or can _ about the whole conservative party? or can the _ about the whole conservative party? or can the cabinet, the 2019 and all of this— or can the cabinet, the 2019 and all of this generation of mps protect themselves by getting rid of him? if he stays around for weeks and weeks more. if— he stays around for weeks and weeks more. if he _ he stays around for weeks and weeks more, if he stays around all the way to the _ more, if he stays around all the way to the may— more, if he stays around all the way to the may elections, doesn't that potentially help the labour party? it is potentially help the labour party? it is not _ potentially help the labour party? it is not as— potentially help the labour party? it is not as simple as saying that the best— it is not as simple as saying that the best thing for keir starmer is for borisjohnson to the best thing for keir starmer is for boris johnson to go the best thing for keir starmer is for borisjohnson to go in the best thing for keir starmer is for boris johnson to go in the next 24 hours — for boris johnson to go i

a lot of work has been done to change the conservative party's _ done to change the conservative party's image, and this really... is not only— party's image, and this really... is not only a — party's image, and this really... is not only a problem for the current prime _ not only a problem for the current prime minister. if it's not dealt with, _ prime minister. if it's not dealt with. it — prime minister. if it's not dealt with, it could cause long—term problems— with, it could cause long—term problems for the conservative party perhaps _ problems for the conservative party perhaps going back to what people called _ perhaps going back to what people called it _ perhaps going back to what people called it the nasty party. let's stick with the problems facing number ten. this is to do with those alleged lockdown breaking parties. henry, seeing as it's your story, johnson still believes he broke the rules. , , , ~ rules. this is the big week, i think, finally. _ rules. this is the big week, i think, finally. that _ rules. this is the big week, i think, finally. that inquiry.

the government is separate to the conservative party and will have its own _ the conservative party and will have its own rules and ways of dealing with things. if you're talking about a reshuffle, that is decided by number— a reshuffle, that is decided by number ten a reshuffle, that is decided by numberten and a reshuffle, that is decided by number ten and ultimately by the prime _ number ten and ultimately by the prime minister, not really by the conservative party. it feels to me that this — conservative party. it feels to me that this should have been looked at try that this should have been looked at by the _ that this should have been looked at by the government. i think this goes back, _ by the government. i think this goes back, you _ by the government. i think this goes back, you can keep on talking about process— back, you can keep on talking about process and — back, you can keep on talking about process and procedures. she has made allegations _ process and procedures. she has made allegations that however we get to the outcome is what matters. people who experience

it is that say about the government and the conservative party?— the conservative party? it is not acceptable- _ the conservative party? it is not acceptable. the _ the conservative party? it is not acceptable. the should - the conservative party? it is not acceptable. the should be - the conservative party? it is not acceptable. the should be no i the conservative party? it is not - acceptable. the should be no racism in the conservative party or, in fact, and any party. and i was also disturbed by what she said. she said, it is as if she was punched in the stomach. she felt humiliated and powerless. she was also told on that, if she raised the issue, she would be ostracised by colleagues and her career and reputation would be destroyed. that is totally unacceptable. no parliamentarian should be subjected to the sort of treatment and we need to get to the bottom of it. to treatment and we need to get to the bottom of it— bottom of it. to think there is racism in _ bottom of it. to think there is racism in the _ bottom of it. to think there is racism in the conservative

it's talent to a conservative party. lead you right? the guy with brain brady, he can't really know why this is like an organized the santa is big. that could be more think. anyway, this is a kind of thing which, and he's again or don't, but at the scene today, they're in the school. could remind them that actually the real enemy is laid out. no one else is really think it's very fever. all very is certainly incredibly see brought out of the way until they, i think it's worth looking at the polls as they stand now in the context of where we are. and we're, of course, in the middle of a parliamentary term, parliamentary terms of the u. k. can last up to 5 years, we just over 2 years in this one it's, it's very ordinary at this stage and a political cycle for the governing party to be behind in the polls. if we think back to david cameron in 2013, he was 15 points behind the labor party in 2013, 2 years later he won the general election. we think back to margaret thatcher. she was double digits behind the labor party during the westland a

the conservative party is - conservative party? the conservative party is a l conservative party? tie: conservative party is a series of different coalitions. quite fragile coalition so that the problem for borisjohnson is that seeing these different groups all come out and criticise him when teresa made was prime minister essentially you had two groups in the tory party, brexiteers and the remainders. now you have multiple groups, that's a lot more difficult to manage. what this crisis is also underlined is boris johnson's this crisis is also underlined is borisjohnson's relationship with his mps is incredibly transactional. a lot of mps that are leading the so—called coup against them and then you got election who owe their seats to them to deny him who have say you might�*ve got elected but you may cost me my seat next time. amazing really because boris johnson seat next time. amazing really because borisjohnson delivered one of the biggest majorities tory parties have had in years onlyjust tory parties have had in years only just over two years tory parties have had in yea

