The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth.
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest news, developments in politics in Westminster and beyond.
Newscast is hosted by trusted politics and news journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell.
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Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer.
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Today, Keir Starmer says that he will "never walk away from the country that I love” after surviving a turbulent 24 hours that saw the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar call for him to step down. Speaking to the BBC, his energy secretary Ed Miliband said the Labour Party had "looked over the precipice” and decided to back their leader leading to a rallying of support from the cabinet and other senior party figures. So, the Prime Minister is in the clear for now, but is he truly safe? Alex and J...
Today, Keir Starmer has addressed his MPs and seems to have rallied some support after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for him to quit. In a press conference in Glasgow, Sarwar emphasised his concerns for Scotland ahead of the May elections, and told reporters “the leadership in Downing Street has to change". The move prompted statements supporting the prime minister from cabinet ministers and other key labour figures including potential rivals Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting. The PM h...
Right after we published our last episode the news that Morgan McSweeney had quit as the Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff broke. So Paddy and political correspondent Joe Pike got back in the studio and got Laura up on the phone to chat through why he says he’s gone, who he is, what a chief of staff does, and who could replace him. We also look at what it means for the prime minister, and why cabinet member Pat McFadden didn’t even see this coming. You can now listen to Newscast on a ...
Today, we look at the choices facing Prime Minister Keir Starmer now the Mandelson scandal has left him weaker. Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett has told Paddy that Starmer should sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden has told Laura that Starmer should stay in the job. And the Fire Brigades Union has been the first organisation of its kind to say there needs to me a new leader. Laura, Paddy, and political correspondent Joe Pike look at the arguments ...
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the BBC the situation facing Sir Keir Starmer is "serious" and suggested he may have been "too slow to do the right things" concerning Lord Mandelson. He also defended him as "a man of integrity" who "wants to do the right things". He spoke to the Today programme on Radio 4 in his first interview since the latest Epstein files seemed to show Lord Mandelson gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn bailout by the EU to save the ailing Euro in 2010. Anothe...
Today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces further questions about his judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, and there is a darkening mood among Labour MPs. Adam, Chris, Alex Forsyth and Daniela Relph discuss how the continuing revelations from the Epstein Files have created challenges for both the Royal Family and the government; and the different approaches taken by the King and the prime minister. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just...
Today, the Prime Minister has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and “believing his lies”. Adam is joined by Henry in Westminster with Ailbhe Rea from the New Statesman and Luke Sullivan, Keir Starmer’s former political director to break down where the Mandelson affair leaves the Prime Minister. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers...
Today, MPs voted to release documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador following a six-hour long debate. Adam and Chris unpack how Keir Starmer spoke about Mandelson at Prime Minister’s Questions, Kemi Badenoch’s line of questioning about who knew what when and the volume of questions swirling about the Prime Minister’s judgement. Plus, Laura has been following Reform UK for a new documentary. She chats about what she learned about the party’s track record in local government ...
Today, the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson after new files released seemed to suggest he had passed sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords following the latest revelations, though he retains the right to use the title of Lord. The government say they are moving to draft legislation that will strip him of his title and the opposition are expected to try and force the government to rele...
Today, the Metropolitan Police say they are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office after new files suggest Peter Mandelson sent government information to Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson seemingly forwarded internal emails sent and recieved while he was business secretary in 2009 from senior politicians to Epstein. Adam is joined by political correspondent Joe Pike in Westminster to discuss the latest allegations and senior royal correspondent Daniela Relph to discuss new revelation...
A second woman is alleging that she was sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following the release of more documentation from the Epstein files. The encounter allegedly occurred at the former prince's residence, Royal Lodge, in 2010. BBC News has asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment, but so far he has not responded to these accusations. Laura, Paddy and Henry discuss the story and what it could mean for victims. And John Bew, a professo...
Newscast examines the recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents, highlighting images related to Prince Andrew and the extensive network of influential figures mentioned. The episode explores the public and media's exhaustion with the saga, the impact on victims, and the lack of further prosecutions. It also unpacks new revelations concerning Lord Mandelson's partner and the financial influence Epstein wielded, alongside an update on the Gorton & Denton by-election and an 'Iran watch.'
Today, Keir Starmer continues his reset trip to China. Adam and Alex are joined by James Landale and Sarah Montague to discuss the geopolitical significance of the Prime Minister’s visit to China plus what’s actually been agreed for British businesses. Plus, is President Trump preparing another strike on Iran? And, Andy Burnham has spoken out about the briefing culture in Westminster. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newsc...
Today, Sir Keir Starmer has been meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first time a sitting British PM has visited China in eight years. Although a host of trade deals were announced, including visa free entry for UK travellers, there have been fewer agreements than expected from the trip. Adam is joined in studio by deputy economics editor, Darshini David to chat about what we know so far and China correspondent, Laura Bicker who explains how the visit has been received in China. Ch...
Today, Kemi Badenoch, gave a speech addressing Conservative defectors and detractors. Adam chats to Alex, in Westminster about how Kemi Badenoch’s speech accused her opponents of ‘psychodrama’, called defectors ‘drama queens’ and presented her vision for the future of the Conservative party. And we catch up with Chris in Beijing about what he’s seen and heard so far on his trip with the Prime Minister. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC So...
