will deposit some rain in the west of northern ireland overnight as well. and it�*s going to be a cooler night than last night. so, we start off with the mist, the low cloud and the fog — a lot of that burning back towards the coastline, where it�*s likely to linger. we�*ll also have some rain coming across northern ireland and western scotland. but there will still be some sunshine, and temperatures getting up to 20. sector of our defence would have reserves to move on in case needed. this is bbc news. the headlines: prices are rising at their fastest rate for 30 years — with higher costs for fuel and food pushing inflation to 7%. graduates in england will pay up to 12% interest on their loans this autumn — nearly triple the current rate. i�*m annita mcveigh, live in downing street. the prime minister and the chancellor both continue to resist calls to quit — despite being fined by police for attending parties in lockdown. there�*s no sign of parliament being recalled to discuss it, and conservative mps are staying mostly loyal to boris johnson and rishi sunak. the opposition are continuing their calls for the pair to quit. it was wrong, he has apologised, he is accepted responsibility, paid the 50 quid fine, and his completely overhauled number ten since then. they are totally distracted and not able to do theirjob because they are spending more time justifying themselves and the parties they have been going to rather than focusing on the issues that we need them to address as a country. also this lunchtime... president biden has — for the first time — accused vladimir putin of committing genocide in ukraine. three, two... and thunderbirds are go! the theme tune to the classic children�*s show — as well as others from the �*50s and �*60s — will be performed by a live orchestra for the first time. our top story this lunchtime... inflation has reached a 30—year high, driven by the soaring prices of food and fuel. the cost of living increased by 7% in the year to march, the fastest rate for 30 years. the inflation figures are up from 6.2% in february 2022. inflation is expected to rise even further after the energy price cap was increased, driving up gas and electricity bills for millions. the office for national statistics said the biggest contributor to rising inflation was transport, with average petrol prices rising by 12.6p per litre between february and march, the largest monthly rise since records began in 1990. our personal finance correspondent kevin peachey is here. so lots of numbers in there, can you tell us what it all really means? it means the cost of living squeeze is getting considerably tighter. as you say, a 7% rise in prices over the year, and those rises are accelerating. so economists and various commentators expecting those price rises to accelerate as the year goes on before, perhaps, slowing a little. what�*s truly important to remember is that earlier this week we heard that benefits and the state pension and also wages are not rising at that same rate, they are not keeping pace, and as a result that is why people are feeling and are a little worse off. and that is putting great pressure on people�*s budgets. as you also mentioned, what�*s really important is these are figures from march, so they don�*t factor in the extra costs that people are going to face from rising energy bills. so the price cap going up by 5a%, so the price cap going up by 5a%, so the average energy bill going up to around £2000 a year. now, energy and the cost of energy is pervasive, so it goes on to businesses as well. businesses don�*t have a price cap to protect them, unlike domestic households. as a result, they are putting their prices up to pay for those energy costs, and that means all consumers are facing those extra costs as well. all consumers are facing those extra costs as well-— costs as well. you mentioned that's rrot factoring _ costs as well. you mentioned that's rrot factoring in _ costs as well. you mentioned that's not factoring in things _ costs as well. you mentioned that's not factoring in things like - costs as well. you mentioned that's not factoring in things like the - not factoring in things like the price cap rise, that basically means everyone expects things to get worse? , ., �* worse? they do. and even the official forecast _ worse? they do. and even the official forecast is _ worse? they do. and even the official forecast is saying - worse? they do. and even the official forecast is saying in i official forecast is saying in the inflation rate is going to get higher as the year goes on. before perhaps falling back. if we look at some of the factors by these price rises, as you mention, filling up the car with petrol has got more expensive, things like fats and oils got more expensive. that�*s a lot to do with international factors at the moment, of course. as we go on, the big rise in energy bills as well. generally it is the necessity is that are getting more expensive, and when we look at these figures there isn�*t really anything that�*s falling considerably in price, so when we look across household budgets as a whole then things are getting more expensive. that�*s why charities are saying if you are facing real financial strain and you think you are going to get into unmanageable debt, then you need to seek help early. debt, then you need to seek help earl . . debt, then you need to seek help earl. ., , . debt, then you need to seek help earl. . , . ., debt, then you need to seek help earl. ., , . ., ., early. thanks very much. not an optimistic _ early. thanks very much. not an optimistic picture _ early. thanks very much. not an optimistic picture at _ early. thanks very much. not an optimistic picture at all. - for more on how inflation will affeect consumers�* spending habits, i�*m joined by linda ellett, uk head of consumer markets, leisure & retail at kpmg. thank you very much for coming on the programme. consumers, given everything we�*ve just been talked through by kevan, prices going up, their own bills going up, does this mean presumably they are not going to be going out and spending as much in the shops?— in the shops? absolutely. nearly every consumer _ in the shops? absolutely. nearly every consumer is _ in the shops? absolutely. nearly every consumer is having - in the shops? absolutely. nearly every consumer is having to - in the shops? absolutely. nearly every consumer is having to lookj in the shops? absolutely. nearly i every consumer is having to look at what they consider to be essential and nonessential spend. we know consumers are looking to cut back on clothing, things like eating out and take a ways, but even to the point where they are having to look at their weekly food shop and see if there are ways they can cut back their spending as part of that. and we are seeing a real pattern in terms of there is still growth on the high street but we need to remember we are comparing year—on—year to a period during the pandemic last year, and that growth is definitely slowing, and as was just mentioned, we�*re going to see further inflation over next coming months as well. so consumers having a tough time trying to make choices over where they spend their money. on the flip side, the businesses that want people to come out and shop with them or spend with them, they themselves have got huge increases in costs, and their decision is how much of those to pass on to consumers. absolutely. in the same way — pass on to consumers. absolutely. in the same way as _ pass on to consumers. absolutely. in the same way as consumers - pass on to consumers. absolutely. in the same way as consumers were - the same way as consumers were facing higher energy costs, all businesses are facing that as well and they have to factor that into their production of the goods and services that we buy. many