Today, we look at whether Labour’s plans for the economy are substantially different to the government’s or not. And we get an update on the Princess of Wales. The shadow chancellor told Laura she would be "methodically" looking at ways to pay for Labour's existing spending pledges. But Reeves did not rule out making cuts in some areas. So how different are Labour’s plans to the government’s? Adam and Laura discuss with chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman. And the first official photo of...
Mar 10, 2024•35 min
As the dust settles on the spring budget, Laura and Adam discuss disquiet among some Cabinet members. And Laura reveals some remarkable Westminster gossip.... Plus, we reflect on Theresa May’s time at Downing Street, as she joins nearly 60 current and former tory MPs that have decided to quit ahead of the next general election. Would she have handled Covid differently if she was still in charge? You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast b...
Mar 09, 2024•28 min
Today we look at the announcement that Theresa May will leave the commons at the next election with two former close colleagues. Ali Donnelly, her former deputy spokesperson tells Adam what it’s like to receive a death stare from her. Former political adviser Cleo Watson says Brexit prevented her focussing on her real priorities. Plus two mayors of the North West, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram speak to Adam about how they want to change the UK’s political system. You can join our Newscast onli...
Mar 08, 2024•39 min
The Conservatives and Labour have been accused of a "conspiracy of silence" over the scale of spending cuts or tax rises by an influential think tank. Tough decisions would need to be made following the next election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said. A day after the Budget, Adam and Chris ask Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride what that would mean if the Conservatives won it. We also ask if it’s right for the public to pay for the government’s legal fees generated after Science Secreta...
Mar 07, 2024•34 min
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered the last Budget before the general election. Adam and Chris are joined by Dharshini David and Faisal Islam who discuss Hunt’s measures, Labour’s response, and what they mean for you. 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 by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Miranda Slade and Sam McLaren. Th...
Mar 06, 2024•41 min
Today, we look at Super Tuesday, where Americans are voting for their presidential candidate across 15 states + What impact do reparations for slavery have here in the UK? Donald Trump and Joe Biden look all but set to secure their party’s nominations, but what can we learn about the coming Presidential election from the results? And why is Nikki Hayley hanging on? Adam is joined by former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney. Plus the Church of England has been told a £100m fund to right s...
Mar 05, 2024•37 min
Today, we look at the US Supreme Court’s decision that Trump was wrongly removed from Colorado primary ballot. Colorado barred Trump from the state's ballot in December arguing the former president incited the 2021 Capitol riot. The decision all but ends efforts in other states to ban him from ballots. With a healthy poll lead, does this secure Donald Trump’s path to challenge for the presidency? Adam speaks to BBC US Special Correspondent Katty Kay. And HMP Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie T...
Mar 04, 2024•37 min
Today, we analyse Laura’s interview with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of the budget. Laura and Paddy are joined by Torsten Bell from the Resolution Foundation to shed some light on what goes into making a budget and whether the chancellor has any room to manoeuvre this week. And Mariano Janin, the father of Mia Janin, a teenager who took her own life talks to Laura. He believes his daughter was being cyber bullied on social media by her classmates. Mr Janin wants to use his platform to advoc...
Mar 03, 2024•30 min
Today, we reflect on Rishi Sunak’s statement outside Downing Street on extremism and we look ahead to next week’s budget. Laura and Paddy break down the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday evening and explain what he was trying to achieve with it. And the budget will be announced on Wednesday afternoon, and it is reportedly, not going to be a budget that the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, would have hoped for at the start of the year. To explain why, Laura and Paddy are joined by the BBC’s economics edi...
Mar 02, 2024•29 min
It’s double episode Newscast kind of day! Rishi Sunak has made a surprise statement in Downing Street. He said democracy is being targeted by extremists, and there are forces that are "trying to tear us apart". Adam speaks to deputy political editor Vicky Young to discuss why Rishi Sunak made this speech today and what message he was trying to get across. And Newsnight Political Editor Nicholas Watt gives us an insight into why Rochdale by-election winner George Galloway is so controversial. You...
