Rishi Sunak says he is ‘totally, 100% on it’ in battle against inflation – as it happened

5.45pm BST

Afternoon summary

• The Bank of England has raised interest rates by a half a percentage point to 5% as it intensifies its efforts to tackle stubbornly high inflation, adding to the strain on households struggling with soaring mortgage costs. At a PM Connect event this afternoon Rishi Sunak said that he was addressing the problem, and that he was “totally, 100% on it”. (See 2.31pm.) He also claimed he had a three-point plan to bring down inflation. (See 5.36pm.)

• Sunak refused to say directly whether or not he agreed with conclusions of the privileges committee’s investigation into Boris Johnson, saying he wanted to “focus on the future”. (See 3.47pm.)

• England’s chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty, said the UK “did not give sufficient thought” to stopping Covid in its tracks as he listed multiple problems with preparedness in his first cross-examination at the pandemic public inquiry.

• Only 18% of 2016 leave voters believe Brexit has been a success, according to polling for the thinktank UK in a Changing Europe – but 61% think it will turn out well in the end.

• Conservative MPs and peers are mainstreaming hostility to drag events, which are increasingly being targeted by extremist groups as part of a wider anti-LGBTQ+ narrative, a report says.

Rishi Sunak speaking at the PM Connect event at the Ikea distribution centre in Dartford, Kent. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

Updated at 5.51pm BST

5.45pm BST

Yesterday a reader asked if there was any chance of George Osborne and David Cameron being recalled to give evidence to the Covid inquiry, for futher questioning about their statements on austerity, and its impact on Covid. A spokesperson for the inquiry says witnesses can in theory be recalled at any time, but that because of the tight timetable they are trying to “avoid recalling witnesses within a module wherever possible”.