Newscast

Today, a report into sexual abuse carried out by grooming gangs says there was a “collective failure to address questions about the ethnicity of grooming gangs”. The audit, led by Baroness Louise Casey, said the ethnicity of grooming gangs is shied away from and is still not recorded for two-thirds of perpetrators. Adam is joined by Alison Holt, social affairs editor and Judith Moritz, special cor...

Today, we look at the announcement that there will be full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. And as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, Laura, Paddy and Henry Zeffman, look at what the UK is do...

Today we’re looking at how Iran has retaliated to Israel’s strikes which targeted Iran's nuclear programme on Friday. The two countries have been exchanging fire. And, state media reports say Iran has warned the UK, US and France it will target their bases and ships in the region if they help stop the strikes on Israel. We look at how the world is reacting to the conflict. Shashank Joshi, The Econ...

Today, Israel has carried out strikes in Iran targeting nuclear sites and military commanders in a major escalation of tensions. Israel say they targeted the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear programme, whilst also killing Hossein Salami, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Civilians, including children, were also among those killed, state media reported. In response the Israeli military said Ir...

Today, at least 200 people have been killed when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India. Adam speaks to BBC Correspondent Archana Shukla in Mumbai about the scenes in Ahmedabad, the news of one British passenger surviving the crash, and the official response to the crash. He is also joined by Ben Katz, Aviation Reporter for the...

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the government spending plans until the end of the decade. She says spending on the NHS will rise by 3% a year after inflation. And also confirmed £39bn for social and affordable housing, an end to "costly" asylum hotels by 2029, and an extension of the £3 bus fare cap in England to 2027. You an read the Spending Review here! https://assets.publishing.servic...

Today, the clash between Governor Newsom and President Trump escalates as LA protests enter day four. A defence official has told the BBC's US partner CBS that approximately 2,100 members of the California National Guard are now on location in the greater Los Angeles area, with 700 Marines also in and around the city. Newsom called it “the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president,” while Trump...

Today, Labour confirms 75% of pensioners will keep their winter fuel payments, reversing a widely criticised policy. Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now be eligible. The payment, worth up to £300 to help with energy bills during the coldest months, was paid only to those on pension credit last year. Alex and Chris discuss the chain of even...

Today, we’re looking at what’s going on in the Treasury as the final decisions are being made ahead of the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday. The home secretary and deputy prime minister are both still in dispute with the department over the amount of cash they'll have to spend. Business editor Simon Jack and Paul Johnson, director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies join Laura to look at...

Today we hear from the woman who was the UK’s only transgender judge. Laura speaks to Victoria McCloud, who stepped down from the job last year, about her challenge to overturn the Supreme Court unanimous ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. In an extended interview, Victoria talks about why she thinks she could succeed, and about the ruling’s consequences. You ca...

How did one of the most powerful alliances in American politics blow up? The falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been playing out very publicly on social media, with back and forth insults and threats. Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring, Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher unpack how the row intensified with Trump threatening to revoke Musk’s government contracts and Musk claiming, without ev...

The Spending Review looms large - with Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing some difficult choices in the upcoming Spending Review, which sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few years. Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss that and what next for Reform UK after Zia Yusuf quit as party Chairman. This episode was recorded on Thursday evening. You can now listen to Newscast on a s...

Today, Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chairman of Reform UK, posting on X: "I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time". What does that mean for Nigel Farage and the future of his party? Adam and Alex discuss. And former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt joins Adam to discuss his new book, Mel Stride distancing the Tories from Liz Truss’ Mini Budget an...

Today, Rachel Reeves has announced a multi billion pound investment for transport projects across the country. The money will be spent on tram, train and bus projects in mayoral authorities across the Midlands, the North and the West Country. But how different is this to money previously announced under the last Conservative government? Adam is joined by the Mayor of the North East of England Kim...

Today, authorities start a new search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal, nearly two decades after her disappearance. On Monday, Portuguese police confirmed the search is taking place across 21 different plots of land between the resort where Madeleine went missing, and where the German investigators' prime suspect had been staying at the time. Adam speaks to BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sa...

Today, the Prime Minister says the UK military is moving to “war-fighting readiness”. The government is setting out the aims of its strategic defence review, or more simply how Britain should get ready for war. Starmer told the BBC that the world has changed and "if you want to deter conflict, then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict." Adam speaks to Chris, and goes over the details...

Today, we look at what Defence Secretary John Healey has called the UK’s “message to Moscow” as he announces investment in weapons and factories to make them. Laura, Paddy and Henry also talk about how much it’s going to cost, whether it’s affordable, and whether NATO thinks it’s enough. They also talk about Robert Jenrick, after a week of the justice secretary making headlines. You can now listen...

Today, we look at the future of defence for the UK, ahead of a major strategic defence review from the government. Defence Secretary John Healey has said there is "no doubt" that UK defence spending will rise to 3% of GDP by 2034. Sir Alex Younger, former head of MI6, joins Laura and Paddy to talk about where the threats are, and what it should be spent on. You can now listen to Newscast on a smar...

Today, Adam, Alex, James and Vicki discuss Keir Starmer’s attack on Nigel Farage saying he would “crash the economy”. And, in light of Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick filming himself confronting fare evaders on the London Underground, the team compare their most memorable political stunts. Plus, what does legal uncertainty around Trump’s tariffs mean for the UK-US trade agreement? You can...

Today, we look at whether President Donald Trump will be allowed to continue with his tariffs plan. On Wednesday a court put them on hold, saying they’re beyond his power, then another court reinstated them pending an appeal. Adam is joined by chief presenter in the US, Caitríona Perry, Americast’s Justin Webb, and FT columnist Gillian Tett. And we find out the identity of the man who has been cha...

Today, we discuss the new aid distrubition model in Gaza and why the EU’s top diplomat has gone further in criticising Israeli strikes and aid distribution. The BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet joins Adam in the studio to discuss the video footage of chaotic scenes at an aid distribution centre in Rafah. They discuss the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and vice presi...

Today, a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car crashed into fans during a parade to celebrate Liverpool’s title victory. The 53 year old from West Derby, in Liverpool, has also been arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs and dangerous driving offences. 50 people were treated in hospital after the incident - but police say those remaining in hospital...

Recorded live at Hay Festival, Adam and Alex look at whether President Trump has changed his mind about President Putin and how politician’s use statistics. Plus, Newscast continues trying to work out if the goverment’s change of policy on winter fuel allowance counts as a U-Turn.  They are joined by Anne Applebaum, journalist, historian and author of Autocracy Inc, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalt...

Today we look at whether the government is about to row back on another policy - the two-child benefit cap. It prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third child, with a few exemptions. Speaking to Laura this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner refused to confirm whether it was going to be scrapped. Rayner also responded to a story in The Telegraph t...

Today, we look at whether this week’s winter fuel U-turn could lead to the government changing course on other spending cuts. Paddy’s taken to the streets of Camden to find out what the public think of their local MP, Keir Starmer. And we hear from some of the 18 year old Newscasters who have got in touch to tell us what they think about the current state of UK/EU relationship. You can now listen...