Today - 18/10/2008

Presented by Edward Stourton and John Humphrys. Ross Hawkins reports on immigration minister Phil Woolas's comments about the need to curb the number of migrants coming into the UK. Jonah Fisher reports on whether talks to save the power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe can be salvaged. Justin Webb and David Frum, a former speechwriter for President Bush, discuss the US presidential elections, as campaigning focuses on the key southern states. Yesterday in Parliament with Mark D'Arcy. Richard Lambert, Director-General of the CBI, discusses the week that moved the financial crisis from the banks into the family home. Nicola Stanbridge reports on the teaching of music in prisons. Thought for the Day with Rev Roy Jenkins, Baptist minister in Cardiff. Scottish MSP Margo MacDonald says the legal position of assisted suicide 'must be tidied up'. Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, and Labour MP Frank Field discuss immigration in a time of economic downturn. Alex Vines of the think-tank Chatham House, says that the failure of the Zimbabwe power-sharing negotiations shows how ineffective the former South African president Thabo Mbeki is. Author Ian Rankin and Professor Anthony Busuttil of the University of Edinburgh discuss the importance of scientific reality in writing. John Humphrys discusses the credit crunch with a panel of consumers from Watford. Tariq Azam Khan, former Information Minister and now a Senator in the Pakistani parliament, discusses how the Pakistani government can deal with the Taleban. Neil Herron of the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund says that common sense is prevailing over metric legislation.