Evening Briefing Wednesday 9th July

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 Hello, this is your Times Evening Briefing for Wednesday 9th July with me, James Kitchen. Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have agreed on the need to go further and develop a new deterrent to tackle small boat crossings across the Channel.

0:46Earlier, the Prime Minister said we're entering a new era of world history as he welcomed his French counterpart to the British Museum. The pair are marking the loan of the Bayer Tapestry to the UK on the second day of the President's state visit. Speaking in the Museum's Great Court, the Prime Minister said our alliances are more important than ever. We are now entering a new era of world history, a time of huge change and turmoil that has led to insecurity for so many people. And in this new world, our alliances are, in my view, more important than ever. The strength and solidarity of countries that share the same values, the same aims, the same hope for the future.

1:31Meanwhile, it's understood plans are being drawn up for a potential UK visit by Donald Trump in the coming weeks. The US president is reportedly likely to touch down in Scotland to see his golf courses at the end of this month or the start of next. Police Scotland has confirmed it's preparing, with the possibility of up to 5 ,000 officers needed to work 12-hour shifts. The head of the inquiry into the infected blood scandal says people have been harmed yet further by compensation failures. Sir Brian Langstaff strongly criticised the scheme for those who contracted infections like HIV through tainted blood products and what he called key decisions made behind closed doors.

2:10He's calling for fairer and faster compensation for victims. The Sunday Times' political editor Caroline Wheeler has been following the story. This is the most damaged group of people you can possibly imagine, given that the scale of the cover-up that has been shrouding this issue for the last 50 years has had an unprecedented effect on them. And then to find out that this compensation scheme, which they have fought so valiantly for, was designed completely in isolation from them, it beggars belief. Once again, they have been sort of almost re-traumatised by the state. The government says it will consider the recommendations.

2:48The Prime Minister has refused to rule out introducing a wealth tax as he defended the government's economic record in the Commons. Sir Keir Starmer insisted Labour would stick to its manifesto commitment not to increase employees' national insurance income tax, or VAT. But facing Kemi Beidnok at PMQs, he also failed to rule out freezing tax thresholds. The Tory leader accused the PM of dragging the country back to the 70s. On his watch, taxes are up. Unemployment is up. Inflation is up. And this weak prime minister has been forced into a series of chaotic U-turns. Yesterday, Mr Speaker, the OBR said that our economy is being eroded under Labour.

3:29Doctor strikes, tax bombshells, the wealthy leaving in droves. Isn't the truth that under him he is dragging us back to the 1970s? And resident doctors in England have confirmed the full five-day walkout from the 25th of July. The British Medical Association announced yesterday its members had voted in support of strike action in a row over pay. The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, insists the government can't go further than the 5.4 % increase on offer. And remember, you can follow The Times News Briefing on Spotify and you can listen live to Times Radio Online.

4:21the 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. Who says Halloween only lasts one day? With Wayfair, one night of Halloween becomes a whole season at home. From larger-than-life yard decor and moody lighting to festive accents for every room in the house, Wayfair has what you need to make Halloween feel like magic all in one place.

5:06Because the best Halloween memories aren't made in just one night. They're made all season long. Shop Halloween decor now at Wayfair.com. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R dot com. Way fair, every style, every home.