Morning briefing Tuesday 10th February

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

0:35This is the Times morning briefing for Tuesday 10th February. Sir Keir Starmer says he won't walk away after surviving an attempt to force him from office, adding that he'd won every fight he'd been in. He addressed Labour MPs last night for more than an hour. Two of the Prime Minister's top aides have quit in the fallout from the Mandelson scandal. Sam Rushworth is a Labour MP for Bishop Auckland and was at the meeting. It was probably the most impressive I've ever seen the Prime Minister. It's a version of him that I don't think that many of your listeners will have really ever seen. And he was, on the one hand, very contrite, very sorrowful about the mistake that he made in appointing Mandelson.

1:21And at the same time, I think he set out what really makes him tick. Tom Kelly is a former official spokesperson for Tony Blair. I think he's bought himself some time, but I think he also will probably know that every day now will be a test of his authority, his credibility and his judgement. And so it should be, because he made a big mistake. So he has to get through tomorrow and the next day and the next day. And it will be a slow process of rebuilding if that's what he can do. Buckingham Palace says the King has made clear his profound concern about allegations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and stands ready to support police.

2:03New claims are being assessed by the Thames Valley Force relating to the former prince's conduct when he was a government trade envoy. Robert Hardman is a royal biographer and assesses how bad the new allegations are for the royal family. It's serious. I don't think it's a crisis yet, simply because Andrew is so devalued. he's a fringe figure he's been cast into outer darkness no one seriously believes that you know the family are in any way sort of you know covering up I mean he's out on his own so it's serious of course it's embarrassing. Ghislaine Maxwell has refused to answer any questions from members of the US Congress investigating Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

2:47She was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for her role in soliciting underage girls for the sex offender to abuse. Her lawyers told the House Oversight Committee that she'd only answer questions if she was given clemency by President Trump. Thousands of young people will be able to train as plumbers, engineers and bricklayers. The government's denounced 13 ,000 new apprenticeships and T-level placements that will be offered by building contractors, working on the 750 schools being renovated across England. And there's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

3:27This 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.

4:10Hey, 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, Lamin Amal, and Alfonso 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.

4:48McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.