Evening briefing Monday 9th February

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0:35This is the Times Radio evening briefing for Monday 9th February. Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting have both backed Sir Keir Starmer as ministers rally round in a coordinated show of support. The two likely leadership contenders spoke out after the leader of Scottish Labour called for the Prime Minister to quit. Anna Sawa said the Prime Minister has become a distraction. There have been too many incidences where the wrong judgment calls have been made. There have been too many mistakes. and that's why I think it needs to change in Downing Street. Have you told the Prime Minister about this statement before making it?

1:08Yes, I spoke to the Prime Minister earlier today and I think it's safe to say that he and I disagreed. Downing Street's spokesman has insisted that Sir Keir Starmer has a clear five-year mandate from the British people and will stay the course. He'll be addressing Labour MPs this evening, including Carl Turner, who hit out at Anasawa's intervention, telling Times Radio it would be balmy to change Leader Now. I think Keir Stammer is unpopular in the country and the Labour government are unpopular in the country. And I think Hannes has bottled it and decided to call for the PM to go on the basis that it might improve Scottish Labour's chances of forming a government there.

1:48But I think it's a mistake. I think it's unfair. And frankly, I think it's disloyal. Buckingham Palace say they stand ready to cooperate with a police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Thames Valley police are looking into claims the former prince shared sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein. A palace spokesman says King Charles has profound concerns about the allegations. The Sunday Times royal editor is Roya Nicker. The idea that just the idea that a member of the royal family would do that is extraordinary. I know we have we've we're all still reeling from knowing that that what has come out in the file suggesting that Peter Mandelson has done that but the fact that it is suggested that the late Queen's son on official business was forwarding that to Epstein is a pretty extraordinary allegation.

2:32Meanwhile, Jelaine Maxwell has declined to answer questions from lawmakers in the United States. The former partner of Jeffrey Epstein cited her right not to incriminate herself. The son of Jimmy Lai has told Times Radio his father has been handed a death sentence. A 78-year-old democracy campaigner and newspaper publisher has been jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong for national security offences. Sebastian Lai says he's not been able to speak with his father in five years, more international pressure is needed. Obviously it was expected, but it makes it no less heartbreaking and devastating. In some sense we knew that this was going to happen, he knew that it was going to happen even 30 years ago when he first started campaigning for democracy, that this was a very high possibility, but he did so regardless because it was the right thing to do.

3:16And more than 100 areas in England face flooding as forecasters warn downpours are set to continue. A yellow weather warning for rain is in place for south-west England and south Wales until midnight. Large parts of Scotland have a yellow warning for rain and flooding from tomorrow morning. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio Online.

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