We’re only four weeks into the new year, but it feels like a year’s worth of news has happened already. So Radio 4 asked us to do a (very early) review of 2026 so far, and we thought we’d put it in your feed as a bonus episode. Adam and Henry are in the studio. Chris joins from home as he prepares in all sorts of ways for a trip to China with the Prime Minister. They chat through the fights of the left and right that have set the tone in the early part of year before chief international correspo...
Today, the chancellor has announced a package of support for pubs and music venues after the government was forced to U-turn on their plans to bump up business rates. BBC Business editor Simon Jack joins Adam to explain the measures, whilst political correspondent Joe Pike drops by to unpack the government’s other big announcement of the day - capping ground rents at £250 a year for leaseholders. Plus, the PM is on his way to Beijing. Ahead of his visit, Starmer said the UK cannot afford to igno...
Today, Adam and Chris discuss ex-Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman defecting to Reform. She’s the third sitting Tory MP to do so in the last eleven days. Also happening in Westminster — the Prime Minister has been defending the decision to block Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. It’s reported that 50 Labour MPs wrote to Keir Starmer to complain about the decision. And, a 37-year-old man — Alex Pretti — was shot dead in Minneapolis by Bor...
Today, Andy Burnham has said he is "disappointed" after being blocked from standing as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour's ruling body. As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour's national executive committee (NEC), after he applied to be a candidate on Saturday. But Labour said the party had decided to deny him permission to stand to "avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpa...
Today, members of the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) met to make a decision on whether or not to let Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham run for MP for Gorton and Denton in its upcoming by-election. We discuss who could vote which way and whether it could lead to Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing a leadership challenge after the May elections. Joe Pike, political correspondent, joins Paddy and Laura to chat it all through. After we originally published this podcast we got the news ...
Today, Andy Burnham has confirmed he is officially seeking permission to enter the running to become MP for Gorton and Denton in the upcoming by-election, opening the possibility for him to contest Keir Starmer’s leadership. However, Burnham has to get approval from Labour's ruling national executive committee, which Keir Starmer and some of his allies are on, before he can enter the race to be the party's candidate. Laura and Paddy are joined by Gemma Bolton from the committee to discuss why so...
Today, President Trump’s actions at Davos have caused a stir - but have they moved the dial on how other world leaders respond to the US President? The President used his two days at the World Economic Forum at Davos to set out his worldview in a wide-ranging speech, agree what he called a 'framework of future deal' over Greenland and hold an inauguration for his ‘Board of Peace’. Adam and Chris are joined by Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent, and Caitriona Perry, chief presenter fo...
Today, President Trump has wrapped up his second and final day at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The President held an inauguration for his new “Board of Peace” and met with Ukraine’s President Zelensky - which Zelensky said included agreeing post-war security guarantees for his country. BBC chief North America correspondent Gary O’Donoghue and the Economist’s Shashank Joshi break it all down. And the former Labour Minister Andrew Gwynne confirmed his plans to retire on medical grounds trigg...
Today, Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum at Davos to confirm he wants ‘immediate negotiations’ to acquire Greenland but ‘won’t use force’. Adam is joined by Faisal Islam, who was in the room watching Trump speak, and Caitriona Perry in Washington to decode President Trump’s wide-ranging speech. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online commun...
Today, the UK Government has defended its decision to hand over the Chagos Islands after Donald Trump called the deal “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY!” on Truth Social. Adam and Chris put the president’s comments to Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and ask whether Keir Starmer’s relationship with Donald Trump is being tested by his social media posts. And, we hear Darren Jones’ vision for reforming the civil service, including a digital state and changing following a speech he gav...
President Trump has said he no longer feels “an obligation to think purely of peace” after not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His comments came via text message to the Prime Minister of Norway after he threatened eight European countries with new tariffs over their position on Greenland. The president said that while peace would "always be predominant" he "can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America." Adam and Chris are joined by Katya in Brussels and Caitr...
Today we look at President Donald Trump’s plans to impose further tariffs on European countries, including the UK, because of their oppostition to the US taking over Greenland. As well as the UK, Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. They would come into force on 1 February, but could later rise to 25% - and would last until a deal was reached. Laura and Paddy are joined by chief politial correspondent Henry Zeffman and ...
Today, we hear from Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life in 2017. An inquest found social media content contributed "more than minimally" to Molly’s death. Since then Ian has campaigned for greater safety online. So why is Ian opposed to a ban for under 16s? Laura and Paddy in the Newscast studio to discuss the arguments for and against, and why there seems to be increasing support for the idea in British politics. We also look at what’s happened in Australia, which introduced a b...
Adam and Laura are joined by BBC political correspondent Joe Pike to break down Laura’s interview with Robert Jenrick. They discuss why he says he picked country over party and if his move could unite the right or divide it further. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emaili...
Laura speaks to Reform’s newest MP, Robert Jenrick, in his first full interview after he was sacked by the Conservatives and hired by Reform just over 24 hours ago. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. Ne...
