confidence vote in technical terms so it does give some permission if you like for backbench mps to vote against the government without the consequence of losing the party whip but you're completely right to say that in reality this is of course about how much confidence the mps have in the prime minister. any rebellion on those benches would be damaging to rishi sunak, already robertjenrick wasn't resignation is damaging and this matters because the government has chosen to make this policy so symbolic, so totemic. they have set a lot of stall by this. rishi sunak was asked that if he does get not get the flights of wood people be right to put their faith elsewhere because he has not delivered. that is the key question. rishi sunak has set such a lot of stall by the policy but in terms of the wider public he has made a promise to stop the boats. he said the rwanda policy is key to delivering on that promise and the huge question is whether politically and practically he can. fin huge question is whether politically and practically he can.— and practically he can. on the fact that we had _ and practically he can. on the fact that we had a _ and practically he can. on the fact that we had a resignation - and practically he can. on the fact i that we had a resignation yesterday, downing street have announced that there is not going to be one single replacement for robertjenrick, it is going to be split into two? that's right, two conservative mps taking two different aspects of what was a singular ministerial brief. robertjenrick was the immigration minister. that is being split into two different parts. part one to do with what the government calls illegal, people coming here by irregular means including small boat crossings and the other done by tom pursglove is going to be dealing with legal migration. we know that people come into this country through these schemes, through legitimate means as the government would see it. a lot of concern conservative backbenchers about those immigration figures so that brief has been split into two different roles in two different mps taking them on. what rishi sunak will hope is that he has chosen loyal mps who will help them deliver the policy because there is a lot at stake when it comes to this now. for now, thanks very much. you may have heard during rishi sunak�*s press conference there was a question about russia cyberspace because britain's foreign office has summoned the russian ambassador and sanctioned to individuals or what it said was a sustained and unsuccessful attempt to interfere in british politics by russian cyber spies. let's get more on this with our security corresponded. what do we know about this? this our security corresponded. what do we know about this?— we know about this? this is a serious accusation _ we know about this? this is a serious accusation by - we know about this? this is a serious accusation by the - we know about this? this is a serious accusation by the uk| we know about this? this is a - serious accusation by the uk that russia has been engaged in this campaign, particularly the fsb, that it has been hacking people's e—mails and data over a period of years. this is politicians in particular but others in public life, think tanks and former officials. to take one example, liam fox's e—mails were hacked and a us uk trade document was then leaked online which ended up was then leaked online which ended up being used in the 2019 general election campaign. that was previously attributed to russia but today, a specific group from the fsb is being accused of doing that, the russian security service. also, there have been other incidents. a member of parliament from the snp had his e—mail stolen. he told me earlier this year again that is now being linked. it is understood to this same group within the fsb. officials are saying that they do not believe these attempts were successful in interviewing significantly in public life. but in a number of cases, it appears parliamentarians did have e—mails stolen, in some cases material was made public, in other cases not. as a result of an investigation, the uk is making public this accusation today. summoned the russian ambassador here in the uk, two individuals are being sanctioned, one of those is a russian security service officer from the fsb. part of this group which is accused of being involved in the activity. russia has always denied being involved in such hacking and political interference. it is not “ust the political interference. it is not just the united _ political interference. it is not just the united kingdom - political interference. it is not just the united kingdom thatl political interference. it is not. just the united kingdom that has political interference. it is not - just the united kingdom that has a problem with this. the us is looking to impose sanctions?— to impose sanctions? there is a history of _ to impose sanctions? there is a history of this. _ to impose sanctions? there is a history of this. the _ to impose sanctions? there is a history of this. the us - to impose sanctions? there is a history of this. the us or- to impose sanctions? there is a history of this. the us or its - to impose sanctions? there is a i history of this. the us or its 2016 election interfered with by a different part of russian intelligence where e—mails were hacked and stolen and leaked and we're expecting the us to join the uk later today with some of action against this group. clearly part of against this group. clearly part of a coordinated campaign by allies to try and expose this activity. the idea is to disrupt it and make life more difficult for this part of the russian security service. impose sanctions on them and provide warning to people in public life that their e—mails could be hacked and their data could be stolen and then released online. for and their data could be stolen and then released online.