Newscast

Today, we look at where the welfare U-turn leaves Keir Starmer’s government, and the PM himself. Paddy and Henry Zeffman go through the PM’s first year in office and put it into context by look at where he’s got things right and wrong. Henry’s been talking to Labour insiders and officials for a documentary: Starmer’s Stormy Year You can find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002f8t1 You...

Today, the government has confirmed it will make major concessions to Labour rebels over its planned benefits reforms. Adam and Chris were back in the Newscast studio on Friday morning to run through how news of the U-turn broke late on Thursday night. And, they're joined by Alex and Faisal to unpack the week's political news - including key takeaways from the Nato summit in the Netherlands, inclu...

Today, can Keir Starmer stop a rebellion from his own party over proposed welfare cuts? Adam is joined by Luke Sullivan, Keir Starmer’s former political director, to discuss the leadership strategy and the current political challenge. Also, columnist and author Sarah Vine speaks to Adam ahead of the release of her new book How Not to Be a Political Wife, sharing how Brexit led to the end of her ma...

Today, world leaders have agreed to increase defence spending to 5% at a Nato summit at The Hague. Member states will commit 3.5% of GDP on core defence expenditure by 2035, plus up to 1.5% on a security investments. President Trump hailed the outcome as a “big win” and said he no longer thought Nato was a "rip-off". Adam is joined by BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale and former British A...

Today, President Trump arrives in Europe for what is being called “the most significant Nato summit since the cold war”? Adam, Chris and Katya are re-united as President Trump lands in Europe for his first Nato summit since winning the White House for the second time. Meanwhile, back at home the Prime Minister faces growing rebellion from Labour backbench MPs over welfare changes. Sir Keir Starmer...

Today, Iran launches missiles at a US base in Qatar in response to strikes on their nuclear sites. Qatar has confirmed the attack on the US-run Al Udeid base, adding all the missiles were intercepted. The Pentagon has said there is no reports of any US casualties. Adam is joined by John Simpson, BBC world affairs editor And, health secretary Wes Streeting has said "we must act now" as he announced...

Today we look at the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Donald Trump told Tehran to "make peace" or face "far greater" attacks in future. Iran has warned of “everlasting consequences”. Security analyst Gordon Corera goes through what we know about the strikes and what could happen next. Gary O’Donoghue, chief North America correspondent, explains Trump’s thinking and the reaction in the US You c...

Today we’re looking at the reaction to a security breach at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the base and sprayed two military planes with red paint. The home secretary will move to proscribe the Palestine Action group in the coming weeks, effectively branding them as a terrorist organisation, the BBC understands. Paddy and Laura look at the political row surro...

Today, MPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill, in the biggest step so far in favour of the changing of the law. MPs vote to back a bill legalising assisted dying in England and Wales by 23 votes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch voted against. The bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to g...

Today, what role could the UK play in the conflict between Israel and Iran? President Donald Trump will decide on whether the US gets directly involved in the Iran-Israel conflict within the next two weeks, the White House says. Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss; what the Prime Minister's options are if the US does directly attack Iran? How the conflict could impact prices in the UK? And, wheth...

Today, Trump dismissed questions about US involvement in Iran, saying: "I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I want to do.” Adam is joined by Chief Presenter Caitriona Perry and BBC Persian Senior Reporter Siavash Ardalan to interperet Trump’s statements on the White House lawn, as well as Iran’s Supreme Leader threatening ‘irreparable harm’ if the US takes action. Also, what’s at stake...

Today, President Trump says he knows where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is but "we" won't kill him - "at least not for now". In a series of posts on social media, he went on to demand an 'unconditional surrender', as Iran and Israel fire missiles for a fifth day. Is regime change likely, or a goal of the US and Israel? Caitriona Perry -chief presenter for BBC News and Lyse Doucet c...

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...