the conservative party is absolutely tanking in the polls right now. it's not actually that out of line from where we'd expect to see a mid term parliament. indeed, if we look even it's tony blair's ratings in around 2001 during the oil crisis, crisis and foot and mouth. and all of that the conservative party was ahead and then tony blair, of course, went to win on another election. so really we need to look at this in the round and sort of context of the parliamentary term that we're seeing it. it will see many new m p 's says she don't have as much time looking over the history of politics. are those that are trying to make the 1st moves but can pin it on because it might not be that they are just, you know, ignorant of conservative party history and might be that you're going to close the right on there that you're thing. so you do, you have these new and take and he's that have much linna dorothy and conservative party and faith. and they're thinking to themselves, how stable is this, the leg or coalition that that got together in 2019? are we out

the conservative party is absolutely tanking in the polls right now. it's not actually that out of line from where we'd expect to see a mid term parliament. indeed, if we look even it's tony blair's ratings in around 2001 during the oil crisis, crisis and foot and mouth. and all of that the conservative party was ahead until the blair, of course, went to win on another election. so really, we need to look at this in the round in sort of context of the parliamentary term that we're seeing. it definitely will see many new m p 's says she don't have as much time looking over the history of politics. are those that are trying to make the 1st moves but can pin it on because it might not be that they are just, you know, ignorant of conservative party history and might be that you're going to close the right on their let your think. so you do you have these new and take and he's that have much lena dorothy and conservative party and faith. and they're thinking to themselves, how stable is this the leg or coalition that that got together in 2019? are we out of

the conservative party is absolutely tanking in the polls right now. it's not actually that out of line from where we'd expect to see a mid term parliament. indeed, if we look even it's tony blair's ratings in around 2001 during the oil crisis, crisis and foot and mouth. and all of that the conservative party was ahead and then tony blair, of course, went to win on another election. so really we need to look at this in the round in sort of context of the parliamentary term that we're seeing. it will see many new m p 's says she don't have as much time looking over the history of politics. are those that are trying to make the 1st news but can pin it on because it might not be that they are just, you know, ignorant of conservative party history and might be that you got to close the right on there that you're so you do you have these new and take and he's that have much lena dorothy and conservative party and faith. and they're thinking to themselves, how stable is this the leg or coalition that that got together in 2019, are we out of that period volat

conservative party were sitting on 41 that _ conservative party were sitting on 41 that is — conservative party were sitting on 41. that is completely flipped over the last_ 41. that is completely flipped over the last few months. we have seen the last few months. we have seen the conservative party and boris johnson's — the conservative party and boris johnson's ratings in a slow but steady— johnson's ratings in a slow but steady decline since that point in august — steady decline since that point in august. so now there is a minimum of a five-point _ august. so now there is a minimum of a five—point lead for labour, and some _ a five—point lead for labour, and some of— a five—point lead for labour, and some of the most recent polls that have been— some of the most recent polls that have been out in the last few days have _ have been out in the last few days have shown as much as a ten point lead for— have shown as much as a ten point lead for labour. keir starmer currently _ lead for labour. keir starmer currently has a higher score himself by way— currently has a hi

in the coming days, one m p from johnston's conservative party has defected to the opposition, and others are reported to have already submitted letters of no confidence. ne barker sent this report from london. oh, in a highly charged atmosphere for ministers, questions began with another major body blow for boris johnson news. one of his m. p. 's, christian wakefield had defected to the opposition party. of course, this following morning, newspaper reports of a widening plot to oust johnson by members of his own party jokes to the prime minister's expense followed. i see the very noise on until the chief whip was told to bring their i'm bruce ha salvo off to silva. like way nobody told the prime minister. he was breaking his own rooms. absolutely pathetic. if he had any shred of compassion for all those had them separately. they said he'd go, i am peace clamoring for explanations. with johnson about the increasing catalogue of rule breaking policies that took place under his watch when the country was deepened, locked down, for the prime minister, seemed energize fighting tooth and nail

the conservative party chairman said today that the culture in number 10 should be addressed. here�*s our political correspondent nick eardley. a prime minister under pressure over what went on in here. were covid rules broken in downing street? how often did staff drink late into the night while the country was locked down, and can boris johnson survive? labour�*s leader has made his mind up. i think it�*s pretty obvious what�*s happened. there�*s industrial—scale partying been going on at downing street. not much of it is really denied, and i think that the public have made up their mind. i think the facts speak for themselves. i think the prime minister broke the law. i think he then lied about what had happened. mr speaker, i want to apologise. the prime minister has admitted he attended one drinks gathering at a time when socialising was extremely limited. that left many of his mps furious. this woman, sue gray, is looking into allegations spanning almost a year. her report is expected soon, but ministers are already suggesting it�*s the culture, not the man

