nick eardley on _ could go a bit longer. yes. nick eardley on the _ could go a bit longer. yes. nick eardley on the process - could go a bit longer. yes. nick eardley on the process and - could go a bit longer. yes. nick. eardley on the process and some could go a bit longer. yes. nick- eardley on the process and some of the names that have emerged. only last night, the prime minister was saying that he had this personal mandate, as he called it, to remain in power. that is what his supporters were saying. so what do the voters who gave borisjohnson a resounding election victory less than three years ago make of today's news? we can go to don valley in south yorkshire, one of the constituencies won by the conservatives in 2019 having been held by labourfor almost 100 years. these are precisely the seats where the boris factor was seen as important. our correspondent danny savage has been speaking to voters there today. in this conservative held seats in south yorkshire today, they were getting used to the idea of borisjohnson leaving office. that didn't necessarily mean they wer

i am here with nick eardley. boris johnson does not intend to move out quite yet. 0ne johnson does not intend to move out quite yet. one more point if i made, on policy again, when the scottish government is dealing with such big policy issues, including the exchange of views on a possible referendum, there was a formal response to the other day, that did not come as a surprise. how does it change the dynamics of how the scottish government talks to the uk government, westminster, at a time like this? does it function as usual with officials? 0r like this? does it function as usual with officials? or does this kind of process of turbulent politics affect all kinds of contacts and decision making? i think it will affect an awful lot or what goes on behind the scenes. the scottish government gets on with the dayjob irrespective. in terms of those areas of overlap, it is inevitable that will be more difficult. ministers have changed, they will be getting to grips with departments, there is no certainty how long any

nicki moment, nick, thank you. nick eardley. we will be back with the headlines for you at 10.00 and bringing you up—to—date with all the developments but we can take a look at the weather now with carol kirkwood. hello again. for some of us are rather wet start to the day. we have a ridge of high pressure settling things down in southern areas but weather fronts moving across the top of it bringing in some rain and the isobars telling you it will be winding across the northern half of the country today. 0nly light winds at wimbledon for stock temperatures up a touch on yesterday and although there will be quite a bit of cloud to start with, we will see it break and sunny spells will develop as we go through the afternoon and into the evening. for the rest of us, the heavy rain across scotland moving into the north sea. you can see more rain coming in across the west. northern ireland, western parts of england and wales seeing a bit more clout with the odd spot of rain coming out of it at times. in land across england and al

thank you, nick eardle , slim indeed. thank you, nick eardley. our— slim indeed. thank you, nick eardley, our political - eardley, our political correspondent. russian president vladimir putin will visit iran later today in just his second foreign trip since he launched the invasion of ukraine in february. mr putin will meet the iranian supreme leader as well as the turkish president. grain exports, syria and ukraine are reportedly set to make up the discussions between the leaders. three candidates are in the race to be the next sri lankan president afterformer leader gotabaya rajapaksa fled the country and resigned last week over the island's worsening economic crisis. the country's parliament will vote for a new leader tomorrow. our correspondent secunder kermani has this report. the tea leaves picked here end up in cups across the world. these lush fields are home to sri lanka's biggest export, but they've been badly hit by this unprecedented economic crisis. "our leaders aren't bothered about providing us with the basic "necessities," he says. "they're the on

nick eardley at our political _ cleared by the police. nick eardley at our political correspondent. - many are expected to join what is likely to be a pretty crowded field. the timetable for the election will be decided next week but there may not be a new leader until september, which means that borisjohnson could stay at number 10 until then. 0ur political correspondent has this report. calm here in downing street this morning. the spectacle of yesterday receding. a new temporary cabinet in place... is the government in freefall? ..a holding position, so new ministers who — may only be in the job for weeks — can try to govern until a new leader is chosen. we have a duty and our duty is to govern. and during a general election, for example, the functions of government are maintained and whilst we are going through this leadership process, the function of government will be maintained. what we are not going to do is we are not going to make big changes that would tie the hands of the prime minister's successor. just two confirmed cont

nick eardley, thank you very much, job? nick eardley, thank you very much. our _ job? nick eardley, thank you very much, our political _ job? nick eardley, thank you veryl much, our political correspondent. the whole idea of getting on with the job, the whole idea of getting on with thejob, and lots of the whole idea of getting on with the job, and lots of people will be asking questions, how can this government govern effectively when so much of their time and effort is taken up talking about the position of the prime minister himself? so it is focused on him and his personality and not with the business of actually governing. nick mentioned pmqs at noon today, prime minister's questions afternoon bst. also, liaison committee, committee of senior mps questioning the prime minister later. we will be carrying those events live and we will keep up—to—date with any developments before then as well. for the moment, it is back to rebecca in the studio. thank you, talk to you in a little while. suspects in the ath ofjuly shooting on monday has been charged with seven cou

