Wednesday, 19 July, 2006

By Martha Kearney
Presenter, BBC Newsnight

Presented by Martha Kearney

Sir Menzies

It seems unlikely that there'd be a crossover between Dame Edna's celebrity chat show and the pointy-headed analysis of Newsnight but today we reached that nexus.

On tonight's programme we are having an audience of voters question the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell.

The producers have begun to wonder whether I will ever learn the audience's names so they suggested putting huge stickers on the guests' fronts saying "John A Lib Dem Switcher" etc. (You may remember that Dame Edna did the same with the likes of Madonna).

Tune in tonight to see if we have got that desperate. And you'll also hear the results of our fascinating opinion poll which gives a verdict on Sir Ming's first months as leader.

Middle East

Of course the main story tonight remains the Middle East and Gavin is in Jerusalem.

As the UK and other countries pull their nationals out of Beirut, the situation for the Lebanese left behind is becoming increasingly desperate. Tim Whewell has spent the day with the people of Beirut. Tim Whewell has spent the day with the residents of Beirut.

Diplomacy

Does the solution to the Middle East crisis lie in diplomacy? The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has today met Israel's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in an effort to broker a cease-fire. Does he think that's likely? Gavin Esler has an exclusive interview.

John Reid

We already know that John Reid doesn't think the Home Office is fit for purpose; today we got his plan for turning it around. Job cuts seem to play a large part in it - and so does clearing the backlog of failed asylum seekers. David Grossman has been finding out whether the plan will work.