good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. borisjohnson has apologised for the "pain, loss and suffering" discharge the commission put upon him by the home secretary and former prime minister to capture their respective so it was not lost. to date is an important day. it doesn't provide closure for the families, of course. as bishopjames himself wrote, there can be no closure to love, norshould wrote, there can be no closure to love, nor should there be for someone you have loved and lost. grief is indeed a journey without a destination, but today is a milestone on thatjourney. it is a day when i hope that families can pause and take quite pride in the enormity of what they achieved, not for themselves, enormity of what they achieved, not forthemselves, but enormity of what they achieved, not for themselves, but for others, for the british people. i hope they will serve to cement and strengthen the legacy, the changes they have made to benefit an entire nation and make sure that never again can our people be so betrayed by the very organisations and institutions that are meant to protect them. i commend this statement to the house.— this statement to the house. shadow minister. thank you, madam deputy minister. — thank you, madam deputy speaker. it is customary to thank the government for advance sight of the statement, but i have to say that given the gravity of this matter, the fact that the report that is being responded to has been with the government that was the justice secretary and an lord chancellor. much later than is customary. to describe the events of the 15th of april 1989 as far—reaching is wholly inadequate. to say they were tragic misses the point. the name hillsborough stands to this day is an indictment of institutions, individuals and an entire culture in which transparency, accountability and even simple human compassion were absent. i was a child in 1989, when 95 people died at hillsborough stadium in the worst sporting disaster in this nation's history. ten years later, alongside thousands of other law students, i learned about the shock waves that that they were sending throughout courts to the continuing pain of the families. this included the death in 1993 of the 96 victim, 22—year—old anthony bland who spent years in a vegetative state before a court agreed that it was in his best interest to withdraw his feeding tube. let's not forget that it was two years ago that they disaster claimed its 97th victim, 55—year—old andrew divine, who lived with a serious brain injury for more than three decades. it has now been 3a years. to say thatjustice delayed is justice denied would be a significant understatement in this context. it is simply unendurable for any family to be made to wait this long forjustice. i want to echo the words of the secretary of state by paying tribute to bishop james jones, state by paying tribute to bishop jamesjones, the many campaigners inside and outside of this house who worked for so long to establish the truth, and to the bereaved families. they have gone beyond what anyone should have to endure to secure justice not only for their own loved ones but for the victims of future disasters as well. we ones but for the victims of future disasters as well.— ones but for the victims of future disasters as well. we have 'ust been watchin: disasters as well. we have 'ust been watching and — disasters as well. we have 'ust been watching and listening _ disasters as well. we have 'ust been watching and listening to _ disasters as well. we have just been watching and listening to the - watching and listening to the government's responds to the hillsborough report, the husband disaster of course took place in 1989, 97 liverpool fans were killed. the government has responded to a report of 2017 are written by the former bishop of liverpool who made 25 recommendations including the introduction of a hillsborough law, forcing all public servants to co—operate with inquiries. the government has signed a hillsborough charter which prompted no families will have to suffer the same injustices as the families of the hillsborough victims but it stopped short of a new law, instead promising a duty of candour for policing instead to promote a culture of openness and honesty and transparency. it has also launched a consultation to improve legal aid for bereaved families. crucially the government today has apologised for taking six years to respond to the report, saying the delay had taken too long, compounding the agony of the hillsborough families and survivors. rishi sunak and prime ministers question time thanked the families for their tenacity and courage. thejustice secretary reiterated his thanks as well. now we can return to another of our main story is here today on bbc news, the covid inquiry, former prime minister borisjohnson has been giving his evidence all day, his evidence will continue into tomorrow. this lunchtime the group covid 19 bereaved families forjustice have gathered outside the inquiry and given their response. i am gathered outside the inquiry and given their response.— gathered outside the inquiry and given their response. i am the lead solicitor for — given their response. i am the lead solicitor for the _ given their response. i am the lead solicitor for the scottish _ given their response. i am the lead solicitor for the scottish covid - solicitor for the scottish covid bereaved, myself and a number of groups and organisations will be doing a short statement and there will be questions and answers. across the uk and many will have watched the evidence of boris johnson today, he was the prime minister that presided over the meltdown of the british state alongside a chaotic and dysfunctional number ten. mrjohnson apologised today but that apology is not accepted by many of the bereaved because he also claimed his government saved thousands of lives, and that for many is a grotesque distortion of the truth. instead of solving a national crisis, boris johnson in his own words presided over a total disgusting orgy of narcissism. millions of front line workers risk their lives without adequate ppe, johnson's government turned our care homes at the killing grounds for the elderly who were treated as toxic waste. he wasted £37 billion on a failed track and trace system and all the while johnson and his cabinet were living it up at parties, insulting the dead, the poor and vulnerable. mr johnson tried his very best to deny his government's feelings meaning that the uk had one of the highest death rates on all major economies, but that is the evidence. he was dismissive of whatsapp two but