Mel Stride and Nadhim Zahawi quizzed by Laura Kuenssberg today
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride and Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi are among the guests on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on 12 July 2026, alongside Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh. Chancellor Rachel Reeves also appears in a pre-recorded interview as Labour leadership speculation intensifies around Andy Burnham. The BBC flagship politics show airs from 9am on BBC One and iPlayer, with Kuenssberg pressing senior figures on the week's biggest Westminster stories.
Key Takeaways
- Mel Stride faces live questions from Laura Kuenssberg as shadow chancellor on BBC One this morning.
- Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi joins the panel with Miatta Fahnbulleh, who has advised Andy Burnham on policy.
- Rachel Reeves appears in a pre-recorded interview, likely her final as chancellor, discussing her record and Burnham's leadership bid.
- The programme runs 9:00–10:00 on BBC One North West HD, with subtitles available.
- Panel discussion also covers the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe and a 28-year-old man's arrest on suspicion of murder.
Who is appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg today?
According to the BBC's live coverage, shadow chancellor Mel Stride will field questions on this week's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi is also scheduled to appear on the panel.
Miatta Fahnbulleh joins them. The Labour MP resigned as a junior communities minister after the May elections and has been working on policy ideas for a potential Andy Burnham government, the BBC reports.
The National Scot lists Rachel Reeves and Mel Stride as the main guests. Reeves's interview was pre-recorded, so she is unlikely to join Kuenssberg in the studio. The outlet also reports that Richard Moth, the Archbishop of Westminster, will appear on the panel alongside Fahnbulleh and a former Conservative chancellor who defected to Reform UK.
What did Rachel Reeves say before the broadcast?
In clips released ahead of the programme, Chancellor Rachel Reeves reflects on her hardest day in office. She recalls being told not to cry on national television during a difficult moment as chancellor.
Reeves tells Laura Kuenssberg she wants Andy Burnham to be a success after the newly elected Makerfield MP secured enough Labour MP nominations for a leadership bid. She warns that when Burnham walks through the door at Number 10, he needs a worked-through plan because governing is hard in Britain.
The BBC notes this is likely to be Reeves's final interview as chancellor. She is expected to discuss her record, her toughest day in the job, and her thoughts on Burnham's expected premiership.
When and where can you watch Laura Kuenssberg's programme?
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9am on Sunday 12 July 2026, according to the BBC and The National Scot.
TVGuide.co.uk lists the broadcast on BBC One North West HD from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, with subtitles. The programme description states that Laura Kuenssberg talks to those making the news, inside and outside politics.
Viewers can follow live updates on the BBC News live page for the show.
Why does this Sunday politics show matter now?
The timing is significant. The BBC live blog notes that 322 Labour MPs backed Burnham's leadership bid, while Nigel Farage resigned as Clacton MP, triggering a by-election he has said he will contest.
The panel is also expected to discuss the death of former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe. Police say a 28-year-old man was arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of her murder. Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries at her Devon home on Thursday.
As leadership transitions reshape Westminster, long-running programmes like Kuenssberg's remain a key forum for accountability. For broader coverage of how public life and policy debates evolve, see our Longevity & Biohacking section.