Welfare Bill Passes, But At What Cost?

Today, Rachel Reeves was visibly upset at Prime Minister’s Questions.Her team say it was a personal matter, and there are also reports of an argument with the speaker. Adam and Chris look at what’s been going on amidst mounting criticism of the chancellor’s handling of the welfare cuts. Plus, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking his ex partner Cassie Ventura and another woman. The US rapper was found guilty of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution relating to both women. Crowds gathered outside the courthouse in New York to hear the verdict. Adam is joined by the host of the Diddy on Trial podcast, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty who’s been following the trial. 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereGet in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 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 Anna Harris and Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, MPs have narrowly voted in favour of the government’s welfare bill. The controversial legislation passed after a series of last minute concessions by the government, but 49 Labour MPs still rebelled. Adam and Chris discuss what changes were made, how the government failed to manage the rebellion, and the political blow the prime minister has taken. Plus, three former senior staff at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. A seperate investigation was opened into the senior leadership team at the Countess of Chester hospital after Lucy Letby was convicted of murder and attempted murder in 2023.Adam is joined by BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan.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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 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 Anna Harris. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Avon and Somerset police launched a criminal investigation into sets by bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury festival on Saturday. Adam is joined by BBC media and culture editor Katie Razzall, who reported from the festival over the weekend, to discuss the investigation and the BBC’s apology for not cutting the livestream of Bob Vylan’s performance.And, Faisal and Chris are back for another day of dissecting the government’s change to their welfare proposals. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed the concessions in a statement to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, in a bid to stave off a revolt at the vote on Tuesday. 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Anna Harris and Lucy Gape. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, we look at the reaction from politicians, Glastonbury, and the BBC to comments from Bob Vylan, a duo that performed at the music festival on Saturday.Rapper Bobby Vylan led chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]".A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”The Israeli Embassy posted on X that it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric".The festival said in a statement: “Glastonbury Festival does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers."We also hear from Health Secretary Wes Streeting on the issue, and on the upcoming welfare vote in the House of Commons.Faisal Islam joins to talk about the economic consequences of the government’s U-turn.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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Paddy O’Connell and Victoria Derbyshire. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham

Today, we look at where the welfare U-turn leaves Keir Starmer’s government, and the PM himself.Paddy and Henry Zeffman go through the PM’s first year in office and put it into context by look at where he’s got things right and wrong.Henry’s been talking to Labour insiders and officials for a documentary: Starmer’s Stormy YearYou can find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002f8t1You 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, the government has confirmed it will make major concessions to Labour rebels over its planned benefits reforms.Adam and Chris were back in the Newscast studio on Friday morning to run through how news of the U-turn broke late on Thursday night. And, they're joined by Alex and Faisal to unpack the week's political news - including key takeaways from the Nato summit in the Netherlands, including how Donald Trump came to be referred to as ‘daddy’.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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1Newscast 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 Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, can Keir Starmer stop a rebellion from his own party over proposed welfare cuts?Adam is joined by Luke Sullivan, Keir Starmer’s former political director, to discuss the leadership strategy and the current political challenge. Also, columnist and author Sarah Vine speaks to Adam ahead of the release of her new book How Not to Be a Political Wife, sharing how Brexit led to the end of her marriage to Michael Gove and giving a behind the scenes look at life around 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade and Julia Webster and Gabriel May . The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, world leaders have agreed to increase defence spending to 5% at a Nato summit at The Hague. Member states will commit 3.5% of GDP on core defence expenditure by 2035, plus up to 1.5% on a security investments. President Trump hailed the outcome as a “big win” and said he no longer thought Nato was a "rip-off". Adam is joined by BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale and former British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Kim Darroch.Also at the summit is Chris, who’s been traveling with the Prime Minister. Starmer is facing a backbench rebellion over changes to the welfare system. 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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 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 Shiler Mahmoudi and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, President Trump arrives in Europe for what is being called “the most significant Nato summit since the cold war”?Adam, Chris and Katya are re-united as President Trump lands in Europe for his first Nato summit since winning the White House for the second time. Meanwhile, back at home the Prime Minister faces growing rebellion from Labour backbench MPs over welfare changes. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "press ahead” with the changes, ahead of a vote in parliament next week. Also, the BBC’s social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring joins Adam to discuss the new season of her podcast Marianna in Conspiracyland, which investigates what happened to Paloma Shemirani—a young girl who died of cancer after rejecting chemotherapy—and what her story reveals about the mainstreaming of anti-medicine ideas.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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 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 Shiler Mahmoudi and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Today, Iran launches missiles at a US base in Qatar in response to strikes on their nuclear sites. Qatar has confirmed the attack on the US-run Al Udeid base, adding all the missiles were intercepted. The Pentagon has said there is no reports of any US casualties. Adam is joined by John Simpson, BBC world affairs editorAnd, health secretary Wes Streeting has said "we must act now" as he announced a national investigation into maternity care in England. Adam speaks to Suzanne White - head of the medical negligence team at Leigh Day & Michael Buchannan social affairs correspondent.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://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNew 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://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 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 Julia Webster and Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.