a lot has been said by a lot of people about borisjohnson�*s time in number ten. he was confronted by the biggest challenge to face a prime minister in peacetime — notjust a health crisis, but an economic one as well. he's been accused of acting too late and of lying about what went on here. ..to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. this was mrjohnson�*s chance to give his side of the story and he began with an apology. can ijust say how glad i am to be here at this inquiry and how sorry i am for the pain and the loss and the suffering... sit down. ..of the covid victims. please, sit down. right, ushers, please could you ask them to leave. these were the four women thrown out for interrupting. they said they'd never accept mrjohnson�*s apology. 11 municipalities in italy... back inside, questions about february 2020. coronavirus had spread to italy and the cabinet had discussed what plans were in place here. i look at all this stuff in which we seemed so oblivious with horror now, we should have twigged, we should have collectively twigged much sooner, i should have twigged. when the seriousness of the virus was understood, it led to this, lockdown. several former colleagues described mrjohnson as indecisive. he says he was weighing up all the options. —— difficult options. i've got the chancellor of the exchequer with me saying that there is a risk to the uk bond markets, and our ability to raise sovereign debt. this matters massively to people in this country. i have to go through the arguments and that is what i was doing. did you consider the arguments against lockdown? i'm afraid to say at that stage i gave it pretty short shrift because i thought that myjob was to protect human life. i had no other, i had no other tool, literally nothing else. there were some uncomfortable questions about the culture in number ten. former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his boss. i knew that some people were difficult, i didn't know how difficult they were, clearly, but i thought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten rather than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was certainly a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. and borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020, the whole year, the whole tragic, tragic year... we did lockdown... ..but then it bounced back after we had unlocked. plenty of people still blame boris johnson for the country's high death toll for not acting soon enough. today, he tried to give a sense of the dilemmas he faced as he wrestled with the enormous consequences of lockdown. live now to rob watson, our political correspondent. rob, i'll ask you about what we just saw and a moment, but is there an update with some news about robert jenrick? i update with some news about robert jenrick? , ., , ., jenrick? i should identify who he is, he's jenrick? i should identify who he is. he's the _ jenrick? i should identify who he is, he's the immigration - jenrick? i should identify who he| is, he's the immigration minister within the home on this ministry, and the rumour mill is, i don't know whether the correct metaphor is grinding at full speed, but it's about how he's resigned over the rwanda refugee treaty. despite the twirling and grinding, there's been no confirmation or denial. let’s twirling and grinding, there's been no confirmation or denial. let's get back to the — no confirmation or denial. let's get back to the covid _ no confirmation or denial. let's get back to the covid inquiry _ no confirmation or denial. let's get back to the covid inquiry because i no confirmation or denial. let's get back to the covid inquiry because it was a significant day. what do you think we learned from borisjohnson? that's very interesting. i think we've learned that he wants to try and, if you like, repair whatever his place in history will be. and i thought his whole approach was fascinating — so first of all, part of it was demeanour. he was incredibly demure, normally he's got a lot of bombast and a fewjokes, but none of that. and i think it was also striking that he's clearly decided to stick with his defence and say, "look, if you think about this, nobody in the world really understood what was headed our way. should we have understood better? of course we should, but we had a mindset that this would be like swine flu or sars, nothing is what came." in the second part, and i think this was clearly more difficult for him and he got a flavour of it they in vicki's package, was being confronted with the real—time whatsapp messages accusing him of being incredibly competent, a senior aide saying that he couldn't imagine a bunch of people less fit to run the country — and his defence there of saying he couldn't quite remember, of what he was saying was a lot of creative energy. whether the inquiry will buy that second line of defence i think will be interesting.— will be interesting. rob, 'ust caettin will be interesting. rob, 'ust getting i will be interesting. rob, 'ust getting one line i will be interesting. rob, 'ust getting one line here i will be interesting. rob, just getting one line here from . will be interesting. rob, just i getting one line here from the will be interesting. rob, just - getting one line here from the news agency, saying the home secretary james cleverly has told mps that robertjenrick has resigned as immigration minister. so again, that's not from the bbc, we are independently confirming that the moment, but the latest we are getting from pa news is that the home secretary, james has told mps that robertjenrick has resigned as immigration minister. the bbc has not yet infinitely confirmed that, butjust not yet infinitely confirmed that, but just the latest line, not yet infinitely confirmed that, butjust the latest line, what do you make of that?