Broadcast timeline
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Sunday 25 October 2026 · 09:00 GMT · 1h · 6 stories · 15 annotated moments · 55 of 60 min on news stories (91%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg began with the Prime Minister Andy Burnham's call for a conversation about freedom of movement with the EU, reported by the Sunday Times, and discussion about whether unlimited EU migration could return. Angela Rayner defended the position as an honest conversation about the future relationship with Europe, saying the government was not reopening the 2016 referendum or the 2024 manifesto commitment in this parliament, while the panel discussed possible effects on young people, jobs and tech recruitment. Rayner was also questioned about the budget, citing IMF assessments, VAT cuts, a youth guarantee and £285 million for regional growth, and about leasehold reform, saying legislation was expected before the end of the year but not giving a guarantee that lease extension costs would fall.
Ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first budget on Wednesday, viewers' letters called for action on energy bills, employment costs, benefits, housing and hunger. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt and other panelists discussed debt, growth, welfare and possible budget measures. Lib Dem Daisy Cooper said her party wanted a better EU deal including the single market, customs union and free movement, that the triple lock was not a permanent commitment, and called for an emergency budget cutting energy, transport and hospitality costs. Reform UK's Robert Jenrick opposed a return to freedom of movement and set out welfare cuts, stricter disability tests, removing benefits from non-UK citizens, and using savings for a higher tax-free allowance, lower energy bills and frozen fuel duty.
The programme followed up its report on two-year-old Finley Roberts and corridor care, reporting that the health secretary had promised new standards for children in A&E and reading viewers' experiences. It also reported on Andy Burnham's approach to his first hundred days, including his Gogglebox appearance with Steve Rotheram, and panel discussion of his communication and use of political capital. At the end it reported Storm Bulow, with amber warnings, travel disruption, gusts over 85 mph and possible power cuts and damage.
On air
People and organisations this broadcast put on air during its news coverage. The channel's own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed.
- 3:07
Jeremy Hunt, former Tory Chancellor
- 3:43
Terry White, journalist and broadcaster
- 4:15
Brent Hoberman, tech leader and founder of lastminute.com
- 6:51
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
- 7:17
Angela Rayner, housing secretary
- 36:04
Daisy Cooper, Lib Dems' Daisy Cooper
- 42:29
Robert Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesperson
- 2:55
- 3:10
Charged quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
You know, Jeremy, you were in government all through the Brexit times. What do you make of it? Well, if I'd had any cornflakes this morning, I would have choked on them. I was absolutely astonished. I mean, we have a million people not in employment, education or training young people. And the government says it's serious about getting them back into work.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 3:10-3:12
- 3:24
Claim Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
Critics argued that returning to free movement would undermine plans to move young people from welfare into work.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 3:24-3:33
- 3:28
Charged quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
And the government says it's serious about getting them back into work. And to suddenly say that you are prepared to negotiate, allowing people from all over Europe to come and take those jobs, I think it will be a hammer blow to those plans to get people off welfare and into work. Terry, do you think people are ready though for this conversation?
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 3:28-3:31
- 3:46
Charged quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
What effect do you think this will have? Yeah, I was on X last night and kind of there was this almost nationalist surge of fury about what Andy Burnham had said. And the reality is that we have seen lots of negative consequences, that it will give us flexibility in terms of trade, in terms of skills.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 3:46-3:50
- 4:27
Contested quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
Europe has amazing talent. A lot of that talent do find it too hard to come here. If we want London and the UK to be a centre for European technology talent, this would be a good thing. But obviously, it has to work in all the other ways we've mentioned. So unfettered is the tricky part. Well, that is the thing, Jeremy Hunt, isn't it?
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 4:27-4:28
- 5:25
Charged quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
and I voted Remain, I've always thought we could make a success outside the EU. Going back to that old model, where employers were giving jobs to people from all over Europe and we were parking young people on welfare here, must be a step back. Well, we will see. Terry, as you said, it's a conversation the Prime Minister wants,
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 5:25-5:29
- 5:37
Claim Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
Andy Burnham had previously said the Brexit arguments should not be rerun.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 5:37-5:41
- 6:39
Charged quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
that ultimately the country would be better off if it went back into the European Union. One day, but his suggestions now that unlimited immigration could return has already prompted a hell of protest. Well, Angela Rayner is here for the government this morning. Let's just, before we proceed, remind everyone exactly what Andy Burnham himself said not so long ago.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 6:39-6:41
- 7:17
Contested quote Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
It is time, surely, isn't it, to bring people back together. So why is he doing this then? It's completely the opposite of what he said a few months ago. Well, I think it's exactly what he said a few months ago, and that's we're 10 years on from the referendum. We've been really clear in our manifesto what those red lines are,
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 7:17-7:19
- 9:45
Claim Andy Burnham comments on Brexit status quo and EU ties
Angela Rayner said the government would not reopen the Brexit debate during this parliament.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 9:45-9:48
- 13:15
- 13:16
Claim Chancellor John Healey prepares first Budget with welfare reform
John Healey is due to deliver his first Budget in less than two weeks.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 13:16-13:21
- 15:38
Claim Chancellor John Healey prepares first Budget with welfare reform
Angela Rayner said the Middle East situation had increased inflation.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 15:38-15:44
- 20:06
Claim Chancellor John Healey prepares first Budget with welfare reform
Angela Rayner said welfare bills were projected to rise and the government was tackling the welfare bill.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 20:06-20:10
- 20:42
- 48:39
- 50:09
- 50:31
Claim Andy Burnham defends Gogglebox charity appearance as critics question priorities
Andy Burnham appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with Steve Rotheram, watching Celebrity Traitors, in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 50:31-50:36
- 56:14
- 57:12
Charged quote Storm Bulow shuts schools and disrupts Scotland travel
and it won't ease until nine o'clock tonight and we could still potentially see gusts of winds in excess of 80 miles an hour on exposed coast here and it's going to be coupled by some really torrential rain the heaviest of the rain pushing its way north and east but some of these showers really quite squally
BBC One, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, 25 October 2026, 57:12-57:14
Source: BBC ONE West, "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg", Sunday 25 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.