Podcasts

On today's programme: how wary do tourists need to be of terror attacks?

Georgie Frost was joined by Andy Webb from Be Clever with Your Cash this morning. Today on the agenda, they discussed how hundreds of jobs will be lost following a decision to close almost 160 RBS and NatWest branches. Plus they look into why the UK is almost bottom of a European league table for maternity leave, ranking 22 out of 24. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Georgie Frost was joined by Ryan Heath Senior correspondent at POLITICO Europe to look at some of the biggest political stories of the day. More details are emerging about the Westminster attack. What are the latest developments? The attack in London came a year after the Brussels terror attack. How did Brussels bounce back from this and what can London learn from Brussels? Questions have been raised about security after it emerged a ministerial bodyguard shot Khalid Masood dead outside parliament. Firstly, there's the argument as to whether all police personnel should carry guns. Secondly, was there an intelligence failing here?

Nigel Cassidy joined Georgie Frost to discuss the main market headlines of the morning, starting with Donald Trump failing to convince enough of his own party representatives to back him in his attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare - his predecessor's legislation to expand healthcare provision. Plus despite Friday being a quiet day for company announcements, we've heard from Smiths Group.

A new start-up says that it could offer an electric-powered commercial flight from London to Paris in 10 years. The plane would carry 150 people on journeys of less than 300 miles. Wright Electric says the price of travel would drop dramatically if there was no jet fuel. British low-cost airline Easyjet has already expressed an interest. Graham Warwick, technology editor of Aviation Weekly, spoke to Share Radio's James Brydges.

A new report says the benefits of the single market are 'largely imaginary.' That's according to social policy think-tank Civitas. It argues that exports from non-EU countries to the single market have grown faster than the UK's, and that therefore no deal is better than a bad deal. Jonathan Portes is professor of economics at King’s College London, and told Share Radio's James Brydges that the report was flawed.

The Treasury's thinking about raising the state pension age to 70 for people in their 20s. Analysis for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggests that under 30s will have to work more as they live longer. A separate report, by John Cridland, former boss of the Confederation of British Industry, says those under 45 may have to work to 68. The government is due to make a decision on both reports by May. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb spoke to Share Radio's James Brydges.

What is the future looking like for European firms listed on the London Stock Exchange post-Brexit? Will it be sparse of European companies? Nigel Cassidy was joined by Gianpiero Lotito, CEO & Co-Founder of FacilityLive, and Founding Member of the European Tech Alliance to discuss further.

Last night was the scheduled vote on the Trump administration's proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Act or more widely known as Obamacare. It didn't go well for Trump, he couldn't get enough Republican backing. And what is the market reaction to this turn of events? Joining Nigel Cassidy to discuss is John Hardy, Head of FX Strategy at Saxo Bank.

Following the horrific terror attacks in nearly a decade on Westminster on Wednesday, Nigel Cassidy was joined by Newsweek's European Politics reporter, Josh Lowe to discuss the latest developments. Also on the agenda was discussion about Sir Richard Branson calling for a second EU referendum. The Virgin founder, who supported the remain campaign, says the result of June's vote is "one of the saddest things that has happened" to both the UK and Europe.