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. i'm joined from westminster by our political correspondent ione wells. speaker tell us more about what borisjohnson speaker tell us more about what boris johnson new. speaker tell us more about what borisjohnson new. i speaker tell us more about what boris johnson new.— speaker tell us more about what boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson _ boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson was _ boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson was made _ boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson was made aware - boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson was made aware of i boris johnson new. i can revealthat boris johnson was made aware of a | borisjohnson was made aware of a formal complaint about alleged inappropriate behaviour by chris pincher when he was a foreign office minister, from 2019 until 2020. i understand this complaint triggered a formal process which was led by a cabinet office official, but which the prime minister, borisjohnson, and the

here is our correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. until yesterday, correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. untilyesterday, his job was to enforce discipline among conservative mps. but last fight he resigned his government role, after allegations that he had groped two men. he had been drinking here, a private member's club in london with other conservative politicians. he admitted drinking too much and said he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things _ he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things seriously, - all of these things seriously, nobody, this, these, my first reaction to when i heard this was one of sadness and frustration that here we are again, in this position, it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly, from the point of view of the victims. the properly, from the point of view of the victim-— properly, from the point of view of the victims. ~ , ., , the victims. the prime minister was back in downing _ the victims. the prime minister was back in do

thank you, nick eardle , is doomed to fail. thank you, nick eardley. our— is doomed to fail. thank you, nick eardley, our political _ eardley, our political correspondence. later i will be speaking to an mp who still has not made up his mind, at mind, at least at our last time of checking with him, about who he will back in the contest. interesting to hear nick say that looking up the numbers he's exactly is nine of the current 11 could potentially go through. i will be speaking to the mp for north west richard hill ten and i will asking if he has made his mind yet. —— for north west durham and i will be asking him. a bbc investigation has uncovered evidence that suggests that the british sas executed detainees and murdered unarmed people in afghanistan. panorama has discovered that one unit killed 5a people in suspicious circumstances — and senior officers failed to report the alleged murders and didn't disclose evidence to military police. the mod says it will always hold uk troops to the highest standards and that they served with courage and professionalism in afgha

thank you very much, nick eardley in central lobby. i�*m joined by peter bone, conservative mp for wellingborough. thank you for your time. yesterday you were still backing borisjohnson as prime minister. does that remain in your position this afternoon? absolutely. i have complete confidence in the prime minister and i hope he leads us into the next general election.— general election. clearly that is not a general election. clearly that is rrot a view _ general election. clearly that is not a view shared _ general election. clearly that is not a view shared by _ general election. clearly that is not a view shared by an - general election. clearly that is i not a view shared by an increasing number of your colleagues. that must concern you. i number of your colleagues. that must concern you-— concern you. i am not sure about an increasin: concern you. i am not sure about an increasing number. _ concern you. i am not sure about an increasing number. there _ concern you. i am not sure about an increasing number. there were - conce

nick eardley, with his take on where we are with the leadership race. let's get henry hill's tx, deputy editor of conservative cap at home. blue on blue attacks, do you think that will be potentially destructive for the conservative party? absolutely, i think it is one of the reasons the 1922 committee will hopefully truncate the early rounds by raising the threshold for mps necessary to continue on into the contest. currently we have a lot of candidates, there is a lot of mud being slung. this is an internal contest, but it is being conducted in the full gaze of press and public scrutiny, and recently can't afford to have people behaving like this. there seems to be a conventional wisdom emerging that it will end up with a rishi sunak against somebody else. possibly liz truss. is that how you see it, a final choice when it goes to the wider conservative party electorate, who will decide over the summer? i party electorate, who will decide over the summer?— party electorate, who will decide over the summer? i would say that is the most likely _ over t

with the latest from westminster here's our correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. until yesterday, hisjob was this is chris pincher. until yesterday, his job was to enforce discipline among conservative mps. but last night he resigned his government role after allegations that he had groped two men. mr chris pincher had been drinking here, a private members club in london with the conservative politicians. he admitted drinking too much and said he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things _ he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things incredibly - all of these things incredibly seriously. nobody... my first reaction to when i heard this last night was one of sadness but here we have again in this country. it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly from the point of view of the victims. the prime minister was back in downing street today, meeting new zealand's premier. will you suspend chris pincher? number ten insisted borisjohnson had not been aware of specific allegations about mr pincher when he was promot

with the latest from westminster here's our correspondent nick eardley. last night chris pincher resigned his government role after allegations that he had grouped two men. he had been drinking here, a private scope in london, with other conservative politicians. he admitted drinking too much and said he had embarrassed himself. we take over the things _ he had embarrassed himself. we take over the things incredibly _ he had embarrassed himself. we take over the things incredibly serious. - over the things incredibly serious. i first reaction when i heard this last night was one of sadness and frustration that here we are again. we need to make sure we do these things properly from the point of view of the victims. the things properly from the point of view of the victims.— view of the victims. the prime minister was _ view of the victims. the prime minister was back _ view of the victims. the prime minister was back in _ view of the victims. the prime minister was back in downing | view of the victims. the prime - minister was back in downing street to

