Newscast

'National Emergency' for Violence Against Women

Today, Laura, Paddy and Henry speak about the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to set up specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force in England and Wales by 2029. We also discuss her ambitions as conversations about Keir Starmer’s future continue. And as it’s the last time Laura, Paddy and Henry get together in 2025, the team have a look forward to 2026 to predict what they think the biggest stories of next year might be. 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 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 presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Starmer Says a Doctor Strike Would be 'Reckless'

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 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 presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Week: How Much Pressure Is Keir Starmer Under?

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/newscastdiscord Get 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. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Is Flu Different This Winter?

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 fugitive BBC 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 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 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 Anna Harris with Adam Chowdhury. The social producers were Sophie Millward and Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Starmer's Plan To Fight The Right On Migration

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 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 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 Rufus Gray and Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.