businesses are also finding with the crisis in ukraine that is disrupting their supply chains, so that�*s costing them more to potentially get goods through and in some cases they can�*t bring the goods in that they need to for their supply chain. all of this is putting huge pressure on costs for businesses. but no business wants to start off by putting prices up, so they are doing a lot of work to try to find where they can squeeze costs out of their own business. but ultimately many are in a position where they do have to pass those prices on to consumers and that is what we are seeing coming through and all the categories in the index. he void hinted at it, what other businesses that tend to get hit hardest, that suffer the most when these go up? i think all businesses suffer with this and those with the most international supply chains have really suffered over the last few years with the pandemic and now with the crisis in ukraine. but all those producing goods are using energy in doing that and they are experiencing that. i think obviously for smaller businesses it is harder to manage, but i think even at the bigger end businesses are struggling to match that price they would like to charge the consumer and the cost of producing those goods. so it�*s absolutely across the board. producing those goods. so it's absolutely across the board. thank ou ve absolutely across the board. thank you very much- _ the impact of this is being felt all over the place. including student loans. there�*s been a warning that students and graduates in england will pay up to 12% interest on their loans this autumn, up from the current 4.5%. that s because its calculated using the retail price index measure of inflation — plus 3%. our education editor is branwenjeffreys. that is an eye watering figure but it will be a short, sharp spike because in march it will come back down to around 7%, march next year. why these fluctuations? it is really hard for people to understand. it is because it is linked to inflation. we have been hearing about prices going up across the board and the interest rate of student loans is calculated by using one of those inflation measures call the rpi, the retail price index, plus 3%. so the price of everything goes up, the interest rates on student loans go up. the institute for fiscal studies says over 30 years of your loans, the spikes, these ups and downs, will not make a huge difference, but they are worried it could deter some students looking at going to university this autumn or that some graduates could think, wow, i should raid my savings and pay down my loan, which financially would not make sense. for most people long term this will not be a huge impact. we�*ll be taking your questions this afternoon on what can be done about the rising cost of living so if you�*re worried about the squeeze on your household budget amid soaring food and fuel prices. get in touch and we�*ll put your questions to a panel of experts at 3.30. you can contact us on twitter using the hashtag bbc your questions — and you can email us on yourquestions@bbc.co.uk a conservative backbencher has become the first of borisjohnson�*s own mps to publicly call for him to quit since he was fined for breaking covid rules. mrjohnson and the chancellor, rishi sunak, have both apologised after they received fixed penalty notices for attending a party during lockdown. the tory mp for amber valley, nigel mills, said the public should accept higher standards from its leaders. let�*s cross again to annita at downing street. we won�*t do that, we�*ll come back to events in westminster in a moment. we are going to cross live to the old bailey in london where we are due to get the sentencing of the person convicted of murdering sir david amis mp. we cross now live to andrew who is outside the old bailey. what are the details? in the last minute — bailey. what are the details? in the last minute also _ bailey. what are the details? in the last minute also the _ bailey. what are the details? in the last minute also the perpetrator - bailey. what are the details? in true: last minute also the perpetrator was given a whole life sentence for the murder, that means he will never be eligible for parole and will spend the rest of his life in prison. the judge during that sentencing commending the bravery of the amis family. he said the perpetrator had shown a cowardly refusal to face up to his guilt. whole life sentences and not unheard of, particularly where terrorism is involved, if you remember the man convicted of killing the mpjo cox was also handed a whole life sentence, the judge deciding today this is also in that extremely serious category. we now that mr ali tricked his way into a meeting with mr amis. he went aimed to wed armed with her knife and stabbed mr amis more than 20 times. but of that plan was also to die himself that day, he wanted to be shot by armed police. but the first two police officers on the scene were armed only with batons and an in capacitance spray, and they managed to overpower alii and arrest him. it has a wedge over the last few weeks of his trial that he had become what police call self radicalised, he had until about 2014 been a good student, he�*d been taking a degree in medical studies, but dropped out in 2014 when he started reading about islamic state online, started researching a trip to syria, that in the end decided that was too difficultjourney to syria, that in the end decided that was too difficult journey to make and he would in his own words, fight for muslims here in the uk. it wasn�*tjust sir david he began to research an attack on. in fact, he looked into more than a dozen mps, including the labour leader sir keir starmer and michael gove. you made reconnaissance missions to peoples houses, he even visited the houses of parliament on several occasions. that may have been part of his plan of attack but he decided it was too well guarded and instead look for a constituency office where he could launch his attack. thejudge constituency office where he could launch his attack. the judge today said sir david dedicated his life to public service, he said his loss of his national significance and this was a murder that struck at the very heart of democracy. ali harbi ali today sentenced to the rest of his life in prison. just today sentenced to the rest of his life in prison-— life in prison. just in the last few moments or— life in prison. just in the last few moments or so, _ life in prison. just in the last few moments or so, so _ life in prison. just in the last few moments or so, so i _ life in prison. just in the last few moments or so, so i know - life in prison. just in the last fewl moments or so, so i know there's life in prison. just in the last few- moments or so, so i know there's not moments or so, so i know there�*s not much reaction yet, but what reaction are we expecting? indie much reaction yet, but what reaction are we exoecting?