Today - 14/09/2009

Presented by Justin Webb and James Naughtie. The former UK ambassador to Libya confirmed to the Sunday Times that he had agreed with his counterpart in London that the British government would not seek for any potential suspect for the murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher to be tried in England. Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski discusses his view that the government has handled the affair poorly. The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George Bush during a news conference finishes his prison sentence today. Muntadar al-Zaidi was convicted of assault for his attack on the US president in March 2009. Correspondent Hugh Sykes reports from Baghdad on how his family are preparing a hero's welcome when he gets out. The millionaire Irish businessman Declan Ganley has announced he is to join the NO campaign for Ireland's second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which will happen on the 2nd of October 2009. Mr Ganley was the leading voice in the NO campaign during the first referendum. The Irish Times' Political Correspondent, Deaglan de Breadun, discusses how the recent polls suggest a significant trend towards NO. Singer Elton John says he has 'lost his heart' to a 14-month-old Ukrainian orphan from an Aids orphanage, and now wants to adopt him. Chief Executive of the charity EveryChild, Anna Feuchtwang, warns that such adoptions could have a damaging effect. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber warns against public sector spending cuts, and puts forward alternative proposals such as cutting tax relief on the pensions of high-earners. If internet dating, speed dating or even the lonely hearts columns haven't worked for you then the Today programme may have the answer. An old spa town on the West Coast of Ireland is home to the world's oldest and largest matchmaking festival. Correspondent Tamasin Ford reports on how more than 40,000 people flock to Lisdoonvarna for five weeks every year in the hope of finding their perfect match. Thought for the day with Rev Dr David Wilkinson, Principal of St John's College, The collapse of Lehman Brothers one fateful Monday morning a year ago has become a defining moment in financial history, creating an aftershock so devastating that markets are only now beginning to recover their poise. Business Editor Robert Peston discusses what happened a year ago with John Thain, former time chief executive of Merrill Lynch. With public debt heading for a historic high the Government will have to explain before the general election how its plans to control costs differ from what it claims are damaging cuts planned by the Conservatives. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson discusses how he will address the subject in a speech today. Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn becomes the oldest living artist to top the UK album chart with her greatest hits collection. Paul Gambaccini discusses Dame Vera's success. A farm at Godstone Farm near Redhill has been closed while the Health Protection Agency carries out an investigation into a to a string of E coli cases which has affected 12 children. Dr Graham Bickler, Director of South East Region Health Protection Agency (which has been criticised by some of the childrens' parents for not closing the farm earlier) defends his organisation's response to the outbreak. The shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke responds to Lord Mandelson's view that the Conservatives are salivating at the prospect of cuts in spending. Could the unions make life so difficult for the government over the coming months that parallels could be drawn with the dying days of the Callaghan government in 1978-79? Former Industrial Editor of the Daily Mirror Geoffrey Goodman and Chief Executive of the Work Foundation, Will Hutton, discuss how wise it would be if they were to take on the government in the months before a general election. It's 10 years since the death of Alan Clark, a politician who found distinction in his diary style, if not his career. Ion Trewin, who edited the diaries, and political commentator Anthony Howard, discuss how much of Clark the politician survives, as well as the diarist? Plans to introduce a vetting scheme for parents who drive children to sports and social clubs has attracted a good deal of criticism. Dr Aric Sigman, author of a new book about children and society in the UK, argues that children are becoming increasingly antisocial and adult authority should be restored to their lives. What is a country's best measure of progress? President Sarkozy set up a commissionc co-chaired by the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitzc to report on 'What is progress?' The report will be presented to Sarkozy in Paris. Prof Stiglitz and economist Lord Layard, author of Happiness - Lessons from a New Science, discuss how we can discover if we are doing more, better.