Draft legislation on assisted dying is being debated in the House of Lords on Friday. The bill would give terminally-ill patients of sound mind, who have six months or less to live, the right to end their life with medication approved by two doctors and a High Court Judge. Martha Kearney speaks to Lord Forsyth, who watched his father slowly succumb to terminal cancer, and Baroness Grey-Thompson, who believes the bill would have a severe impact on disabled people.

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Should terminally ill people be permitted to end their own life?

The British Medical Association has accused the government of "wilful negligence" for refusing to reimpose coronavirus restrictions in England, intensifying the pressure ministers are under over the rising number of infections. Yesterday, the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, insisted that he would not yet implement “Plan B”, which relies on masks, social distancing and COVID passes, for the winter period. This was despite the fact he admitted there could soon be 100,000 new cases a day. Measures similar to “Plan B” are already in place in Scotland. Nick Robinson speaks to the National Clinical Director for their government, Professor Jason Leitch, and then asks the Health Minister, Edward Argar, about the current situation in England.

Vaccines vs Virus: “We’re still winning the race, but it’s narrowing.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has laid out plans to reduce the UK’s emissions sharply by 2035 and take the country towards being a zero carbon economy by 2050. These include more electric cars, planting trees and moving away from gas-powered central heating. Amol Rajan asks Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng about some of the finer details of the strategy. Following that, Amol and Mishal Husain speak with the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, Tom Rivett-Carnac, who ran political strategy for the UN towards the Paris Agreement of 2015, and Stephen Heidari-Robinson, former energy and environment adviser to David Cameron.

How can the UK become carbon neutral?

The government has announced its intention to try to end the sale of gas boilers by 2035 as part of a strategy to tackle climate change. Grants of £5,000 will be offered to people in England and Wales from April next year to install low carbon replacements. One of these alternatives is an air source heat pump. Mishal Husain hears about the difficulty of having one installed from a man who is currently in the middle of the process, before asking Jan Rosenow, who advises MPs on decarbonising homes, about these complications. Following that, Mishal speaks to Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who is the Secretary of State for International Trade and UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency.

The government to fund low carbon heating alternatives

Tributes will be paid in parliament today to the Conservative MP Sir David Amess who was killed in his constituency on Friday. The MP, who had five children, was attending a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea. A 25 year old has been arrested and is being detained under terrorism legislation. Brendan Cox, the husband of Jo Cox MP who was murdered in 2016 while at a constituency event, speaks to Mishal Husain. Mr Cox is also the co-founder of Survivors Against Terror, an organisation for the families of those killed in terror attacks. Nick Robinson speaks to Nick Aldworth, who was the chief inspector of policing and security operations in parliament about MPs' safety. Also on the programme was Dominic Raab, Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.

'Togetherness, not division'

Police have declared the fatal stabbing of the Conservative MP, Sir David Amess, to be a terrorist incident. Sir David was attacked yesterday while holding a surgery for constituents at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. Police forces are expected to contact all 648 MPs over the course of Saturday after the Home Secretary ordered an immediate review of their security arrangements. Martha Kearney speaks to Jade Botterill, who has experienced constituency surgeries in her work for Yvette Cooper MP, and gets the thoughts of both Harriet Harman MP and the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy. Following that, Nick Robinson speaks to Sir Bernard Jenkin MP and former Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, about the tradition of MPs meeting their constituents face to face.

How can we better protect our public figures?

Sir Billy Connolly has recently revealed he can no longer write letters as his handwriting has been so badly affected by his battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with the progressive nervous system disorder in 2013 and retired from live performances five years later. Martha Kearney talks to him about his experience.

Sir Billy Connolly on Parkinson’s

The rules on the number of deliveries which overseas HGV drivers can make in the UK are to be relaxed to try to ease the pressure on supply chains. The government hopes the move will help to prevent shortages in the run-up to Christmas. Katie Prescott speaks to Rod Mackenzie, Managing Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Road Haulage Association which represents haulage firms. Following that, Nick Robinson gets a European response from Edwin Atema, of the FNV union which represents drivers across the EU and Europe, before asking the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, about what this means for immigration.

More foreign drivers to carry out UK deliveries

Many patients across the UK are still struggling to get face-to-face appointments with their GPs. The government has announced a plan it says will improve that - people will be asked if they would prefer to see their doctor in person. There will be a £250 million emergency fund for the winter so GPs can hire extra locums and social distancing rules are expected to be relaxed so that more people can wait in doctors' surgeries. But doctors say this doesn't go far enough. GPs Rachel Warrington and Jess Harvey speak to the Today programme about the proposals. Martha Kearney is also joined by Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid. Credit: BBC

Government announces £250m plan to increase face-to-face GP appointments over winter

All children aged 12 to 15 in the UK will soon be offered one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid jab. We invited three 12-year-old pupils from Wales High in South Yorkshire, which we've been following for the last year, to ask questions they have about the vaccine to Professor Calum Semple, a government advisor based at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Answering children's questions about the Covid jab

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, presents the highlights from her guest edit of Today. The South African concept ‘Ubuntu’ or “I am because you are” is at the heart of her programme, reflecting on our common humanity. She hears from students at a pupil referrals unit, the charity Justice Defenders who work to improve access to justice, and also a Uighur child refugee exiled in Turkey. Including Mishal Husain and Martha Kearney. (Image: Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, credit: Jim Drew)

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin’s Today programme

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel presents all the highlights from his guest edit for Today, on the theme of the future of the USA. He looks at what big ideas have shaped modern America and what will continue to define it, including justice reform, how society can make wiser investments and the balance of power between tech companies and government. Including Mishal Husain and Simon Jack. (Image: Evan Spiegel, credit: Snap Inc)

Evan Spiegel’s Today programme

Twice Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood guest edits Today, looking at the theme of change. She interviews climate activist (and 2019 Today guest editor) Greta Thunberg and speaks to The Prince of Wales about campaigning for the environment over several decades. Also, Margaret’s Booker Prize co-winner Bernardine Evaristo speaks to gal-dem founder Liv Little and birdwatcher extraordinaire Mya-Rose Craig, aka Birdgirl. Hosted by Margaret Atwood - including Martha Kearney and Mishal Husain. (Image: Margaret Atwood, credit: Luis Mora)

Margaret Atwood’s Today programme

Record-breaking Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton guest edits Today, looking at black British history, the environment, and the power of sport. Lewis speaks to historian Professor David Olusoga about the Black Lives Matter movement and black British historical figures who deserve more attention. We also hear from conservationist Dame Jane Goodall on animal extinction, and find out how motor racing is trying to become more environmentally friendly. Presented by Nick Robinson and Justin Webb. (Image: Lewis Hamilton)

Lewis Hamilton’s Today programme

Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the health research foundation Wellcome Trust, guest edits Today along the theme of uncertainty and clarity in complex times. Sir Jeremy speaks to Dr Anthony Fauci about mixing politics and science, and we hear from Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway, on leading in uncertain times. Author Elif Shafak gives a more literary take on uncertainty, and England cricketers Sir Andrew Strauss and Nat Sciver discuss how elite sport has adapted in 2020. Also, a special performance from the Wellcome Voices choir. With Nick Robinson and Simon Jack. (Image: Sir Jeremy Farrar, credit: Dave Guttridge, Francis Crick Institute)

Sir Jeremy Farrar’s Today programme

Insight, analysis and expert debate as key policy makers are challenged on the latest news stories. From BBC Radio 4's Today programme

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