— butjust the latest line, what do you make of that? well if it was the case, and you make of that? well if it was the case. and no _ you make of that? well if it was the case, and no doubt we _ you make of that? well if it was the case, and no doubt we will - you make of that? well if it was the case, and no doubt we will find - case, and no doubt we will find out very shortly so stick with this channel, it would be pretty hopeless, it would be truly damaging for the uk government because if you think about it, this week has been dedicated to trying to sort out the whole immigration issue, from rishi sunak�*s point of view, whether legal immigration, measures to bring those numbers down and to tackle what the government calls illegal migration bill, which is people coming across in small boats. so to lose your immigration minister on the same week where you are trying to tell voters that you are on top of this issue, it would be at a bad look, to put it lightly. issue, it would be at a bad look, to put it lightly-— put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue. _ put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue, it _ put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue, it would _ put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue, it would be _ put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue, it would be at - put it lightly. thorough on top of this issue, it would be at a - this issue, it would be at a bad look, to put it lightly. the rwanda plan, could you explain to us why it's back? .,, ., . ., ., it's back? those who come to the uk in small boats _ it's back? those who come to the uk in small boats to _ it's back? those who come to the uk in small boats to cross, _ it's back? those who come to the uk in small boats to cross, as _ it's back? those who come to the uk in small boats to cross, as the - in small boats to cross, as the government would have it, illegally, some of them could well be sent to rwanda where their asylum claim would be processed there — in other words, it would be the uk government outsourcing the processing of asylum—seekers. and last month, the supreme court in this country said in principle you could do that, we don't mind, but we don't think rwanda is a safe country because there's a chance people could then be sent on from there. then what we had earlier this week was — yesterday, in fact, a treaty signed between the uk and rwanda saying that would deathly not be happening, the latest twist in the story is the publishing of a law here in the uk to ensure that treaty —— enshrined that treaty and make it more difficult to be sent to rwanda, and one could only assume, if mrjenrick has indeed resigned, that he feels, though hard line that this bill is, it's not quite hard—line enough for him. it's not quite hard-line enough for him. ., , ., ~ it's not quite hard-line enough for him. .,, ., ~ i. ., it's not quite hard-line enough for him. ., ~ ., ., it's not quite hard-line enough for him. rob, thank you for that. that's the rwanda — him. rob, thank you for that. that's the rwanda plan _ him. rob, thank you for that. that's the rwanda plan outlined, - him. rob, thank you for that. that's the rwanda plan outlined, then - him. rob, thank you for that. that's the rwanda plan outlined, then we. the rwanda plan outlined, then we had this and for —— intervention from suella braverman in the house of commons just a few hours or so ago. tell us about that. i of commonsjust a few hours or so ago. tell us about that.— ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had _ ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had a — ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had a bit _ ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had a bit less _ ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had a bit less of - ago. tell us about that. i think it probably had a bit less of an - ago. tell us about that. i think it i probably had a bit less of an impact thenit probably had a bit less of an impact then it might have done had she not sent one of the most stinging resignation letters of all time to rishi sunak, the prime minister. and essentially, she repeated her message there, which was that if, in her view, written really doesn't get a handle and come to grips with immigration, even if that means upsetting the european convention of human rights and international courts the governing conservative party will be done, dusted and finished at the next election. rob. finished at the next election. rob, i'll come straight _ finished at the next election. rob, i'll come straight back _ finished at the next election. rob, i'll come straight back to - finished at the next election. rob, i'll come straight back to you. just to reiterate if you are just i'll come straight back to you. just to reiterate if you arejustjoining us, we are hearing that james cleverly has told mps in the house of commons that immigration minister robertjenrick has resigned. just talk us through who he is and what he significant. 