can the conservative party find the old language it used to use? can it reflect the values of middle britain which it used to do, rather than some kind of, you know, higher level, you know, higher level attitudes. that remains to be seen. >> boris johnson was a colleague of yours, anne, when he was a journalist. do you think he will go quietly or will he put up a fight? >> he will do everything in his power not to go. he has lived through so many scandals and he has survived all of them and he will at some level believe that he can survive this one. the difficulty with this one is that it underlines something that people feel deeply about him and his party right now, which is that they -- you know, they don't act in everybody's interest, they act only in their own interests. overcoming that will be difficult. >> david, quickly to you. if he does go, could an indian-brit become prime minister? do you think britain is ready for a brown-skinned prime minister? >> yes, that's certainly possible. the big question the conservative party is whether it dou

the conservative party or at conservative party or at conservative hq to somebody who was employed _ conservative hq to somebody who was employed by the conservative party. this is— employed by the conservative party. this is something that happened to a government minister, somebody employed by government who is alleging — employed by government who is alleging that comments were made in number— alleging that comments were made in number 10 _ alleging that comments were made in number 10 downing street and repeated to her by the chief whip, so this— repeated to her by the chief whip, so this is— repeated to her by the chief whip, so this is at the heart of government, and therefore it makes it far more _ government, and therefore it makes it far more serious, because the conservative party in the end has to respond _ conservative party in the end has to respond to— conservative party in the end has to respond to its members, and there may be _ respond to its members, and there may be a _ respond to its members, and there may be a couple of hundred british muslim _ may be

the real question now is what the remaining members of the consider conservative party now feeling. they're the ones who have the power to trigger a vote of no confidence. yeah, i mean, usually after a party i want to get invited back and i want to lose my job. party gate is obviously just one of the prime ministers. biggest headaches want you to take a listen to what the leader of the opposition said today as well as the prime minister. now our top, the prime list is very carefully crossed in response to the accusation. it's almost sounds like a lawyer wrote a full with when did the prime minister 1st become aware that any of his stall had concerns about the 20 foot money policy? and this is please to speak. i'm on break, right. i'm just repeating the question that we have on our list. the speaker is for the inquiry to to come forward with an explanation of what happened and i'm afraid you simply simply must wait. charlotte, why does boys johnson the prime minister? why does he think that he can last until this report comes out next week? we heard again today that he has absolutely

in an interview, he said that the posse prime minister's conservative party was trying to defend the indefensible. he was talking that particularly about party gate, as it's called here. this series of allegations about gatherings held at number 10 . he said that there's been fall to many issues where i felt like we've been on the wrong side and then proceeded to name a number of controversy surrounding the conservative party dating back month. some of them. finally, in a letter, a letter of resignation to the prime minister, he said, you prime minister boris johnson, the conservative party as a whole has shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership the party deserves. i think you can agree damning that from him. really wasn't momentous moment when he did defects. he literally crossed the island prime minister's question time and sat with the opposition that would have been an enormous blow to the prime minister. something that he would have been warned about just minutes before he was essentially fighting for his political career that bought this is just one man. the real q

he took a course of action as a conservative mp to change the leadership of the conservative party. but i cannot understand him suddenly having a conversion to the labour party, that they are solutions to the problems of borisjohnson. it doesn�*t make sense. it seems to me that he is all over the shop. he is only two years in the house of commons, when mehdi dedicated people in bury south went out and voted for him and worked damn hard to get him elected and they will find his decision quite extraordinary. —— when many dedicated people. extraordinary. -- when many dedicated people.— extraordinary. -- when many dedicated people. let's talk about bury south- _ dedicated people. let's talk about bury south. the _ dedicated people. let's talk about bury south. the conservative - dedicated people. let's talk about i bury south. the conservative prime minister made much about the party winning it in 2019. tell us about the constituency and the party�*s relationship with constituents because it�*s not a place where historically the party has done well. it historically the party

i'll read you the quote — today's conservative party is in the wrong place and heading in the opposite direction of conservatism. yes, that's right. that is true, it is heading in the opposite direction. you know, i have always recognised it is a broad church and i am willing to compromise and build consensus. you mentioned conservative way forward and people may have seen a clip that i put out about that. we can't reheat conservatism, we need to be much more relational, much more aware of community and people's place in society in relationship. so, i am going to confound people who think i am just reinventing thatcherism, that is not what we are doing. so, in other words, you want to combine her love of the free market, her love of freedom, but you recognise the criticism, do you, that says even if she didn't quite say this, it became popularly felt that she had, that tories could not say there is no such thing as society? yeah, of course, it is a mischaracterisation of her position. but what i would say is that when you look at the sermon on the mount, that famously she did, she was