— much reaction yet, but what reaction are we expecting? we have spoken to the cps today. _ are we expecting? we have spoken to the cps today, they _ are we expecting? we have spoken to the cps today, they did _ are we expecting? we have spoken to the cps today, they did before - are we expecting? we have spoken to the cps today, they did before this i the cps today, they did before this case seem fairly sure this would be whole life sentence. they did compare to the murder ofjo cox back in 2016. the murder of an mp, of course, striking right at the heart of democracy. so i don�*t think they will be surprised to hear that this has come back as a whole life sentence. we have seen sir david�*s family court for the duration of this trial. they were sitting next to ali harbi ali as he was given the guilty verdict of murder on monday. thejudge in fact guilty verdict of murder on monday. the judge in fact telling the jury before they went out that there was no defence to murder, and in fact they tookjust 18 minutes to come back and decide that he was guilty of murder. it�*s then just taken another two days for the sentencing to come through. the judge another two days for the sentencing to come through. thejudge inside has been speaking for round about 45 minutes, just recapping some of the history of this case, what he said todayis history of this case, what he said today is that this was an attack on a politician who should have been safe, was trying to serve as constituency members that day, and had no idea that there was an attack about to be launched against him. we�*ll get reaction of course over the next few minutes or so, but for now ali harbi ali sentence to the rest of his life behind bars, given a whole life sentence here at the old bailey. a whole life sentence here at the old ltailey-_ a whole life sentence here at the old baile ., , ., , ., old bailey. just over your shoulder, we will exolain _ old bailey. just over your shoulder, we will explain there _ old bailey. just over your shoulder, we will explain there are cameras i we will explain there are cameras gathered there and this is a different view of it on the opposite side of the street. we are expecting reaction there, and those doors will open, various people coming out. we are expecting people connected with the case to come out and give a statement there on these steps, straight outside the old bailey in central london. we will come back to the live picture when we do get any statements outside court there. for now let�*s go back to westminster. you heard me previously introducing the latest with boris johnson, you heard me previously introducing the latest with borisjohnson, rishi sunak and theirfines. sunak and their fines. welcome sunak and theirfines. welcome back to sunak and their fines. welcome back to downing street. very confused conservative mps voicing the view this morning that the prime minister should step down. we�*ve heard from nigel mills who is a conservative mp for amber valley and we will play a clip of what he had a sane a few minutes�* time, saying he didn�*t think the prime minister can and should survive because it broke rules. we�*ve also heard from siobhan bailey, the mp for stroud, who hasn�*t made it clear yet whether she will support the prime minister. she said she is going to listen to her constituents over the easter break and then consult parliamentary colleagues after the easter recess is over. but the great majority of mps that we�*ve heard from, conservative mps with her from, are saying that now is not the right time of the prime minister to go. borisjohnson are the chancellor are resisting those calls to resign from other quarters after they were fined, along with borisjohnson�*s wife for breaking the code lockdown laws. they all received a fixed penalty notices for being at a birthday party for the prime minister in number 10 downing street. and that was when gatherings of more than two people indoors were banned. as a result, mrjohnson became the uk�*s first serving pro—minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law. all three have apologised, but both the prime minister and rishi sunak have rejected calls to resign. meanwhile opposition leaders have accused mr johnson and mr sue knack of lying to the public after they both previously denied any wrongdoing. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, reports. the two men at the heart of government are now found to have broken the lockdown laws they set, designed to keep people safe during the pandemic. # happy birthday to you # june 2020, and borisjohnson visited a school on his birthday, which was allowed under the rules in place at the time. but later he attended a gathering in the cabinet room of number 10, which police have decided broke the rules. rules which the prime minister has previously denied had been broken. i have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party, and that... and that no covid rules were broken and that is what i have been repeatedly assured. yesterday, though, he accepted the police findings and offered an apology. i understand the anger that many will feel that i myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government i lead had introduced to protect the public, and i accept in all sincerity that people have the right to expect better. and now i feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the british people. the chancellor, also fined for his attendance at the cabinet room gathering, was asked earlier this year what he knew of any events that may have broken the rules. for the record, chancellor, you knew of nothing of any of these gatherings, even one that happened outside that window? people think i�*m standing out here looking outside that window. i spent half my time in the treasury as well as working here. but what i was focused on at that time, as were many people was making sure that we could help the country through a period of enormous anxiety and it was incredibly busy. yesterday, he offered an unreserved apology, saying... for those who followed the rules and lost loved ones to covid, apologies are not enough. this man, a man of honour, voted for you, and i actually believe you let him down. you let me down. i was really angry, but also very upset that he would think that that was ok. you see, you got to survive, boris — my husband didn�*t. and it smacks to me, as somebody who really thinks he�*s above everybody else. and i didn�*t think that�*s who he was. conservative mps, even those critical of borisjohnson in the past, argue that with war in ukraine, now is not the time for a leadership challenge. but opposition parties were quick to call for both men to go. this is the first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be in breach of the law and then he lied repeatedly to the public about it. britain deserves better. they have to go. if you lie to parliament, then you resign. there is no ifs, there is no buts. they must go, and they must go immediately so we can - get fresh leadership. the police investigation into parties in whitehall continues, meaning there could be more fines for government figures to come. and the civil servant sue grey�*s report is yet to be published in full. so the prime minister and the chancellor have survived a difficult day — but the partygate saga is unlikely to be over. jonathan blake, bbc news. i mentioned the conservative mp nigel mills a few moments ago, and speaking to bbc radio derby earlier he said he thinks the prime minister should step down. in all conscience, i don�*t think a prime minister can survive or should survive breaking the rules he put in place and he was on the tv every few nights, reminding us all that we should observe. i just... we have to have higher standards than that of people at the top. he has been fined. i don�*t think his position is tenable, in my view. joining me now is professor sirjohn curtice, polling expert and political analyst from strathclyde university. good to have you here. what is the polling saying about all of this because ultimately it�*s going to be public opinion, well it certainly looks like it�*s going to be, at the may elections that may cause some sort of all this. indie may elections that may cause some sort of all this.