Gary Gibbon , Political Editor

For the first time since 1963, the Queen missed reading out the government’s legislative plans – leaving Prince Charles and William to fly the royal flag. 

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he will step down if the police fine him for breaking covid lockdown rules.

Boris Johnson called it a “mixed set of results”, but however the prime minister tried to frame it, the Tories have lost hundreds of seats up and down the country.

It’s the final day of campaigning before local elections across much of England, as well as Scotland and Wales – with Assembly elections also taking place in Northern Ireland. It’s the first nationwide test of opinion since the war in Ukraine broke out,  with other issues like the cost of living and the partygate scandal…

Voters in Northern Ireland will elect a new assembly next week.

Boris Johnson acknowledged for the first time today that Russia could end up winning the war in Ukraine. 

While questions were being asked about Boris Johnson’s behaviour over Covid lockdown parties in Westminster – he was more than 4,000 miles away on a visit to India.  

Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologised more than a dozen times for breaking Covid lockdown laws.

In a letter he said the government couldn’t expect to formulate new laws and defend democratic norms abroad if it was not seen to be committed to the observance of the law.

Britain’s most famous gated community is in trouble tonight. The residents of Number 10 and 11 broke the laws they made for the rest of us during an unforgettable period when we weren’t allowed to attend funerals, christenings – let alone birthday parties. 

Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead for an investigation into the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ministerial interests.  

Twelve parties. Twenty fines. No names yet revealed.

In Brussels, Nato and G7 leaders have ramped up their lethal aid to Ukraine, including an extra 6,000 missiles and £25 million in military funding from Britain.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak was keen to present his Spring statement as a series of tax cuts. But official figures forecast the biggest fall in living standards for 66 years. 

Refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine now have the chance of finding shelter in the spare rooms of British homes.