Brexitcast

​​Today, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written in the Guardian Newspaper urging members of the British Medical Association to rethink planned strikes. ​​ ​​Possible strikes coincide with flu-related illnesses and hospitalisations at a higher rate than usual for this time of year, which have led to worries that a strike would lead to problems for the NHS. ​​ ​​Also, Laura has spoken to the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. Since the Supreme Court ruling over the definition of a woman in April they have been working on new guidance on who can access single-sex spaces. So how might the guidance be implemented? ​​ ​​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. ​​ ​​New

Today, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting has given a very broad and far reaching interview to the New Statesman which some are seeing as an attack on Starmer’s leadership.Adam, Chris, Faisal and Alex discuss this, as well as the on going pressure on the PM. Plus, the team also pick out something we should be looking out for in 2026 in politics. 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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson.

Today, the number of people in hospital with the flu has risen by more than half this week.Doctors say an earlier start to the flu season plus an unexpected mutation in this years primary strain has led to a lower rate of immunity amongst the general public for this time of year. BBC health editor Hugh Pym and Doctor Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist from the UK Health Security Agency breakdown the data.Plus, US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in an escalation of the US government’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The news came as Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado collected her Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, appearing despite a travel ban and a threat from the Venezuelan government that she would be labelled as a fugitiveBBC News presenter, Lucy Hockings and Latin America editor for BBC Online Vanessa Buschschlüter explain the situation in Venezuela and the story behind Miss Machado’s journey to Oslo. You can now listen to Ne

Today, Sir Keir Starmer and Danish leader Mette Frederiksen published a joint article arguing for urgent modernisation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which has an impact on how a country can tackle illegal migration.David Lammy is in Strasbourg with European counterparts, beginning negotiations to change how the continent’s main human rights treaty is interpreted by judges, following political pressure from right wing parties who are calling for a complete withdrawal from the treaty. This comes just after the Trump administration’s security strategy hammered Europe, calling it weak, and warning of European decline and “civilisational erasure.”Adam is joined by Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent to discuss the domestic politics of revamping the treaty. Then, Tom Bateman, BBC state department correspondent joins for analysis of what Trump’s latest strategy means for European politics. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds

Today, a report into almost £11 billion of Covid scheme fraud has found that most of it is beyond recovery.Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe said that a lack of accountability, bad quality data and poor contracting during the pandemic had led to £10.9 billion being lost to fraud or error.Simon Jack joins Adam to explain where the money’s gone and what, if anything, the government can do to recover it.Plus Baroness Amos, who is leading a review into maternity care in England, has said that she has seen “much worse” things than she had anticipated. Her interim findings of a review launched by the Health Secretary last year, have found evidence of hungry mothers, dirty wards and poor care. Social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan and lawyer and campaigner Suzanne White join Adam. 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/newsc

Today, we discuss President Trump’s new vision for global security, one that is creating a lot of criticism in Europe.The 33-page document called the National Security Strategy suggests Europe is facing "civilisational erasure" and does not cast Russia as a threat to the US. Russia says the strategy is “largely consistent” with their vision.Security correspondent Frank Gardner and former UK ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch join Adam to discuss what this means for Europe.Plus, we discuss what has happened in Syria a year after former President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. Adam chats with Mina Al-Lami from BBC Monitoring.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for

Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by Joe Pike to look at government plans to offer young people on benefits taxpayer funded jobs in areas such as construction and hospitality. The goal is to tackle rising unemployment, with over 900,000 young people on Universal Credit looking for work. Plus, the team discuss Zarah Sultana’s interview with Laura on the bumpy establishment of Your Party as well as the latest defection from the tories to Reform.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The pr

Today, Laura and Paddy are joined by TV critic and broadcaster Scott Bryan to discuss the future of the entertainment industry after Netflix agreed to buy the film and streaming businesses of Warner Bros Discovery for $72 billion. But with regulators and rivals still waiting in the wings, it might just be the start of the saga.And one of the biggest controversies in Eurovision history has been in the news. Four countries (Spain, Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland) have pulled out over Israel's continued participation in the competition. Remaining countries have until next week to confirm whether they will participate but it raises some difficult questions for the BBC amidst petitions for the them to boycott too.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a What

The Prime Minister backed Rachel Reeves’ budget on Monday. On the same day, Keir Starmer, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions spoke about Brexit. We discuss what’s actually going on…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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack McLaren with Joe Wilkinson. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

An inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, the woman who died after she came into contact with poison intended for a former Russian agent, has reached the conclusion that President Putin was “morally responsible for her death”. Adam is joined by Marie Lennon the host of the BBC’s podcast Crime Next Door: The Salisbury Poisonings and news correspondent, Tom Symonds to explore what else the inquiry found out. Plus, Alex drops by to unpack why the government has postponed four mayoral elections that were set to take place next year. They say they need more time to prepare for the changes, but some of the candidates preparing to run in opposition have accused the government of being afraid of poor results.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on

Today, NATO ministers have been meeting to discuss the US’s 28-point plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine after Russia rejected the plan and said it was “ready” for war with Europe.Adam is joined by Europe editor, Katya Adler and the Economist’s defence editor, Shashank Joshi to discuss what President Putin’s statement means for a divided NATO.Plus Faisal Islam, BBC Economics Editor, joins the conversation to discuss the UK’s possible involvement in a new European defence fund and the government’s latest suggestions it could be looking to get closer to the EU 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 online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, l

Today, David Lammy has confirmed plans to get rid of jury trials for crimes with sentences of less than three years.The reforms to the justice system include creating "swift courts" under the government's plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system. Serious offences including murder, robbery and rape will still go before a jury. Lammy has said the reforms were “bold” but “necessary”. Adam is joined by home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani.And, amidst all the noise around last week’s budget you may have missed the Prime Ministers suggestion that he will accept all the recomendations made in a report that criticised the UK’s nuclear power industry as expensive and “overly complex”. The man who wrote it, John Fingleton tells Adam about what he found and what he thinks it tells us about the UK’s approach to regulation. 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

Today, the Prime Minister has defended Reeves saying she did not mislead the public.Pressure has been building over the chancellor this weekend after Reeves was accused of misleading the public and the cabinet, something she denied. She is accused of of not giving the upsides to forecasts in a speech on 4 November. Adam and Chris is joined by Dharshini David deputy economics editor. And, the UK and US have agreed a deal to keep tariffs on pharmaceutical shipments from the UK to America. Under the agreement the UK will pay more for medicines through the NHS in return for a guarantee that US import taxes on pharmaceuticals made in the UK will remain at zero for three years. Adam is joined by Simon Jack, business editor. 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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send

Today, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves responds to claims she lied about the state of the public finances in the run up to her Budget.Laura speaks to Paddy and chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman about her interview with Reeves, in which she also faced questions about whether her policies matched up with Labour’s manifesto promise, and ultimately, whether she could be trusted.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Paddy O’Connell and Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The weekend series producer is Chris

Today, Laura and Paddy look at claims that Rachel Reeves misled the public after it emerged that she knew the outlook for the government’s finances had improved before giving a downcast pre-Budget speech.Downing Street has denied the allegations.Luke Sullivan, Keir Starmer's former political director, is also in the Newscast studio to give his assessment on those accusations, and how the budget has been received inside the Labour Party.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter

Today, are the changes to Send funding the big change from the budget that not enough people are talking about?Adam, Chris, Alex and Faisal discuss some of the big consequences of the news this week which may have been initially missed. What do the changes to Send funding mean for children across the country? Are Labour giving themselves the room to cancel some of the tax rises later in the parliament? And, what does the big drop in legal migration mean?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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from

Today, Adam is joined by Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and Helen Miller, Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies to unpack how the budget will impact you. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the government's tax-raising budget, saying it will help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty - with the IFS saying households face a ‘truly dismal’ rise in their spending power. 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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Flemi

Today, Adam and Chris are joined by Ben Chu, Policy and analysis correspondent BBC Verify, and Dharshini David, Deputy Economics Editor, to discuss the budget. This afternoon, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a ‘smorgasbord’ of tax increases. Announcements also included a cap on pension salary sacrifices, and abolishing the two child benefit cap.What do today’s measures mean for people’s pay packets? How has this gone down with the other parties, and what challenges still remain for the Chancellor?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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily a

Today, with rumours circulating about the budget, what are the changes that could impact you?On the eve of the budget it has confirmed that more drinks will be included in the so called “sugar tax” and there will be an increase in the minimum + living wage. But what other changes could happen? Will there be changes to the way you can save into an ISA? Could a “tourist tax” be introduced in some cities? And, will there be changes to council tax?Adam and Chris are joined by Claer Barrett, consumer editor at the FT.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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brin

Today, after President Trump hints at “big process” in Ukraine talks, are we actually any closer to peace?The US and Ukraine have held weekend talks in Geneva over a possible peace plan. European leaders criticised the 28-point peace plan when it emerged last week, saying it was too favourable to Russia. Since then the US has said “revisions and clarifications” were made. Adam is joined by diplomatic correspondent James Landale and chief presenter Caitriona Perry. And, just days before the budget Adam speaks to president of the British Polling Council Professor Jane Green about what the link is between public attitudes towards the economy and immigration. 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/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every d