Mar 01, 2024•25 min
Today, we look at the result from the by-election in Rochdale. George Galloway from the Workers Party of Britain won with a resounding majority. Independent candidate David Tully came second as Labour and the Conservatives only received just over a quarter of the vote put together to come third and fourth. Is this a clear rejection of Keir Starmer’s position on Gaza? Adam is in the studio, Chris is in a bumpy car, and they are joined by pollster, Scarlett Maguire, and North West Tonight Politica...
Mar 01, 2024•30 min
Today, we look at the missed opportunities to stop Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens. An independent review has found Police "repeatedly failed" to spot warning signs about Couzens’ unsuitability to be an officer. Couzens abducted, raped and murdered Ms Everard while off duty in March 2021. The review also calls for a radical overhaul of police vetting and recruitment. Adam and Chris speak to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. They also discuss with Mayor Khan islamophobia and the comments of Lee An...
Feb 29, 2024•35 min
Today, we look at the government announcement of £31m for MPs’ security with politicians from both sides of the house. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater speaks to Adam about the threats she faces, how she deals with them, and what’s changed in the years since the murder of her sister Jo Cox in 2016. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood joins Adam and Chris to give his view on the new security measures, following protestors recently targeting his family home. You can join our Newscast online community here: htt...
Feb 28, 2024•39 min
Today, we look at the financial crisis at Birmingham City Council, which has led to the “largest” budget cut in local authority history + How is IVF impacting the US Presidential Race? The council is attempting to fill a £300m budget shortfall over the next two years after effectively declaring itself bankrupt in September. Plans to tackle the deficit over the next two years were signed off by the cabinet on Tuesday ahead of being voted on by the full council on 5 March. Adam speaks to BBC polit...
Feb 27, 2024•32 min
Today, we look at the continued row over Lee Anderson’s refusal to apologise for comments aimed at Sadiq Khan. The Ashfield MP has said his words were “clumsy”, but said saying sorry “would be a sign of weakness”. Rishi Sunak says the comments by Mr Anderson were “wrong” but fell short of describing them as Islamophobic. Plus Adam and Chris are joined by leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn who says the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is “pulling parliament into disrepute”. You can joi...
Feb 26, 2024•30 min
Today we look at the Conservative party’s response to Lee Anderson’s comments about the London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Laura’s been talking to the Deputy PM Oliver Dowden. Paddy’s interviewed the former justice secretary Robert Buckland. Newsnight political editor Nick Watt is also in the Newscast studio for analysis on the politics of it all, and he helps us get to the bottom of the row over whether the Speaker was threatened before his key Commons decision. Newscast brings you daily analysis of the ...
Feb 25, 2024•31 min
Today, we look at the reasons behind Lee Anderson’s suspension from the Tory party after "refusing to apologise" for comments aimed at Sadiq Khan. The London Mayor has accused Anderson of racism. Laura and Paddy also speak to Vadym Prystaiko, former Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, about the two year anniversary of the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine, and about his sacking by Volodymyr Zelensky. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere News...
Feb 24, 2024•32 min
Today, we look at Shamima Begum losing her latest bid to regain UK citizenship, and the upcoming release of Keir Starmer’s political biography. Begum has lost an appeal against a decision to revoke her UK citizenship. The 24 year old travelled to Syria aged 15 to join Islamic State Group, with the government revoking her citizenship in 2019. Is this the end of her legal options? Adam is joined by Joshua Baker, creator of ‘I’m Not A Monster, The Shamima Begum Story’. To hear the full story, liste...
Feb 23, 2024•33 min
Today we look at the pressure building on Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and ask whether he could be replaced as speaker of the House of Commons? Rishi Sunak says Sir Lindsay Hoyle's decision to break with convention on a Gaza ceasefire vote is "very concerning". More than 60 MPs now say they have no confidence in Hoyle, who has apologised twice for making the "wrong decision". Adam speaks to defence secretary Grant Shapps about that, the anniversary of the war in Ukraine and the failed Trident missile laun...
Feb 22, 2024•36 min
Today we look at the chaotic scenes in Westminster over Gaza ceasefire votes. A row erupted after the Commons Speaker allowed MPs to vote on a Labour motion on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The SNP and Conservatives accused Sir Lindsay Hoyle of breaking with precedent for allowing the votes - and chaos ensued. Plus a row over who said what about government delays in payments to sub-postmasters. Adam is joined by the BBC’s business editor, Simon Jack and Newsnight’s political editor, Nick Watt to go...
