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30/01/2015

Morning news and current affairs. Including Sports Desk, Yesterday in Parliament, Weather and Thought for the Day.

3 hours

Last on

Fri 30 Jan 2015 06:00

Today's running order

0650

Four environmental organisations are protesting to the government that a change in planning guidance for local authorities in England and Wales means more green spaces and tress in urban areas are going to be threatened. Kate Henderson is of the Town and Country Planning Association.

0710

Some leading doctors’ organisations say that plans to reduce the number of years of medical training would compromise patient care and safety. The Royal College of Physicians want the reform process to be put on hold.  The British Medical Association has also voiced concerns. Tom Dolphin is from the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee which took part in the review into medical training.

0715

The Russian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office to account for the 'disruption to civil aviation' by two Russian bombers in the English Channel which were part of what the foreign secretary has described as "extremely aggressive probing" of UK Airspace. Andrew Brookes is fellow at the defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute and a former RAF pilot.

0720

In Washington, the Republican Party, now in control of both houses of congress, says it's going to sue President Obama. It's because he wants to give an amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants living in America.  Many Republicans say he can't do it: not even the President has that power. Aleem Maqbool reports from El Paso in Texas on how all this is affecting the immigrants who are caught in the middle.

0730

For most people in this country the GP is our first contact with the health service.  For years, becoming a GP was the big ambition for fresh-faced young medical students. Not any longer.  The number of young doctors wanting to be a GP has fallen of a cliff and the pressure on those who remain is great and growing, not least because we live longer. John Humphrys visited Dr Sarah Jarvis.

0740

The Royal Society has announced the appointment of Brian Cox as their first Professor for Public Engagement in Science. Why is science seen as something that is not quite mainstream, despite the UK being so good at it? When we talk about culture, there is an assumption that we are talking about the arts.  We have seen some positive movement in recent years with more people taking science A-levels, but how many young people in the UK dream of being a scientist? We speak to Professor Brian Cox.

0750

Many towns and cities are bringing in local speed limits, 20 mph everywhere. It’s an attempt to cut traffic accidents. But not everyone agrees with the policy: some say it should be limited to zones around schools or residential neighbourhoods. Sanchia Berg went to the market town of Stroud in Gloucestershire where, perhaps surprisingly, there's a bit of battle brewing between some local residents and the Green Party, who sponsored the new restrictions. Neil Greig is director of Policy and Research for the Institute of Advance Motorists

0810

HM Inspector of Constabulary this morning publishes its report into police integrity. The report finds some forces lack the capability to proactively seek out and prevent corruption, that half of forces are not doing enough to combat corruption, are in many cases not doing drug tests on officers, and that two thirds of officers who are investigated face no further action. It adds that while corruption is not endemic, forces which are proactive in looking for it tend to find it. We speak to Mike Cunningham, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary.

0815

It's the 50th anniversary of Churchill's funeral. There have been several programmes broadcast this week looking at his life, and Ö÷²¥´óÐã Parliament is planning to rebroadcast his funeral in full on Friday morning, the footage has been digitally restored and is now HD. But do we glorify Churchill's legacy too much? Simon Heffer is a journalist and author. Andrew Roberts is a Churchill biographer.

0830

Some leading doctors’ organisations say that plans to reduce the number of years of medical training would compromise patient care and safety (see 0710). David Tredinnick is a Conservative member of the Health Select Committee.

0840

It’s been another week of turmoil for the Labour leader. Lord Prescott has denounced two former Cabinet colleagues who have criticised Ed Miliband's focus on the health service, rather than defending the economic legacy of New Labour. The former deputy prime minister branded John Hutton and Alan Milburn 'Tory collaborators'. Peter Hain is former Labour cabinet minister.

0845

Yesterday the Natural History Museum announced the famous plaster-cast model of a Diplodocus skeleton, known as Dippy, will be replaced by a full skeleton of a Blue Whale. Many of you contacted the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to say you will miss the iconic dinosaur which dominates the Great Hall of the museum. The hashtag #SaveDippy began trending on twitter and a petition has been set up at change.org. Joseph Street is a former administrative officer for the Natural History Museum, who oversaw the move of the elephants and the introduction of Dippy the Diplodocus into the main hall.

0850

The body of Alberto Nisman, the Argentine special prosecutor whose body was found in his Buenos Aires apartment, has been buried. Mr Nisman had been investigating the government's alleged role in covering up the bombing of a Jewish cultural centre in 1994. As Wyre Davies reports from Argentina, there are now concerns over what will become of the dead prosecutor's damning report.

0855

A collection of bronzes by the modernist sculptor Jacob Epstein go on display for the first time this week at London’s Foundling Museum.  The artist was often inspired by babies and children, an aspect of his work that is often overlooked. This exhibition also tells the story of Epstein's complicated home life. Caro Howell is director of the Foundling Museum.

All subject to change.

Broadcast

  • Fri 30 Jan 2015 06:00