Newscast

Today, Chris tells Adam what it was like meeting Robert Kenyon, the Reform UK candidate in the Makerfield by-election and how he and Andy Burnham, the Labour candidate have responded to challenges about their track records on different key issues. They discuss the ongoing reaction to some of Robert Kenyon’s previous comments about women and whether Andy Burnham’s campaign message of “Change Labour...

Today, the Prime minister says he “felt sick” as he watched the body cam footage of a student who was handcuffed as he lay dying. The 18-year-old Southampton student Henry Nowak was handcuffed after Vickrum Digwa, 23, lied to police at the scene of the 2025 stabbing, claiming he had been the victim of a racist attack. Shabana Mahmood described the murder as an "an act of pure evil” and described b...

Today, more than 1000 pages of documents about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US have been published by the government. Adam, Chris and Joe get together to discuss what the files tell us about Peter Mandelson’s vetting process, his relationship with some of the government’s most senior figures and his thoughts on the Prime Minister’s leadership. Some of the files have been r...

After Laura’s exclusive interview, she’s joined by Henry and Joe to discuss what Nicola Sturgeon had to say about her estranged husband Peter Murrell’s guilty plea to embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the SNP - as well as the political and public reaction to her words. Hear the full length interview on the previous episode of Newscast. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speake...

It's a controversy which has been hanging over the SNP for years - but on Monday former chief executive, Peter Murrell, admitted to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. On this episode of Newscast, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon sits down with Laura for her first interview since her estranged husband pleaded guilty. Sturgeon, who was earlier arrested and released without charge, di...

Today, the week that the words flew - after Tony Blair wrote an essay saying Labour was "playing with fire" over the UK’s future and Starmer hit back in a Substack article. Laura and Joe are joined by James Lyons, the former Director of Communications to Keir Starmer, to discuss his time in Downing Street, the essays and articles published by leading Labour figures this week and what could happen...

Today, we find out more about Reform’s candidate Robert Kenyon back story and why his old posts on social media are making headlines. Plus, what impact could Restore Britain have on the Reform UK vote and how Andy Burnham has outgrown Mayor of Greater Manchester. Adam is joined by Annabel Tiffin, political editor for BBC Northwest, Lara Spirit, the Deputy Political Editor for The Sunday Times, and...

Today, in his long awaited report, former minister Alan Milburn has said job and career opportunities for young people are ‘not growing, they’re shrinking’, with one in six set to be out of work, education or training in five years unless action is taken. He concluded that the education, health and welfare systems are no longer fit for purpose in preparing young people for adult life - with the ri...

Today, Sir Tony Blair has spoken to the Today programme about an almost 6,000 word essay in which he criticises the Labour government for focusing on politics rather than policy. Adam, Alex and Faisal discuss the arguments made by the former Prime Minister, plus how two would-be leadership contenders Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham (who still needs to fight and win a by-election if he wants to chal...

Today, the family of a teenage rape victim whose attackers were spared jail have told the BBC they hope the "correct outcome will prevail" -- after it was announced the sentences would be referred to the Court of Appeal. There was widespread criticism after three boys were handed youth rehabilitation orders in connection with the rape of two teenage girls in Hampshire. Sentencing guidelines state...

The former SNP chief executive has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022, using the money to buy jewellery, cosmetics and a motorhome. Adam Fleming and Alex Forsyth chat it all through with Patrick Maguire from The Times, in front of an audience at Hay Festival. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "...

Today, Baroness Casey tells Newscast that the judge in the case of two boys who were spared jail after being found guilty of rape was "wrong". The boys were not given custodial sentences following their convictions for raping two girls in separate attacks in 2025 and 2024. Speaking to Adam and Alex at the Hay Festival, Louise Casey also discusses her career at the helm of some the UK’s biggest inq...

Today, Newscast is looking reports that the UK proposed establishing a single market for goods trade with the EU as part of the next phase of its Brexit reset. Plus, two weeks on from the results, what have the elections meant for Wales? Adam is joined by Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor of the Economist and Felicity Evans, host of Walescast live at the Hay book festival. Plus Emma Freud, host of The...