Feb 21, 2024•41 min
Today, we look at Prince William’s calls to end the fighting in Israel and Gaza, as the US warn Israel not to invade the city of Rafah. The US has vetoed a resolution at the UN demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after proposing its own draft urging a temporary ceasefire. Plus Labour change their stance as they call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the first time. To find out why, Adam and Chris speak to international editor Jeremy Bowen. And Rishi Sunak announces support for far...
Feb 20, 2024•38 min
Today, we look at new guidance given to schools on mobile phones + whether citizens’ assemblies could help solve some of the big issues in our democracy. The government has announced new advice for schools in England to try to stop mobile phone use. To explain what difference it will make, Adam is joined in the studio by the BBC’s education editor, Branwen Jeffreys, former children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield and headteacher Becky Arnold. And Labour could implement citizens’ assemblies to pro...
Feb 19, 2024•32 min
Today, we look at where the Conservatives go now after big byelection losses in the week, and how the West might respond to the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Laura and Paddy are joined by BBC chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman to discuss the challenges the Conservatives face from Reform and Labour’s divisions over a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. We also hear from the wives of two politicians in prison. The exiled Belrusian opposition politician Sviatlan...
Feb 18, 2024•28 min
Today, we look at the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and speak to the youngest peer ever to be appointed to the House of Lords. Laura and Paddy are joined by Marina Litvinenko, the wife of Alexander Litvinenko whose killing in London is suspected to have been carried out by Russian agents in 2006. She discusses how Alexei Navalny’s death reminds her of the murder of her husband. When asked about how he died, Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, said "medics must somehow figure...
Feb 17, 2024•24 min
Putin’s main rival, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, is dead according to the Russian prison service. This is today's Ukrainecast episode, and we thought you might want to listen to it. BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford, who was herself expelled from Russia, explains what we know so far - and if the Kremlin could face any consequences. And Georgian-Russian writer Boris Akunin, a long-standing critic of Putin and personal friend of Navalny, gives his reaction to the news....
Feb 16, 2024•21 min
Today, we look at the results from a double by-election day in a special live version of Newscast. Labour has won two by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood, overturning big Conservative majorities in the process. Where does this leave the government? How well did Reform do? Adam and Paddy are in the studio, Chris is in a messy bedroom, and they are joined by pollster, Scarlett Maguire, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Peter Kyle. Plus chief political correspondent, Henry Zeffman and...
Feb 16, 2024•48 min
Today, we look at whether the UK could have been prevented from falling into a recession? Official figures show people spending less, doctors' strikes and a fall in school attendance dragged the UK into recession at the end of last year. The figures raise questions over whether Rishi Sunak has met his pledge made last January to grow the economy. Adam and Chris speak to BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Dharshini David and Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation Torsten Bell. Plus, after ta...
Feb 15, 2024•31 min
Today, we look at whether Nato can survive another Trump presidency, and an investigation into the deepfake of London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Nato defence spending has hit a record, as members of the defensive alliance are faced with rising Russian aggression and the potential election of Donald Trump. At a rally in South Carolina, Mr Trump said he would "encourage" Russia to attack any Nato member that did not meet its defence spending quota. Can Nato survive a Trump presidency? To find out, Adam spe...
Feb 14, 2024•32 min
Today, we hear tributes to the DJ Steve Wright. We also look Labour’s suspension of a second parliamentary candidate after allegations he made comments about Israel. Steve Wright, who presented programmes for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than four decades, has died at the age of 69. We hear from his friends and former colleagues: fellow DJ Tony Blackburn and presenter Nicky Campbell. Also Labour withdraws support for their candidate in the upcoming Rochdale by-election, Azhar Ali who claimed...
Feb 13, 2024•37 min
Adam is back from his holiday and in classic Newscast fashion, there's some breaking news just before we hit publish. But earlier, we looked at warnings the NHS is unprepared to offer two breakthrough Alzheimer’s drugs. Medical editor Fergus Walsh and Dr Susan Kohlhaas from Alzheimer's Research UK join Adam to discuss whether medical science could be overtaking the health system. And, Israel’s military focus has turned to the southern Gazan city of Rafah. International editor Jeremy Bowen explai...
Feb 12, 2024•36 min