— sort of all this. we had three instant polls _ sort of all this. we had three instant polls of— sort of all this. we had three instant polls of the _ sort of all this. we had three instant polls of the public's i instant polls of the public�*s reaction to party gate conducted yesterday afternoon and published yesterday afternoon and published yesterday evening. between them they found between 5761% of people saying the prime minister should resign, though amongst those who voted conservative in 2019 the figures were much lower. government polls put it around 25%. the way to read these figures is to compare them both with what the public were saying back in december and january when the partygate rail first emerged and when there was clearly a lot of heat in the argument, but also with the pulse of the last couple of weeks which have also asked people what the premise should do. as compared with december and january, those numbers are rather lower, particularly so amongst conservative voters, back then around 40% at the height of the rare were saying the pro—minister should resign. howeverthe were saying the pro—minister should resign. however the numbers for all voters are certainly higher than they were in polling done immediately before yesterday, then it was running at about 52% of the general public saying the pro—minister should resign, so probably some people have been moved back into the resign camp in the wake of yesterday�*s announcement, but the numbers are not quite as high as they were at the height of the party gate rail.— high as they were at the height of the party gate rail. we've talked a lot over the _ the party gate rail. we've talked a lot over the last _ the party gate rail. we've talked a lot over the last couple _ the party gate rail. we've talked a lot over the last couple of- the party gate rail. we've talked a lot over the last couple of years i lot over the last couple of years about those redwall seats, but it might be quite instructive to look at constituencies where there is a close race between the conservatives and lib dems, for example, and whether this sort of polling might reflect on conservatives losing seats those areas? the reflect on conservatives losing seats those areas?— reflect on conservatives losing seats those areas? the truth is that before yesterday _ seats those areas? the truth is that before yesterday what _ seats those areas? the truth is that before yesterday what perhaps - seats those areas? the truth is that before yesterday what perhaps is i seats those areas? the truth is that l before yesterday what perhaps is the real legacy of partygate, which is the conservatives being well behind in the polls, well behind labour at least, is still very much with us. again, priorto least, is still very much with us. again, prior to yesterday, least, is still very much with us. again, priorto yesterday, on average the tories were six points behind labour in the polls, lib dems weighing about 10%, conservatives at 34, labourat weighing about 10%, conservatives at 34, labour at 40. the labour lead was widening in advance of yesterday. sure, in places where that adult parts of the borough of south—west london, they may be hoping profit from the position, low position even before yesterday. that said, we should bear in mind that the conservatives will not be defending the 45% they got in 2019 or the 12 point lead they held over labour, actually back in 2018 when the local elections were last held conservatives and labour were pretty much neck and neck, so although there is likely to be a swing to labour and there is likely to be conservative losses, they won�*t necessarily be on the kind of ground there were a grand scale that would necessarily immediately impel panic amongst tory mps, even if the labour lead work to widen more, the lib dems to advance more, in the wake of yesterday�*s announcement. hour dems to advance more, in the wake of yesterday's announcement.— yesterday's announcement. how much do ou yesterday's announcement. how much do you think — yesterday's announcement. how much do you think this _ yesterday's announcement. how much do you think this is _ yesterday's announcement. how much do you think this is about _ yesterday's announcement. how much do you think this is about people - do you think this is about people moving on, to quote some conservative politicians, moving on from covid? how much is this about people going along with the idea that this is not the right time for a change of leadership, given the war in ukraine? the a change of leadership, given the war in ukraine?— war in ukraine? the truth is that amonust war in ukraine? the truth is that amongst those _ war in ukraine? the truth is that amongst those who _ war in ukraine? the truth is that amongst those who voted - war in ukraine? the truth is that - amongst those who voted conservative there were always plenty, even back in january, there were always plenty, even back injanuary, who said whatever may or may not have been done wrong in 10 downing street during the coronavirus regulations, there is so much else the prime minister got right that we think he should be returning, and that is helping to keep the prime minister afloat and he more generally is not as unpopular as he was at that time. other considerations, ukraine, but the other very basic one as far as conservative mps are concerned, is there a local elections at the beginning of may, so even if conservative mps do have their doubts about whether the prime minister has a long shelf life as prime minister, they are not going to move against him now because frankly activists and local councillors would not thank them for putting the party into the middle of a leadership crisis just as putting the party into the middle of a leadership crisisjust as many loyal conservative is trying to retain their position on the local council. . ~ retain their position on the local council. ., ~ , ., , . ., council. thank you very much for our council. thank you very much for your thoughts — council. thank you very much for your thoughts on _ council. thank you very much for your thoughts on this _ council. thank you very much for your thoughts on this story. - council. thank you very much for your thoughts on this story. let l your thoughts on this story. let me read you a tweet. it says, if not now, when? tory mps were saying johnson shouldn�*t go now while the war in ukraine is going, but when? let�*s head back to the studio. and we are going straight to the old bailey for the sentencing of ali harbi ali. . . bailey for the sentencing of ali harbi ali. ., ., , harbi ali. our amazing husband and father has been _ harbi ali. our amazing husband and father has been taken _ harbi ali. our amazing husband and father has been taken from - harbi ali. our amazing husband and father has been taken from us - harbi ali. our amazing husband and father has been taken from us in i father has been taken from us in an appalling and violent manner. nothing will ever compensate for that. we will wake each day and immediately feel our loss. we will struggle through each day for the rest of our lives. our last thought before sleep will be of david. we will forever shed tears for the man we have lost. we shall never get over this tragedy. it breaks our hearts to know that our husband and father would have greeted the murderer with a smile of friendship and would have been anxious to help. how sickening to think what happened next. it is beyond evil. our thanks go to the police in particular the two officers assigned to the family during this dreadful time. our thanks also to the legal team who worked so tirelessly to ensure that justice was done. our special thanks also to the many, many friends and family, and of course the general public who have been a source of so much strength and love to us since david died. somehow we now have to move on with our lives, although none of us really knows where to begin. we would refer to the statement made by our family immediately after this tragedy. our message remains the same — we appeal to everyone to treat their fellow human beings with kindness, love, and understanding. this is needed more than ever now. we now ask for privacy to rebuild our lives as