Newscast

Today, we look at the economic election battle, with spending announcements from the Tories and Labour. Plus, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner will face no police action in the row over her council house sale. Rishi Sunak has today launched his ‘Triple Lock Plus’: a promise to raise the tax-free pension allowance if he wins the general election. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police have confir...

Today, Adam and Chris discuss Keir Starmer’s first major speech of the general election campaign and the latest on Rishi Sunak’s plan to bring back national service for 18-year-olds. The Labour leader delivered a speech which included a detailed account of his upbringing as well as plans for national security. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak showed off his football skills while he continued his campaig...

Today, Laura, Paddy and Adam discuss Labour’s tax pledge and the Conservative plan bring back mandatory national service. Rachel Reeves says there will be no rises in income tax or national insurance if Labour wins the general election - but spending cuts have not been ruled out. James Cleverly says the Tory national service plan would address social fragmentation and get young people "out of thei...

Laura and Paddy are back in the Newscast studio as the party leaders spend the weekend campaigning. Rishi Sunak met with veterans in his constituency in North Yorkshire as Sir Keir Starmer campaigned in the West Midlands. Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg & Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Gray with M...

Today, we look at Keir Starmer kicking off his party’s Scottish campaign, and Jeremy Corbyn confirming he will stand as an independent candidate in Islington North. Plus, a surprise announcement from Michael Gove! Adam is joined by Chris from Westminster and James from Scotland. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily ana...

Today, we look at Rishi Sunak confirming that no deportation flights to Rwanda will set off before the general election. Plus Nigel Farage says he will not run to be a MP. It had been thought that the government would try to get the first flight off the ground to Rwanda before the election on 4th of July. Sunak has now said they will go ahead “If i’m re-elected”. Labour has pledged to scrap the pl...

Today marks day one of the general election campaign, and the Prime Minister has done his first round of interviews. Adam and Chris discuss what was said, what the party slogans say about their campaigns and where the leaders start on the campaign trail. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest polit...

Rishi Sunak has called the UK General Election for the 4th July. Adam is joined by Laura Kuenssberg, Faisal Islam and Alex Forsyth to discuss the surprise announcement by the Prime Minister this afternoon. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented...

Today, we look at, how much the victims of the infected blood scandal could receive in compensation And a major row between a Hollywood A Lister and OpenAi. The government has announced some infected blood victims will receive £210,000 compensation within 90 days. This is an initial payment whilst work continues on a final scheme. It is estimated final payments could rise to £2.6m for certain infe...

Today we look at the final report into the infected blood scandal, which accuses doctors, the government and the NHS of letting patients catch HIV and hepatitis. In total, it's thought about 2,900 people have died since being infected by contaminated blood, and the number continues to rise. The report into the scandal suggests evidence of failure and cover-up. PM Rishi Sunak apologised to the vict...

Today we look at the death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The hard-line cleric was killed alongside Iran’s foreign minister when a helicopter they were travelling in, crashed in heavy fog in northern Iran. The president was elected in 2021 and was seen as a potential successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Adam is joined by the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Dou...

Today, we heard from the government and the Labour party about the infected blood scandal - ahead of the inquiry’s final report being published tomorrow. Laura and Henry discuss what defence secretary Grant Shapps had to say about the government’s plan to compensate victims and how much they would be prepared to spend - as well as more on defence spending. And, after forgetting one of Labour’s six...

Today, Adam and Laura discuss ‘Project Sunak’, and Laura shares some of the insights she’s heard from people who know and have worked with the Prime Minister about what he’s like behind the scenes - as well as the operation to improve his popularity. And Laura has interviewed Leonid Volkov, a close ally of Alexei Navalny, who was attacked with hammers outside his home in Lithuania last year. You c...

Today, we look at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin, on his first foreign visit since being sworn in for a fifth term as president last week, was greeted with a rare hug from Xi Jinping before the leaders met to discuss trade between their two countries. Adam discusses the significance of this visit - and its potential ra...

Today, we look at Keir Starmer revealing the “first steps” Labour would take if they won the general election. Speaking at an event in Essex, the Labour leader unveiled a pledge card with six key policies, including delivering "economic stability" and providing 40,000 more hospital appointments each week. Starmer rejected claims the party had scaled back its ambitions, and that it was a “copycat”...

Today, we look at what we know about the assassination attempt on Slovak PM Robert Fico. The alleged assailant has been detained by the police and ministers have told reporters it was a politically-motivated attack. Europe editor Katya Adler is on to explain what we know about what happened, and who Robert Fico is. And Chris joins James to discuss why some prisoners are being released early in Eng...

Today, we look a new study which suggests obesity jabs, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, could also cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The drug semaglutide, which suppresses the appetite, is prescribed by the NHS and now has growing use as a “skinny jab”. Researchers have said that weekly shots could benefit the cardiovascular health of millions of adults, but the results have not yet been full...

Today, we look at Rishi Sunak’s claim that the election would be a choice “between past and future”, as Labour accused him of rebranding again. In a wide-ranging speech, the PM said that Keir Starmer would make the UK less safe and that the Tories are “the only party really talking about the future.” But Labour responded by claiming this was Rishi Sunak’s “7th reset” during his time in office. Are...

Today we take a look at accusations that former Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke lobbied former Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Buckland, over her then-husband Charlie’s sexual assault case. A spokesman for Ms Elphicke, said the claims were "nonsense". Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss how big a problem it is for the party, and how the story came to light. And Laura’s been speaking to the foreign secreta...

Today we take a look at Keir Starmer’s election plan with a man who was once one of his closest colleagues. Former chief of staff to the Labour leader, Sam White, joins Laura and Paddy to talk about what he thinks his old boss needs to do to avoid throwing away his lead. He also reveals details about their conversations about defections, and his own sacking. And there’s controversy at Eurovision w...

Today, Keir Starmer set out his plan to stop small boats crossing the channel. Joined in Dover by the newest Labour MP, Natalie Elphicke, Keir Starmer took questions on his plan for a new Border Security Command. Chris Mason tells Adam all about the plan and his interview with the Labour leader. And we look ahead to the Eurovision Song Contest final. Adam is joined by Paddy O’Connell and Eurovisio...

Today, we look at whether the UK economy has “turned a corner”, and if so why interest rates were kept the same? The Bank of England has announced it is keeping interest rates the same, for the sixth month in a row. The Governor Andrew Bailey has said it needs to "see more evidence" that price rises have slowed further. So when will mortgage rate start to drop? Adam is joined by Andy Haldane, form...

Today we look at the shock defection of another MP from the Tories to Labour. Keir Starmer welcomed the MP for Dover and Deal Natalie Elphicke to his side of the house at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions. It’s the second defection from the Conservatives to Labour in the past fortnight after the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich Dan Poulter also crossed the floor. Adam and Chris are re...

Today we look at new online safety rules for under-18s published by the media regulator. Tech firms have been told to hide harmful content from children, or risk being banned for under-18s. BBC Breakfast did a special programme on the story. It’s presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent tell Adam and Chris what it was like to speak to parents of children subjected to online harms. Adam and Chris also q...

Today we look at the potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. On Monday, Hamas agreed to terms put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, but Israel has rejected them, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they are far from meeting Israel’s “core demands”. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Force has taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, a vital entry point for aid....