Newscast

Today, Chris Mason has sat down with the Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves for Newscast.

The Mais lecture is a prestigious gathering where chancellors, shadow chancellors and Bank governors have outlined their principles for running the economy in front of an audience of City financiers and economists.

And, we find out about the shortage places at nurseries and childminders for pre-school children. James Cook has been speaking to Rhiannon Evans from Mumsnet.

Today, we look at the return of Banksy after a new mural appeared overnight on a building in North London. And we look at why some potato-sized lumps on the seabed could be so valuable.

Plus, the dispute going on over precious metals found in deepest parts of the ocean. The lumps contain crucial battery minerals including copper and cobalt, but some environmental groups say attempts to collect the materials could damage unique habitats. Adam looks at what’s at stake with oceanographer and co-host of the Radio 4’s “Rare Earth” series, Dr Helen Czerski, and BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

A senior cabinet minister has denied the Conservative Party has a problem with race after accepting at least £10m from a donor who is accused of racism.

The Transport Secretary Mark Harper was talking to Laura.

Paddy’s been speaking to Labour’s Dame Margaret Beckett - who first served under Harold Wilson’s government in the 1970s, and a youth parliament member Dev Sharma who said he’s no longer considering a career in politics due to polarisation.

Henry Zeffman helps the two of them unpack the political talking points of the day, as well as Laura’s interview with the brother of Princess Diana, Earl Spencer.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Paddy O’Connell and Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Chris Flynn and Josh Jenkins. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Hear Laura’s full interview with Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer.

In this wide-ranging conversation he reveals he and his sister suffered violent punishments at home - and, after weeks of speculation online around Kate Middleton’s health and whereabouts, he explains whether he thinks the pressures on the current Princess of Wales were more potent than those on his sister.

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, you can find help and support here https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Laura Kuenssberg. It was made by Tim Walklate. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Earl Spencer tells Laura about the abuse he and Diana suffered as children…

In his new book, A Very Private School, Spencer reveals that he and his sister were abused as children. Plus, he suggests that press attention suffered by his sister was ‘more dangerous’ than the attention online surrounding the current Princess of Wales.

And Chris Mason is literally quizzed by Paddy and Laura about Vaughan Gething, who will replace Mark Drakeford as Wales’ first minister after winning the Welsh Labour leadership election.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

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 Tim Walklate with Adam Chowdhury and Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Sam Dickinson. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, you can find help and support here https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Today is the first day of voting in Russia's presidential election which is all but certain to hand Vladimir Putin another six years in power.

Adam is joined by Catherine Belton, journalist and author of Putin’s People, and former British Defence Attaché to Moscow John Foreman. They discuss the tactics used to fixed the election, Macron’s failed attempts at diplomacy and how interested Rishi Sunak is in foreign policy.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Today, we look at the prime minister ruling out a general election on May 2nd, the same day as the local elections. And we look at what extremism means after a new definition was revealed by the government.

After days of speculation in Westminster, Rishi Sunak has told ITV News there won’t be an election on May 2nd to coincide with the local elections. Adam and Chris discuss whether this means the election will now definitely be in autumn, and why rumours of a May election had grown this week.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Miranda Slade. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at the prime minister’s refusal to return a £10 million donation from a Conservative donor who reportedly said MP Diane Abbott “should be shot”. Plus are women who freeze their eggs being “misled” by some clinics?

PMQs was today dominated by the ongoing row surrounding alleged comments made about the former Labour MP Abbott by tory donor Frank Hester. The PM said Mr Hester's alleged comments were "wrong" and "racist", but he told MPs his "remorse should be accepted". Diane Abbott repeatedly tried to ask a question during PMQs, but did not succeed in getting the speaker to call her. Adam and Chris look at Rishi Sunak’s handling of the row. And why Diane Abbott has also called out the Labour party response?

And a BBC investigation has revealed that up to 4 in 10 fertility clinics may be breaching advertising guidelines, by not making the success rates of women who choose to freeze their eggs clear. Adam is joined by professor Geeta Nargund, a senior NHS consultant, and BBC investigative reporter Anna Collinson.

Today, we look at the reaction to the alleged comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester as well as warnings from a watchdog that pet owners are overpaying for medicines.

Mr Hester's company said he "accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin".

It said he had tried to apologise directly to her for the hurt he has caused, and is deeply sorry for his remarks.

Dale Vince, Labour Party donor and CEO of Ecotricity tells Adam what it’s like to be a donor of a political party.

Today we look at Lee Anderson defecting to Reform and the Kate Middleton photo that everyone’s talking about.

The former deputy chairman of the Conservatives became Reform’s first MP. The party’s leader Richard Tice explains why he wants Lee Anderson in the party.

Plus the BBC’s royal correspondent, Daniella Relph, and disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring explain what caused picture agencies to reject that photo of the Princess of Wales and her children.