best we can. there will be no further statements, interviews or, indeed, any comments. we ask the media to respect this. thank you. so david potted family and loved ones have shown tremendous courage since his murder. the conclusion of the trial ends this chapter, but going forward they and sir david will remain in our thoughts. they and sir david will remain in ourthoughts. during they and sir david will remain in our thoughts. during this trial we have heard how sir david came to cross paths with a terrorist who had a settled plan to carry out an attack in the uk. it is clear that the man who begins a life sentence todayis the man who begins a life sentence today is a cold, his attack was stopped by two essex police constables who apprehended this dangerous man while he was still armed with a knife he had used to kill sir david. their actions were nothing short of heroic and they undoubtedly prevented others from being harmed. their bravery and the bravery of the members of the public who witnessed the incident called 999 and provided invaluable information to the police, was remarkable. none of that, sadly, can change the tragedy of sir david�*s murder. he was an honourable man who gave everything for his community and who loved his family. sir david was callously and senselessly murdered, working in his constituency, as he had done over a distinguished political career of nearly 40 years. in the aftermath of sir david�*s murder, i spoke with many mps who, despite their shock and concern, went back into their constituencies, just as sir david had, to serve their communities. police forces up and down the country are committed to supporting mps to carry on doing this vital work. sir david�*s murder was an attack on democracy and we will never let terrorists prevail. it is five years since the terrorist attacks of 2017, and the threat of terrorism remains very real. the police and our partners are working as hard as ever across the country to prevent attacks and to be ready to prevent attacks and to be ready to respond effectively, should the worst happen. it is more important than ever that everybody plays their part in tackling terrorism. we have seen from this case that terrorists research and sometimes visit the places they plan to attack. i would urge everyone to stay vigilant and trust their instincts. if you see or hear something unusual or suspicious, that might be linked to terrorism, even if it concerns a family member or close friend, then please, please report it to the police. your information mightjust prevent an attack and save lives. thank you. so we had reading out the statements, met police assistant commissioner matt dukes reading out statements in relation to the sentencing, the whole life sentence given to ali harbi ali, found guilty on monday of murdering sir david amess mp and also listening to those statements was andrew plant, our correspondent, who is at the old bailey for us, just a short distance away from where the statements were read out. andrew, if you can hear me, it is a difficult thing we were just on different pictures at the time so can you talk us through exactly what was happening. we heard the words from the met, the statement on whose behalf and what was being said?— was being said? yes, we have had a statement read _ was being said? yes, we have had a statement read out _ was being said? yes, we have had a statement read out by _ was being said? yes, we have had a statement read out by the - was being said? yes, we have had a statement read out by the police i was being said? yes, we have had a statement read out by the police on i statement read out by the police on behalf of sir david amess�* family but also a statement from police following that where they said they would never let terrorism prevail. let me give you some of the remark that thejudge let me give you some of the remark that the judge gave in let me give you some of the remark that thejudge gave in his let me give you some of the remark that the judge gave in his closing speech during today�*s sentencing, talking about the aggravating factors... �* ., , factors... andrew, i am sorry, i have to interrupt _ factors... andrew, i am sorry, i have to interrupt you _ factors... andrew, i am sorry, i have to interrupt you because i factors... andrew, i am sorry, ii have to interrupt you because we factors... andrew, i am sorry, i- have to interrupt you because we are crossing to ann widdecombe to give her reaction. i5 crossing to ann widdecombe to give her reaction. is a crossing to ann widdecombe to give her reaction-— her reaction. is a two police officers who _ her reaction. is a two police officers who went _ her reaction. is a two police officers who went in - her reaction. is a two police i officers who went in unarmed her reaction. is a two police - officers who went in unarmed or armed with not very much and darren king, the constituent who actually went in to talk to a knife waving maniac, so those people have shown immense courage, the family has shown huge courage injust getting through this and keeping its dignity and its privacy and i would ask you now to respect that privacy. the second thing is this. that man now is not going to come out of prison. he is only 26, and the rest of his life, he is going to spend dividing between a narrow cell with a lavatory in it and an exercise yard. he is never going to be able to enjoy walking freely, doing the things we take for granted. that is what happens. he didn�*t get his martyrdom. instead, he has got probably more than half a century of incarceration. and i want to say this to families, if you have any suspicion at all, as this family at one stage added, that anybody, be it a son, a brother, cousin, ivar, anybody is being radicalised —— cousin, even. then to save them from this sort of end, even if you try to make excuses not to save potential victims, to save them from this sort of end, for goodness�* sake, report it. you are not betraying them. you are helping them. please report it because not reporting it means innocent people die and those who are guilty will not get the end that they may have thought they were going to get. beyond that, i am open to questions. 17 going to get. beyond that, i am open to questions-— to questions. ? i... i don't think david would _ to questions. ? i... i don't think david would have _ to questions. ? i... i don't think david would have wanted - to questions. ? i... i don't think david would have wanted this i to questions. ? i... i don't think david would have wanted this in i to questions. ? i... i don't think. david would have wanted this in his name _ david would have wanted this in his name to— david would have wanted this in his name to result _ david would have wanted this in his name to result in _ david would have wanted this in his name to result in any— david would have wanted this in his name to result in any undue - name to result in any undue distancing _ name to result in any undue distancing of— name to result in any undue distancing of mps _ name to result in any undue distancing of mp5 from - name to result in any undue| distancing of mp5 from their constituents. _ distancing of mp5 from their constituents. he _ distancing of mps from their constituents.