with the latest from westminster here's our correspondent nick eardley. i'm s o rry , i'm sorry, we don't have that report. let's move on to abortion in northern ireland. abortion in northern ireland was decriminalised more than two years ago but services are still limited and last year more than 160 women still flew to england for terminations. many who choose to have abortions in northern ireland have to contend with protestors as they arrive at clinics. later this month the uk's supreme court will decide whether or not to ban such protests amid calls for more protection for staff and women who use abortion clinics. here's our ireland correspondent, emma vardy. they chant: have mercy on us and on the whole world. - a prayer and a protest. this has become a regular sight outside some of northern ireland's main hospitals. they're here because daisy hill hospital in newry provides a clinic for women to access abortion services. what we have found, and what people have told us, is that it's really intimidating coming up to these gates. fiona and cara have s

that is going out to nick eardley i really shaken things up. that is going out to nick eardley who l really shaken things up. that is| going out to nick eardley who is really shaken things up. that is i going out to nick eardley who is in parliament with another of the contenders. parliament with another of the contenders-— parliament with another of the contenders. ., ., , ., ., ., contenders. that vote is going on at the moment- _ contenders. that vote is going on at the moment. there _ contenders. that vote is going on at the moment. there is _ contenders. that vote is going on at the moment. there is about - contenders. that vote is going on at the moment. there is about an i contenders. that vote is going on at| the moment. there is about an hour left for the candidates to try to get over the threshold of 30 to stay in this race. i have got one of the candidates with me, suella braverman, the attorney general, who has just been voting. then we start off with a procedural question. are you confident of getting the 30? mr; you confident of

with the latest from westminster, here's our correspondent nick eardley. this is chris pincher. untilyesterday, hisjob was to enforce discipline among conservative mps. but after allegations he groped two men, he resigned as a government whip and been suspended from the party in parliament. mr pincher had been drinking here, a private members�* club in london, with other conservative politicians. he admitted drinking too much and said he had embarrassed himself. we take all of these things incredibly seriously. nobody — this, these, my first reaction when i heard this, was one of sadness and frustration that here we are again, in this position. it is absolutely beholden on us to make sure that we do these things properly, from the point of view of the victims. the prime minister was back in downing street today, meeting new zealand's premier. reporter: will you i suspend chris pincher? it's been claimed downing street was warned about mr pincher�*s behaviour before he was given a governmentjob. number ten insisted borisjohnson had not been made aware of specific allegation

i'm joined by nick eardley. keir starmer has said on twitter that the conservatives have overseen 12 years of economic stagnation, declining public services and we don't need to change the tory at the top, we need a proper change of government, we need a fresh start for britain. he said it is good news that boris johnson has resigned, but it should have happened long ago, he has been unfit for office and responsible for lies on an industrial scale and those who have been complicit should be ashamed. he said they cannot pretend they're the ones to sort it out. they have been in powerfor 12 years and the damage they have done is profound. enough is enough. nick, to confirm where we are. boris johnson has confirmed he will stand down? �* ., , johnson has confirmed he will stand down? 1, _., down? boris johnson in the next few hours will tell— down? boris johnson in the next few hours will tell us _ down? boris johnson in the next few hours will tell us all _ down? boris johnson in the next few hours will tell u

let's get the latest from our political correspondent, nick eardley in westminster. what will the next few days look like? ., . , what will the next few days look like? ., ., ., , ., what will the next few days look like? ., ., ., ,., like? politics moves on quickly, doesnt like? politics moves on quickly, doesn't it? _ like? politics moves on quickly, doesn't it? you _ like? politics moves on quickly, doesn't it? you heard _ like? politics moves on quickly, doesn't it? you heard boris - like? politics moves on quickly, - doesn't it? you heard boris johnson doesn't it? you heard borisjohnson there, a few days ago we were hanging on what his next words would be. but already everybody in westminster is talking about what comes next. the early frontrunner in this campaign is the former chancellor, rishi sunak. but the truth is, a lot could change over the next few days. because as the number of candidates is whittled down, probably quite quickly, there will be a lot of horse trading between the campaigns, a lot of people backing candidates who are eliminated, and then g

all eyes on both of them on monday, nick i on both of them on monday, nick eardley, thank you. countries where it�*s illegal to be gay will be less likely to host the commonwealth games in the future. that�*s according to the head of the games federation. in around half of the 72 nations competing at birmingham 2022 — which starts on thursday — homosexuality is outlawed — but the host city is rolling out a special welcome for gay athletes. our midlands correspondent phil mackie went to find out more. tom daley�*s probably the best—known openly gay athlete to have competed at the commonwealth games. he�*s made it easier for some to take the plunge, but for most it�*s simply not possible. there�*s 37 countries in the commonwealth that are competing that currently criminalise lgbt people, which... i feel extremely lucky to be able to compete openly and truly who i am and not worry about ramifications. the numbers have fallen since then — but only slightly. although anti—gay laws are not always enforced, in around two thirds of competing countries homosexual

