in japanese politics. and our other main story this lunchtime: durham police confirmed they are not fining keir starmer and angela rayner over allegations they broke lockdown rules last year. the race is on to replace borisjohnson as conservative leader and britain s next prime minister the first contenders throw their hats in the ring. another big rise in the number of people with covid in the uk infections are up 18%. and i am at wimbledon where britain s cameron norrie will play the six time champion novak djokovic for a place in the men s final. and coming up on the bbc news channel: former fifa president sepp blatter expresses his relief as he and former uefa boss michel platini are both found not guilty of fraud following a trial in switzerland. good afternoon. world leaders have been expressing their shock and grief after the assassination of japan s former prime minister shinzo abe. he was shot while making a speech in the city of nara, and later died in hospital.
at a campaign event. six men are found guilty for taking part in a series of robberies and burglaries including a 5.5 million diamond encrusted tiara. come on, cam! cameron norrie battles against djokovic for a place in the wimbledon final. we ll have the latest from sw19 at 5:30pm. and coming up on the film review later this hour, find out why mark kermode loves a new british film about a man who built his own robot. that s at 5:45pm. the former chancellor, rishi sunak, has confirmed he ll be standing in the contest to take on the leadership of the conservative party and the country. mr sunak launched his leadership bid in the last hour. hejoins tom tugendhat and the attorney general for england and wales, suella braverman, in putting his hat in the ring. the announcement isn t a surprise. he s been tipped as a possible successorfor some time. mr sunak quit hisjob on tuesday evening, shortly after the health secretary, triggering a tsunami of resignations from boris johnson
But durham police have said in the last hour there is no case to answer. we can go to our political correspondent nick eardley at westminster. bring us up to date on what durham police have said? there had been a huge what durham police have said? there had been a huge cloud what durham police have said? ii ii” had been a huge cloud hanging over sir keir starmer and his deputy angela raynerfor the sir keir starmer and his deputy angela rayner for the last couple of months after durham police said they would look again at the evidence in relation to this case. the accusation from some, particularly from sir keir political opponents, was maybe he had not been following the covid regulations at the time when he attended at that event in the durham miners hall in april 2021. sir keir always said he had done nothing wrong. his party always insisted that the rules were followed. but when the police announced they were investigating it. sir keir was pretty much to is false to say he
To the contravention of the regulations due to the application of an exception, namely to the application of an exception, namely reasonably necessary work. there namely reasonably necessary work. there was namely reasonably necessary work. there was an exception for gatherings at that time if it was a work gatherings at that time if it was a work event. during police say accordingly they will not be issuing any fixed accordingly they will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and so no further action of the gathering and so no further action will of the gathering and so no further action will be taken and they say the investigation has been thorough, detailed the investigation has been thorough, detailed and proportionate. a lot of senior detailed and proportionate. a lot of senior officers, it s my understanding about working on the investigation and only two months a-o investigation and only
Starmer any external pressure bite keir starmer saying he would resign if he received starmer saying he would resign if he received a starmer saying he would resign if he received a fixed penalty notice. keir starmer, former head of the cps. keir starmer, former head of the cps. knew keir starmer, former head of the cps, knew what he was doing when he said he would fall on his sword if he received such a fine. but he also probably he received such a fine. but he also probably knew like many of us who live and probably knew like many of us who live and work up here that durham police live and work up here that durham police have live and work up here that durham police have not given out any retrospective fines in relation to the breaking of any covid 19 regulations, not that keir starmer did that, regulations, not that keir starmer did that, not that dominates coming did that, not that dominates coming did that did that, not that dominates coming did that in did th