Morning briefing Wednesday 18th March

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0:35This is the Times Radio Morning Briefing for Wednesday the 18th of March. A targeted vaccination programme will roll out for thousands of students living in halls at the University of Kent after an unprecedented outbreak of meningitis. Some 15 cases have so far been reported to the UK Health Security Agency, including two deaths. The agency said all 15 had required hospital admission, with four confirmed to be meningitis B. Authorities have linked it to a super-spreader event at a Canterbury nightclub, but have mobilised a national response. Eleanor Haywood is health editor at The Times. She told Times Radio what else the government is doing to try and contain the outbreak.

1:17The government are acting to try and offer sort of precautionary preventative antibiotics to hundreds and hundreds of students in Kent, with the hope that that then stops any further outbreaks or any further spread. Sir Keir Starmer faces a grilling from MPs today after Donald Trump unleashed fresh criticism of his leadership over the Iran war, accusing him of making a big mistake. The President singled out Britain over its resistance to provide immediate assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Middle East conflict and its domestic impact are likely to dominate the agenda during today's PMQs.

1:53Government lawyers are believed to be considering whether Britain can join the US operation on the basis of self-defence, despite concerns about the dangers. Dr Lynette Nuzbacher is a former British intelligence officer and says Keir Starmer seems to be too focused on consulting government lawyers. The Prime Minister has got to think about defending the interests of the United Kingdom, using armed force to do that, or holding back armed force where it's not the right thing to do. I am exasperated by the government's insistence that this is all about consulting lawyers. Meanwhile, strikes continued across the Middle East overnight.

2:35In Tel Aviv, a man and a woman died after Iranian attacks in the early hours, according to the ambulance service there. They were said to be in their 70s. The US military said they launched bombs targeting Iranian cruise missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. In Lebanon, at least six people have died and 24 wounded after a series of Israeli strikes in central Beirut. and in Iraq, the US embassy in Baghdad was hit by Iranian strikes. The Scottish Parliament has rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first nation in the UK to legalise assisted dying. MSPs at Holyrood voted 69 to 57 against the motion.

3:14One member abstained. Kadrina Stewart is a journalist who is following the debate. The mood now in the Parliament is quite sombre because I really think that the MSPs were genuinely feeling the weight of this decision and how important it was, particularly given this is the third time since devolution that the Parliament has looked at passing an assisted dying law. And it is very likely now that this will be the final time for some time. You can follow the Times Radio News Briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online.

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