Today, the Makerfield by-election has been confirmed for June 18th 2026, and this is the first episode in a new mini-series following the contest as it gets underway. Adam is joined by Luke Tryl, director of More in Common UK, and Kevin Fitzpatrick, political reporter for BBC Radio Manchester, to delve deeper into Makerfield, and to look at how the race is shaping up with the candidates who have b...

Today, the chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a series of measures aimed at reducing the costs for families in the summer holidays. Ticket prices for families at various attractions such as theme parks, zoos and museums will be cheaper during the summer holidays through a cut to VAT, the chancellor has said. The government didn’t however announce any major package of support aimed at energy co...

Today, the government announced a watering down of Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise from Iran war. Adam is joined by Chris and Faisal to discuss that, as well as the cut in fuel duty and Wes Streeting’s resignation speech in the House of Commons. And Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, speaks to Adam about a new report on climate adaptation in the UK. You can now listen t...

Today, its been revealed HS2 could cost up to £102.7bn and trains will be slower than first planned. It has been revealed trains will not start running until between 2036 and 2039, up to six years later than the most recent official target of 2033. As of March 2026, £44.2bn has already been spent on the programme. Adam and Faisal discuss how we have got to this point. And, the Metropolitan Police...

Today, we look at why the subject of Brexit is awkward for Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor who wants to be the Makerfield MP. He was doing a speech today in which he clarified his position on the issue. And Keir Starmer’s been out in front of the camera today with the same message - I’m not going anywhere. Adam and Chris are joined by political correspondent Alex Forsyth, and diplomatic...

In a speech at which he confirmed he would run to become Labour leader, Wes Streeting has said that he would ‘one day’ like the UK to rejoin the EU. Greater Manchester Mayor, who also wants to run, Andy Burnham has said similar things in the past, he’d first have to win a by-election in Makerfield - an area that voted to leave. So, are Labour going to go to war over the issue again? Does it put Bu...

Today we look at two Labour leadership hopefuls setting out their visions for the UK ahead of a Labour leadership contest that hasn’t even begun. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC he’d 'save' Labour, and Wes Streeting has confirmed that he would run in the event of a formal challenge to Keir Starmer. Before Burnham can run for leader, and therefore PM, he’s got to win the Makerfie...

Today, we’re looking back on a week of Keir Starmer fighting for his job as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour party. Will Andy Burnham win his Westminster seat? What’s going on behind the scenes in Number 10? And who are the other Labour hopefuls eyeing a place in an eventual leadership race? Adam is joined by Ailbhe Rea, Political Editor at the New Statesmen, and Sienna Rodgers, Deputy Poli...

Today, pressure is mounting on the PM as Wes Streeting resigned from his role as health secretary, and Josh Simons announced he would stand aside for Andy Burnham to have his seat. There are still some steps ahead before that happens. The National Executive Committee must select him as the candidate, and he would need to go ahead and win. Nonetheless, the party is in chaos and Starmer is facing th...

Today, the government has laid out their plans for new legislation in the King’s speech, amid speculation that Wes Streeting is going to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer as soon as Thursday. It’s rumoured that Streeting wanted to wait in order to not distract from the speech, but the rising speculation has dominated headlines and the commons. What was actually in the King’s speec...

Today, Keir Starrmer has said he will “get on with governing” despite another day of increasing pressure on him to resign from the Labour party. Four ministers resigned on Tuesday, and more MPs have called for the Prime Minister to stand down. But so far no formal leadership contest has been triggered. Meanwhile more than 100 MPs are understood to have signed a statement backing the PM, saying "th...

Today, more Labour MPs have called for Keir Starmer to step down, but is an actual leadership challenge imminent? In a speech on Monday morning Keir Starmer vowed to prove his “doubters” wrong, but the number of Labour MPs calling him to go continues to rise. Dozens of MPs have urged Starmer either to step down immediately or set out a timetable for his departure. Adam, Chris and Alex discuss. You...