BBC Newsnight

The best insights and exclusive interviews - Friday #Newsnight moves to 7pm on BBC Two from September 18th. Newsnight remains at 10.30pm Monday to Thursday. Here's what you can expect:

Stop hammering graduates with a wealth tax and then pitting us against pensioners.” Political Commentator Cody Dahler discusses policies and their differing impacts on older and younger people. #Newsnight

“It is all very well and good complaining about the shutters going up on high street shops. But if you are not going down there...that’s what is going to happen.” The Guardian's Policy Editor Kiran Stacey on the possible closures of high street chain Poundland and why it might be part of a “bigger shift. #Newsnight

"They've promised to cut... the welfare bill, but the unfortunate truth is, Reform voters are more likely to be on benefits." Lara Brown of the Spectator says Robert Jenrick and Reform UK have a "serious problem" with their plan to cut benefits. #Newsnight

“What’s gone wrong?” @mattchorley asks Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick why his party has slipped from first to third in some opinion polls, having previously held a double digital lead in some cases. #Newsnight

"It's obviously a really worrying time. 12,000 people, it's a shop we're all familiar with." Reform UK Treasury Spokesperson Robert Jenrick discusses the potential closure of discount chain Poundland with @mattchorley. #Newsnight

“Mild anxiety, mild depression, we know what that costs” “That wouldn’t be allowed to claim?” “No” @mattchorley presses Robert Jenrick on Reform’s plans to cut welfare spending by reducing the amount of people who can claim Personal Independence Payments. #Newsnight

"This is going to fall on the government, because all of these people will need help and support." Poundland co-founder Steven Smith says that the potential closure of the chain's hundreds of shops will have a significant impact on tens of thousands of jobs. #Newsnight

"Andy Burnham, come and have a chat with me. Come and work in my business, I'll show you what we need." Small business owner Paul Bowen asks Prime Minister Andy Burnham for more support following this week’s Budget measures. #Newsnight

“Half of the benefits bill we pay on pensions...” The New Statesman’s Oli Dugmore says the Government will struggle to reduce welfare spending in a “meaningful way” due to demographic change and an “increase of people passing through working age to retirement” #Newsnight

"It's like a huge giant tree has fallen." Dame Harriet Walter pays tribute to her co-star and friend of 40 years, Sir Patrick Stewart. #Newsnight

‘I would do this job for nothing’ Legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86, spoke to Newsnight in 2015 about his love of acting. #Newsnight

“I would never have guessed when he was first elected that there was sufficient anger to elect him” Michael Lewis, author of ‘Blockers’, discusses how Donald Trump became president and the power now held by the Oval Office. #Newsnight

“It was an insult, and it was Elon Musk’s insult…” Author Michael Lewis discusses the term ‘blockers’, those in the US civil service who were resistant to Elon Musk’s DOGE savings plans. #Newsnight

"Farage was heading to Downing Street and I think Andy Burnham is blocking that route" Alastair Campbell, author of 'Persevilience', says swapping Keir Starmer for Andy Burnham was the "right" choice, but the UK changing PM seven times in 10 years has been "terrible" #Newsnight

“What I find very difficult… is the assumption you have to cut your way to be being fiscally responsible” “There’s not a hope in hell that [Labour] are going to oversee any cuts to public spending” Economics professor Mariana Mazzucato and Conservative MP Julia Lopez debate Chancellor John Healey’s spending plans. #Newsnight

“It’s not the system that people would want if we were designing things from scratch” Financial Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, defends the government’s decision last year to freeze the income repayment threshold for Plan 2 student loans, but accepts the system isn’t perfect. #Newsnight

“If we wanted to kick stuff down the road, why would Andy Burnham and the Chancellor have talked about the triple lock?” Financial Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, says that the government’s plans to adjust the ‘triple lock’ on pensions shows they are not delaying difficult decisions. #Newsnight

"Sorry, your government has been in power since July 2024" Financial Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, is challenged on the speed at which the government is delivering welfare reform for young people. #Newsnight

“Is it fair to say the Government is kicking some of the difficult financial decisions into the long grass?” “Vic I think that is a pretty fair summary of the situation.” Ben Chu, BBC Verify’s Policy Correspondent explains #Budget2026 on #Newsnight.

“What did we learn about our living standards today?” “It was quite shocking to see their estimate of real household disposal income growth over the next few years.” Ben Chu, BBC Verify’s Policy Correspondent looks at the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts for household incomes in today’s Budget #Newsnight #Budget2026