didn't the conservative party, didn't people - conservative party, didn't people like you have to compromise on this great principle of the size of the state? in other words, great principle of the size of the state? in otherwords, many conservatives would say, look, we were in war, of course we had to spend bake and borrow and now we have to tax, that is what you have to do in the equivalent of war. and yet, you are concerned that boris johnson has, i think, got addicted to the big state?— to the big state? there is not any auestion to the big state? there is not any question of— to the big state? there is not any question of having _ to the big state? there is not any question of having small- to the big state? there is not any - question of having small government in the uk, not in our lifetime and not in several generations, if ever. what we can do is balance the budget. what i believe what is happening, a trajectory that we are on, a report shows a genuinely catastrophic trajectory of debt. in a 2018 report they said this level, this debt might happen, and i said policy will have to

country as a whole.— conservative party, within the country as a whole. one of the thins i country as a whole. one of the things i definitely _ country as a whole. one of the things i definitely feel - country as a whole. one of the things i definitely feel is - country as a whole. one of the things i definitely feel is that l things i definitely feel is that rather like the society as a whole, there is a deep, widespread ignorance about islam among people. they simply do not enough facts about what the village and says, how it grew, what is the ology is, how close islam is tojudaism, for example, and how they differ from christianity, there is widespread ignorance. people know something about what is in the bible but few people know anything but what is in the koran. irate people know anything but what is in the koran. ~ ., people know anything but what is in the koran. ~ . , , ., the koran. we have 'ust seen a tweet from health _ the koran. we have just seen a tweet from health secretary _ the koran. we have just seen a tweet from health secretary sayin

divides within the conservative -a ? ., , ., , party? the conservative party is a series _ party? the conservative party is a series of— party? the conservative party is a series of different - party? the conservative party is a series of different and - is a series of different and fragile coalitions. the problem for borisjohnson is that you have these different groups coming out and criticising him and when theresa may was prime minister essentially had two groups within the tory party. brexiteers and remainers. now you have multiple groups and it is a lot harder to manage. the crisis also underlines the boris johnson's crisis also underlines the borisjohnson�*s relationship with mps is transactional. many who are leading the so—called coup against him are mps only elected in 2019 who owe their seeds to him and know effectively they have turned on him and say ok, you got me elected i think you will cost me my see the next time and i will turf you out. amazing, really, because borisjohnson delivered one of the biggest majority of the tory party have had in years, just over

there are some in the conservative party that are saying | conservative party that are saying they need to wait for the official report from sue gray, the senior civil servant who is looking into all of these allegations about gatherings and parties in downing street. but this evening, we are getting an increasing number of conservative mps who are prepared to put their heads above the carpet and say it's time for the prime minister to go. in the last few minutes, william rag has told our colleagues that mrjohnson�*s position is untenable and he he should go. the scottish conservatives appeared to be in open revolt as well as their leader, douglas ross. thing the prime minister had to go after admitting he was at that gathering in 2020. there are about ten nsp �*s who say they back mr ross. they think the prime minister needs to resign. here is douglas ross. i said yesterday if the prime minister attended this event, gathering, party — whatever you call it — on the 20th of may last year, if he was there after the invite went out to more than 100 people, inviting them to bring th

the way he is reporting on the conservative party, he is now a - conservative party, he is now a labour mp today when he was making his media comment. yesterday he was a conservative, today he is labour. i've been in opposition mp myself, and if you are in opposition, your mission is to down the government, and that is exactly what he is doing. it should be no surprise he is attacking the conservative party, he has a labour mp.— is attacking the conservative party, he has a labour mp. what about the substance of — he has a labour mp. what about the substance of what _ he has a labour mp. what about the substance of what he _ he has a labour mp. what about the substance of what he is _ he has a labour mp. what about the substance of what he is saying. - substance of what he is saying. looked, nobody has backed that up. nobody, to the best of my knowledge has backed up these claims that there have been threats to withdraw things from constituencies. no. four years in the government's with office, and at no point was it appropriate or even possible for a government with two threatened

you conservative party battles over borisjohnson�*s future. you don't make somebody chief whip who you don't absolutely trust. h0. make somebody chief whip who you don't absolutely trust.— don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a _ don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a lot - don't absolutely trust. no, that's true. we have seen a lot of- don't absolutely trust. no, that'sl true. we have seen a lot of claims made against the whip�*s office in the last week, so this is quite a different claim and it taps into a long—running issue within the conservative party, and it is the sort of thing that threatens to reignite that. this is slightly different i think to some of the claims we were hearing earlier in the week which was about the whip�*s tactics when they were trying to persuade mps to vote the way they wanted to, and some of the accusations there about threats to hold money from constituencies. we

