Newscast

Today, we look at the milestones Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will set out under what he calls a "plan for change" for Britain. Paddy and Victoria are joined by Joe Pike, BBC politics and investigations correspondent, to discuss the resignation of Louise Haigh, who was serving as transport secretary, after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago. Does this resignation prom...

Victoria stands in for Laura this weekend! Today, we discuss the assisted dying bill, one of the most significant and sensitive topics to have been voted on by MPs in recent decades. We hear YOUR reaction to the bill and why it matters. Plus, defence editor at the Economist, Shashank Joshi, joins us to talk about the rebel forces advancing in Aleppo, and whether this could topple the Assad regime....

Today, in a historic vote, MPs have voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. After five hours of emotional debate the bill passed with 330 in favour to 275 against, at the first stage in the Commons. Before the bill can become law it will face further scrutiny, and the first cases are not expected for at least two years. James and Chris are joined by Vicki Young,...

Today, we look at the latest net migration figures, as the UK hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023, much higher than previously thought. Sir Keir Starmer seized on the figures - which cover a period before Labour took office - to accuse the Tories of “running an open borders experiment”. Adam is joined by Chris, Alex Forsyth and Nick Watt to discuss that and look ahead to the vote on assi...

Today, Adam chats to Ed Davey about his tactics as an opposition party, including making TikToks about the “Rizz Dems”, as well as this week’s vote on Assisted Dying and why he’s voting against the bill. Plus, Ed is the first leader of a major political party to release a Christmas single. He tells Adam about teaming up with the Bath Philharmonia's Young Carers' Choir to release the charity single...

Today, we look at the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and what it means for the Middle East. A deal to end thirteen months of fighting in Lebanon came into affect on Wednesday morning. It follows Israel’s land invasion of Lebanon in October in response to rocket attacks from Hezbollah. Adam is joined by the BBC’s international editor Jeremy Bowen, and Jonny Dymond, host of The Con...

Today, has Donald Trump outlined his plans for a future trade war once he re-enters the White House? The President Elect has said that he’ll sign an executive order on day one of his presidency imposing a 25% tariff on "all products" entering the US from neighbours Mexico and Canada, until they clamp down on drugs and illegal migrants crossing the border. Adam speaks to economics editor Faisal Isl...

Today, we look at the Chancellor Rachel Reeves defending her budget, telling businesses she is “not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes”. Reeves was speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference. Her message comes after the boss of biscuit company McVitie’s warned it was becoming “harder to understand” the case for investing in the UK. Adam and Chris are joined by BB...

Today, we look at the government’s plans to cut, what the Prime Minister has called, the “bulging benefits bill”. Speaking to Laura on her Sunday morning show - the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall outlined Labour’s plan “to get Britain working”. Laura, Paddy and Nick Watt of Newsnight discuss how similar this approach is to the previous governments. And, how will it be received by their ow...

Today, we look at a major intervention into the debate on the assisted dying bill from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Writing in the Guardian, Brown says the death of his first daughter Jennifer aged only 11 days strengthened his belief that "this is not the right time to make such a profound decision". Laura and Paddy discuss whether this could impact how MPs vote, as well as looking at new...

Today, Adam, Alex, Chris and Henry discuss Ukraine firing British and US missiles on Russia, what the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu means for Britian’s relationship with Israel, and Newscast remembers John Prescott who has died at the age of 86. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast...

Today, we look back on the life and career of former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Lord Prescott died aged 86 on Wednesday in his care home, where he had been living with Alzheimer's, his family have said. Adam speaks to former Labour Director of Communications Lord Peter Mandelson about his memories of working with Lord Prescott. And, Adam talks to Joe Pike, Political Investigations Corres...

Today, the BBC believes Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow long-range missiles into Russia by Ukraine for the first time. Adam speaks to former UK defence attaché to Moscow and Kyiv John Foreman, who describes the Defence Secretary John Healey’s remarks to the House of Commons about Storm Shadow missiles as “clear as mud”. And, BBC News Chief Presenter Sumi Somaskanda discusses why President B...

Today, we look at a protest in Westminster by farmers over inheritance tax changes announced in the Budget. Around 10,000 people are believed to have attended a rally in Whitehall today protesting changes to inheritance tax. From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m will be liable to tax. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he understands the concerns, but says the “vast majo...

Today, we look at the US reportedly authorising Ukraine sending long-range missiles into Russia. Plus, Keir Starmer’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro where he’s become the first PM in six years to meet Chinese President Xi. It comes as President Biden his reportedly sanctioned long range US missile strikes into Russia by Uk...

Russia has conducted a “massive” attack on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, with 120 missiles and 90 drones reportedly causing multiple explosions across the country. Laura and Paddy have been speaking to politicians about what’s going on there. And Laura’s also been talking to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who admits her public language over a row wit...

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that with Trump in the White House, he is certain the war with Russia will “end sooner”. And, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken to Putin on the phone in the first call between a major western leader and the Russian leader since December 2022. Laura and Paddy discuss what it means for Ukraine, plus news of a “impasse” in government over social...

Adam and Chris are joined by Stephanie Flanders, head of economics and politics at Bloomberg, and Lucy Fisher, Whitehall editor at the Financial Times, to discuss all the political news of the week. They discuss an increasingly heated debate about assisted dying legislation, the chancellor announcing “the biggest pension reform in decades” and President-elect Trump announcing more details of his t...

Today we look at the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan. World leaders, diplomats and climate scientists have gathered in Baku for the annual UN climate summit. Adam speaks to BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt and host of The Climate Question Graihagh Jackson to find out what they’re hoping to achieve and why so few And, Emma Pinchbeck the incoming chief executive of the Climate Change Committ...

Today, we look at President-elect Trump’s first administration appointments and Wes Streeting’s much-trailed NHS reforms. Adam speaks to BBC News Chief Presenter Caitriona Perry and Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring about what happened when Biden and Trump met and what Elon Musk’s new role as head of a Department of Government Efficiency mean. And, BBC Health Editor Hug...

Today, we look at the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. He has resigned after growing pressure due to a report which found that he did not follow up rigorously enough on reports of abuse of young boys and men by John Smyth. In his resignation letter, he said the report "exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth”. Adam speaks to...

Today, we look at the assisted dying legislation that’s been published ahead of a vote in Parliament. Under the bill, adults with less than six months to live would be given the right to end their own life. They would need to meet several requirements - including approval from two independent doctors and a High Court judge. Adam is joined by the BBC’s deputy political editor Vicki Young and medica...

Today, we look at the relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has denied media reports that Donald Trump held a call with Vladimir Putin, in which he is said to have warned Putin against escalating the war in Ukraine. Adam speaks to Christopher Steele, the former head of the Russia Desk at MI6, Author of “Unredacted: Russia, Trump and th...

Today, Laura’s been trying to get answers from Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, about when the UK Government will meet its target of spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. Laura and James are joined by Henry to discuss possible points of difference between the Treasury and the UK chief of defence Admiral Sir Tony Radakin - who told Laura he wants ‘resources’ to match ‘ambitions’. And, did L...

Today, we look at who is tipped for key roles in President-Elect Trump’s White House. Donald Trump has announced that his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, will be his new Chief of Staff. Laura and James speak to Gary O'Donoghue, BBC’s Senior North America Correspondent, about what her role will be and what challenges she might face - as well as which other famous faces from his campaign team might t...