our political correspondent nick eardley is in central lobby. nick, borisjohnson at prime minister's questions, but actually most of the focus is now on his successor. most of the focus is now on his successor-— most of the focus is now on his successor. , , ., , ~ successor. yes, this time last week we stood here _ successor. yes, this time last week we stood here and _ successor. yes, this time last week we stood here and said _ successor. yes, this time last week we stood here and said boris - successor. yes, this time last week i we stood here and said boris johnson we stood here and said borisjohnson was desperately trying to cling on to office, but this place moved on pretty quickly and you saw keir starmer change tack and start talking about who was going to succeed mrjohnson, attacking some of their tax—cutting pledges and saying that they just of their tax—cutting pledges and saying that theyjust didn't of their tax—cutting pledges and saying that they just didn't add of their tax—cutting pledges and saying that theyjust didn'

lets talk to our political correspondent nick eardley. where are tom tugendhat and his supporters�* support likely to go? it supporters' support likely to go? it could go pretty much anywhere. i don�*t think they will necessarily all go to the same place, those 30 plus mps who backed tom tugendhat last night might vote for different candidates. the expectation of some or go to penny mordaunt, son michael to rishi sunak, liz truss�*s team thinks she could get some of them. it is a strange leadership race because it is not always completely obvious what is going on. i think we have a rough idea of what will happen over the next 36 hours, rishi sunak is pretty much guaranteed a place in the final two now, his numbers are nearly there, he is in a pretty good place, his team is pretty good place, his team is pretty happy. the big battle, and it is big, it�*s for second place. from looking purely at the ticket is a battle between mordaunt and liz truss to see which can beat the other into second place. kemi badenoch�*s team say there

eardley is here. what's the current state of play in the contest, nick? liz truss is widely accepted to be ahead in this race. she has had some big endorsements in the last few days, adding to her sense of momentum. but speaking to rishi sunak�*s team, they are not throwing the towel in. they still think it is all to play for. interestingly, talking to tory mps this weekend, a lot of their members are still undecided. they haven't made their minds up yet. rishi sunak is hoping that a bold policy agenda can get him back on the front foot. this weekend he has been talking about the nhs. today, it is £10 fines for people that don't turn up for gp or hospital appointments. people that don't turn up for gp or hospitalappointments. he people that don't turn up for gp or hospital appointments. he reckons that would help with the backlog after covid, although some doctors are saying it would hit the poorest the hardest. liz truss's team are optimistic. they think she is getting a good reception from the me

let's get more on this from our political correspondent, nick eardley, joins me from westminster. when chris pincher stood on on thursday he admitted he had got drunk and embarrassed himself but over the weekend there have been several allegations of sexual misconduct in the newspapers, they had been denied by chris pincher to the newspapers. there is this increase in question over what the prime minister knew about allegations and when. on friday, we were told by downing street that the prime minister was not aware of specific allegations. this morning, the outline has changed from number ten who said the prime minister was aware of rumours and speculation. before chris pincher was given a job in the whips office in parliament. remember, thatjob as deputy chief whip meant he was in charge of party discipline, he also had a row in mps welfare. numberten discipline, he also had a row in mps welfare. number ten has also not denied a claim made by some who worked in number ten under boris johnson that mrjohnson used the term pincher by name, pincher by nature. the prime minister �*

let's rejoin our political correspondent nick eardley. and the prime minister has more questions this afternoon at the liaison committee. aha, questions this afternoon at the liaison committee.— questions this afternoon at the liaison committee. a busy afternoon for boris johnson _ liaison committee. a busy afternoon for boris johnson up _ liaison committee. a busy afternoon for boris johnson up against - liaison committee. a busy afternoon for boris johnson up against that. for borisjohnson up against that committee at three o'clock but at the same time he will be trying to shore up some support among pretty glum —looking tory mps this afternoon. and at the same time there are powerful backbenchers discussing changing the rules to allow another confidence that the prime minister potentially within days. the pm spokesman said that borisjohnson would fight days. the pm spokesman said that boris johnson would fight that vote but i have to say that chatting to tory mps around here including some allies of the prime minister not many woul

nick eardley will find us someone. now kate maltby, what do you make of the numbers, do you read is that now kemi badenoch is out her supports will go for liz truss? i kemi badenoch is out her supports will go for liz truss?— will go for liz truss? i think that is more likely — will go for liz truss? i think that is more likely than _ will go for liz truss? i think that is more likely than not. - will go for liz truss? i think that is more likely than not. but - will go for liz truss? i think that| is more likely than not. but kemi will go for liz truss? i think that i is more likely than not. but kemi is someone who has made clear her own independence of mind and a number of her supporters, particularly those in the european research group have spent time... at pressure from liz truss that she is by default the candidate of the right. we may see a kind of personal rebellion from a few on that basis. if i can come in on something that you heard your guest saying. there was a point that supporters of rishi sunak in