— then released online. for the moment. _ then released online. for the moment, thank— then released online. for the moment, thank you - then released online. for the moment, thank you very - then released online. for the i moment, thank you very much. then released online. for the - moment, thank you very much. a bit of sad breaking news to bring you on bbc news. it has just been announced that the poet and author benjamin zephaniah has died, it was after a brain to my diagnosis, that according to his family. his wife we are told was by his side and when he passed, one was known for his work about refugees and also healthy eating. and you may also know that he appeared in the bbc hit show peaky blinders asjeremiahjesus. he was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly before his death. we post on his instagram said it is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved husband, son and brother in the early hours of this morning, the 7th of december. benjamin was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago. his wife was by his side throughout and with him when he passed. we shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news. they go on to see engine say benjamin gave the world a huge body of literature and radio. he leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy. thank you for the love you have shown professor benjamin zephaniah. he was born in birmingham, nominated for autobiography of the year for his work, also back in 2018 he was shortlisted for the costa book awards. the sad news that benjamin zephaniah has died at the age of 65. a little earlier you will have seen borisjohnson give a second day of evidence at the covid inquiry. listening to that was our correspondent ellie price. what stood out for you so far in mr johnson�*s evidence this morning? there was an exchange, a moment shortly before the break about half—an—hour ago in which boris johnson was asked about diary entries made by his former chief scientific officer, chief medical officer patrick vallance. in which he repeatedly said borisjohnson had caught" letting the virus rip." it's a phrase we have heard several things here but there are multiple entries where borisjohnson had said that. and families of the bereaved who have come here, the language is very uncomfortable and awkward and borisjohnson himself looked really uncomfortable when it was put to him. he got quite angry, he said it was not that i felt like the virus should be let rip, it was more that during the discussions about what to do, particularly in the autumn of 2020, he needed to get the counterarguments are stricter restrictions because the earlier lockdown had shown there had been such huge implications on that first lockdown. he did not want to repeat the mistakes said rather than it being the fact that he wanted to let the virus rip, he said wanted to hear all the arguments for and against tighter restrictions. it's the first thing we have really seen borisjohnson get quite angry in this exchange. certainly looked really uncomfortable when those were put to him in the room but the inquiry has got back under way and i think we can go back to it now. what we wanted out _ think we can go back to it now. what we wanted out of _ think we can go back to it now. what we wanted out of the _ think we can go back to it now. what we wanted out of the tiered system and new— we wanted out of the tiered system and new we have got to be clearly did not— and new we have got to be clearly did not achieve it, was really to crush_ did not achieve it, was really to crush the — did not achieve it, was really to crush the virus when it was most prevalent — crush the virus when it was most prevalent. and i have explained that one of— prevalent. and i have explained that one of the _ prevalent. and i have explained that one of the difficulties was getting local leaders to put in measures fast enough. i think it is possible and there — fast enough. i think it is possible and there is even some evidence from patrick— and there is even some evidence from patrick that _ and there is even some evidence from patrick that we had a fighting chance — patrick that we had a fighting chance of getting the load below one _ chance of getting the load below one if_ chance of getting the load below one if we — chance of getting the load below one. if we had been able to get some of those _ one. if we had been able to get some of those measures in, put in harder and faster— of those measures in, put in harder and faster in— of those measures in, put in harder and faster in those areas, i think it might — and faster in those areas, i think it might have worked. there are other— it might have worked. there are other people who think that too. the oint, mr other people who think that too. tue: point, mrjohnson, other people who think that too. tta: point, mrjohnson, you other people who think that too. t"t2 point, mrjohnson, you cannot other people who think that too. tt2 point, mrjohnson, you cannot rely upon what was said on the 20th of october about the general nature of regional restrictions because you made the decision to go a0 years on the 11th of october —— a0 years and the 11th of october —— a0 years and the announcement on what was said subsequently and on the 20th of october in relation to the 20th of october in relation to the merits of regional restrictions cannot be relied upon as a justification for your decision—making ten days before. with great respect, what i think it shows— with great respect, what i think it shows is— with great respect, what i think it shows is that there was around that time, _ shows is that there was around that tinre there — shows is that there was around that time, there was continuing scientific— time, there was continuing scientific support, as i took it, for, _ scientific support, as i took it, for. i— scientific support, as i took it, for. i am — scientific support, as i took it, for, i am just giving you what i felt, _ for, i am just giving you what i felt, support for a continued regional— felt, support for a continued regional approach. felt, support for a continued regionalapproach. by the felt, support for a continued regional approach. by the way, it was also — regional approach. by the way, it was also my feeling that although the suggestion from sage had been for a circuit breaker, i did not fora circuit breaker, i did not feel— for a circuit breaker, i did not feel listening to the arguments and the may— feel listening to the arguments and the may be my mistake, i did not feel that — the may be my mistake, i did not feel that the pressure for a circuit tweaker— feel that the pressure for a circuit breaker was particularly strong and that may— breaker was particularly strong and that may be my mistake but it was not coming — that may be my mistake but it was not coming from the health secretary and it— not coming from the health secretary and it seemed to me that there were countervailing arguments as well. in countervailing arguments as well. [ti the countervailing arguments as well. the event countervailing arguments as well. t�*t the event the tears as we know did not work. that the event the tears as we know did not work- tha— the event the tears as we know did not work. that they didn't