Morning briefing Friday 10th 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. This is the Times Radio Morning News Briefing on Friday 10th July. Reform UK says it won't be deterred by what is called daily hit jobs and smears by the media establishment.

0:45There are reports in The Times that the Metropolitan Police Service has been looking into half a million pounds worth of donations for more than a year now. Gabriel Pogrand is the paper's Insight editor. He's explained what officers are investigating. The particular piece of the statute that they're examining relates to situations where the ultimate source of a donation has been disguised in order to permit an impermissible donor from depositing funds into the coffers of the political party, or where false statements have been made about a donation to a party. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed their position to ask.

1:21The Electoral Commission pointed to the Met's statement. Andy Burnham says he's deeply grateful to the 322 Labour MPs who've backed him to become the party's new leader. He needs just one more to make sure no one else can stand against him. Mr Burnham has promised to fix the broken system and transform Britain. But Shadow Home Office Minister Matt Vickers says, like Zakir Starmer, his backbenchers won't let him. We've said we will help a Labour government reduce the welfare bill and increase spending on defence so that we can keep our country safe. We know that Labour is out of control. Even when Keir Starmer brought forward very small, moderate changes to welfare to try and get the thing under control, he could not get his backbenchers to comply.

2:02One of the earliest tests for Mr Burnham will be the deportation of the Rojdal grooming gang leader, Shabir Ahmed. The Home Secretary is expected to close a loophole in the law, preventing him from being removed. But even if she does, it's thought Pakistan will refuse to take him back. Alexander Evans is a former British ambassador in Pakistan. He's told Times Radio any deal between the two countries is about more than one man. We've got to remember for the UK, there's a whole range of other prisoners we want to support Pakistan. There's cooperation we want to do with Pakistan on counterterrorism and security.

2:35And there's lots of families in the UK who've got ties to Pakistan as well. So it's complicated, but it's right and proper that the government should try and negotiate his deportation to Pakistan. And clearly, lots of options are being discussed. The French president has called the loan of the bio tapestry to the British Museum in London a gesture of trust and an expression of long-standing friendship. Writing in the Times, President Macron says it represents the desire from France and the UK to build their future together. The work goes on display in September. And France are the first team into the semifinals of the World Cup.

3:09They had a 2-0 win over Morocco in Boston. Don't forget you can subscribe to the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio Online. This 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.

3:56Discover more at pwc.co.uk