The Briefing Room

Some countries have opened schools, hairdressers and small non-food shops. David Aaronovitch asks what has guided those tentative first steps and whether the lockdown can be eased safely. What have we learnt about the behaviour and epidemiology of the virus and how might that inform decisions in the UK? He also quizzes experts about how long it could take to end the lockdown fully, and whether som...

What do we know about how we are coping with the pandemic crisis? David Aaronovitch looks at the impact the three month lockdown has had on people in China and asks how different groups in the UK - just three weeks in - are faring. What are the particular difficulties faced by the most vulnerable and those who have been advised to self isolate, maybe for many months, during the pandemic? He asks w...

What effect is the lockdown having across the country and population? David Aaronovitch examines which jobs have been lost, whose health is more at risk and whose education is most likely to suffer. Is the lockdown likely to increase inequality? And if it does, how might a government reverse that trend once normal life is resumed? Contributors: Professor Angus Deaton from Princeton University, Pro...

Why have some countries run mass-testing operations when others, including the UK, have not? David Aaronovitch examines how South Korea and Germany have approached the coronavirus pandemic and what they have learned from the data they've gathered. He also looks at how the hunt for a vaccine is progressing and who is in the race, as well as the role existing anti-viral drugs might play in reducing...

The UK fishing industry will be central to EU trade negotiations, starting soon. David Aaronovitch explores why a sector, which contributes very little to the overall economy, has gained such political and cultural importance. He asks why there is such a mismatch between the kind of fish we catch and the kind of fish we eat. When did cod become so central to our diets? With his guests, he also tra...

Sinn Féin's historic result in the Irish election has the potential to change the face of Irish politics - dominated for the past hundred years by the two main parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. So what lies behind the rise of Sinn Féin? And to what extent has it put its past association with violent republicanism behind it? David Aaronovitch is joined by guests including: Naomi O'Leary correspon...

In recent months convicted terrorists just released from prison have launched knife attacks which have maimed and killed - the latest one on Streatham High Street in South London. Both attackers were shot dead by police officers. David Aaronovitch asks why events like these are happening, and whether we are releasing convicted terrorists too early. The government is promising swift action, but wil...

For the first time in decades the UK will now negotiate its own trade deals. David Aaronovitch explores our options and likely outcomes. Free trade deals can take years and require hundreds of highly skilled staff in what are described as the biggest games of poker you can play. Former US trade negotiators reveal a world of bluffs, plays and tapped phone calls. How should the UK should play its ha...

What lessons do previous pandemics provide about how we should treat the new coronavirus? David Aaronovitch tracks the disease's origins in China, explores its spread. He considers how dangerous this virus is and asks how prepared we are for an outbreak in the UK. Contributors: Howard Zhang, editor of the BBC’s China service Dr Nathalie McDermott, Imperial College, London John Oxford, Professor of...

The government wants an infrastructure revolution in the north of England. David Aaronovitch looks at whether improving transport networks could reduce economic differences between the north and south. He talks to experts about how the Treasury judges whether a project value for money. And he considers which projects might be the best ones to pursue and whether we have the necessary skills to deli...

The killing of General Soleimani by the United States has led to uproar in Iran. Massive crowds have accompanied his coffin through the streets and he is now hailed as a martyr. Retaliation has started with a missile attack against US airbases in Iraq, led by The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). David Aaronovitch examines the history and political clout of one of the most feared military organisations...

A look back at some of the big stories that hit the headlines in 2019. Jonny Dymond is joined by: Jennifer Williams of the Manchester Evening News Rory Sutherland of the Spectator and Ogilvy Group Helen Lewis of The Atlantic.

'Get Brexit Done' was the slogan that helped lead the Tories to an election victory - but how will that be achieved? It's the pressing task now facing government, but what might Brexit actually look like and how long could it take? David Aaronovitch considers the political and economic pros and cons of the different kinds of trading arrangements the UK and EU might end up with. Are the UK and EU b...

A wave of protests are sweeping through Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Retribution in Iraq and Iran has been swift and savage, and hundreds of young people have been killed - but what lies behind the unrest? David Aaronovitch explores the common themes - unemployment, crony sectarianism, corruption and hopelessness. These were the issues that led countless thousands onto the streets in many middle easter...

The island of Malta is the European Union's smallest state. Yet it is giving Brussels one of its biggest headaches. After the very public blowing up in her car of an investigative journalist in 2017, the slow investigation into her death took a dramatic turn earlier this week with the sudden resignation of the prime minister. Some of his closest associates have also gone. But what are the reasons...

Politicians are busy making big electoral promises. Some of them are to be funded by taxing wealthier people. But will the next chancellor be able to get the money they need from high earners, or will they need to find new ways of funding their ambitions? David Aaronovitch discovers, with his guests, what wealth consists of and who today has the means to contribute more to the UK tax kitty and how...

MPs voted in favour of the government's Brexit deal but then rejected the PM's plan to fast-track a bill through Parliament to implement it. Opposition to the deal is still strong in some quarters. Northern Ireland’s DUP withdrew its support for because it would lead to a customs border in the Irish Sea. The Scottish and Welsh governments believe it could undermine the powers of their devolved leg...

Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he was withdrawing the remaining US troops in northern Syria sent shockwaves across the security establishment, and caught allies in the region off guard. Turkey moved swiftly to launch an offensive against Kurdish forces across the border. What does President Erdogan want to achieve? And where does this leave the political map of the region and the fight ag...

Would cutting back on meat consumption help tackle climate change? What impact would this have on individuals, governments and businesses? Livestock farming accounts for at least 14.5% of all human emissions - with beef making up the highest proportion of this. Meat free burgers are now available at fast food restaurants across the western world; veganism is on the rise, as is flexitarianism - a l...

What's the Trump impeachment inquiry about? The White House is in damage limitation mode following a whistleblower complaint that revealed details about a phone call between President Trump and Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. The whistleblower expressed an 'urgent concern' that Mr Trump had used his office to pressure a foreign power to damage a political rival and leading Democratic pres...

The Supreme Court has ruled that Boris Johnson's decision to prorogue Parliament was unlawful, turning a page on the country’s constitution. The Supreme Court president Lady Hale said "the effect on the fundamentals of democracy was extreme." The Prime Minister responded that he "strongly disagrees" with the ruling but will "respect" it. So is British democracy at a crossroads? In an extended edit...

Seven recent deaths in America have been linked to the use of electronic cigarettes. The federal government and some states have made moves to ban the use of the products - other countries, such as India, are following. But some experts believe that vaping has a useful role to play in helping people to give up smoking. In this week's programme David Aaronovitch asks why have e-cigarettes become so...

It’s been another extraordinary week of politics. Parliament is closed, but a general election is on the horizon. What strategy should the party leaders follow to come out victorious? David Aaronovitch slips into character to seek advice as to how Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson, Nigel Farage and Nicola Sturgeon should play the coming weeks and months. Guests: David Cowling, political ana...

In a momentous week for British politics, David Aaronovitch presents a special hour-long edition of The Briefing Room in which he asks whether the United Kingdom's history might help us to understand better the political storms buffeting the country. What has the debate over Brexit done to Britain’s political parties and its parliamentary system, what does Brexit mean for the future of the union,...

It's the world's biggest organised event: 900 million eligible voters across India have been to the polls in the last six weeks after five years of Narendra Modi's BJP government. Narendra Modi's ambition was to project India as a global economic power, clamping down on corruption and burnishing its national security credentials. How far has he achieved this? And to what extent should India's non-...