was accused by senior members of his own government, his own inner circle of saying, let the bodies pile up, rather than have another lockdown. johnson's is because today is that his government was slow to understand the severity of covid but insisted he had got the big calls right, however on the biggest life—saving decision of lockdowns, on each and every occasion, boris johnson delayed and excited with death. the voice of the voiceless will be heard. the bereaved and all those impacted by covid at the very least deserve the truth from mr johnson. anna louise from the welsh group. it johnson. anna louise from the welsh urou -. , , johnson. anna louise from the welsh i rou . _ , , , ., johnson. anna louise from the welsh u-rou. , i, ., .,, group. it is very surreal to be standing _ group. it is very surreal to be standing here _ group. it is very surreal to be standing here today - group. it is very surreal to be standing here today and - group. it is very surreal to be | standing here today and three group. it is very surreal to be - standing here today and three years after my— standing here today and three years after my father died and listening to the _ after my father died and listening to the man that made the decisions that led _ to the man that made the decisions that led to — to the man that made the decisions that led to so many deaths. we all knew_ that led to so many deaths. we all knew he _ that led to so many deaths. we all knew he was disorganised and disdainful but had no idea, i will use c_ disdainful but had no idea, i will use c word, but not at the dominic cummings— use c word, but not at the dominic cummings lexicon, i wasn't aware how casual. _ cummings lexicon, i wasn't aware how casual, careless, chaotic, clueless he was _ casual, careless, chaotic, clueless he was. sadly not competent, not completely without conscience and not contrite. one of his biggest issues — not contrite. one of his biggest issues with dealing with the devolved nations. he said scotland or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh _ or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh group _ or whoever, as someone who leads the welsh group we assume that means wates— welsh group we assume that means wales and _ welsh group we assume that means wales and northern ireland. itjust feels like _ wales and northern ireland. itjust feels like he was living under a rock _ feels like he was living under a rock how— feels like he was living under a rock. how could we all know what was going _ rock. how could we all know what was going on _ rock. how could we all know what was going on in_ rock. how could we all know what was going on in china and italy? he was 'ust going on in china and italy? he was just completely unaware of it. if the chair— just completely unaware of it. if the chair is _ just completely unaware of it. if the chair is a recommendation, i would _ the chair is a recommendation, i would say— the chair is a recommendation, i would say if_ the chair is a recommendation, i would say if you're going to be pm, denise _ would say if you're going to be pm, denise to— would say if you're going to be pm, denise to be some kind of exam that includes _ denise to be some kind of exam that includes a _ denise to be some kind of exam that includes a memory test.— denise to be some kind of exam that includes a memory test. person is an alan engels — includes a memory test. person is an alan engels who _ includes a memory test. person is an alan engels who lost _ includes a memory test. person is an alan engels who lost his _ includes a memory test. person is an alan engels who lost his son - includes a memory test. person is an alan engels who lost his son calluml alan engels who lost his son callum to covid, member of the scottish covid bereaved. just to covid, member of the scottish covid bereaved.— covid bereaved. just a short statement. _ covid bereaved. just a short statement. it _ covid bereaved. just a short statement. it is _ covid bereaved. just a short statement. it is clear - covid bereaved. just a short statement. it is clear from i covid bereaved. just a short - statement. it is clear from what we have heard — statement. it is clear from what we have heard this morning _ statement. it is clear from what we have heard this morning that- statement. it is clear from what we have heard this morning that there | have heard this morning that there was data _ have heard this morning that there was data coming _ have heard this morning that there was data coming from _ have heard this morning that there was data coming from the - have heard this morning that there was data coming from the who - have heard this morning that there i was data coming from the who that covid _ was data coming from the who that covid was _ was data coming from the who that covid was on — was data coming from the who that covid was on its _ was data coming from the who that covid was on its way _ was data coming from the who that covid was on its way to _ was data coming from the who that covid was on its way to these - was data coming from the who that| covid was on its way to these shores injanuary_ covid was on its way to these shores in january 2020. _ covid was on its way to these shores in january 2020. yet _ covid was on its way to these shores in january 2020. yet no _ covid was on its way to these shores in january 2020. yet no action - covid was on its way to these shores in january 2020. yet no action was l in january 2020. yet no action was being _ in january 2020. yet no action was being taken— in january 2020. yet no action was being taken at— in january 2020. yet no action was being taken at that _ in january 2020. yet no action was being taken at that time _ in january 2020. yet no action was being taken at that time by - in january 2020. yet no action was being taken at that time by a - being taken at that time by a government. _ being taken at that time by a government. so _ being taken at that time by a government. so that - being taken at that time by a government. so that leavesl being taken at that time by a i government. so that leaves me thinking, — government. so that leaves me thinking, how— government. so that leaves me thinking, how many— government. so that leaves me thinking, how many deaths - government. so that leaves me i thinking, how many deaths could government. so that leaves me - thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented — thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented had _ thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented had mr— thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented had mrjohnson - thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented had mrjohnson in - thinking, how many deaths could have been prevented had mrjohnson in his| been prevented had mrjohnson in his own words— been prevented had mrjohnson in his own words twain _ been prevented had mrjohnson in his own words twain earlier? _ been prevented had mrjohnson in his own words twain earlier? thank- been prevented had mrjohnson in his own words twain earlier?