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, former chief economist at the Bank of England and Darshini David, the BBC’s chief economics corresponden...
May 09, 2024•33 min
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 reunited for an emergency episode to explain what’s happened and what this means for both Rishi Sunak ...
May 08, 2024•25 min
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 question Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan. In statements, ...
May 08, 2024•45 min
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. Adam is joined by the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen and Chief International Correspondent...
May 07, 2024•38 min
Today we look at the political reaction to the weekend’s local election results. Henry joins Laura and Paddy to analyse as Transport Secretary Mark Harper tells Laura the government's plan "is working". Suella Braverman disagrees. We also hear from the newly re-elected Labour mayor for West Yorkshire, Tracey Brabin, who admits her party lost votes because of its stance on Gaza. And, why does Keir Starmer keep popping up at non-league football grounds? You can join our Newscast online community h...
May 05, 2024•29 min
Today, we look at a big result in the West Midlands as Labour's Richard Parker beat Conservative Andy Street in a mayoral vote that was too close to call until nearly 9pm. Laura and Paddy give their instant reaction. They also reflect on votes elsewhere, including London, where Labour’s Sadiq Khan was voted in for a third time. Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn...
May 04, 2024•26 min
Today, we look at the results that have come in throughout Friday in the local elections. Ben Houchen has won in the Tees Valley mayoral race, in some positive news for Rishi Sunak. Will this be enough to stop any challenges to his leadership from within his party? Overall, it continues to look a bad day for the Conservatives though. Labour have won 3 other regional mayor contests, as well as key councils like Redditch and Thurrock. Adam is joined by Laura Kuenssberg, Chris Mason and Faisal Isla...
May 03, 2024•37 min
Today we look at the results that have come in overnight in the local elections and the Blackpool South by-election. Labour has made gains in councils in Redditch, Thurrock, Hartlepool, and Rushmoor in Hampshire as well as winning the Blackpool South seat with a 26% swing. With around a third of local council results in, Adam is joined by Laura Kuenssberg, Chris Mason, Alex Forsyth, Henry Zeffman and Professor John Curtice to get the latest results and analysis. You can join our Newscast online ...
May 03, 2024•46 min
Today, we look at who could be the next first minister of Scotland. And an exclusive report from the West Bank. Right now, John Swinney looks set to become Scotland’s next first minister, as Kate Forbes confirms she will not challenge him. Swinney says he wants to "unite the SNP and Scotland for independence", but will he be able to? Adam speaks Scotland Editor James Cook. And, as violence in the West Bank escalates, the BBC have found evidence of potential breaches of international law by the I...
May 02, 2024•29 min
Today we look at local elections! On Thursday, voters head to the polls to elect councillors, mayors, and police and crime commissioners. These are the last local elections before the next general election, but what will we learn from the results? And who has Luke Skywalker endorsed? Adam and Chris are joined by election guru Professor Sir John Curtice and political correspondent Alex Forsyth. And, Scotland editor James Cook has been speaking to former SNP leader Humza Yousaf after he resigned o...
May 01, 2024•42 min
Today, we look at whether the government has lost track of some of the migrants it aims to send to Rwanda. And, whether this is linked to a rise in migration to Ireland? The Irish government has blamed the Rwanda policy for the rise in migrants arriving from Northern Ireland. Meanwhile Rishi Sunak, has claimed this as evidence his plan is working. Does the Irish government have a right to send migrants back to the UK? Has the UK government ‘lost’ asylum seekers? Adam is joined by Irish journalis...
Apr 30, 2024•37 min
Today, we look Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland’s first minister. In an emotional resignation speech, Yousaf said he had “clearly underestimated" the hurt he'd caused the Scottish Greens by ending the SNP's power-sharing deal with them in the way he did. As a result, the SNP leader was facing two votes of no confidence later this week. Yousaf says he will stay on as first minister until the Scottish National Party chooses his replacement. Who will become the new first minister? What does t...
Apr 29, 2024•33 min
Dr Dan Poulter has quit the Conservatives and joins Labour, saying that he “found it increasingly difficult to look my NHS colleagues in the eye”. Laura, Paddy and Henry discussion all the ramifications; what it means for Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. And the inevitable question - could it affect when the Prime Minister calls an election? In Scotland, it’s set to be a bumpy week for Humza Yousaf. Laura’s been speaking with his former boss and head of the Alba party, Alex Salmond, who’s sugge...
Apr 28, 2024•30 min
Diplomatic correspondent James Landale talks to Paddy and Laura about why Britain is considering working in tandem with the United States to deliver aid from a new sea route - and what problems it could throw up for the government before the next election. And there’s been a week of widespread American student protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Laura has spoken to the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who has urged protestors to direct their anger...
Apr 27, 2024•25 min
Today, we look at Humza Yousaf facing a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament. The First Minister says he won’t resign and is ‘very confident’ he’ll win the vote. The vote was triggered after he ended a power-sharing agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, because of disagreements over climate policy and the use of puberty blockers for under 18s. Adam is joined by Laura Kuenssberg and BBC Scotland Editor James Cook. And Tim Shipman, author of All Out War and No Way Out, speaks ...
Apr 26, 2024•40 min
Today, we look at Labour’s plan to renationalise most rail services within five years, if it wins the next election. Labour say a new public body would take over current contracts when they expire, taking on the responsibility for running services. But transport secretary Mark Harper said the plans were "unfunded". Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh joins Adam and Alex to talk through the plans, and answers the question - why is wifi so bad on some trains? And, comedian and social ...
Apr 25, 2024•34 min
Today we look at a bill which would force TikTok’s owner to sell its US arm, or face being banned in the country. It’s driven by fears that user data is shared with the Chinese government. TikTok has called the law "unconstitutional" and says it will "challenge it in court”. Adam speaks to BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman, and head of social media for German broadcaster DW, Johanna Rudiger. Plus we hear from Chris, who has been with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he met with German Chancellor O...
