Today - 22/06/2009

Presented by Edward Stourton and Evan Davis. Labour MP Stephen Pound says government whips are making a potentially fatal mistake by 'touting' Margaret Beckett for the role of the House of Commons Speaker. Frank Gardner reports on what the Foreign Office is doing to bring about the release of the remaining British hostages in Iraq. The government is to allocate money for dyslexia training in response to a report out on the condition. Dr John Rack of Dyslexia Action gives his thoughts. Nicola Stanbridge reports on the UK premiere of The Massacre by British playwright and radical Elizabeth Inchbald. Iran analyst Karim Sajadpour discusses whether or not President Obama's election has in any way influenced the course of events in Iran. Gemma Rogers of the RSPB says that swifts now figure on the charity's list of 'at risk' birds. Author Marshall Jon Fisher discusses the extent to which Nazi Germany used sporting events as propaganda. What can realistically be done to help the remaining British hostages in Iraq? President of the Cordoba Foundation, Anas Altikriti, who was involved in the negotiations to free Norman Kember, discusses. Nick Robinson and Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman discuss the rumours that government whips are 'touting' Margaret Beckett as the new House of Commons Speaker. The Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 70 per cent owned by the taxpayer, is understood to have agreed a pay package for the chief executive Stephen Hester amounting to as much as 9.6 million pounds. Business editor Robert Peston reports. The peace-time diary of Len Smith, a WWI sniper and sapper, is being published. It is called A Caravan Holiday: A Trip Down Memory Lane on Two Wheels. His great-nephew Dave Mason discusses the book with broadcaster Rowland Rivron, who is a caravan enthusiast. Correspondent Mike Thomson asks Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai about the response to his request for funding. Phil Hall of PHA Media and author Mark Borkowski consider the challenges faced by Gordon Brown's new director of communications, Simon Lewis. As MPs prepare to elect a new House of Commons Speaker, the former deputy leader of the Labour party, Lord Roy Hattersley, gives his thoughts on the process. UNESCO is to decide whether the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in north Wales will become a World Heritage site. Architectural historian and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank gives his view on the proposition.