lets bring in nick eardley. _ get 30 votes today? 193 lets bring in nick eardley. we get 30 votes today? 19:3 lets bring in nick eardley. we were get 30 votes today? 193 lets bring in nick eardley. we were hearing get 30 votes today? 19:3 lets bring in nick eardley. we were hearing tom tugendhat talking on the other side of the green, just a few moments ago. he was speaking on camera, answering reporter questions. we are shortly going to be hearing from penny mordaunt, and there was also the stuff going on behind closed doors and via phones. the whatsapp groups, the lobbying, jockeying for position, and trying to go for the votes once the different contenders drop out, as happened yesterday, a number of contenders dropped out and, immediately the remaining candidate's supporters were trying to get the votes of those who have been supporting the ones that went out. let's talk to nick eardley. so, what was tom tugendhat saying? his bi what was tom tugendhat saying? h 3 big thing to say was to talk about defence spending, he wants 3% of gdp to be spent on defence ever

our political correspondent nick eardley reports. mark met chris pincher in 2018, when he was working on a project about politicians. shortly after they were introduced, mark says he was touched inappropriately by the mp. itrailien inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he was - inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he was asking| were walking out and he was asking me if i was running, i told him, and he said you must have a lot of stamina. almost like he's giving me the come on. then he is feeling my leg and saying you must be muscular. that immediately makes me worried and thinking, you know, that's not right. so, touchingly there, i don't think he should be doing that to someone he is onlyjust met. when he's outside and he's got his arm around me and then touching me on the bot

we are going to talk to nick eardley in a moment. but first, our political correspondent, david wallace—lockhart, reports on mrjohnson�*s most serious leadership crisis so far. two influential cabinet ministers who decided they'd had enough. within minutes of one another, rishi sunak resigned as chancellor, and sajid javid resigned as health secretary. mrjavid remained tight—lipped when he returned home yesterday evening. i'm just going to spend some time with my family. but the reasons were there in black and white when the pair submitted resignation letters. the outgoing chancellor said... the outgoing health secretary said... their exits, along with various junior government figures, came swiftly, after borisjohnson apologised for his handling of appointing chris pincher to a new government position in february. it emerged borisjohnson had been told about a formal complaint previously made about mr pincher when he was a foreign office minister. that was something number ten had previously denied. i apologise for... ..eh, for

our political correspondent nick eardley is with me now. ican i can see nick is right there looking. it has been throughout the morning, a series of resignations. d want to take us back one step in what the big picture is as we stand here at eight o'clock? taste what the big picture is as we stand here at eight o'clock?— here at eight o'clock? we are into the third day _ here at eight o'clock? we are into the third day of— here at eight o'clock? we are into the third day of a _ here at eight o'clock? we are into the third day of a steady - here at eight o'clock? we are into the third day of a steady stream l here at eight o'clock? we are into | the third day of a steady stream of resignations from boris johnson's government, resignations from borisjohnson's government, which makes it remarkably difficult for boris johnson to continue. in the last few seconds chris phelps has designed as a minister. the number is growing literally every ten minutes. we are popping up to say another member of the government has gone. we saw the cheap web

eardley is in leeds. 12 events, there will be nothing we don't know by the end? you 12 events, there will be nothing we don't know by the end?— don't know by the end? you might think ou don't know by the end? you might think you have _ don't know by the end? you might think you have heard _ don't know by the end? you might think you have heard a _ don't know by the end? you might think you have heard a lot - don't know by the end? you might think you have heard a lot from i don't know by the end? you might i think you have heard a lot from them already, but this is the first event thatis already, but this is the first event that is solely for members, and is a chance for them to grill the two candidates on their policies, on their plans, on their personalities. what is really interesting is, chatting to tory mps, there are some tory members who seem to be really unhappy about the way that things transpired over the last few weeks, and the way that borisjohnson was forced out. there are also unhappy about the tone of the debate so far, and all of these blue on b

i'm joined by our political correspondent nick eardley. the race still wide open? rishi sunak is pretty _ the race still wide open? rishi sunak is pretty certain - the race still wide open? rishi sunak is pretty certain to i the race still wide open? rishi sunak is pretty certain to get l the race still wide open? i si sunak is pretty certain to get into the final two based on the number thius of the moment with a big battle is to be the other candidate goes to the membership from next week and i have to say that seems a pretty open race. penny mordaunt yesterday had a bit of the wind in her sales taken out when she lost a vote and liz truss did ok yesterday but not as well as she might have wanted and all the while kemi badenoch still creeping up in the numbers and asking a lot of people this morning to think about 44 her rather than liz truss. there has been a story throughout this process, the right of the conservative party want a smaller state and lower taxes and things like that, they are pretty split and we're still seeing play out. however if kemi badenoch

