Afternoon Briefing Monday 28th September

0:00Harvard Business School Executive Education delivers breakthrough learning for leaders, stimulating classes led by faculty at the forefront of their fields. Topics that will define the future of business. Discussions that transform perspectives and ways of thinking. And access to the brightest business minds on the planet. Learn more at hbs.me slash breakthrough. That's hbs.me slash breakthrough. Hello, this is your Times Radio afternoon briefing for Monday the 28th of September with me, James Kitchen. The Defence Secretary has told Times Radio the UK is vigilant and has tried and tested methods of protecting its military bases.

0:44It's understood counter-terror police are investigating whether Iran is linked to a suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Five men are being questioned on suspicion of terrorist and explosives offences after police were alerted to three suspicious fans. The 999 caller has accused officers of dropping the ball. The Defence Secretary says she only has a partial picture. Speaking to Times Radio, West Streeting acknowledged the base had been threatened by the Iranian regime before, but he refused to be drawn on further details. That is a matter of public record. I wouldn't at this stage link what we saw this week with that threat.

1:21It's too early to speculate and it would be unwise for me to do so. But of course we know there are people who wish to do us harm in this country. And that is why it is important. and I will keep on making this case as Defence Secretary, that we invest in our defence, that we invest in our national security. Ministers are expected to examine plans to scrap the triple lock on pensions as a trade-off to help fund free social care for the elderly. Andy Burnham has pledged to grasp the nettle of reforming care, saying it would form the centrepiece of Labour's bid for a second term. The Prime Minister insists nothing is off the table when it comes to finding the money.

1:58Speaking to Times Radio, the Conservative Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffiths was sceptical about the move. When we have those societal risks that don't fall evenly across the population, there's also roles for insurance. What we need on this is a wide field of play. I'd just be concerned if the answer at the point when we've already got the highest tax burden in history is to immediately nationalise it and put it into an NHS-style system. Meanwhile, the Chancellor is taking centre stage at the Labour conference in Liverpool. John Healy is expected to pledge a new age of industrialisation, insisting the party backs British shipbuilding by announcing billions of pounds for new maritime projects.

2:45Residents of a predominantly nationalist area of Porterdown will meet the Northern Ireland's secretary and police chiefs after a stand-off with the Unionist parade. Members of the Orange Order were given permission to pass Gavaki Road, but the community blocked it. Reporter for U105 in Belfast, Kim Kelly, is following the situation. The Orange Order are still there. They're saying that they want to march down this road. They're saying the police have not acted in their favour. Today the Gavaki Road residents are going to meet the Chief Constable, they're going to meet the Secretary of State. this just rumbles on.

3:18I mean, this has been 30 years and I think we've realised in the last day, nothing's changed. Shares in Britain's biggest house builders have jumped sharply in response to the government's plan to bring in a scheme to help first-time home buyers. Persimmon was up 14 % and Taylor Wimpey the same as investors anticipated a boom in demand. Andy Burnham said the My First Home scheme would see the government subsidising deposits for first-time buyers. Full details are expected in the budget. Remember, you can follow the Times Radio news briefing on Spotify and you can listen live to Times Radio Online.

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