— distancing of mps from their constituents. ., , ., ., ., constituents. he was a man who wanted to _ constituents. he was a man who wanted to meet _ constituents. he was a man who wanted to meet his _ constituents. he was a man who wanted to meet his constituentsi constituents. he was a man who - wanted to meet his constituents not only formally in surgeries but all the time, out on the streets, just meeting them at events, just socialising with them. that is what he wanted and that is what i think probably every mp, certainly nearly every mp, wants, it is certainly what i wanted when i was an mp and i don�*t think we should use this as a reason for distancing but that is distance —— different from saying that common sense and proportion should now be taken —— common sense precautions should now be taken and i�*m certain they will be, already i am hearing that mps are taking those precautions but it must not end up in for example precautions but it must not end up infor example a precautions but it must not end up in for example a constituent being unwilling to go to a surgery because he or she thinks there might be a police check or something. i mean, there won�*t be, it is not that crude but there are procedures being put in place. but there are procedures being put in lace. �* , �* in place. inaudible listening - in place. inaudible listening to - in place. inaudible listening to his i in place. inaudible - listening to his attempt to justify— listening to his attempt to justify what _ listening to his attempt to justify what he _ listening to his attempt to justify what he did _ listening to his attempt to justify what he did during - listening to his attempt to justify what he did during thel justify what he did during the trial? — justify what he did during the trial? lt— justify what he did during the trial? . , . , , justify what he did during the trial? ., , . , , , . trial? it was incredibly difficult listenin: trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to — trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to it. _ trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to it. he _ trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to it. he did - trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to it. he did not - trial? it was incredibly difficult listening to it. he did not have trial? it was incredibly difficult - listening to it. he did not have any remorse, as thejudge listening to it. he did not have any remorse, as the judge observed. listening to it. he did not have any remorse, as thejudge observed. the frightening thing was that he was intelligent. he was articulate. he was educated. and therefore, you know, the one thing he wasn�*t was civilised. and that combination is always very uneasy, when you come upon it. and that, we have to face, that radicalisation does notjust happen to those who maybe cannot process the intellectual processes that are necessary, that is very bad english, i know. it happens to the very bright and the very clever as well. and they become convinced that this is the will of god. it is not the will of god. i will do one to ones, do you want to do that here or over there, ones, do you want to do that here or overthere, i promised i�*d ones, do you want to do that here or over there, i promised i�*d give it a tv news... over there, i promised i'd give it a tv news- - -— over there, i promised i'd give it a tvnews...�* ~ , tv news... ann widdecombe, there, outside the — tv news... ann widdecombe, there, outside the old _ tv news... ann widdecombe, there, outside the old bailey _ tv news... ann widdecombe, there, outside the old bailey in _ tv news... ann widdecombe, there, outside the old bailey in central - outside the old bailey in central london reacting to the sentencing to ali harbi ali —— ali harbi ali now we can cross back to andrew plant who is just outside the old bailey. remind us what happened in court this morning. remind us what happened in court this morning-— this morning. yes, let's pick up where we _ this morning. yes, let's pick up where we left _ this morning. yes, let's pick up where we left off, _ this morning. yes, let's pick up where we left off, talking - this morning. yes, let's pick upi where we left off, talking about some of the aggravating factor is thejudge some of the aggravating factor is the judge listed as he gave the sentencing about half an hour ago the old bailey and there were several of them. he said there was a significant degree of planning and premeditation which made this act worse. he said the fact that sir david was performing a public duty counted against the defendant, ali harbi ali. he said the offence was admitted as an act of revenge against someone in a public office. he said the defendant prevented members of the public from helping sir david after he had stabbed him repeatedly. so all of those things going against the defendant, ali harbi ali, here today, in giving him a whole lifetime. that means he will never be eligible for parole and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. thejudge commended the bravery of sir david amess�* family in court today, saying ali harbi ali had shown a cowardly refusal to face up had shown a cowardly refusal to face up to his actions and no remorse for what had done. we found out quite a lot of detail about exactly what happened on the 15th of october in leigh on sea last year. it was a constituency surgery that david amis was running as usual in the church in leigh on sea. —— sir david amess. but ali harbi ali had essentially tricked his way in pretending to be an nhs worker interested in moving to the area and said he wanted to discuss local issues but in fact, he had planned the attack for a very long time and took a knife along with him and stabbed to sir david more than 20 times. it had also been part of his plan to be shot dead by police himself but it was not armed police himself but it was not armed police who first responded, it was two officers from essex police, armed only with buttons and done in capacitance to pay and they managed to overpower him and arrest him. —— and an incapacity spray. they said at the trial over the past few weeks that ali harbi ali had been a good student, taking a medical degree but had dropped out, had become what police called self radicalised in 2014 and started reading a lot about islamic state online. at one point, they said he was planning to travel to syria to fight with islamic state but abandoned the plan when he decided the journey would be too difficult. he decided instead, in his own words, to fight for muslims in this country. it was notjust sir david he had been planning an attack against. in fact, we had heard he had researched more than a dozen mps online, including sir keir starmer and michael gove as well. in fact, he had even done reconnaissance on michael gove�*s house on more than half a dozen occasions and visited the houses of parliament several times, too. but we heard he had decided against an attack at the houses of parliament because he thought it was too well defended. the judge thought it was too well defended. thejudge said thought it was too well defended. the judge said that sir david dedicated his life to public service and his loss is of national significance. he said this was a murder that struck right at the heart of our democracy, handing down to ali harbi ali a whole life sentence which means he will spend the rest of his life in prison. andrew plant outside the old bailey, thank you. joining me now is mark fracois, mp for rayleigh and wickford and long time friend of sir david amess. as we were hearing, the sentence handed down, a whole life term, what are your feelings on hearing that? well, it is almost six months to the day since the tragedy happened, so my primary feelings are for lady julia and david�*s five children, who have had an agonising six months waiting for this day to come. but i think the sentence was wholly appropriate for what this man did. and i think he is about 26 years old? he is now going to have an incredibly long time to sit in belmarsh or wherever he ends up to reflect on what he did. find belmarsh or wherever he ends up to reflect on what he did.