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11/04/2015

Morning news and current affairs. Including Sports Desk, Thought for the Day and Weather.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 11 Apr 2015 07:00

Today's running order

0710

In Panama Β of the great animosities of the cold war has been put to rest by the United States and Cuba at a regional summit meeting both president Raul Castro and President Obama are attending.Β Jon Sopel is the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s North America editor.

0715

The Conservatives say that if they form the next Government they will spend at least Β£8 billion a year more after inflation on the NHS by 2020. The new pledge follows analysis by the head of NHS England Simon Stevens last year which said the Government would need to find that amount to help bridge a funding gap caused by rapidly increasing demand for healthcare.

Professor Chris Ham is Β Director of the King's Fund.

0720

The Liberal Democrats are announcing that they would introduce a Digital Rights Bill within the first six months of forming a new coalition government. Proposals include prison sentences for large companies who illegally sell on personal data and legal rights to compensation for consumers who companies have signed up using deliberately misleading or unreadable terms & conditions. Julian Huppert is Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge and the Liberal Democrats’ Digital Rights Spokesperson.

0725

Users of reward schemes are set to set to suffer as reward points from Sainsbury's Nectar card are being reduced and Capital One is cutting down on cashback to customers who use its credit cards.

Paul Lewis is presenter of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4's Money Box programme.

0735

The situation in Yemen has deteriorated significantly this week in the midst of continued fighting. Foreigners are being evacuated, fishermen are fleeing across the straight to Djibouti and Somaliland. Shipping companies are no longer docking there, leaving the threat of starvation in a country where 90% of all food is imported. The Saudis continue to bomb the Houthi rebels but Pakistan has declined a request to intervene. What prospects are there for Yemen’s future?

Kim Ghattas is the Β ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s Correspondent in Riyadh. Sara Alazawqari is a journalist with Yemen Times Radio.

0740

We're used to seeing the main party leaders in this election at carefully controlled events; surrounded by supporters in suitable, picture friendly locations. But things can go wrong. Norman Smith is the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s assistant political editor.

0750

Labour is focusing its election campaigning on maternity services today, with a manifesto pledge that women in England will receive one-to-one care from midwives during labour. The party has also re-stated its commitment to provide three thousand new midwives in England.

Liz Kendall is Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People.

0810

Further analysis of Cuban-US relations (0710). Brian Wilson is a former Labour Foreign Office minister and was the only member of the government to maintain regular contact with Cuba between 1997 and 2005, meeting several times with Fidel Castro.

0815

As we approach the general election many people feel abandoned by politics, cut off from the decision makers. Some are literally cut off and isolated from Westminster, and they say increasingly so. The least populated part of England is the Eden Valley, in the constituency of Penrith and the Borders, a vast seat with relatively few voters.
Matthew Price is our chief correspondent.

0820

When you think of "AΒ Cappella"Β singing, the image of a group of men with brylcreemed hair, smart stiff suits and white teeth spring to mind. But with TV series like β€œGlee” and films like Pitch Perfect in recent years it has moved into the mainstream. That is what the National Youth Choir is hoping to build on with a concert this Sunday. The choir will be teaming up with one ofΒ most prominent A Capella groups in the world, β€œThe Real Group” from Sweden.
Ben Parry is Director of National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Anders Edenroth is Composer and Singer with β€œThe Real Group”. Rebekah Jones is a member of the National Youth Choir.

0830

Further analysis of Conservative NHS funding plans (see 0715). Jeremy Hunt is the Secretary of State for Health.

0845

Security camera footage has emerged apparently showing the gang that broke into a vault in London last weekend to steal boxes full diamonds, gold and jewellery. The footage, obtained by the Daily Mirror newspaper, shows the men disguised as construction workers coming and going over two days. Police have been criticised for failing to respond to an initial alarm.

John O'Connor is the former head of Scotland Yard's flying squad.

0850

This weekend our election panel looks at negative campaigning, lack of vision, "non doms" and any other business that they think is important. Alex Von Tunzelmann is author and historian. Andrew Roberts is author and historian. Claire Tomalin is author and historian.

Broadcast

  • Sat 11 Apr 2015 07:00