Ontelly

Today - 06/06/2009

Logo for Today - 06/06/2009

Presented by Edward Stourton and John Humphrys. Political correspondent Terry Stiasny and Professor John Curtice discuss increasing pressure placed on the prime minister after cabinet resignations. James Naughtie details the ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Correspondent Alex Bushill meets Roger Mansfield, one of the first men to try surfing in Cornwall. David Gleave, who runs the consultancy firm Aviation Safety Investigations, discusses news that debris salvaged from the sea was not from the Air France jet that went missing. Samantha Washington, of Money Box, explains claims that car insurers are 'bullying' people to settle claims when they have been victims of accidents that are not their fault. Vincent Dowd discovers how radio enabled the events of WWII to be followed by those at home. Thought for the day with Reverend Joel Edwards, international director of Micah Challenge. Shadow Communities Secretary Caroline Spelman says it is very clear that the public want a general election. James Naughtie reports from Normandy in France on the series of events to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings. Foreign policy experts Dr Robin Niblett and Robert Cooper discuss the effects of big political speeches. Tony Wright, Labour MP for Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, discusses the local election results. The murder of the French students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez commanded public attention partly because it was so brutal and random and partly because one of the killers, Dano Sonnex, should have been in prison at the time. Reporter Angus Stickler meets Guy Bonomo, father of Laurent. More than 9,000 men were laid to rest in the cemetery close to Colleville-Sur-Mer - codenamed Omaha beach - after the D-Day landings. Historian Dan Snow remembers the thousands of UK and Canadian troops who came ashore on 6 June 1944 and during the following days. Labour's former director of communications Lance Price discusses the focus from many of the newspapers on Lord Mandelson's role in shoring up support for Gordon Brown during the recent political tempest. Nick Robinson reflects on whether Prime Minister Gordon Brown can persuade backbench Labour MPs to accept him as leader or if they will conclude that he should be finished off.