i'm joined by our political correspondent, nick eardley. 7.30, channel a. you can crash and burn or come out shining. you 7.30, channela. you can crash and burn or come out shining.— burn or come out shining. you can indeed. i think _ burn or come out shining. you can indeed. i think there's _ burn or come out shining. you can indeed. i think there's a _ burn or come out shining. you can indeed. i think there's a couple i burn or come out shining. you can indeed. i think there's a couple of| indeed. i think there's a couple of reasons why tonight really matters. one is because there are these two outsiders at the moment. they are getting their moment to shine. i suspect they will want to grab it and make an impression. the truth is both tom tugendhat and kemi badenoch are struggling and unlikely to be in the final two. but tonight is their chance to say, look at my ideas, you cannot ignore me. for penny mourdant and lease trust, this is their chance to cement a second place run —— liz truss. penny mourdant is bowling really well with tory members, and

well, i'mjoined now by our political correspondent nick eardley. nick, borisjohnson may have resigned as conservative party leader, he is still here at downing street and still prime minister. some have said that is not the right thing to do now.— thing to do now. there is a lot of anuer thing to do now. there is a lot of anger and _ thing to do now. there is a lot of anger and bad — thing to do now. there is a lot of anger and bad blood _ thing to do now. there is a lot of anger and bad blood in _ thing to do now. there is a lot of anger and bad blood in the - anger and bad blood in the conservative party about what has happened over the last few days. some of those who resigned in the last 48 hours think the man behind that door needs to go immediately. it is hard to see how that would happen because he doesn't want to leave before a new leader is elected. my understanding is that process will probably take until the start of september. i think it is likely we will have borisjohnson in number 10 for a few weeks yet. extraordinary scenes here

nick eardley — our political correspondent — is with me. first of all, it is incredibly calm here today compared to this time yesterday. it here today compared to this time esterda . , . ., ~ here today compared to this time esterda . , u, ~ h, yesterday. it is calm. i think some ofthe yesterday. it is calm. i think some of the few — yesterday. it is calm. i think some of the few broiled _ yesterday. it is calm. i think some of the few broiled nature - yesterday. it is calm. i think some of the few broiled nature of- yesterday. it is calm. i think some of the few broiled nature of the i of the few broiled nature of the past few days has settled a bit, not just here but we know not what is happening but in the way that can serve the party as well there was a real sense of chaos yesterday and lots of anger in the party that borisjohnson had hung on for so long, lots of questions about whether he would have to be turfed out immediately because of the bad blood in the party. speaking to tory mps this morning there is a bit more calm. apparent

joining me now is our political correspondent, nick eardley. i have some tweets from people saying, please can you talk through who might be our next prime minister and i only mentioned some there but have any more people declared an interest? , ., ., , interest? there is a long list, victoria and _ interest? there is a long list, victoria and i _ interest? there is a long list, victoria and i think _ interest? there is a long list, victoria and i think this - interest? there is a long list, victoria and i think this will i interest? there is a long list, | victoria and i think this will be interest? there is a long list, i victoria and i think this will be a crowded field at first. let me run through some of the names i keep hearing from tory mp5 in the last couple of days. ben wallace, the defence secretary, liz truss, foreign secretary, rishi sunak, former chancellor. sajid javid, former chancellor. sajid javid, former health secretary, penny more joint, a trade minister, jeremy hunt, former health secretary. there is going to be a lot of pe

., i'm joined by our political correspondent nick eardley. well, wasn't that interesting way to start. �* , ,., , ., well, wasn't that interesting way to start. �* , , ., ., , start. absolutely, what really struck me was _ start. absolutely, what really struck me was ten _ start. absolutely, what really struck me was ten days - start. absolutely, what really struck me was ten days ago | start. absolutely, what really i struck me was ten days ago four start. absolutely, what really - struck me was ten days ago four of the five people on stage were in boris johnson's the five people on stage were in borisjohnson's government, in boris johnson's government, in different borisjohnson's government, in different roles. the only one who was in was tom tugendhat. yet they are all trying very hard to move on from borisjohnson and basically dump a lot of that record. you had that clip we just played which showed none of them saying that they thought borisjohnson was honest and that yes or no answer. none of them would say specifically yesterday ans

let's talk to our political correspondent, nick eardley. with inflation above 9%, there will be pressure for wage increases to match stop you are absolutely right. this is a big deal which covers 2.5 million people. they will all find out this afternoon what their pay rise next year will look like. my expectation is it will broadly be around 5%. across the public sector. there will be some discrepancies. i think people who are on the higher end of the pay scale may get slightly smaller increases, people at the lower end of the pay scale may get slightly higher increases. none of it is really going to match the rate of inflation. as you say, 9% just now. there are predictions it will peak at 11% in the autumn. unions are saying unless you match that, you're basically offering people a real terms pay cut. there is already talk about potentially more industrial action over the next few months. we have heard a lot about the idea of a summer of discontent, given how many sectors of feeling the pinch. the argument you will hear from the governmen