it is the conservative party that — to account. it is the conservative party that must do so. it really will be — party that must do so. it really will be in — party that must do so. it really will be in the spin and the optics and the — will be in the spin and the optics and the narrative and in the end, whether— and the narrative and in the end, whether he, the prime minister, can continue _ whether he, the prime minister, can continue to— whether he, the prime minister, can continue to sell a narrative that we are doing _ continue to sell a narrative that we are doing good stuff and that good stuff outweighs the bad, the risks, rather— stuff outweighs the bad, the risks, rather than — stuff outweighs the bad, the risks, rather than the specific sentences in sucrem — rather than the specific sentences in sucre... if people want to take boris _ in sucre... if people want to take borisjohnson down in sucre... if people want to take boris johnson down because they think— boris johnson down because they think he — boris johnson down because they think he isâ€

she is saying, hang on a minute, they told me i can initiate a conservative party process but i thought this was a government matter, not a party one. does that make sense to you? yes, the government is separate to the conservative party and will have its own rules and ways of dealing things. if we are talking about a reshuffle and who is in and who is out, that is decided by number ten and ultimately the prime minister, not really by the conservative party. it feels this should have been looked at by the government, not existing party processes and mechanisms. but also this goes back to, you can keep on talking about process and procedure but you have to read the room. she has made her allegations, they are in the public domain. howeverwe allegations, they are in the public domain. however we get to the outcome, the outcome is what matters. people who experience discrimination or racism don't really need a report to tell them what they have gone through, they need a change in behaviour and action to be taken.— action to be taken. what's also interesting _ action to be taken. what's a

party, even when boris johnson _ conservative party, even when boris johnson and — conservative party, even when boris johnson and other have been steadfast in their support and its position— steadfast in their support and its position that the conservative party is the _ position that the conservative party is the right— position that the conservative party is the right party to lead the uk under— is the right party to lead the uk under all— is the right party to lead the uk under all circumstances, which is an interesting argument. i think sometimes you can't always lead the party along, but the daily mail tends — party along, but the daily mail tends to— party along, but the daily mail tends to keep that view. i think some _ tends to keep that view. i think some people will look at this is a classic— some people will look at this is a classic distraction, others will say. — classic distraction, others will say. "yes. _ classic distraction, others will say, "yes, there are questions for keir starmer— say, "yes, there are questions for keir starmer and say, "yes, th

in the - conservative party... in the meantime _ conservative party... in the meantime those _ conservative party... in the meantime those loyal - conservative party... in the meantime those loyal to i conservative party... in the i meantime those loyal to boris johnson are saying... the meantime those loyal to boris johnson are saying... the culture in downin: johnson are saying... the culture in downing street _ johnson are saying... the culture in downing street does _ johnson are saying... the culture in downing street does need - johnson are saying... the culture in downing street does need to - johnson are saying... the culture in downing street does need to be - downing street does need to be addressed and i think it is absolutely essential that when the prime _ absolutely essential that when the prime minister responds to the report— prime minister responds to the report by— prime minister responds to the report by sue gray and he is committed to doing that in parliament, that he addresses that culture _ parliament, that he addresses that cul

the conservative party are very good at heating _ conservative party are very good at beating the wp think that peter is a liability _ beating the wp think that peter is a liability it — beating the wp think that peter is a liability. it is significant between 19 take _ liability. it is significant between 19 take have lost faith or of his faith — you would think it would be loyal to the leader_ you would think it would be loyal to the leader they won their seats unden — the leader they won their seats unden all_ many who have not spent many time in the house _ many who have not spent many time in the house of— many who have not spent many time in the house of commons because of covid, _ the house of commons because of covid, who— the house of commons because of covid, who don't feel perhaps as much _ covid, who don't feel perhaps as much loyalty to the prime minister as other— much loyalty to the prime minister as other intake mps might do. boris johnson _ as other intake mps might do. boris johnson today, he looked broken, he looked beaten. and we all know that _ broken

party members. amongst grassroots conservative party members-— amongst grassroots conservative party members. amongst grassroots conservative pa members. ., . ., party members. thank you so much for our time. covid—19 restrictions are being eased in scotland today, with limits on the number of people allowed at large indoor events being lifted along with social distancing rules. nightclubs are also reopening, after they were forced to close on 27th december. longer—running measures, such as the use of face coverings on public transport and indoor public places, will continue. earlier, we heard from our correspondent jamie mcivor who's in glasgow. blows for the hospitality industry in scotland as indeed there were across the uk and across the world. what you can basically say today, ben, is that the omicron restrictions in scotland have now eased, scotland is now essentially back to where it was a month ago before these additional restrictions were imposed. let's look at what actually changes today. first of all, nightclubs can now reopen again, they had been closed since december

