Broadcast timeline
Question Time
Thursday 22 October 2026 · 22:40 BST · 1h · 4 stories · 15 annotated moments · 55 of 60 min on news stories (92%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The programme came from Scunthorpe and opened with a question on whether the UK is already in a proxy world war and whether it is prepared for direct conflict. The discussion covered a cyber security issue affecting millions of websites and government sites being down, Russian and state-sponsored threats, hybrid or grey-zone actions, defence spending, NATO and relations with the US and Europe. Wes Streeting said the UK was not at war but faced a greater threat; Tom Tugendhat described warlike acts and state-sponsored terrorism; Ellie Chowns raised NATO and nuclear weapons and preparedness for pandemics and climate; the panel also discussed the government's Be Ready campaign advising households to keep water, tinned food and other supplies.
The next question asked whether the government's approval of new North Sea gas drilling, identified as the Jackdaw field, amounted to climate vandalism. A questioner called it climate vandalism and a surrender to fossil fuel companies; Ellie Chowns opposed the decision and argued for faster renewables; Stephanie Flanders described it as a sensible and pragmatic decision and said the government was respecting an existing licence; Wes Streeting said gas would remain part of the energy mix and pointed to an energy wealth fund; Tom Tugendhat argued energy costs and resilience were central. The discussion also covered the proposed wealth fund, renewable storage and whether the gas would lower bills.
Later questions covered NHS corridor care and a 60-week wait for an operation, with a questioner describing his mother's experience. Wes Streeting acknowledged the problems and defended progress, while Tom Tugendhat, Ellie Chowns and Stephanie Flanders discussed local trust management, staffing pay, social care and prevention. The final question asked whether spending £1.3 million a day to operate British Steel's Scunthorpe plant was a good use of taxpayers' money; the panel discussed national security, sovereign capability, energy costs, the need for a clear plan and a transition to green steel, and a British Steel worker said staff wanted a clearer plan for the future.
- 0:00 ~4 min without annotations
- 4:11
- 4:43
Claim Minister says UK not at war but faces greater threat than since Cold War
A cyber security incident was reported to have affected millions of websites worldwide and around 32 government websites, though the minister said no government services had been affected as far as he understood.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 4:43-4:45
- 6:12
Claim Minister says UK not at war but faces greater threat than since Cold War
The government said it was investing in defence after years of underinvestment, citing specific projects and the biggest sustained increase since the Cold War, while acknowledging it must go further and faster.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 6:12-6:19
- 7:57
Claim Minister says UK not at war but faces greater threat than since Cold War
A cyber security incident was reported to have affected millions of websites worldwide and around 32 government websites, though the minister said no government services had been affected as far as he understood.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 7:57-8:01
- 22:29
- 22:49
Contested quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
Right, so obviously you're referring to Jackdaw, which is a gas field about 150 miles east of Aberdeen and that's been approved to start supplying gas. Can I ask you what you think, John? I think it is climate vandalism. I think it's a surrender to the fossil fuel giants. They're not lobbyists, they're blackmailers, people like Jim Ratcliffe,
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 22:49-22:51
- 22:51
Charged quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
which is a gas field about 150 miles east of Aberdeen and that's been approved to start supplying gas. Can I ask you what you think, John? I think it is climate vandalism. I think it's a surrender to the fossil fuel giants. They're not lobbyists, they're blackmailers, people like Jim Ratcliffe, who's just shut factories across on Salt End,
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 22:51-22:54
- 22:54
Charged quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
and that's been approved to start supplying gas. Can I ask you what you think, John? I think it is climate vandalism. I think it's a surrender to the fossil fuel giants. They're not lobbyists, they're blackmailers, people like Jim Ratcliffe, who's just shut factories across on Salt End, claiming that he's doing it
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 22:54-22:56
- 23:37
Charged quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
I think that they've actually made our fuel supply, our energy supply, they've put it in the hands of the fossil fuel giants. That's not making us secure, it's making us mugs. Money that goes into fossil fuels isn't going into renewables and that's what we need. They're gonna release millions of tonnes of carbon
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 23:37-23:40
- 25:18
Charged quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
by green lighting Jackdaw is making us more dependent on gas for longer instead of going full speed down the renewable direction. It's really irresponsible. It is pouring more fuel on the fire of climate breakdown. It is climate vandalism. I think it was Ed Miliband who used those words about Rosebank.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 25:18-25:20
- 26:35
Contested quote Government approves Jackdaw gas field with Rosebank decision pending
I'm sure he'd take issue with some of the things you said, John, but that's your opinion and of course you are entitled to it. Stephanie. I thought this was a sensible decision. I think you can sign up for every aspect of the net zero agenda and still think this was a sensible decision. I mean, firstly, I think actually,
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 26:35-26:38
- 37:49
- 38:06
Claim Audience member says mother has waited 60 weeks for operation
An audience member reported that his mother had waited 60 weeks for an operation and was still waiting.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 38:06-38:10
- 38:57
Claim Audience member says mother has waited 60 weeks for operation
Wes Streeting said the NHS was in a better position than it had been two years earlier.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 38:57-39:01
- 42:29
Claim Audience member says mother has waited 60 weeks for operation
A panel member said the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Trust ranked around 125th out of 134.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 42:29-42:35
- 50:12
- 50:33
Claim Minister defends £1.3m-a-day Scunthorpe steel bailout but gives no clear plan
Reported public spending is £1.3 million per day to keep Scunthorpe's operational blast furnaces running.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 50:33-50:41
- 53:35
Claim Minister defends £1.3m-a-day Scunthorpe steel bailout but gives no clear plan
A government representative cited sovereign capability as a reason for saving British Steel.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 53:35-53:43
- 56:11
Claim Minister defends £1.3m-a-day Scunthorpe steel bailout but gives no clear plan
A British Steel worker said staff wanted a clearer plan for the plant's future.
BBC One, Question Time, 22 October 2026, 56:11-56:15
Source: BBC ONE West, "Question Time", Thursday 22 October 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.