Newscast

Today, the home secretary makes second big change to migration policy in a week. Shabana Mahmood has announced the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to 10 years, and will apply to the estimated 2.6 million who arrived since 2021. The changes will not apply to people who had already obtained settlement. Adam, Joe, Faisal and Sarah Montague, presenter of the...

Today, the latest report from the covid inquiry has found that the government did “too little, too late” to prevent deaths during the pandemic. Chair of the inquiry, Baroness Hallett acknowleged that Boris Johnson’s government faced “unenviable choices” but said that 23 000 deaths could have been potentially avoided and added that regular rule breaking by officials undermined the public’s trust. B...

Today, John Healey joins the podcast after a Russian ship suspected of mapping undersea cables pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters. The Defence Secretary gave a speech at Downing Street that morning describing the move as “deeply dangerous.” It comes on the same day that a report from MPs says that the UK lacks a plan to defend itself from a military attack. Adam and...

Today, the CEO of Google gives a rare interview to discuss AI, economic risk, climate change and much more. Faisal Islam has been speaking to Sundar Pichai, the head of Google’s parent company Alphabet, about the future of the AI bubble. The tech boss warned that “no company is going to be immune” if the AI bubble bursts after its current period of boom. This comes as some analysts expressed fear...

Today, the home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced sweeping changes to the UK's asylum policy, including plans to return asylum seekers to their home country if it is deemed safe. Under the new plans, most people will have to wait 20 years to apply for settled status, and the deportation process will be sped up for failed cases, including for families with children. The reforms have recieved tent...

Today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood speaks to Laura about the government’s new immigration plans. Under the plans, people who are granted asylum will need to wait 20 years before they can apply to settle permanently. Plus, refugee status will be cut from five year to two-and-a-half years and then regularly reviewed thereafter. Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss the new proposals, plus the ongoing ru...

Today, Laura and Paddy discuss President Donald Trump’s decision to continue with legal action. The BBC apologised to the president, saying it had unintentionally given "the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action" and said it would not be broadcast again. However, they would not pay financial compensation. Chief North America correspondent Gary O'Donoghu...

Adam is joined by Chris, Faisal and Ailbhe Rae, Political Editor of The New Statesman to wrap up the week. This episode of Newscast was recorded as part of our 25-hour Podcast-a-thon for Children in Need. Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Joe Wilkinson. The social producer was Grac...

Today we look at the latest in claims of briefings coming out of Number 10. The prime minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was not involved "directly or indirectly" in briefings against cabinet ministers and will not be leaving his job, sources have told the BBC. Some in government have blamed McSweeney for being the source of the briefings. McSweeney has not responded to calls for comment b...

Today, there has been extensive speculation about the extent to which Sir Keir Starmer was aware of the anonymous briefings attacking potential leadership challengers in his own party. Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has "never authorised" attacks on his cabinet ministers, calling briefings against them "unacceptable". Adam and Chris are joined by Alex Forsyth to discuss why this could be a sign...

Today, will the BBC actually end up in court against President Trump? Where would a potential lawsuit by President Trump against the BBC take place? Is $1 billion dollars a realistic figure? What are the calculations both sides are making? Adam discusses with BBC home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani. And, the rate of UK employment has risen to 5%, the highest level since the pandemic. Mea...

Today, President Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn. In a latter to the corporation Trump’s legal team demands the BBC “immediately retract” a Panorama programme which edited a speech he made calling it “false and defamatory”. It comes as BBC chair Samir Shah apologised for an "error of judgement" over the edit, and said the BBC was considering how to respond to Trump. BBC director gener...

Today, Laura spoke to the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who has said she retains confidence in the BBC’s leadership, as the corporation prepares to apologise over the way it edited a Donald Trump speech. Adam and Henry discuss the political ramifications of that interview, as well as other accusations made in the letter by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to the BBC’s editor...

​​Today, the BBC announced that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is to unveil a major shake-up of the immigration and asylum system modelled on the Danish system, which is seen as one of the toughest in Europe. ​​ ​​Political correspondent Iain Watson joins Laura and Adam in the studio to tell them about his trip to Denmark where he’s been speaking to the people responsible for, and affected by, tho...

Today, after another two prisoners were mistakenly released from prison - why is the justice system failing and who is to blame? Justice Secretary David Lammy is under increasing pressure after details have emerged that two more prisoners have been wrongly released. Why didn’t Mr Lammy explain the situation when he was speaking during PMQs? And what has gone wrong? Plus, after a week where it has...

Today, Adam is joined by the BBC’s climate editor Justin Rowlatt, and Daniela Relph senior royal correspondent, to discuss Keir Starmer and Prince William’s speeches at COP30. The Prince and the Prime Minister gave speeches that were slightly at odds with each other as Prince William called upon “the power of urgent optimism” whilst the PM warned that the “consensus is gone” on climate change. Plu...

Today, news that two prisoners were wrongly freed broke after the Conservatives' James Cartlidge pressed deputy PM David Lammy in the Commons on whether any asylum seekers had been mistakenly released since Hadush Kebatu last month. Adam and Chris chat to home affairs commentator Danny Shaw on what we know about the release, the individuals involved and the political ramifications. Then Adam speak...

Today, Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out tax rises in a speech laying the groundwork ahead of the budget. The Chancellor told gathered journalists “the world has thrown even more challenges our way” in a speech which seemed to confirm tax rises on 26th November. Labour had previously pledged not to hike income tax, VAT or National Insurance in it’s general election manifesto. Adam and Chris ar...

Today, Kemi Badenoch joins Newscast to mark 1 year since she became Conservative Party leader. What has she made of her first year? Has she had to re think her approach to PMQs? Is Reform an existential threat to her party? And, will she stay on as leader regardless of the results in May’s elections? You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds...

Today, Alex joins Laura to discuss what we know about a stabbing attack that took place on board a Doncaster-London train on Saturday evening. The police have said "there's nothing to suggest" it was a terrorist incident. Two British nationals are being held in custody on suspicion of murder. Plus we continue yesterday’s conversation about politicians weighing into royal affairs, as the Defence Se...

Today, we discuss how the saga the led to Prince Andrew becoming Andrew Mountbatten Windsor might have led to a shift in the relationship between politicians and the Palace. Pressure is also mounting on Andrew from politicians in the US as members of a congressional committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case have intensified their calls for Andrew to answer questions about his links to the l...

Today, why did the King choose now to strip Andrew of his titles? Adam, Alex, Ben Chu of BBC Verify and Matthew Doyle the former Downing Street communications director react to the news that Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Will we see him in public life again? The panel also discuss the possibility of tax rises in the upcoming budget. And whether the labour governmen...

Today, Buckingham Palace has announced it has stripped Andrew of his title of “Prince”. He will be now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor - effective immediately. He will also have to leave his official residence, Royal Lodge. Adam is joined by Victoria Derbyshire, Newsnight Presenter and BBC Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to list...

Today, Rachel Reeves rental arrangements came into question, after it emerged her rental property didn’t have the correct licence required by the local council. Adam is joined by Newsnight’s Nick Watt to discuss how the story about the Chancellor’s rental property has unfolded throughout the day. Later on Thursday, Rachel Reeves's letting agent released a statement apologising for not getting the...

Today, President Trump has arrived in South Korea ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping at APEC. The two are set to discuss a possible trade deal which could bring the US and China back from the brink of a global trade war. Adam is joined by China correspondent Laura Bicker and Americast host Anthony Zurcher, both in South Korea, to discuss TikTok, tariffs and soybeans, as they analyse ho...