Doctors Vote To Strike (Again)
Newscast
BBC
4.3 • 6.6K Ratings
🗓️ 15 December 2025
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today, doctors in England have decided to strike for 5 days this week despite a new offer from the government.
The British Medical Association said 83% of its members had voted to continue with the walkout in an online poll over the weekend, with a turnout of 65%.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "gutted" by the result, describing it as "irresponsible" given the rising pressure from flu.
The BMA argues that, despite previous pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
Adam and Chris are joined in the studio by BBC health editor Hugh Pym.
Plus, we talk to BBC europe editor, Katya Adler about the seemingly positive peace talks today in Berlin.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris and Jem Westgate. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | Hello, this weekend, you will get the first of our festive newscast treats. |
| 0:10.6 | On Saturday and Sunday, we'll be bringing you some of the highlights of our 25-hour-long podcast-a-thon we did in aid of children in need back in November. |
| 0:19.8 | And if you didn't listen to the whole 25 hours, |
| 0:21.9 | this is your chance to hear some of the bits that you missed. |
| 0:25.0 | But before that, we will do a classic episode of Normal Lent, Newscast. |
| 0:30.4 | Newscast from the BBC. |
| 0:32.7 | Fat boy sliver me in the classroom doing our violin lessons. |
| 0:35.6 | I was the tappletail in the class. |
| 0:36.9 | Got I have an apology, please? |
| 0:38.2 | I trust almost nobody. That daddy has to sometimes do strong language. Next time in Moscow. I feel delulu with no salulu. Take me down to Downey Street. Let's go have a tour. Blimey. Hello, it's Adam in the newscast studio. and shortly we'll be joined by Europe editor Katja Adler, |
| 0:55.4 | who is in Berlin, where lots of European leaders are meeting for dinner and discussions |
| 1:00.4 | with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, following some very positive sounds |
| 1:05.8 | coming from the German Chancellor Friedrich Merck. So lots to catch up with what is happening |
| 1:10.7 | there. But first of all, |
| 1:13.4 | resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, have decided in an online ballot that their |
| 1:18.4 | strike will go ahead from Wednesday onwards in England. This is even though the government |
| 1:24.5 | had piled on the pressure for them to change their minds saying that this was going to coincide with a massive spike in flu cases. So what's been going on and what does it mean? The people who know are right here in the newscast studio, or at least one of them is, it's Hugh Pym, our health editor. Hi, Hugh. Hello again, Adam. Hi. And also down the line from Westminster is Chris Mason. Hello, Chris. Hi. Right, Hugh, just |
| 1:45.1 | explain to us what do we know about this ballot, other than they decided to press ahead with |
| 1:49.0 | the strikes in England. Well, it was an online survey where, under which BMA members who are |
| 1:54.3 | resident doctors were asked to answer a simple question, what do you make of West Streeting's |
| 1:59.4 | latest offer, and are you still prepared to go |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.