she's saying, hang on a minute, they told me i can initiate a conservative party process but i thought this was a government matter, not a party one. does that make sense to you? yes, the government is separate to the conservative party and will have its own rules and ways of dealing things. if we are talking about a reshuffle and who is in and who is out, that is decided by number ten and ultimately the prime minister — not really by the conservative party. so it feels to me this should have been looked at by the government, not existing party processes and mechanisms. but also this i think goes back to you can keep on talking about process and procedure but you have to read the room. she has made her allegations, they are in the public domain. however we get to the outcome, the outcome is what matters. people who experience discrimination or racism don't really need a report or a process to tell them what they have gone through, they need a change in behaviour and action to be taken. i think that is the key thing here. what's also interesting is that she has received some fairly ki

as you know, for the _ the conservative party. as you know, for the last— the conservative party. as you know, for the last seven years of employment out case after case after case after _ employment out case after case after case after case they are hundreds of islandc— case after case they are hundreds of islamic phobia racism within the conservative party. but this is not about _ conservative party. but this is not about something that happened within the conservative party or conservative hq to somebody it employed by the conservative party, this is— employed by the conservative party, this is something that happened to a government minister, somebody employed by government he was alleging — employed by government he was alleging that comments were made in number— alleging that comments were made in number 10 _ alleging that comments were made in number 10 downing street in word repeated _ number 10 downing street in word repeated to her by the chief weapon. this is— repeated to her by the chief weapon. this is not— repeated to her by the chief weapon. this is not

in the coming days, one m p from johnson's conservative party has defected to the opposition, and others are reported to have already submitted letters of no confidence. ne barker sent this report from london. yes, in highly charged atmosphere for ministers. questions began with another major body blown for forest johnson news. one of his mph, kristian wakefield had defected to the opposition party. this following morning, newspaper reports of a whitening plot to oust johnson by members of his own party. jokes to the prime minister's expense followed. i see the very noise on i'm sure the chief whip was told to bring their i'm bruce ah salvo off to silva. like way nobody told the prime minister. he was breaking his own rooms. absolutely pathetic. if he had any shred of compassion for all those had them separately. they said he'd go, i am peace clamoring for explanations. with johnson about the increasing catalogue of rule breaking policies that took place under his watch when the country was deepened, lockdown. but the prime minister seemed energize fighting tooth and nail for his party a

in the coming days, one m p from johnston's conservative party has defected to the opposition, and others are reported to have already submitted letters of no confidence. neve barker sent this report from london. yes. in highly charged atmosphere for ministers. questions began with another major body blow for boris johnson. news. one of his m. p. 's christian wakefield had defected to the opposition party. this following morning, newspaper reports of a whitening plot to ouse. johnson by members of his own party. jokes of the prime minister's expense followed i see the very noise out until the chief whip was told to bring their i'm bruce ha salvo off to silva. like way nobody told the prime minister. he was breaking his own rooms. absolutely pathetic. if he had any shred of compassion for all those out there who separate to this heat go, i am peace clamoring for explanations. with johnson about the increasing catalogue of rule breaking policies that took place under his watch when the country was deepened lockdown. but the prime minister seemed energize fighting tooth and nail for his part

party was dealings _ look at the conservative party was dealings with homophobia which didn't_ dealings with homophobia which didn't find —— islamophobia, which didn't_ didn't find —— islamophobia, which didn't find —— islamophobia, which didn't find institutional islamophobia.- didn't find institutional islamophobia. didn't find institutional islamo - hobia. , ., ,, didn't find institutional islamohobia. , islamophobia. let me 'ust take you throu~h a islamophobia. let me 'ust take you through a reaction — islamophobia. let me 'ust take you through a reaction we _ islamophobia. let me just take you through a reaction we have - islamophobia. let me just take you through a reaction we have had - islamophobia. let me just take you | through a reaction we have had from the whips office. a spokesman has said the allegations were categorically untrue and the conservative party did not tolerate racism or discrimination, there's claims are categorically untrue, he said, and their ministerial roles are appointed on merit and rewards for hard work. before we move on from this story,

are pulling better than the conservative party.— the conservative party. thank you very much- _ the foreign office's top civil servant has apologised for giving inaccurate answers to mps about evacuating animals from afghanistan, following the advance of the taliban. sir philip barton said he'd �*inadvertently�* misled a committee that was investigating uk policy, and whether borisjohnson had intervened to help evacuate animals being cared for by a charity. leaked emails suggest the prime minister did get personally involved, but he denies this. tensions over ukraine remain high after president putin accused the west of failing to address moscow's security concerns over eastern europe. the russian leader was speaking to president macron of france amid intense diplomacy to avert a possible russian invasion of ukraine. the kremlin says requests to halt nato expansion towards russia's western frontier have been ignored. moscow has deployed around 100,000 troops near the border with ukraine, angry that a country once part of the soviet union is now seeking