— reflect on what he did. and you obviously knew _ reflect on what he did. and you obviously knew sir _ reflect on what he did. and you obviously knew sir david - reflect on what he did. and you obviously knew sir david for i reflect on what he did. and you obviously knew sir david for a i reflect on what he did. and you i obviously knew sir david for a long time, what kind of man was he and what kind of friend?— time, what kind of man was he and what kind of friend? well, sir david amess was — what kind of friend? well, sir david amess was my _ what kind of friend? well, sir david amess was my best _ what kind of friend? well, sir david amess was my best friend - what kind of friend? well, sir david amess was my best friend in - amess was my best friend in parliament and i�*ve paid tribute to him in the commons and said quite genuinely that he was the best bloke i ever knew. and it is an absolute tragedy that one of parliament�*s best was taken from us in this way. but look, the man who did this, he got his 15 minutes in the spotlight but he will now be consigned to the dustbin of history where he belongs. conversely, sir david amess, who had an absolutely exemplary record of public service for nearly 40 years, his record will live on, not least, he campaigned for many years for southend to become a city and now it is and will be forever. so i comfort myself with the fact that sir david amess won in the end. band myself with the fact that sir david amess won in the end.— myself with the fact that sir david amess won in the end. and this is a senseless attack, _ amess won in the end. and this is a senseless attack, a _ amess won in the end. and this is a senseless attack, a senseless - amess won in the end. and this is a i senseless attack, a senseless murder that almost needs no further comment than that, of course but on top of that, thejudge than that, of course but on top of that, the judge described than that, of course but on top of that, thejudge described it than that, of course but on top of that, the judge described it as an attack on democracy. what do you think he means by that?— attack on democracy. what do you think he means by that? well, mine and david's — think he means by that? well, mine and david's great _ think he means by that? well, mine and david's great friend _ think he means by that? well, mine and david's great friend ann - and david�*s great friend ann widdecombe pointed out a few moments ago on your programme that the defendant showed no remorse whatsoever for what he had defendant showed no remorse whatsoeverfor what he had done. he killed a member of parliament going about his duty, serving his constituents. that was the hallmark of david�*s whole public life, he always put his constituents first, and whatever people think of members of parliament and views vary, as we know, most mps in my experience, whatever party they are from, whatever party they are from, whatever rosette they wear, were elected to try to help people. now, in the house of commons, we sometimes disagree, even passionately, about how best to help people, but we pretty much all came there to try, and you know, whatever is wrong with the house of commons, sir david amess was the living example of all that was right with it. so, yes, this was an attack on democracy, it was an attack on a member of parliament serving his constituents and if david was somehow still here, i think he would be telling us that whatever happened in this awful tragedy, we can�*t allow that link, that golden thread, if you like, between mps and their constituents to be broken, to be severed, because of one senseless act, because that is exactly what this man and his supporters want. they want to distance us from our constituents. they want to break that link. and as i said when i pay tribute to david in the funeral service in southend, he would want us to keep calm and carry on. so thatis us to keep calm and carry on. so that is precisely what my colleagues are going to do. that that is precisely what my colleagues are going to do-_ that is precisely what my colleagues are going to do-— are going to do. that is interesting and as you — are going to do. that is interesting and as you point — are going to do. that is interesting and as you point out, _ are going to do. that is interesting and as you point out, echoing - are going to do. that is interesting and as you point out, echoing very| and as you point out, echoing very much the comments and sentiments of ann widdecombe outside the court as well, that leads us onto a second and i suppose more complicated and difficult issue, if we are trying and we are looking to find ways to stop things like this happening, and we don�*t want to sever that link, as you say, between mps and their constituents, we are going to have to look deeper in a sense, to the root causes? this was a textbook case of radicalisation, according to one quote. so what needs to be done and what more can be done to prevent acts like this?— acts like this? well, there is a review which _ acts like this? well, there is a review which is _ acts like this? well, there is a review which is still _ acts like this? well, there is a review which is still ongoing i acts like this? well, there is a| review which is still ongoing of acts like this? well, there is a - review which is still ongoing of the security of members of parliament and indeed, their staff and sol don�*t want to pre—empt the outcome of that review but i think mps will have to look at how they conduct their surgeries in future and at the very least perhaps put some precautions in place so that will take its course. in terms of the wider issue about why somebody did this, it seems to me that he did this, it seems to me that he did this because he fell prey to a warped ideology and again, that is what ann widdecombe was talking about, and pleaded with anyone who thinks that somebody might have been radicalised in this way to report it to the authorities. you know, we live in a democracy. we live in a free country. we should never take that for granted. if we lived in putin�*s russia, if you disagree publicly with the government of the day, you are carted away at 3am. my father was a d—day veteran and taught me never to take living in a free country for granted. the events in ukraine remind us of that and i think the events of today come in their own way, reminders of that, too. ~ ., ., their own way, reminders of that, too. . ., ., ., their own way, reminders of that, too. ~ ., ., ., ., ., too. we have dealt with a lot of the different issues _ too. we have dealt with a lot of the different issues here, _ too. we have dealt with a lot of the different issues here, the _ different issues here, the sentencing and radicalisation but lastly i want to come back to, just before i let you go, to focus again on the simple human tragedy here. how would you like sir david amess to be remembered? i how would you like sir david amess to be remembered?