our political correspondent nick eardley reports. mark dabbs met chris pincher in 2018, when he was working on a project about politicians. but shortly after they were introduced, mark says he was touched inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he was asking me if i was running, i told him, and he said, "oh, you must have a lot of stamina." and then he's, you know...almost like he's giving me the come on. and then he is feeling my leg and saying, "you must be muscular." you know, that immediately makes me worried and thinking, you know, that's not right. so, touching me there, i don't think he should be doing that to someone who he has onlyjust met. and then when he's outside and he's got his arm around me and then touching me on the bottom, i don't think that should happen either, really. chris pincher strongly denies mark's allegations and says a member of staff was present at all times. mark says he should quit parliament. borisjohnson also faces questions, after he promoted mr pincher in february. have you turned

let's get more on this from our political correspondent nick eardley. good morning, nick. this is a really crowded field, is it clear yet what the main issues are going to be? i think one of the defining issues of the campaign is going to be taxed. and how quickly the government could bring in tax cuts and whoever the next prime ministers. you have got rishi sunak, the favourite at the moment, saying you cannot tell people fairy tales, you need to be realistic and he thinks that tax cuts have to wait. you have some people in the middle likejeremy hunt who are saying, yes, you can cut business taxes just now but you don't want to cut personal tax like income tax because that could make inflation even worse. then you have some like sajid javid and liz truss who say, let's cut taxes right away. i think that's going to be the big debate. i really crowded field at the moment. 11 at the moment, could be 12 in the next few hours, i'm told the home secretary priti patel was weighing up whether to chuck her hat into the ring late last night. she was 50—50 according to her team. i

let's speak to our political correspondent, nick eardley(. she was saying truth and integrity matter to me, that's why he said he would resign if he was fine, but ewea said it did nothing wrong, now thatis ewea said it did nothing wrong, now that is confirmed. interestingly, he said it was not designed to be a political risk, he didn't see it that way, it's just about who he was. it was, to many extents, a political risk, and i'm sure he is breathing a sigh of relief that police have come and said he didn't do anything wrong, and he won't be fined. what is interesting there as well is that it is going to be used as a launch pad to get on the political front foot. in the past year it has been the crises at westminster and questions about borisjohnson, the scandals around downing street, have really dominated political discourse. i think the tory leadership is going to dominate political discourse, clearly so now wants to get out there and explain more about who he is as as a politician. they are slightly nervous that keir starmer hasn't really

earlier today our correspondence nick eardley reported sajid javid seriously considering running to be leader and if he becomes leader, he will be prime minister. rishi sunak once seen as a definite future conservative leader, the last few months have been rocky for his reputation, dented by his wife's tax affairs in his resignation this week seems to have reenergised his leadership hopes. on tuesday evening he was replaced by nadhim zahawi, who by wednesday evening was already calling on mr johnson to quit privately. by thursday morning, he was doing it publicly as well. he is seen as another contender for the top job. one mp worked with nadhim zahawi at the department for education and here she is and whether she would support him to be the next prime minister. he support him to be the next prime minister. , ., ., ., ., minister. he is a great man and somebody _ minister. he is a great man and somebody i _ minister. he is a great man and somebody i have _ minister. he is a great man and somebody i have worked i minister. he is a great man and somebody i have worked very, l minister.

. _ we can speak now to our political correspondent nick eardley, who's in central lobby in the houses of parliament. you are mr popular tonight. i'm t in: to you are mr popular tonight. in trying to get this many mps on as possible and i am with damian green who was and still is back in tom tugendhat. your man got 37 votes. he is second last by my calculation. is he still in this?— he still in this? absolutely. people said, he still in this? absolutely. people said. would _ he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he _ he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he hit— he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he hit the _ he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he hit the limit? - he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he hit the limit? he i he still in this? absolutely. people said, would he hit the limit? he is| said, would he hit the limit? he is way over_ said, would he hit the limit? he is way over that. there is real momentum and also if you look at the result_ momentum and also if you look at the result as _ momentum and also if you

one question, nick eardley is still us with, do we still have a government, we have lost so many ministers, in terms of making decisions, that isn't happening. we terms of making decisions, that isn't happening-— isn't happening. we have a government, _ isn't happening. we have a government, i'm _ isn't happening. we have a government, i'm not - isn't happening. we have a government, i'm not sure. isn't happening. we have a | government, i'm not sure it isn't happening. we have a i government, i'm not sure it is functioning. the department for education have no ministers. the calculation that may have been made in there today one we have been talking about, borisjohnson probably couldn't fill all the vacant roles, given the level of anger against him. he was probably done. he had nowhere to turn to fill the minister ideal posts. 0ne done. he had nowhere to turn to fill the minister ideal posts. one other fact, borisjohnson will tell us later he wants to stay during a leadership contest. tory mps are texting us and getting in uch and posting online and saying they don't think that is feas

