As the Royal fallout rumbles on, we’ve had a response from the Palace and a strop from a TV presenter. Andrea Thompson, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire UK, talks us through some of the issues raised in Meghan and Harry’s interview. And we find out if it's worth bringing your own pencil to the polling station for May’s elections. Studio Manager: Russell Newlove
Producers: Georgia Coan, Daniel Wittenberg, Alix Pickles and Ben Weisz
Episode Editor: Rick Kelsey
Editor: Dino Sofos

Piers Mor-gone

The UK’s flagship daily news podcast from the BBC, Newscast dives into the day’s big stories so you’re never out of your depth.
 
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you’re ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond, what the cost of living means for the money in your pocket and the impact of climate change.
 
Can Rishi Sunak turn the Conservatives fortunes around? Will Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party win the next general election? Newscast will give you all the best insights from BBC News so you’re across all the day’s top stories. 
 
Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. Joined by special guests, including Lyse Doucet, Katya Adler, Marianna Spring, John Simpson and Victoria Derbyshire among others. In this election year, Newscast will track all the developments from Westminster - as well as following all the big developments around the world, from the race to the White House, to the war in Ukraine. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer
 
GET IN TOUCH:
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or us #Newscast Newscast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Newscast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Americast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Newscast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

News

Today, we look at the suspension of a Tory MP after claims he made a late night call to ask for money to pay off "bad people". Mark Menzies "strongly" disputes the claims, but has had the whip removed amid allegations that he misused party funds and abused his position. Adam and Chris discuss with Newsnight political editor Nick Watt and Bloomberg associate editor Ailbhe Rea. Plus, Josh Widdicombe tells Adam and Chris all about his experiences trying to become a local news reporter, for the second series of TV show Hold the Front Page.  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 Gemma Roper. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Tory MP Suspended!

Today, we look at how a BBC report could lead to a change in the law around paedophiles' access to their own children. Adam is joined by Sanchia Berg, the BBC reporter who covered the story of a mother who paid £30,000 in legal fees to remove her ex-husband's parental rights to their daughter after he was convicted for child sexual abuse. Labour MP Harriet Harman is also in the studio to talk about how it prompted her to introduce a law change after hearing Sanchia’s report in November last year.  And Lucy Reed KC, barrister and chair of The Transparency Project, shares her view from the family courts - as well as the difficulties for journalists to cover family justice proceedings. 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. The technical producers were Michael Regaard and Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Paedophiles To Lose Parental Rights

Today, we look at the reaction to the Newscast interview with Former Prime Minister Liz Truss,  and the commons vote to ban anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes.  After yesterday’s interview with Liz Truss, we put your questions to Chris Mason, and get his reaction to what the former Prime Minister said.  And MPs have voted to ban the sale of tobacco products to people born after 2009. A number of leading Tories opposed the bill, including Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch, but with Labour’s support it made it through the Commons. James and Chris speak to Wes Streeting, Shadow Secretary of State for Health. 
 
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 James Cook and Chris Mason. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Miranda Slade and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Daffyd Evans. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

No Smoking Signs

Today, the 49-day Prime Minister Liz Truss sits down for an extended chat with Chris Mason.  Truss speaks to Chris about how she looks back on her time in Downing Street, why she wouldn’t call her experience ‘humiliating’ and the institutions she blames for their part in her downfall.  She shares her fears for the West, as well as her support for Donald Trump and… her favourite Taylor Swift song. 
 
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 Chris Mason. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Miranda Slade, Joe Wilkinson and Sam Mclaren. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Liz Truss Interview

Today, we look at what might happen next after Iran attacked Israel overnight. More than 300 drones and missiles were fired but nearly all were shot down, according to Israel. Iran says it was retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Syria two weeks ago which killed seven of its officers. BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen is in the studio to take Laura and Paddy through what we know, the context, and what could come next. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn with Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Piers Mor-gone

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