Morning briefing Tuesday 16th September

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 Morning Briefing on Tuesday 16th September. MPs will debate the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the US later.

0:44Zakir Starmer says he sacked him when the extent of his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein became apparent. But it's emerged the Prime Minister knew Lord Mandelson was being investigated by the Foreign Office when he originally offered him his backing. There are fresh questions over Zakir's judgement, but Labour MP Patrick Hurley's told Times Radio, it's time to move on and get on with delivering for voters. The Prime Minister's made the decision last week and he made the decision once new information came to light, sacked him within hours and I think that's the right thing to do.

1:15And I'll come back again to the fact that people are interested in the prosperity that we can achieve for the country, get the GDP rate back to how it used to be, make sure that the people of this country feel the benefit of a growing economy. Leader Nigel Farage says he's expecting more senior Conservatives to join Danny Kruger in defecting to Reform UK. But Mr Farage insists anyone who wants to move will have to be fully on board with their policies. Former Tory Minister Steve Bake has been asked if he's expecting more of his old colleagues to follow Mr Kruger. I'll be surprised if a few don't, but I think the thing that all members of Parliament will know if they're Conservatives, they were elected as Conservatives.

1:53And it's a very significant step to say to your voters, actually I'm going to change party. Now Danny was very clear he's going to keep on serving his constituency in the way he always has. He still stands for the same ideas he always did and whether his voters are happy with that or not we'll find out at the next general election. There's a warning Britain's enemies will be emboldened by the decision to drop charges against two men accused of spying for China. Prosecutors say the evidential stage of the case is no longer met, but MPs want more details. We're told security at Windsor Castle will be operating at a very high threat level later.

2:29US President Donald Trump's arriving for his second state visit to the UK. Political journalist and royal commentator Daisy McAndrew says British diplomats will be looking to take advantage of President Trump's soft spot for the royal family. We know enough about his personality, his likes and dislikes to know that He adores the royal family, the sort of celebrity of it. So rolling the red carpet literally out and metaphorically for him is a very good way to do diplomacy with Donald Trump and try to get something out of him. Campaigners are urging MPs not to water down a bill that compels public officials to act with honesty and integrity.

3:09The so-called Hillsborough law is being introduced to Parliament later. And the King, Queen and other members of the royal family will be at Westminster Cathedral later for the Duchess of Kent's funeral. It's the first Catholic service to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history. Don't forget you can follow The Times 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?

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