the real question now is what the remaining members of the consider conservative party now feeling that the ones who have the power to trigger a vote of no confidence. yeah, i mean, usually after a party i want to get invited back and i want to lose my job. party gate is obviously just one of the prime ministers. biggest headaches want you to take a listen to what the leader of the opposition said today as well as the prime minister. now our top, the prime list is very carefully crossed in response to the accusation. it's almost sounds like a lawyer wrote a full with when did the prime minister 1st become aware that any of his stall had concerns about the 20th with money policy? and this is please to speak. i'm grateful to write it down for repeating the question that is the georgia. we have also, this is beaca. there it is for the inquiry to, to come forward with an explanation of what happened. i mean, i'm afraid you simply, you simply must wait. charlotte, why does boys johnson the prime minister? why does he think that he can last until this report comes out next week? but we heard

can the conservative party find the old language it used to use? can it reflect the values of middle britain which it used to do, rather than some kind of, you know, higher level, you know, higher level attitudes. that remains to be seen. >> boris johnson was a colleague of yours, anne, when he was a journalist. do you think he will go quietly or will he put up a fight? >> he will do everything in his power not to go. he has lived through so many sandals and he has survived all of them and he will at some level believe that he can survive this one. the difficulty with this one is that it underlines something that people feel deeply about him and his party right now, which is that they -- you know, they don't act in everybody's interest, they act only in their own interests. overcoming that will be difficult. >> david, quickly to you. if he does go, could an indian-brit become prime minister? do you think britain is ready for a brown-skinned prime minister? >> yes, that's certainly possible. the big question the conservative party is whether it doub

in the coming days, one m p from johnston's conservative party has defected to the opposition, and others are reported to have already submitted letters of no confidence. ne barker sent this report from london. yes, in highly charged atmosphere for ministers. questions began with another major body blown for forest johnson news. one of his mph, kristian wakefield had defected to the opposition party. this following morning, newspaper reports of a whitening plot to oust johnson by members of his own party. jokes to the prime minister's expense followed. i see the very noise on until the chief whip was told to bring their i'm bruce ha salvo off to silva. like way nobody told the prime minister. he was breaking his own rooms. absolutely pathetic. if he had any shred of compassion for all those had them separately. they said he'd go, i am peace clamoring for explanations. with johnson about the increasing catalogue of rule breaking policies that took place under his watch when the country was deepened, lockdown. but the prime minister seemed energize fighting tooth and nail for his party and

if the consider the conservative party now feeling that the ones who have the power to trigger a vote of no confidence. yeah, i mean, usually after a party i want to get invited back and i want to lose my job. party gate is obviously just one of the prime ministers. biggest headaches want you to take a listen to what the leader of the opposition said to day, as well as the prime minister. now i caught the prime minister very carefully crossed at response to the accusation. it's almost sounds like a lawyer wrote a fool with. when did the prime minister 1st become aware that any of his stall had concerns about the 20 for the money policy? this is please to speak. i'm on break, right. i'm just repeating the question that we have on our list. the speaker is for the inquiry to to come forward with an explanation of what happened and i'm afraid you simply simply must wait. charlotte, why does boys johnson the prime minister? why does he think that he can last until this report comes out next week? we heard again today that he has absolutely no plans to resign. so what is very clear is that

the conservative party chairman, oliver dowden, says the culture in downing street must be addressed. i think the facts speak for themselves. i think the prime minister broke the law, i think he then lied about what had happened. people feel angry about what's been going on in downing street, i feel angry about what is going on in downing street, but the correct process now is to get to the full facts. it's being reported a man who held four people hostage at a synagogue in texas for more than 10 hours was a british citizen. police say the man is now dead, all the hostages have been freed. rafael benitez has been sacked as everton manager, after less than seven months in charge at the club. coming up later this hour, mark kermode joins jane hill to discuss the latest cinema releases and what's new on streaming in the film review. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. the tennis star novak djokovic has deen deported from australia after losing his attempt to have the government's decision to remove his visa overturned. a federal court upheld the decision to cancel his visa on the ground

. and of the conservative party. and the best interests of our country- and of the conservative party. and i have to _ and of the conservative party. and i have to tell— and of the conservative party. and i have to tell him, _ and of the conservative party. and i have to tell him, he _ and of the conservative party. and i have to tell him, he no— and of the conservative party. and i have to tell him, he no longer- have to tell him, he no longer enjoys — have to tell him, he no longer enjoys my support _ have to tell him, he no longer enjoys my support. it- have to tell him, he no longer enjoys my support-— have to tell him, he no longer enjoys my support. it seems a lot of eo - le enjoys my support. it seems a lot of people attended _ enjoys my support. it seems a lot of people attended events _ enjoys my support. it seems a lot of people attended events in _ enjoys my support. it seems a lot of people attended events in may - enjoys my support. it seems a lot of. people attended events in may 2020, i recall