50 talk us through who he is and what he significant-— he significant. so he is significant because he's _ he significant. so he is significant because he's the _ he significant. so he is significant because he's the immigration - because he's the immigration minister, there are several ministers within britain was back home office, the interior ministry, it's hisjob to put home office, the interior ministry, it's his job to put a home office, the interior ministry, it's hisjob to put a laserfocus home office, the interior ministry, it's his job to put a laser focus on the portfolio of immigration. the reason it matters is because mr jenrick in recent months has been seen as someone taking a really hard line on this issue, thinking that they really have to cut down the numbers very sharply, in terms of legal migration, but also you want to take a tough line on illegal migration bill as the government sees, others would call it irregular migration. one could only assume that he feels the bill that's just been published, which enshrines this treaty that the uk has just agreed with rolando about sending asylum—seekers to rwanda for processing —— rwanda, that he feels it doesn't go far enough, it needs to be even bolder, saying the european court ofjustice can't be involved and the involvement of the british courts must be severely limited. when it comes to the specific issue of deporting or sending to rwanda potential asylum—seekers — to set this in context, if you think about it, it's a week where the government was really hoping to hit home an advantage on being tough on immigration issues, to have a senior minister responsible for the issue resigning would not be a good look. and i should broaden this out that the problem is for rishi sunak, the prime minister, it's notjust people on the right on this issue like mr jenrick and suella braverman who have been rather unhappy that it doesn't go far enough — some would view the more moderate wing of the governing conservative party saying hang on a minute, maybe this legislation actually goes too far in the way that it disciplines human rights and makes britain look like not the country they would like it to look. so whichever way mr sunak looks, he's potentially got problems on his hands on both wings of the party. on his hands on both wings of the -a . ., , on his hands on both wings of the party. rob, thank you so much for talkin: us party. rob, thank you so much for talking us through _ party. rob, thank you so much for talking us through that _ party. rob, thank you so much for talking us through that so - party. rob, thank you so much for talking us through that so clearly, | talking us through that so clearly, i know rob has to disappear. let me bring you that suella braverman clip we are mentioning, take a listen. i5 we are mentioning, take a listen. is now or never. the conservative party faces _ now or never. the conservative party faces electoral — now or never. the conservative party faces electoral oblivion _ now or never. the conservative party faces electoral oblivion in _ now or never. the conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a _ now or never. the conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter. faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months — faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if— faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we _ faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce... - faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce... the . of months if we introduce... the conservative _ of months if we introduce... the conservative party _ of months if we introduce... the conservative party faces - of months if we introduce... thel conservative party faces electoral oblivion _ conservative party faces electoral oblivion in — conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a — conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter— conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of _ conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months . conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if. conservative party faces electoral. oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce _ oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce vet — oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another— oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another bill _ oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another bill destined. introduce yet another bill destined to fait _ introduce yet another bill destined to fait do — introduce yet another bill destined to fait do we _ introduce yet another bill destined to fail. do we fight _ introduce yet another bill destined to fail. do we fight for _ to fail. do we fight for sovereignty, - to fail. do we fight for sovereignty, or- to fail. do we fight for sovereignty, or do - to fail. do we fight for sovereignty, or do we| to fail. do we fight for i sovereignty, or do we let to fail. do we fight for - sovereignty, or do we let our to fail. do we fight for _ sovereignty, or do we let our party die? _ sovereignty, or do we let our party die? ., sovereignty, or do we let our party die? . . , ., sovereignty, or do we let our party die? . .,, ., ., sovereignty, or do we let our party die? . ., ., ., , ., ., die? that was from a few hours ago, a few minutes _ die? that was from a few hours ago, a few minutes ago _ die? that was from a few hours ago, a few minutes ago we _ die? that was from a few hours ago, a few minutes ago we heard - die? that was from a few hours ago, a few minutes ago we heard the - die? that was from a few hours ago, | a few minutes ago we heard the news about robertjenrick. let's go live to westminster and speak to damien dramatic us. what's going on? as you said, dramatic us. what's going on? as you said. robert — dramatic us. what's going on? as you said, robert jenrick, _ dramatic us. what's going on? as you said, robert jenrick, the _ said, robertjenrick, the immigration minister, his boss, james cleverly, wasjust immigration minister, his boss, james cleverly, was just on his feet in the comments as they were debating this new legislation to the government it's pushing through, and the minister was asked, have you lost your immigration minister, has he resigned? and his words were, "that has been confirmed." that's embarrassing for him because earlier at the beginning of the debate, everyone was watching to see if the home secretary would sit down to make a speech if robertjenrick would be next to him as a show that they were together on this issue— he did not turn up, rumours were then flying, the home secretary came under sustained attack from the opposition who were saying, has he resigned? "there's been rumours, where is he? he's not there." and then the opening attack on the government, "the government doesn't deserve to run the country if they can't sort out their internal division." a difficult moment for the government. mrjenrick, as you werejust hearing from the government. mrjenrick, as you were just hearing from rob, interestingly he was very close to suella braverman, who used to be the home secretary pushing the rwanda policy. she was sacked not long ago. robertjenrick also in a similar position to her, wanted the government to go further, wanted this legislation that's been presented to explicitly subdue more to prevent european human rights law, the convention of human rights, the european court of human rights being used or open as a route for people to try to prevent the deportations. also mrjenrick wanted to preventjudicial review, so the courts being able to look at this legislation. so this hadn't gone far enough for him. just yesterday he was on the airwaves saying that deportation flights would be happening early next year — clearly he doesn't feel this has gone far enough. but as rob was saying, it indicates a big problem for rishi sunak i pushing this rwanda policy, he's alienated some on the right now, but equally centrists, more modernist —— moderate voices of the party saying last night to me, that there was deep concerns about some of the measures that are there which are seeking to prevent human rights claims or routes, people trying to block deportations. there are some provisions that worry people on the more centrist side of the conservative party too. now robert jenrick might _ conservative party too. now robert jenrick might not _ conservative party too. now robert jenrick might not be _ conservative party too. now robert jenrick might not be a _ conservative party too. now robert jenrick might not be a household i jenrick might not be a household name across the uk, but tell us what we know about him, and you're suggesting that his significance is above and beyond his own publicity, as it were, its the crucial role in the crucial area of policy that's happening right now?- the crucial area of policy that's happening right now? yes, he's had vafious happening right now? yes, he's had various ministerial— happening right now? yes, he's had various ministerial roles _ happening right now? yes, he's had various ministerial roles over- happening right now? yes, he's had various ministerial roles over the i various ministerial roles over the last 3—4 years or so, and had positions they are similar to this, senior positions, not the very top level in the cabinet, but like this immigration minister — sojust level in the cabinet, but like this immigration minister — so just below that, if you like — he is seen as being a voice for the more right—wing voices in the conservative party, a tougher line dealing with immigration both in migration to this country and regular over rivals —— irregular arrivals, those asylum—seekers, that sort of thing. he worked closely with suella braverman who was home secretary, who was pushing this rwanda policy for the past year or so — she was sacked by rishi sunak over a different issue. in the last few days since she was sacked, she's been saying that the government needs to go further and the voice still left at the cabinet table, the most prominent one aligned with her was robertjenrick — he was speaking up was robertjenrick — he was speaking up in the last few days and seemed to be pushing for the government taking these more extreme measures to back up this legislation, to try to back up this legislation, to try to make this legislation to firewall it, so refugees coming here, asylum—seekers would not have routes to bring legal challenges if they were to be deported to rwanda. so he's taken on this role if you like as the voice for those on the more right side of the conservative party, and that's where the significance of this. because already, suella braverman has been saying today that she thinks this legislation doesn't go far enough, and it appears robertjenrick— we haven't heard yet from him, but confirming all this and his reasons, but it seems likely that that's what's behind it.