our political correspondent nick eardley has the latest from westminster. bring us up—to—date on what exactly downing street are saying. yes. bring us up-to-date on what exactly downing street are saying. yes, this is an important _ downing street are saying. yes, this is an important shift _ downing street are saying. yes, this is an important shift from _ downing street are saying. yes, this is an important shift from downing l is an important shift from downing street. we talked over the weekend and downing street's lying then and at the end of last week was that the prime minister had never been aware of any specific allegations against chris pincher. —— downing street's line. when he appointed chris pincher to the post of deputy chief which in february, what did he know, how much did he know, it came out at the weekend that an mp who had claimed that there had been inappropriate sexual advances has gone to downing street in february to alert them about his concerns and that the prime minister had in the past referred to apparentlyjokingly mr pi

let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley. the european commission has said that they have given over a year for uk to come to terms with this. thea;a uk to come to terms with this. they think uk is not _ uk to come to terms with this. they think uk is not taking _ uk to come to terms with this. ii;e: think uk is not taking this seriously enough. this is not the same as the legislation going through parliamentjust now which would give ministers in london to to override the brexit deal. this is about implementing key parts of the brexit deal that borisjohnson site with the european union a couple of years ago. what the european union is saying that is that the uk is not taking its obligations to the northern ireland protocol seriously enough. it is not collecting the data it needs to about what is being transported between the uk and northern ireland. it is not making sure that some goods are being smuggled into the single market through northern ireland. what it is done today is written to the uk government saying you need to

it follows last night's bruising debate on itv. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardley, has the latest. it has been cancelled. the third debate tomorrow night was supposed to take place between the remaining candidates on sky news, but the broadcaster has said in the last few minutes that it's not going to happen after rishi sunak and liz truss both said that they were not going to take part or were very unlikely to take part. i've spoken to both of the camps and liz truss's team, i understand are saying that she wants to concentrate on the hustings for mps taking place in parliament over the next couple of days and rishi sunak�*s team are saying they will take part in future debates but only if they are in the last two, the last two who go to tory members but the backdrop to all of this is that there was an absolute brutal debate on itv where liz truss and rishi sunak were repeatedly knocking lumps out of each other and rishi sunak was saying liz truss was offering people something for nothing when it came to a tax plan and saying it was a socialist agenda and liz truss was accusing

our political correspondent nick eardley is in westminster. good morning. we are getting the first interviews, they are setting out their stalls, separately at this stage. where is the focus tending to land now? ,., ., ., , ., land now? good morning. there is one issue that we — land now? good morning. there is one issue that we are _ land now? good morning. there is one issue that we are going _ land now? good morning. there is one issue that we are going to _ land now? good morning. there is one issue that we are going to hear- land now? good morning. there is one issue that we are going to hear a - issue that we are going to hear a lot about in the next six weeks, it is the economy and specifically tax and whether it should be cut now or cut later. i do think that will be one of the big dividing lines between rishi sunak and liz truss because rishi sunak argues that he can't cut tax right away, that you need to wait until you have got inflation under control. that is probably about a year away. liz truss says that actually by putting tax up just now yo

i'm joined by our political correspondent nick eardley. we were watching it, just how would you sum up the moment there? it was really interesting _ you sum up the moment there? it was really interesting because _ you sum up the moment there? it was really interesting because it _ you sum up the moment there? it "wes really interesting because it down there and up there, borisjohnson's team at ministers, family, some of his allies had gathered and they all looked pretty ash in the face, pretty emotional about the whole thing, and it is remarkable to think that when i got here this morning at half past five, boris johnson's plant was still to cling on to power. but the steady stream of resignations that kept coming and be moved from nadhim zahawi meant he was pressed out and you got the impression from that speech he felt hard done by. he talks about the tory heard that saying when it moves it moves. he talked about only being a few points behind in the polls, clearly he still thinks he could win back an election for the conservative party,

don't know if he is part of that michael gove delegation, or if he is doing this independently, but nick eardley, political correspondent, saying he hasjust seen liam fox on his way to tell the prime minister to quit. the consensus does seem to be now that boris johnson's to quit. the consensus does seem to be now that borisjohnson's time is up, it isjust be now that borisjohnson's time is up, it is just whether he will listen to those who are appealing to him to step down now, we saw five ministers resigning in one go, saying that he should resign for the good of the party in the country, but whether he is paid to do that —— prepared to do that, we shall see. offer behaviour, unacceptable in any life, it is clear to see, but he ignored it. it was the same when his ally was on the tape from the lobbyist. it was the same when his home secretary was bullying staff. it was the same when taxpayer puts's money was being abused, and it was the same when he partied his way through lockdown. anyone quitting now, after defending all that, hasn't got a shred of integrity. mr speaker, isn't thi