The Costs of Crumbly Concrete and THAT Piers Morgan Answer
Sep 3, 2023
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BBC political chief correspondent Laura Kuenssberg discusses her interview with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt regarding the crumbly concrete crisis and the government's response. The podcast also covers her exchange with Piers Morgan, where he denies involvement in phone hacking and calls Prince Harry a "shameless hypocrite".
The use of crumbly concrete in buildings across England has become a major political issue, with criticism aimed at the government's handling of the situation.
The conversation with Piers Morgan on Newscast highlighted the ongoing concerns over press ethics, privacy, and housing affordability.
Deep dives
Concerns over crumbling concrete in schools and other buildings
There is growing concern over the use of crumbly concrete in schools, hospitals, courts, and military buildings across England. The issue arose during a discussion on Newscast, where it was highlighted that many buildings, including schools, might be affected by this problem. The extent of the issue is still unknown, with suggestions of potentially 7000 affected schools. The government's handling of the situation has been criticized, and this has become a significant political issue as well.
Gillian Keegan's dilemma and Labour's position on school rebuilding
Gillian Keegan, a junior government minister, is facing a significant challenge in dealing with the crumbling concrete issue. She is seen as a potential future Conservative Party leader, and her handling of this crisis will be closely watched. On the other hand, the Labour Party, while enjoying attacking the government over the issue, has not committed to a full school rebuilding program due to concerns about the economy and potential accusations of profligate spending. The delicate balance between providing necessary funding for rebuilding schools and maintaining economic credibility is a challenge for Labour.
Piers Morgan's response to hacking allegations and the housing crisis
A heated exchange on Newscast involved Piers Morgan and allegations of phone hacking. While Morgan denied any involvement in hacking, the focus of the conversation shifted to his clashes with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The discussion highlighted the ongoing public concern over press ethics and privacy issues. This conversation also touched upon the broader issue of housing and the challenges people face in affording rents and mortgages. Housing is expected to be a significant issue in future elections, with neither major party offering comprehensive solutions at present.
Day two of weekend Newscasts with Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. And brand new BBC political chief correspondent, Henry Zeffman, joins them from his sofa at home.
Laura gives her take on her interview with the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, who says the government "won't take any risks" with children's safety following the crumbly concrete crisis. But how worried should the government be about the political heat?
And what did everyone make of Laura’s exchange with Piers Morgan? He denied any involvement in phone hacking and accused Prince Harry, who is suing Mirror Group Newspapers, of being a “shameless hypocrite”.
In case you've missed it, Laura and Paddy will be on Newscast on Saturday and Sundays, popping into the Newscast studio from their respective weekend TV and radio shows.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere.
Today's Newscast was hosted by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
00:00 A gift from Laura to Paddy
01:34 The political consequences of the concrete crisis
12:59 Laura’s take on the Piers Morgan interview
20:12 Newscasters respond to Laura and Paddy’s Saturday chat on the expense of splitting up
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