— but it seems likely that that's what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned _ what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned that _ what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned that the _ what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned that the top, - what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned that the top, the i what's behind it. interesting. you mentioned that the top, the way | what's behind it. interesting. you i mentioned that the top, the way this information came out — i've got this transcript here sent to us by our colleagues in your office. ashley dalton mp said that the safeguarding mr has confirmed on air that the immigration minister has resigned. can the home secretary confirmed that and did you know about that? was go injames cleverly�*s response, "mr deputy speaker, that has been confirmed." is this an unusual way for this kind of announcement to be made? {iii for this kind of announcement to be made? . ., , for this kind of announcement to be made? .., , i. for this kind of announcement to be made? , i. for this kind of announcement to be made? , ., made? of course, you could also say this doesn't — made? of course, you could also say this doesn't actually _ made? of course, you could also say this doesn't actually completely i this doesn't actually completely confirm it, if you like. it's slightly tricky wording because what happens is rumours are swirling around ever since mrjenrick did not turn up at the beginning of the debate earlier. that reference there was to a different minister who was on a radio interview a short time ago, asking a direct question, saying she thought it had been the case. but it's unclear whether anyone had a first—hand source from mrjenrick. now the home secretary asked about that radio interview says yes, it's been confirmed. so he's appearing to confirm but we are still waiting to hear — i haven't heard anything since i came to talk to you, there's been nothing yet from mrjenrick himself. i’ll to you, there's been nothing yet from mrjenrick himself.- from mrjenrick himself. i'll give ou a from mrjenrick himself. i'll give you a break. _ from mrjenrick himself. i'll give you a break, just _ from mrjenrick himself. i'll give you a break, just go _ from mrjenrick himself. i'll give you a break, just go check i from mrjenrick himself. i'll give you a break, just go check yourl you a break, just go check your sources and i'll speak to you again and just a moment, thank you very much for that. there we are, considering the news coming to us, the resignation of the immigration minister. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's show you what we are looking at here on bbc news, the resignation, we think, of robert jenrick, ministerfor immigration. jenrick, minister for immigration. we jenrick, ministerfor immigration. we haven't heard yet from him or downing street. our team down in westminster rather are checking their sources and i'll let damon dramatic his head off there to do more —— damien chromatic is. but it appears james cleverly has confirmed he's gone, two mps in the house of commons. we will work to establish what exactly is going on, but it is not the usual way for news like that to break, in a response to an mp�*s question on the house of commons. he was asking for confirmation on a radio show from a different mp. you can see how it slightly complicated but we are trying to establish what's going on. you're live with bbc news. next, to israel and gaza. israel says its troops have entered the heart of southern gaza's largest city, khan younis — that's where they believe hamas leaders could be. netenyahu says encricling house of top hamas leader yahya sinwar. hospitals in gaza say they are overwhelmed by casualties, with patients lying on blood—stained floors. head of un again calling for immidiate ceasefire. nowhere is safe in gaza, meaning no effective way to protect civilians. also adding public order likely to completely break down soon. here's our international editorjeremy bowen. more palestinian civilians fled south towards the egyptian border after israel declared a brief pause in combat operations. almost two million gazans have fled their homes. israel says it is killing fewer civilians, as the us has requested. the un says nowhere in this tiny territory is safe. this person offers people lifts. he says he has seen casualties in the street with legs or heads blown off, and nobody can reach them. the stream of misery entering the hospital in khan younis does not stop. and neither is growing condemnation from international relief agencies of the pain and death israel is inflicting on gaza's civilians. it's one of the worst assaults on any civilian population in our time and age, according to the norwegian refugee council. as israel's forces push south their leaders reject that outright. the damage and death, they say, is the fault of hamas for starting this war. but israel has given out video of captured weapons it says they were found near schools and clinics — more proof, the army insists, that hamas uses civilians as human shields. injerusalem, lynn hastings, a senior un official, said hamas attacks on israel were horrific and atrocious, but