Newscast

​​Today, Laura and Paddy look at what we know and don’t know about the murder of Ann Widdecombe. ​​ ​​A murder investigation was launched after the Reform politician was found on Thursday. ​​ ​​We also hear tributes and reaction to her death. ​​ ​​And, Laura’s been talking to Rachel Reeves in what could be her last interview as chancellor. ​​ ​​We discuss whether it was a pitch to keep her job, or a warning to Andy Burnham. ​​ ​​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 ou...

Today, Adam and Alex take a deep dive into Andy Burnham’s plan to move power out of Westminster and Whitehall and distribute it across the UK. There has been little detail announced about Burnham’s plans to rewire the state but it’s clear that it’s top of his to do list.Adam and Alex are joined by Ant Breach, director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities to explore what devolution in England could look like, and what the challenges might be.You can now listen to Newscast on a sma...

Today, Andy Burnham's Labour leadership bid has been backed by 322 Labour MPs.If no one else enters the contest, as expected, Burnham will be declared Labour leader next week before taking office as prime minister on 20 July. Burnham is currently just one short of securing 323 nominations, which is when it is mathematically impossible for a rival to reach the 81-MP threshold needed to run against him. Adam and Chris discuss.An interim review of Personal Independence Payments (Pip) in England and Wales had found it to be "not fit for purpose". Last year, the UK...

Today, the US and Iran have been exchanging strikes after hostiles were renewed in the Strait of Hormuz overnight. Over 80 sites in Iran were targeted by the US, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard to target US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.Donald Trump, speaking at the NATO summit in Türkiye, says he thinks the US-Iran ceasefire is ‘over’, and threatened to hit Iran 'hard again tonight'.Jeremy Bowen and Caitríona Perry join Adam to discuss why despite strikes and such strong comments, peace talks will likely continue. You can no...

Today Nigel Farage resigns as an MP, triggering a by-election in Clacton which he says he plans to stand in. He is currently facing an ongoing parliamentary standards investigation into whether he should have declared a £5 million gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.Making the announcement in a statement streamed online, Farage said that he had done “nothing wrong” and that he needed the money to pay for security. He accused Sky News of harassing his family and said that standards regulations had been weaponised by the “establishment.” Calling the by-election “people versus the establishme...

Today, did President Trump step in to make sure the USA’s star striker could play in tonight’s world cup game?Folarin Balogun, was sent off in the last game and should have served a suspension for the last-16 match against Belgium. But World Cup organisers Fifa, opted not to enforce an immediate sanction on the 25-year-old, meaning the co-hosts' leading goalscorer will be available to play. The BBC's US media partner CBS News has confirmed that Balogun's reinstatement came after US president Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino on Thursday and spoke abou...

Today we look at a story from the Sunday Times that details benefits that Nigel Farage received from a convicted fraudster George Cottrell, including staff, security and housing.Reform says its party leader has broken no rules by failing to declare the support given to him before he became an MP.The journalist who led the team behind the story, Gabriel Pogrund, speaks to Laura and Paddy about what they found out.They talk about who George Cottrell is and what the rules actually say.You can now listen to Newscast...

Henry is in to talk about his interview with the outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.What was it like in the room, what was he really saying to Andy Burnham, and has he come to terms with losing his job?The three of them discuss all that and let you in behind the scenes on the first interview Starmer has done since the announcement that’s he will resign.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It w...

Keir Starmer has given his first interview since stepping down to Henry Zeffman.In it, he speaks about the "intensely personal decision” which was taken “ultimately” when he went to Chequers with his wife and children. Here's the full interview. We're recording the normal Saturday episode with Laura, Paddy and Henry and that will be in the feed as normal later today.

Andy Burnham has gone from metro mayor to prime minister-in-waiting.When did he decide to make the move against Starmer, and how’s he done it?Chris Mason and Faisal Islam are in Sheffield for the Crossed Wires podcast festival for a special episode in which they track the journey from London to Manchester and back again.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 onli...

