Good evening. Boris Johnson was worried he "blinked too soon" in plunging Britain into a second national lockdown on the basis of data that scientists warned him was "very wrong", The Lockdown Files have revealed. We also have analysis of a damning report that concluded MI5 missed a “significant” opportunity to prevent the Manchester Arena attack.
MI5 missed ‘significant’ opportunity to prevent attack
MI5 missed a “significant” opportunity to prevent the Manchester Arena attack by failing to act on intelligence which could have uncovered the bomb, a damning report has concluded.
The Security Service received a vital piece of information about Salman Abedi before he murdered 22 people in May 2017, but did not act swiftly enough on it, the public inquiry into the atrocity found.
It could have led officers directly to the Nissan Micra, parked outside Devell House in the Rusholme area of Manchester, where he was storing the homemade device, the report said.
Sir John Saunders, the inquiry chairman, said a better response from MI5 “might have prevented the attack” and concluded the intelligence agency took a “risky” approach to investigating returnees from Libya.
The head of MI5 has said he is “profoundly sorry” that the intelligence agency failed to prevent the attack.
Jack Hardy and Neil Johnston report that the inquiry concluded that the family of the bomber held “significant responsibility” for his radicalisation and that he likely learnt to build his deadly device in Libya.
The report also found that the mosque attended by Abedi showed “wilful blindness” to support within its congregation for the conflict in Libya and that its chairman’s evidence “lacked credibility”.
Johnson's concern over 'very wrong' Covid data
The Lockdown Files reveal that Boris Johnson raised concerns that the Government could be criticised for 'blinking too soon', after implementing a second national lockdown.
The prime minister made the observation on November 1, 2020 – one day after he had announced a national lockdown due to come into force on November 4.
In one exchange, Mr Johnson explained that he had been on a video conference call with scientists Dr Raghib Ali and Dr Carl Heneghan.
He told the WhatsApp group that Dr Heneghan said “the death modelling you have been shown is already very wrong", as it was out of date having been drawn up three weeks previously.
Despite his fears, the lockdown went ahead and lasted for a month.
In another exchange, the then prime minister appeared to express a desire to lift the country out of lockdown earlier than planned, but said his media advisers – Lee Cain and James Slack – warned him that such a move is “too far ahead of public opinion”.
You can read the latest instalment of The Lockdown Files here.
Baby found in Constance Marten investigation may have been dead for 'several weeks', police say
A baby found during the investigation into Constance Marten and her boyfriend may have been dead for “several weeks” before it was found left out in the open, say police.
Patrick Sawer reports that the infant’s body was discovered among trees and hedges, next to a busy footpath bordering allotments on the foot of the South Downs.
Police announced on Thursday that they now believe the baby may have been dead for a substantially long period and have been unable to confirm its gender.
Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines
Brexit deal | Boris Johnson has declared he is going to find it "very difficult" to vote for Rishi Sunak's new Brexit deal as he delivered his eagerly anticipated verdict on the Prime Minister's so-called "Windsor Framework".
- Emma Pattison | Epsom College head died of 'shock and haemorrhage'
- Labour | Keir Starmer set to appoint Sue Gray as chief of staff
- Jeremy Clarkson | ITV boss casts fresh doubt over host's future
- Yorkshire racism case | Rafiq cross-examined - latest updates
- Ukraine | Wagner claims to have almost reached centre of Bakhmut
Comment and analysis
- Tom Harris | Children paid because Boris believed the Sturgeon hype
- Tom Stevenson | Fighting the Fed can be a fool's game
- Sam Collins | ‘Transition to net zero is destined to make us all poorer’
- Con Coughlin | Strike Russia's heart and watch its resolve crumble
- Ed Wiseman | Eight reasons why I’m giving up driving in Britain
World news: Blinken and Lavrov meet at the G20
Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov have spoken face-to-face for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister had a brief encounter on the sidelines of a G20 meeting, during which Mr Blinken urged Russia to reverse its decision on the New START nuclear treaty, a senior US official said. Mr Blinken also told Lavrov that Washington was prepared to support Ukraine to defend itself for as long as it takes, the official said.
Interview of the day
Brian McClair: The truth about that ‘old man down the pub’ picture
Former Manchester United player who rarely gives interviews may seem an unlikely podcast host – but Brian McClair is ‘loving’ his new life
Sport news: Paris mayor says 'non' to air conditioning for Olympic athletes
The mayor of Paris is refusing to install air conditioning for athletes competing in the Olympics, insisting it will threaten climate targets. Vivian Song reports that over the last few months, concerns have been growing among some federations and athletes over the lack of air conditioned apartments at the Athletes’ Village in the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis.
Editor's choice
Theatre | Why can’t today’s actors stop mumbling?
Film | Whatever happened to Michael Fassbender?
Football | Stamford Bridge special: Chelsea’s £1.5bn stadium decision
Business news: Sharp rise in over-50s 'unretiring'
Jeremy Hunt’s campaign to get older people back to work has been boosted by early signs of a wave of “unretirement”, Melissa Lawford reports. The number of 50 to 64-year-olds preparing to get back to work rose sharply in the final three months of 2022, according to analysis of official data by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, as soaring inflation forced people to rethink whether they can afford to retire.
Tonight starts now
The beginner's guide to India – from when to go, to what to bring and locations not to be missed | First-timers needn't be daunted by this big, beautiful country.
Three things for you
- TV | The Apprentice, BBC One, 9pm
- Review | Close: soul-scorching portrait of boyhood friendship and loss
- Inheritance tax | How to use loophole that allows unlimited gifting
And finally... for this evening's downtime
My night in ‘England’s poshest B&B’ | At the newly opened Royal Chamber at Hedingham Castle you get a 12th-century Norman keep all to yourself.
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