Evening briefing Tuesday 21st April

0:00This episode of the Times Radio News Briefing is sponsored by PwCWC. Staying competitive means getting ahead, not just keeping up. So how do business leaders cut through the noise and focus on what really matters? PwC takes you further with tech, from optimising the systems that put your data to work, to scaling AI from proof of concept to competitive edge. PwC helps you meet tomorrow's tech demands so you can compete at a speed that rewrites the rules. Discover more at pwc.co.uk. This is Times Radio's evening briefing on Tuesday 21st April. Opposition MPs have called for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister during an emergency commons debate over Lord Mandelson's appointment as US envoy.

0:47Earlier, former Foreign Office Chief Sir Ollie Robbins told MPs Number 10 took a dismissive approach to his vetting, despite being sacked for not informing the PM that Mandelson had failed to pass all his security checks. He maintains his department made the right decision, but Downing Street says Robbins made an error of judgment. Speaking in the Commons, leader of the SNP in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, pressed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for a no-confidence vote in Sakhir. Does she not believe, however, that the sorry souls opposite us should have to put their money where their mouth is and that there should be a vote of no confidence in this Prime Minister in due course?

1:27The right honourable gentleman makes a very good point. I think he is right because I don't believe the prime minister has the intention of doing the honourable thing himself, even though that's the standard to which he held everyone else. The decision, as I said, about whether he will ultimately take responsibility for his actions is now up to Labour MPs. Donald Trump claims Iran has violated the ceasefire with the US numerous times. He's posted on Truth Social but offered no details. The temporary ceasefire ends tomorrow, but the US Vice President is due to travel to Pakistan for talks on an extension.

2:00Iran has yet to confirm whether or not it will attend. Times foreign correspondent Richard Spencer has this prediction. I would put the chances about 65, 435 in favour, two-thirds, one-third. I think the regime actually is quite split on this. There's more evidence that the regime is not speaking entirely with one voice. I think the voices that are prominent are more in favour of attending. Seven people have been arrested by counter-terror police over a conspiracy to commit arson at another Jewish site. Prime Minister Sakhir Starmer said the government won't relent in our fight against anti-Semitism and terror.

2:41Millions of commuters are facing disruption during the evening rush hour as the first of two London tube strikes is underway. Members of the RMT union are holding two 24-hour walkouts in a dispute over a four-day week. A long-serving Morrison's manager says he was sacked after 29 years for tackling an alleged shoplifter at the Aldridge store near Walsall. Sean Egan says he acted to protect staff and customers during the incident, but he was dismissed for breaching company policy. King Charles has paid tribute to his darling Mama on what would have been her 100th birthday. Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, aged 96.

3:21He's been remembering some of her standout qualities and moments. That marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:42This episode of the Times Radio News Briefing is sponsored by PwC. AI is everywhere. In the news, in our hands, but return on investment, not so much. So how do you get beyond the hype and deliver AI that powers reinvention and growth across your business? Strong foundations unlock AI's potential. That's why PwC takes you further with tech, strengthening the data quality, processes and workflows that shape how well AI performs. PwC turns innovation into implementation so you can accelerate from experiment to scale. Discover more at pwc.co.uk.

4:25Hey, Pablo Torre here. As a sports journalist, I've covered global sports for many years now. And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time, it is even better thanks to McDonald's. You have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football, like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamine Yamal, and Alphonso Davies. Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last, all rights reserved, copyright 2026, McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.