Today, two teenage boys who raped girls in Hampshire have been given four years' detention after the Court of Appeal changed their sentences. A third boy’s youth rehabilitation order was left unchanged.UK correspondent, Daniel Sandford was at the court and explains the reasoning behind the judges’ decision.Plus, Morgan McSweeney, the elusive former chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer has given his first ever media interview. He spoke to Political Thinking’s Nick Robinson about Labour’s lack of preparation for government and his response to allegations of a boys club in Number 1...

Today we look at how President Trump made more than $1 billion from cryptocurrency in his first year back in office.The President’s mandatory financial report revealed that he also earned millions from real estate and Trump-themed items. But the White House denies that he is profiting from the presidency. Alex and James are joined by chief North America correspondent, Gary O’Donoghue.Plus, we look at a week of big rulings for the President in the Supreme Court, including a defeat for the president over birth right citizenship and decisions which expand the power of t...

Today, Keir Starmer has unveiled the long awaited defence investment plan which promises an extra £15 billion to help equip the armed forces for the future. Despite being one of the difficult issues which ultimately helped bring about his resignation, the prime minister seems to hope the plan will form a part of his legacy.But what will it fund and where has the money come from? Alex, James, Chris and security correspondent Frank Gardner discuss. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask B...

Today, Andy Burnham has set out his vision for the country should he become Prime Minister, including plans like setting up a ‘No10 North’ in Manchester.He said he wants to ‘take power out of the centre’ by transferring some powers from Westminster to the regions, and by extending devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He also promised to deliver the biggest programme of council house building since the post-war period.James, Chris and Faisal breakdown what was in the speech, and what wasn’t.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart sp...

Today the focus is on new details expected in the long overdue Defence Investment Plan, set to be announced next week.Victoria Derbyshire is in for Laura again. She, Paddy and Henry Zeffman discuss a move toward new kit like drones, and away from battleships.They also look at how much Andy Burnham may have been involved in the plans, and whether he’s prepared on defence.And, last week we discussed whether Keir Starmer will be PM by the time of the World Cup final. Today we have an answer.Yo...

Today we look at what Andy Burnham’s plan for the UK economy is. We reveal what he’s expected to say in a speech on the economy on Monday, who the people advising him on it are, and who he might make chancellor.Victoria Derbyshire is in for Laura. She and Paddy are joined by economics editor Faisal Islam, who’s been looking at what a Burnham Treasury might look like.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play N...

Today, King Charles has become the first monarch ever to reveal their tax bill: £12.9 million. The King has broken royal precedent by publishing some of his finances, revealing that he is in the top 100 of UK taxpayers. But we still don’t know much about his income, or how this tax bill was calculated. The accounts also show that the main source of annual public funding for the Royals will nearly double within three years. Adam speaks to Senior Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph. He’s also joined by Ailbhe Rea, Political editor of the New State...

Today is the hottest June day on record in the UK. A temperature of 36.4C has been recorded in Somerset. This beats the previous record, set just yesterday. A red weather warning for extreme heat has been extended into Friday for parts of the country, and at least six NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents. Adam is joined by the BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, and Professor Ed Hawkins MBE, climate scientist at the University of Reading. And, how optimistic are business leaders for the next government? Adam speaks to BB...

Today, the largest review of it's kind in NHS history has found major failings in maternity care at a hospital trust in Nottingham. The report found that hundreds of babies and mothers died or were harmed due to the “deep-rooted, systemic failures”.Leaders at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust have apologised, and the Health Secretary says the government will respond by taking “immediate steps”. Adam is joined by Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan. Plus, Helen MacNamara, former top civil servant, discusses how Team Burnham seems to be preparing for his increasingly likely premiers...

Today, Andy Burnham is the front-runner to be the next prime minister - so what happens now? New MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham is currently expected to be the only candidate in the race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Will he run unopposed?Former Defence Minister Al Carns and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones are both considering leadership bids, but it is unclear if they have enough backers in parliament to make it into the contest. Meanwhile, Westminster is now rife with speculation about who would get the...