the conservative party is eating itself in public — conservative party is eating itself in public. you have mps who are supporting — in public. you have mps who are supporting ms ghani, saying this must _ supporting ms ghani, saying this must be — supporting ms ghani, saying this must be investigated and taken very seriously _ must be investigated and taken very seriously. she's a valued colleague. you do _ seriously. she's a valued colleague. you do struggle to think what she could _ you do struggle to think what she could gain — you do struggle to think what she could gain from coming out and saying — could gain from coming out and saying this publicly. but it'sjust the latest — saying this publicly. but it'sjust the latest in these allegations that we've heard. the whipping operation, you have _ we've heard. the whipping operation, you have those bombshell claims coming _ you have those bombshell claims coming out this week that mps are being _ coming out this week that mps are being blackmailed essentially by the whip office in order to support boris — whip office i

i think it is for the conservative party, if not the prime minister, in fact, conservative party, if not the prime minister, infact, to conservative party, if not the prime minister, in fact, to make that decision and to realise what is in the best interest of that we can move forward both as a party and a country. move forward both as a party and a count . �* , ., move forward both as a party and a count .�* move forward both as a party and a count . �* ., move forward both as a party and a count .�* ., country. are you saying that you think the prime _ country. are you saying that you think the prime minister - country. are you saying that you think the prime minister should | country. are you saying that you - think the prime minister should step down or be _ think the prime minister should step down or be forced from office in the next few _ down or be forced from office in the next few weeks or months, certainly before _ next few weeks or months, certainly before the _ next few weeks or months, certainly before the may elections? | next few weeks or months, certainly bef

he said that the policy prime minister, conservative party was trying to defend the indefensible. he was talking that particularly about party gators. it's called, hey, this series of allegations about gatherings held at number 10. he said that there's been fall too many issues where i felt like we've been on the wrong side and then proceeded to name a number of controversy surrounding the conservative party dating back money. some of them finally and alexa relaxer resignation to the prime minister, he said, you prime minister boris johnson, the conservative party as a whole has shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership the party deserves. i think you can agree damning that from him. what really was a mentor moment when he did defects? he literally crossed the island prime minister's question time. in fact, with the opposition, that would have been an enormous blow to the prime minister. something that he will have been warned about just minutes before he was essentially fighting for his political career that thought this is just one man. the real question now is what

of the conservative party. but i cannot understand him suddenly having a conversion to the labour party, that they are the solutions to the problems of boris johnson. it doesn't make sense. it seems to me he is all over the shop. only two years in the house of commons when many dedicated people went out and not only voted for him but actuay worked hard to get him elected. they will find his decision quite extraordinary. ros: let's talk about barry south. the prime minister was making much about the fact that the conservative won it in 2019. ellis about the constituency and the conservative party's relationship with constituents. it's not a place historically that your party has done well. >> it is a bellwether seat, created in 1983 when i was elected. ever since then, it has determined who rules britain. there are many of those seats in the northwest of england. barry south is one of them. ros: the conservatives have lost one mp, crossed over to the labour party. in practical terms, doesn't make a huge differen

party will let him| conservative party will let him fight _ conservative party will let him fight another _ conservative party will let him fight another election, - conservative party will let him fight another election, he - conservative party will let him fight another election, he is. conservative party will let him i fight another election, he is too much _ fight another election, he is too much of— fight another election, he is too much of a — fight another election, he is too much of a liability. _ fight another election, he is too much of a liability.— fight another election, he is too much of a liability. sonia sodha and mhari aurora. _ much of a liability. sonia sodha and mhari aurora, thank _ much of a liability. sonia sodha and mhari aurora, thank you _ much of a liability. sonia sodha and mhari aurora, thank you very - much of a liability. sonia sodha and mhari aurora, thank you very much | mhari aurora, thank you very much indeed, fascinating chat. we can talk about the cricket again! in the sunshine.— in the sunshine. english cricket has been in the — in the sunsh

you said recently that a change of leader, conservative party leader, requires an election. you said it with all the authority of being the lord president of the council, the fourth greatest office. where on earth does it say that you have to have an election if you change leader? well, i'm very... this is one of my pet subjects. ithink... you know how our constitution evolves. it doesn't say all sorts of things. it doesn't say how the queen must choose the prime minister but we have conventions that are built up around it, and i think... and, obviously, with constitutional issues, this is a discussion and it is an evolution rather than saying this is the law. i think our constitution has evolved so that a prime minister almost certainly has to have an election to get the mandate. and this isn't some new thing i have said to defend borisjohnson, i actually said this in the debate on the second reading of the fixed—term parliaments act in 2010. and i think the evolution... but the difference there, forgive me, because i read the speech, was you were a backbencher. you are n