Newscast

Today we look at the pressure building on Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and ask whether he could be replaced as speaker of the House of Commons?

Rishi Sunak says Sir Lindsay Hoyle's decision to break with convention on a Gaza ceasefire vote is "very concerning". More than 60 MPs now say they have no confidence in Hoyle, who has apologised twice for making the "wrong decision". Adam speaks to defence secretary Grant Shapps about that, the anniversary of the war in Ukraine and the failed Trident missile launch.

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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 Gemma Roper. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Today we look at the chaotic scenes in Westminster over Gaza ceasefire votes.

A row erupted after the Commons Speaker allowed MPs to vote on a Labour motion on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The SNP and Conservatives accused Sir Lindsay Hoyle of breaking with precedent for allowing the votes - and chaos ensued.

Plus a row over who said what about government delays in payments to sub-postmasters.

Adam is joined by the BBC’s business editor, Simon Jack and Newsnight’s political editor, Nick Watt to go through both stories.

And a Trident missile has failed during a test for the second time in a row. Adam speaks to the man who revealed the news to the world, the Sun’s defence editor, Jerome Starkey.

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 Chris Flynn with Sam McLaren and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Today, we look at Prince William’s calls to end the fighting in Israel and Gaza, as the US warn Israel not to invade the city of Rafah.

The US has vetoed a resolution at the UN demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after proposing its own draft urging a temporary ceasefire. Plus Labour change their stance as they call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the first time. To find out why, Adam and Chris speak to international editor Jeremy Bowen.

And Rishi Sunak announces support for farmers as he describes the industry as “in crisis”. Adam is joined by the president of the National Farmers Union, Minette Batters.

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Today, we look at new guidance given to schools on mobile phones + whether citizens’ assemblies could help solve some of the big issues in our democracy.

The government has announced new advice for schools in England to try to stop mobile phone use. To explain what difference it will make, Adam is joined in the studio by the BBC’s education editor, Branwen Jeffreys, former children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield and headteacher Becky Arnold.

And Labour could implement citizens’ assemblies to propose new laws if they win the election. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has suggested they may be used to tackle sensitive issues like assisted dying. Adam is joined in the studio by the CEO of Demos, Polly Curtis.

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

Today, we look at where the Conservatives go now after big byelection losses in the week, and how the West might respond to the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Laura and Paddy are joined by BBC chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman to discuss the challenges the Conservatives face from Reform and Labour’s divisions over a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

We also hear from the wives of two politicians in prison. The exiled Belrusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s husband Sergei is being held in Belarus, and Evgenia Kara-Murza’s husband Vladimir Kara-Murza's husband is being held in Russia.

Today, we look at the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and speak to the youngest peer ever to be appointed to the House of Lords.

Laura and Paddy are joined by Marina Litvinenko, the wife of Alexander Litvinenko whose killing in London is suspected to have been carried out by Russian agents in 2006. She discusses how Alexei Navalny’s death reminds her of the murder of her husband.

When asked about how he died, Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, said "medics must somehow figure this out".

And Carmen Smith, soon to become the country’s youngest peer at 27 talks about her joining the House of Lords, and how she wants to see it abolished.

Putin’s main rival, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, is dead according to the Russian prison service.

This is today's Ukrainecast episode, and we thought you might want to listen to it.

BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford, who was herself expelled from Russia, explains what we know so far - and if the Kremlin could face any consequences. And Georgian-Russian writer Boris Akunin, a long-standing critic of Putin and personal friend of Navalny, gives his reaction to the news.

Today, we look at the results from a double by-election day in a special live version of Newscast.

Labour has won two by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood, overturning big Conservative majorities in the process. Where does this leave the government? How well did Reform do?

Adam and Paddy are in the studio, Chris is in a messy bedroom, and they are joined by pollster, Scarlett Maguire, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Peter Kyle. Plus chief political correspondent, Henry Zeffman and political correspondent Iain Watson drop in from Wellingborough and Kingswood.

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Today, we look at whether the UK could have been prevented from falling into a recession?

Official figures show people spending less, doctors' strikes and a fall in school attendance dragged the UK into recession at the end of last year. The figures raise questions over whether Rishi Sunak has met his pledge made last January to grow the economy. Adam and Chris speak to BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Dharshini David and Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation Torsten Bell.

Plus, after taking centre stage at the Superbowl (kind of) is Taylor Swift the most influential person on the planet? Adam and Chris are joined by Vice Editor in chief Zing Tsjeng and Conservative MP & Swiftie Dehenna Davison.

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Today, we look at whether Nato can survive another Trump presidency, and an investigation into the deepfake of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Nato defence spending has hit a record, as members of the defensive alliance are faced with rising Russian aggression and the potential election of Donald Trump. At a rally in South Carolina, Mr Trump said he would "encourage" Russia to attack any Nato member that did not meet its defence spending quota. Can Nato survive a Trump presidency? To find out, Adam speaks to former Commanding General of US Army Europe Ben Hodges.

Plus, Adam is joined by the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring to discuss how AI could affect our next election. Marianna tells us about her investigation into the deepfake that circulated of London Mayor Sadiq Khan for her new podcast Why Do You Hate Me.