— own words twain earlier? thank you. natalie rogers _ own words twain earlier? thank you. natalie rogers. -- _ own words twain earlier? thank you. natalie rogers. -- twain _ own words twain earlier? thank you. natalie rogers. -- twain earlier. - natalie rogers. —— twain earlier. for politicians like borisjohnson, for politicians like boris johnson, it is all— for politicians like boris johnson, it is all about optics, it is about how— it is all about optics, it is about how we — it is all about optics, it is about how we rank globally. people are 'ust how we rank globally. people are just numbers. for those impacted, covid, _ just numbers. for those impacted, covid, every— just numbers. for those impacted, covid, every number represented a loved _ covid, every number represented a loved one _ covid, every number represented a loved one whose life has been lost or radically — loved one whose life has been lost or radically altered by long covid. injohnson's testimony or radically altered by long covid. in johnson's testimony this morning, there _ in johnson's testimony this morning, there is— in johnson's testimony this morning, there is lots— in johnson's testimony this morning, there is lots of obfuscation, excuses. _ there is lots of obfuscation, excuses, deflection of responsibility. he says he was waiting — responsibility. he says he was waiting for advice. why wasn't he seeking _ waiting for advice. why wasn't he seeking advice? why was he not critically— seeking advice? why was he not critically appraising the facts? the government aired on the side of caution, — government aired on the side of caution, they were caught with their pants— caution, they were caught with their pants down. as prime minister, he had a _ pants down. as prime minister, he had a duty— pants down. as prime minister, he had a duty of care to the uk population. the box stops with him. damage _ population. the box stops with him. damage was done by his failure to act. damage was done by his failure to act he _ damage was done by his failure to act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood- _ act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood. it _ act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood. it is _ act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood. it is not _ act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood. it is notjust - act. he failed in his duty. dean sherwood. it is notjust lives i act. he failed in his duty. dean i sherwood. it is notjust lives that sherwood. it is not 'ust lives that would have h sherwood. it is not 'ust lives that would have been _ sherwood. it is notjust lives that would have been saved. - sherwood. it is notjust lives that would have been saved. if- sherwood. it is notjust lives that would have been saved. if we - sherwood. it is notjust lives that| would have been saved. if we had locked _ would have been saved. if we had locked down — would have been saved. if we had locked down sooner. _ would have been saved. if we had locked down sooner. if _ would have been saved. if we had locked down sooner. if the - locked down sooner. if the government _ locked down sooner. if the government had _ locked down sooner. if the government had been- locked down sooner. if the - government had been competent. locked down sooner. if the _ government had been competent. many of the millions— government had been competent. many of the millions of— government had been competent. many of the millions of people _ government had been competent. many of the millions of people who _ government had been competent. many of the millions of people who are - of the millions of people who are still suffering _ of the millions of people who are still suffering from _ of the millions of people who are still suffering from ongoing - still suffering from ongoing symptoms— still suffering from ongoing symptoms from _ still suffering from ongoing symptoms from covid - still suffering from ongoing - symptoms from covid infection back in march _ symptoms from covid infection back in march 2020 — symptoms from covid infection back in march 2020 would _ symptoms from covid infection back in march 2020 would not _ symptoms from covid infection back in march 2020 would not have - symptoms from covid infection back in march 2020 would not have had i in march 2020 would not have had their lives — in march 2020 would not have had their lives wound. _ in march 2020 would not have had their lives wound. johnson - in march 2020 would not have had their lives wound. johnson talked i their lives wound. johnson talked about— their lives wound. johnson talked about communication _ their lives wound. johnson talked about communication as - their lives wound. johnson talked about communication as being i their lives wound. johnson talked i about communication as being one their lives wound. johnson talked - about communication as being one of the most _ about communication as being one of the most mpls — about communication as being one of the most mpis to _ about communication as being one of the most mpis to stop _ about communication as being one of the most mpis to stop the _ about communication as being one of the most mpis to stop the spread - about communication as being one of the most mpis to stop the spread ofl the most mpis to stop the spread of the most mpis to stop the spread of the virus _ the most mpis to stop the spread of the virus the — the most mpis to stop the spread of the virus. the government - the most mpis to stop the spread of the virus. the government has - the most mpis to stop the spread ofi the virus. the government has failed to communicate _ the virus. the government has failed to communicate about _ the virus. the government has failed to communicate about long - the virus. the government has failed to communicate about long covid - to communicate about long covid throughout— to communicate about long covid throughout the _ to communicate about long covid throughout the inquiry. _ to communicate about long covid throughout the inquiry. it - to communicate about long covid throughout the inquiry. it has - to communicate about long covid i thro