— how would you like sir david amess to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered _ to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered as _ to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered as an _ to be remembered? i would like him to be remembered as an absolutelyl to be remembered as an absolutely exemplary constituency mp. he served his constituents in basildon and then in southend with great distinction for four decades. and as i say, he campaigned for much of that time for southend to be made a city and although it has come about by tragic circumstances, it will be a city forever, nonetheless. so as i say, i try to comfort myself with the fact that sir david amess won in the fact that sir david amess won in the end, the man who was sentenced today lost. the end, the man who was sentenced toda lost. a ~ the end, the man who was sentenced toda lost. ~ ., , the end, the man who was sentenced toda lost. ~ ., ~ ., ~ today lost. mark francois mp, thank ou so today lost. mark francois mp, thank you so much — today lost. mark francois mp, thank you so much for— today lost. mark francois mp, thank you so much for coming _ today lost. mark francois mp, thank you so much for coming on - today lost. mark francois mp, thank you so much for coming on and - you so much for coming on and sharing your thoughts and memories with us. now let�*s get the latest on ukraine. there are growing signs that russia could be close to fully capturing the key southern port city of mariupol, which has already suffered intensely in the past six weeks. president biden has accused putin of genocide and says he�*s trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be ukrainian. ukraine�*s deputy prime minister says it won�*t be possible to open humanitarian corridors to allow people to escape today as the situation remains too dangerous. president volodymyr zelensky says mariupol has been "burned to ashes". the us and britain say they are looking into reports that russian forces have used chemical weapons there. meanwhile, ukraine and russia are building up their military forces in the eastern regions of donetsk and luhansk. western officials say they expect russia to double or even possibly triple its troops numbers in the donbas. we believe the mayor mariupol has been giving a press conference, as i was mentioning, city that has been besieged for weeks now, about six weeks, and we are sensing that the end could possibly be close. ukrainian forces have valiantly been trying to hold off the russian attack in the city. they have been trying to evacuate people and residents from the area, the latest estimates are that 100 and thousand -- 100,000 or estimates are that 100 and thousand —— 100,000 orso estimates are that 100 and thousand ——100,000 or so people are still trapped in there but let�*s listen to the mayor of mariupol. speaks in ukrainian. as we are listening to the mayor, we are waiting for the english translation to come through so we will keep listening and the english translation should be coming through shortly. translation:— shortly. translation: destroyed... it is impossible _ shortly. translation: destroyed... it is impossible to _ shortly. translation: destroyed... it is impossible to rebuild _ shortly. translation: destroyed... it is impossible to rebuild those. - it is impossible to rebuild those. these were residential houses of 84,000 residents of mariupol. our government services record these war crimes. the day before yesterday, russian troops tried to use a chemical attack and drop chemical weapons to attack our soldiers. there are some people who can testify in the villages that they could feel the taste of something. they could tell that something was happening around these villages. and these people in the villages, our boys and girls, started leaving those places. we need to have a specialised laboratory to investigate and find out what substance was used. the russians were saying that they were trying to use these chemical attacks because they can�*t manage to completely take our city. we need to understand that there was also information before that allegedly, there were some laboratories developing some chemical weapons, and we understand that providing this information, they were at the same time preparing to use these chemical weapons against us. on the 1st of march, the authorities of mariupol recorded that more than 5000 civilians unfortunately died because of the bombardments and missile strikes. we could not record all instances of casualties because russian troops moved forward into the town and the street fighting began. while people who died already worse still remaining lying in the street. —— were still remaining. from the 9th of march, russian military planes were targeting our city and since then, they have been doing this. you can see that those falsified videos, when they tried to cover up the truth, there are... there are 13 crematoria that they moved the town and that is the way that they want to cover up the war crimes. how many civilians died in mariupol and do you regard this as war crimes? everything that is happening in mariupol today, bearing in mind that 90% of the infrastructure has been destroyed by russia and they killed many, many civilians, we believe... that is the mayor of mariupol are giving details about what is happening in his city which is under russian attack. we will keep across that for you and give you any details that come from it. just before we go, a bit of breaking news, yesterday, in women�*s football, northern ireland hosted england and after the game, manager kenny shiels said, "girls and women are more emotional than men so they take a goal going in not very well". there has been a fair bit of criticism and reaction to that and he has now released a statement saying, "i wish to apologise for my comments made in the post—match press conference last night. i am sorry for the offence they have caused." that is it. now time for the weather. for most of us, it is not too bad today. quite a lot of cloud around, though, and the possibility of catching a shower, notjust today but over the next couple of days. but i think the main message is that it is going to be quite warm for the time of year. in fact, by good friday, temperatures could get up to 22 celsius, just about, in the south—east of the country. for most of us, it will be around the high teens. a lot of cloud, particularly across northern and north—eastern parts of the british isles. you can see weather systems lining up in the atlantic which will be brushing us in the coming days but generally speaking, i think it is sunny spells for us today and occasional showers developing almost anywhere in england and wales this afternoon and into this evening. they will eventually clear away and then we are left with clear spells overnight, at least the first part of the night and then towards the end of the night, through the morning, it will turn very cloudy around these western and southern coasts, quite murky and drizzly in places. mild, 7—8 degrees. perhaps a touch of frost in the highlands. onto the forecast for thursday. high pressure dominating the weather in the south of the country, the north—west of the uk will be brushed by this weather system here. there is likely to thick cloud across northern ireland and western parts of scotland, rain at times here but nothing too persistent. the rest of the uk, a relatively bright day with temperatures just shy of 20 degrees, i think, in the south—east, and mid to high teens typically elsewhere. here is a look at good friday now. again, lots of cloud. we are being constantly brushed by these weather systems towards the west again. not a completely dry day, certainly the chance of at least a little bit of rain. 20 again in london. mid, maybe high teens across some northern parts of the uk. not a bad day overall. saturday, again, a mixture of cloud and sunny spells and showers, but i think as we head into monday, into easter monday, low pressure is expected to park itself across the uk and it could be quite a changeable, unsettled day. but here is the summary. overall warm, mainly dry with a few showers and overnight mist and fog. prices rise at their fastest rate for 30 years, driven by a sharp increase in petrol and diesel costs. food prices are also up — the hospitality sector is hit hard. i�*ve never known nothing like this, whether it�*s the prices of food coming into the country, fuel prices, everything is sort of against you at the minute. vat going back to 20%. we�*ll have more on today�*s record inflation figures. also this lunchtime... the prime minister is "mortified", says the transport secretary, after borisjohnson and chancellor rishi sunak were fined for breaking covid rules. in ukraine, fighting continues on the streets of the port city of mariupol.