Sep 13, 2024 · 25 min
TI
News
This Is Why
Sky News
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you.
Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.
Available every weekday afternoon.
This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
- 1,002 episodes
- Updated Yesterday
Episodes1002
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Sep 12, 2024 · 17 min'Reform or die': Can technology save the NHS?
Sir Keir Starmer has said the NHS must "reform or die" following Lord Darzi's damning report which paints a grim picture of the state of the health service. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to health correspondent Ashish Joshi about what the prime minister has promised to do to save it. Among the promises is moving from an "analogue to a digital NHS". Niall speaks to medical tech entrepreneur Dr Ben Maruthappu about how the NHS can better use technology and AI to become more efficient and future-proof. Producer: Rosie Gillott Podcast promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Sep 11, 2024 · 15 minHarris-Trump Debate: Who came out on top?
Vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have gone head to head for the first time. In a fiery 90 minutes, Ms Harris attacked the former president over his criminal convictions and the size of the crowds at his rallies, while Mr Trump doubled down on claims the Democrats had damaged the US economy. Mark Austin is joined by US correspondent James Matthews from the floor of the debate hall for this episode of the Daily to go through the key moments from the debate, and look at the impact a surprise entry from pop mega-star Taylor Swift could have ahead of the election in November. Audio credit: ABC News Presidential Debate Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Sep 10, 2024 · 18 minPrisoners celebrate - but is early release good news?
On Tuesday, 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences in the first phase of Labour's plan to tackle overcrowding. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson says the prisoners will serve the rest of their sentence under the strictest licensing conditions, but there are questions over whether this is a long-term solution as currently 2,000 prisoners are recalled every month for breaching their release licence. Daily host Matt Barbet is joined by sky correspondent Mollie Malone who's been speaking to some of those set for early release, and home editor Jason Farrell explains the size of the issue the new government is facing when it comes to the state of our prisons. 👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Rosie Gillott Podcast promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Sep 9, 2024 · 19 minThe war nobody is talking about
Sudan has suffered three domestic wars spanning well over 40 years of the country's 67 years of independence. Millions of people have been displaced and thousands killed. Now a joint investigation by Sky News, Lighthouse Reports, Washington Post and Le Monde has uncovered the gruesome details of a massacre which took place last year - one of the first episodes of ethnically motivated atrocities in this latest war. On the Sky News Daily Tom Cheshire talks to Africa Correspondent Yousra Elbagir and Klaas van Dijken, investigations director of Lighthouse about this report and why more needs to be done to help the Sudanese. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont
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Sep 6, 2024 · 21 minIs it really possible to “smash” the smuggling gangs?
This year has been the deadliest on the English Channel in three years. Six children and a pregnant woman are among the twelve who died on Tuesday after their boat sank off the French coast, bringing the number killed in 2024 to nearly 40. Today, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is hosting a summit aimed at smashing the criminal gangs that send the boats across the Channel. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson speaks to Rob Lawrie, former British Army soldier, aid volunteer, and people smuggling investigator for the podcast series To Catch a Scorpion and The Smugglers' Trail. He’s also joined by Danny Shaw, former adviser to Yvette Cooper and crime commentator, to discuss how the new government will deal with illegal migration. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker
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Sep 5, 2024 · 20 minWill new sewage dumping laws work?
The government is bringing in new laws which will see stiffer penalties for water companies and possible jail sentences for their bosses if they don't deal with sewage problems. The environment secretary, Steve Reed, chaired a meeting attended by the water industry, investors and campaigners where he announced a landmark review into how the industry works. Niall Patterson spoke to our business correspondent, Paul Kelso, who was there for his assessment of what it could mean for the companies and bill payers. Plus, as the police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire warn it could be at least a year until they hand over evidence to prosecutors, Niall speaks to Chris Daw KC, author of Justice On Trial, on why it is going to take so long for the survivors and bereaved families to get justice. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker
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Sep 4, 2024 · 26 minGrenfell: What happens to those the inquiry blames?
All 72 deaths were "avoidable", according to the final Grenfell Tower inquiry report, which found "decades of failure" led to the tragedy. The inquiry lasted six years and concluded there was "systematic dishonesty" from cladding firms, "complacency" from governments and an "inappropriate" relationship between inspectors and those they were inspecting. Niall Paterson is joined by our science and technology editor Tom Clarke to look at the findings and recommendations of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, and how the fire was the final, fatal link in a chain of unimaginable human failure. Also, our home news correspondent Rachael Venables speaks to survivors and families of the people who died about what they want to happen next. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Soila Apparicio Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker
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Sep 3, 2024 · 20 minWhy are Grenfell safety laws being ignored by building owners?
Sky News has found out that legislation introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire to force building owners to fix serious fire safety issues is not being enforced, leaving thousands of people trapped in unsafe flats. Children who survived the Grenfell fire, which killed 72 people, have told Sky News 'justice' for them would be for the dangerous cladding to be removed from all UK buildings. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to communities correspondent Becky Johnson who's met residents around the country fighting to get their homes made safe. Plus, he hears from correspondent Rachael Venables who has been meeting children who survived the fire. Producers: Rosie Gillott & Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker
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Sep 2, 2024 · 20 minTicket troubles – can there be a better system?