and i am ve sad not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about _ not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about that _ not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about that but _ not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about that but i _ not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about that but i think - not work. that they didn't and i am very sad about that but i think theyi very sad about that but i think they were logically, rationally as we came _ were logically, rationally as we came out— were logically, rationally as we came out of the restrictions in the sunrnrer. — came out of the restrictions in the summer, they were worth a try. the trouble _ summer, they were worth a try. the trouble was — summer, they were worth a try. the trouble was that they became very invidious— trouble was that they became very invidious between areas because once finding _ invidious between areas because once finding in— invidious between areas because once finding in very heavy restrictions where _ finding in very heavy restrictions where one — finding in very heavy restrictions where one village was not and the incident _ where one village was not and the incident of— where one village was not and the incident of the virus was exactly the sanre. — incident of the virus was exactly the same, politicians of all kinds became — the same, politicians of all kinds became very worked up, sometimes quite _ became very worked up, sometimes quite paranoid about the tiering approach. it was clearly proving divisive — approach. it was clearly proving divisive and difficult to implement. i divisive and difficult to implement. i want _ divisive and difficult to implement. i want to— divisive and difficult to implement. i want to say that eddie lester, who was in _ i want to say that eddie lester, who was in charge of the negotiations, a heroic— was in charge of the negotiations, a heroicioh_ was in charge of the negotiations, a heroicioh in— was in charge of the negotiations, a heroicjob in trying to get government, local government, regional— government, local government, regional government to agree. in addition, — regional government to agree. in addition, it— regional government to agree. in addition, it would, —— the evidence of the _ addition, it would, —— the evidence of the peer— addition, it would, —— the evidence of the peer to suggest not only were the problems you identified but as mr ridtey— the problems you identified but as mr ridley has said, the process overall— mr ridley has said, the process overall was entered into extremely quickly— overall was entered into extremely quickly which gave rise to problems of its _ quickly which gave rise to problems of its own — quickly which gave rise to problems of its own. the negotiations were difficult _ of its own. the negotiations were difficult and long and of course when _ difficult and long and of course when dealing with epidemiological exponential growth. the virus is not interested _ exponential growth. the virus is not interested in all this.— interested in all this. indeed. and also logically _ interested in all this. indeed. and also logically because _ interested in all this. indeed. and also logically because the - interested in all this. indeed. and also logically because the virus i interested in all this. indeed. and | also logically because the virus was spreading, ultimately has proved to be the case, it spread to all areas and therefore there was a level of, there was a degree of epidemiological levelling up everywhere would have to eventually go everywhere would have to eventually 9° up everywhere would have to eventually go up into tier 3 and that would defeat the whole purpose of it. that is completely _ defeat the whole purpose of it. that is completely right and i think that is completely right and i think that is a summary. mr is completely right and i think that is a summary-— is completely right and i think that is a summary. mr hancock told the inuui is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that — is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he _ is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he knew _ is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he knew on _ is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he knew on the - is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he knew on the 14th i is a summary. mr hancock told the inquiry that he knew on the 14th ofi inquiry that he knew on the 1ath of october when you announced the 12th of october when you announced the tiered system that it would not work. did he tell you that? that tiered system that it would not work. did he tell you that? not to my knowledge. — work. did he tell you that? not to my knowledge, not _ work. did he tell you that? not to my knowledge, not that _ work. did he tell you that? not to my knowledge, not that i - work. did he tell you that? not to my knowledge, not that i can - my knowledge, not that i can remember. my knowledge, not that i can remember-— my knowledge, not that i can remember. ~ _, ., ., remember. we then come to the lead u . remember. we then come to the lead u- to the remember. we then come to the lead up to the second _ remember. we then come to the lead up to the second lockdown. _ remember. we then come to the lead up to the second lockdown. it - remember. we then come to the lead up to the second lockdown. it does i up to the second lockdown. it does appear that the covid pass course provided a forward strategy document for you on the 25th of october and there was a meeting in chequers to discuss it. you then received a further task force advice on the 28th of october and then another paper for 28th of october and then another paperfor a covid meeting and then there was ultimately a meeting at which you decided that there had to be a lockdown in my question is this. why were there a number of papers and strategy documents given to you in the same week all broadly recommending a lockdown? it rather looks as if the covid task force was trying to bring you to a particular conclusion. t trying to bring you to a particular conclusion-— trying to bring you to a particular conclusion. ., �* ~ ., ., , conclusion. i don't know the answer to that. i conclusion. i don't know the answer to that- i do — conclusion. i don't know the answer to that. i do remember— conclusion. i don't know the answer to that. i do remember the - conclusion. i don't know the answer to that. i do remember the papers. to that. i do remember the papers and i_ to that. i do