now israel has obligations. there are allegations that the un isn't doing enough, but it's up to the government of israel to let us do enough. and right now, the conditions inside gaza are not permitting us to do ourjob and to deliver humanitarian assistance. should the israelis examine their conscience? i think we should all examine our consciences in terms what's going on in gaza. and you will have heard many people say, have we lost our humanity in this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us have. i think the world is not doing enough to end this. israel could end this tomorrow. they could indeed. and in gaza, another dead child gets a last kiss. the bbc freelance who filmed this mass funeral reported it followed an israeli strike which killed a7, including 15 children. nine people are still under the rubble. israel says only force will destroy hamas and save its hostages — but the americans have warned israel that fighting the war this way, killing so many civilians, risks driving palestinians into the arms of hamas — and for israel, that would be a strategic defeat. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. sources in the ukrainian military have claimed that their special forces have carried out an assassination of a fugitive ukrainian mp, near moscow. the body of ilya keeva was found in a park on wednesday. russian officials say he had been shot dead. reminding you of our breaking news in the last half hour or so — james cleverly in the house of commons appearing to confirm that the immigration minister, robert jenrick, has resigned. we are still waiting to hear directly from him or from downing street. but all the latest details coming up, do stay with us. i'm lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news. hello there. earlier on today, there were about 20 flood warnings in england — we could see the numbers rising in the next few days, because we've got spells of wet and windy weather heading our way, and some higher temperatures, as well. and this is the first belt of cloud, starting to bring some rain this evening into more western areas of the uk. that'll run eastwards, and into the cold air — it was very cold start in scotland today, and it's remained below freezing in some places. any mist and fog in east anglia will tend to lift as the wind picks up, and that wet weather moves in. briefly, some snow over the tops of the pennines. could be quite dicey, particularly if you're travelling along the a9 in scotland overnight, with some snow over the hills, icy conditions, as well. maybe turning back to rain towards the end of the night, as temperatures start to rise above freezing by thursday morning. we're getting milder air coming in from the atlantic. the winds are picking up, as well. it'll be a southerly wind that heads our way into thursday, and we've got more rain coming in from the west. so, after some wet weather overnight, the second band of rain coming in here — this could be heavier rain, there may be an inch or two of rain over the hills of southwest england, south wales, and southwest scotland. now the rain takes all day to reach east anglia and the southeast, by which time it may well have cleared away from northern ireland. but it'll be a windy day on thursday. the winds could be touching gale force around coastal areas, but temperatures are going to be higher than today — 7—8 celsius in scotland and eastern parts of england is an improvement, and double figures are likely in northern ireland, west wales, and the southwest of england. that band of rain continues eastwards during tomorrow evening out into the north sea, lingering up towards shetland on friday. the main driver is that area of low pressure, and it'll wander eastwards across the uk. there may be some early sunshine across eastern areas, but cloud will increase. we've got these showers, the longer spells of rain wrapped around the low. and on friday, it's still quite windy across southern areas of the uk. but it's milder air — temperatures could reach nine celsius in scotland, and maybe 12—13 in the southeast of england. now into the weekend, and we keep this run of west—to—southwesterly winds coming in. all our weather continues to pile in from the atlantic. now, it won't be a complete wash—out this weekend — there will be some sunshine and maybe a few showers in between these spells of rain coming in from the west, driven on by some strong winds which should keep it on the mild side. this is bbc news, the headlines: in the last half an hour — a growing rift in the conservative party. the uk immigration minister, robertjenrick, has resigned, as the government prepares new laws to bolster its rwanda asylum policy. the former british prime minister, borisjohnson, admits his government underestimated the challenge of the covid pandemic and apologises to the families who lost loved ones. the un says no where in gaza as israeli tanks closing in three areas of the gaza strip. a new hillsborough charter promises reforms following the deaths of 97 liverpool football fans — campaigners say it full short. and inside the spy factory we get the exclusive look at the complex which makes the high—tech gadgets for the uk's secret agents. we are going to start with this breaking news we are getting about the uk's immigration minister, robertjenrick, who has resigned. we have now the letter, the resignation letter so we can see there, it is