Apr 24, 2024•38 min
Today, we look at Rishi Sunak’s promise to spend billions more on defence. Sunak said UK military spending would rise to 2.5% of national income by 2030. The prime minister was in Poland to pledge £500 million in extra support for Ukraine, but claimed the extra money for defence would put the UK’s defence industry "on a war footing". Adam is joined by former armed forces minister, James Heappey MP. And, the day after the government’s Rwanda policy passed through Parliament, BBC Home Affairs Corr...
Apr 23, 2024•33 min
Today we look at the Safety of Rwanda bill, which passed through parliament tonight after a back and forth with the Lords. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says it will allow his government to put asylum seekers on flights in “10-12 weeks”. Chris joins Adam to discuss how we got here, and what happens next. And presenter Huw Edwards has resigned from the BBC on “medical advice from his doctors”. He has been off air since last July, after reports were published which claimed he paid a young person for ...
Apr 22, 2024•32 min
Today, we look at the US Congress approving $61 billion of funding for Ukraine. Laura and Paddy are joined by the political editor of BBC Newsnight Nick Watt to help unpick the day’s top stories. Paddy’s been speaking to the former Director-General of the Defence think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, Michael Clarke, about the significance of the US military aid package for Ukraine. And the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho was on Laura’s show defendi...
Apr 21, 2024•31 min
Today we look at the apologies made by the Met Police after threatening to arrest an anti-Semitism charity leader for being near a pro-Palestine march. Gideon Falter, the Campaign Against Antisemitism chief executive was told by police his presence was causing a "breach of peace", in a video posted online. Laura and Paddy speak to former Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Zoe Billingham about policing protests and the pressures on the police. And Laura’s spoken to the outgoing C...
Apr 20, 2024•29 min
Today, we look at the mystery surrounding an apparent Israeli strike on Iran. Two US officials told the BBC's US partner CBS News that an Israeli missile struck Iran overnight. The Israeli government has not officially commented. Meanwhile Iran have downplayed reports of an attack. What is going on? Adam is joined by the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, James Landale. And, what political jargon leaves you confused? BBC Audiences have released an internal report on which political terms people hea...
Apr 19, 2024•33 min
Today, we look at the suspension of a Tory MP after claims he made a late night call to ask for money to pay off "bad people". Mark Menzies "strongly" disputes the claims, but has had the whip removed amid allegations that he misused party funds and abused his position. Adam and Chris discuss with Newsnight political editor Nick Watt and Bloomberg associate editor Ailbhe Rea. Plus, Josh Widdicombe tells Adam and Chris all about his experiences trying to become a local news reporter, for the seco...
Apr 18, 2024•35 min
Today, we look at how a BBC report could lead to a change in the law around paedophiles' access to their own children. Adam is joined by Sanchia Berg, the BBC reporter who covered the story of a mother who paid £30,000 in legal fees to remove her ex-husband's parental rights to their daughter after he was convicted for child sexual abuse. Labour MP Harriet Harman is also in the studio to talk about how it prompted her to introduce a law change after hearing Sanchia’s report in November last year...
Apr 17, 2024•36 min
Today, we look at the reaction to the Newscast interview with Former Prime Minister Liz Truss, and the commons vote to ban anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes. After yesterday’s interview with Liz Truss, we put your questions to Chris Mason, and get his reaction to what the former Prime Minister said. And MPs have voted to ban the sale of tobacco products to people born after 2009. A number of leading Tories opposed the bill, including Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch, but with Labour’s sup...
Apr 16, 2024•36 min
Today, the 49-day Prime Minister Liz Truss sits down for an extended chat with Chris Mason. Truss speaks to Chris about how she looks back on her time in Downing Street, why she wouldn’t call her experience ‘humiliating’ and the institutions she blames for their part in her downfall. She shares her fears for the West, as well as her support for Donald Trump and… her favourite Taylor Swift song. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast br...
Apr 15, 2024•47 min
Today, we look at what might happen next after Iran attacked Israel overnight. More than 300 drones and missiles were fired but nearly all were shot down, according to Israel. Iran says it was retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Syria two weeks ago which killed seven of its officers. BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen is in the studio to take Laura and Paddy through what we know, the context, and what could come next. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.c...
Apr 14, 2024•28 min
Today, we look at new revelations about the former PM’s 49 days in office. Details from her soon-to-be-released book Ten Years to Save the West include her thoughts of "why me, why now?" when she was told that Queen Elizabeth II had died. Comedian and Liz Truss impressionist Nerine Skinner brings the words to life. Laura and Paddy also discuss Labour’s strategy around allegations that the party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner broke electoral law. She denies any wrongdoing. You can join our Newscas...
Apr 13, 2024•31 min
Today, we look at the police launching an investigation into Angela Rayner over the accusation she broke electoral law. The deputy leader of the Labour Party is accused of giving false information about her main residence in a row about who lived in her former council house. In a statement, she said she was "completely confident I've followed the rules at all times". Newsnight political editor Nick Watt joins Adam to discuss. And after a week where we have heard from some former Post Office boss...
Apr 12, 2024•33 min
Today, we look at President Joe Biden’s warning that Iran is threatening to launch a “significant attack” on Israel. Tensions have risen following what is believed to be an Israeli attack on an embassy in Syria, which killed senior Iranians. America has promised “ironclad” support for Israel. Will this be enough to deter the Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, or are we about to see the US enter into another conflict in the Middle East? Adam is joined by chief international correspondent, Lyse D...
Apr 11, 2024•30 min