After a long Saturday for millions of Oasis fans in online queues, the culture secretary says surge pricing will be part of the government’s review of the ticket market. Niall speaks to secondary ticketing site Viagogo on this episode. While it wasn’t part of dynamic pricing, it has offered resale tickets for thousands of pounds since Saturday. Matt Drew from the company accepts the industry needs a full review while Adam Webb, from the campaign group FanFair Alliance, explains the changes it would like to see. Later, our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire tells Niall about how a rise in online propaganda has helped the Afghan branch of Islamic State become “the greatest external terror threat”. It’s been linked to the concert hall attack in Moscow and the plot to disrupt Taylor Swift gigs in Austria. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth
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Aug 30, 2024 · 18 minPolitics is back - so what's in store for Autumn?
Politics returns to Westminster next week, with a Conservative leadership race, Labour's first budget, and party conference season around the corner. Host Liz Bates sits down with our deputy political editor Sam Coates to look ahead to what's in store for Prime Minister Keir Starmer when it comes to the trade unions and his first big budget. And Liz and Sam discuss the Tory frontrunners vying to be his main opposition. Plus, Sam's podcast Politics At Jack And Sam's is back every weekday morning from Monday, where he and POLITCO's UK editor Jack Blanchard explain what you need to know about the day's political news. That's out about 7.30am. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku
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Aug 29, 2024 · 21 minThe end of a smoke in the beer garden?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is looking at tougher rules on outdoor smoking to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to the habit and relieve pressure on the NHS. The government has yet to confirm exactly what the changes could look like, but smoking could soon be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, and outside hospitals and sports grounds. Host Liz Bates heads to one of Westminster's most famous pubs to explore why Labour are planning these changes, with our chief political correspondent Jon Craig. The NHS Confederation's Dr Layla McCay explains the impact extending the smoking ban could have not just on public health, but on the economy as well, and Kate Nicholls from UKHospitality tells us the concerns her industry has about the proposals. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse & Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
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Aug 28, 2024 · 18 minScrapping Winter Fuel Allowance: Could there be another way?
Around 10 million people in England and Wales will not receive winter fuel payments this winter. Under Chancellor Rachel Reeves' plan, only those who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits will still get the £200-£300 towards the cost of their energy bills. Critics, including Labour MPs, have said the payments will put even more pressure on elderly people as the cap on energy prices rises again in October. On this episode, Liz Bates gets a breakdown of Labour’s plan, from our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh, and hears from one of its critics, Labour back-bencher Rachael Maskell. Plus, could there be an alternative that could keep everyone happy? We hear from the Social Market Foundation’s Sam Robinson about its proposal for an alternative to the winter fuel allowance. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
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Aug 27, 2024 · 19 minOasis reunite: Terry Christian on what made them special
After 15 years, brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have announced they’ll reunite for a tour next year. On this Sky News Daily episode, Terry Christian, the man who gave the band their national debut on The Word, says he "didn't think there was anything special" when first seeing Oasis live, but the band's "vibe" and Liam's "confidence" made them "amazing". Host Liz Bates also hears from Neil McCormick, the Telegraph's chief music critic and Katie Spencer, our entertainment correspondent. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
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Aug 23, 2024 · 22 minWhat are the takeaways from Kamala Harris's speech?
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president and laid out her election pitch to millions of voters at the party's national convention. As well as offering more of her backstory, she promised unity and to move from the "divisive battles" of American politics. On this episode, Niall Paterson asks our US correspondent Mark Stone what we learnt about Kamala Harris and how a re-energised campaign against Donald Trump may now play out. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth
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Aug 22, 2024 · 18 minGCSE results: Why grades don't tell the full story
Are GCSEs the best thing for 16-year-olds to show as they leave secondary education? Is there a better method to assess what they've achieved in school and to set them up for their next step? Niall Paterson explores the future for GCSEs on this episode – and asks why where you live can affect the grades you get. He speaks to two headteachers - Becky Arnold at Framingham Earl high school near Norwich, and Farhan Adam at Crown Hills Community College in Leicester who was awarded "headteacher of the year" in 2023. Plus, Louis Hodge of the research organisation Education Policy Institute (EPI) joins Niall to discuss the "disadvantage gap" in today's GCSE results. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth
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Aug 21, 2024 · 17 min'It's going to be grim': Ed Conway on the state of public finances
Official data shows government borrowing in July was above expectations and at its highest since the pandemic. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expected borrowing to be £46.6bn - instead it reached £51.3bn. Our economics and data editor Ed Conway joins Niall Paterson to talk about the unexpected rise in government borrowing and Chancellor Rachel Reeves' options at the October budget. Plus, chief political correspondent Jon Craig discusses how long Labour's claim they are dealing with inherited problems will stand. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker
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Aug 20, 2024 · 22 minSuperyacht sinks: What do we know?
A British-flagged superyacht has sunk off the coast of Sicily, leaving at least one person dead and six others missing. Among those still lost are British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance. It's believed the yacht was struck by a sudden and powerful storm in the early hours of Monday morning. Mike Lynch, known by some as the "British Bill Gates", was recently cleared after a high-profile fraud trial relating to the $11bn sale of his software giant Autonomy to US company Hewlett Packard. Niall Paterson speaks to our correspondent in Sicily, Ashna Hurynag, to hear about the causes of the yacht's sinking and the investigation into what happened. Plus, Danny Fortson, West Coast correspondent for The Sunday Times, talks about interviewing Mike Lynch only a few weeks ago. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse, Laura FitzPatrick Editor: Paul Stanworth
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Aug 19, 2024 · 19 minPrison overcrowding: Can the police and the courts cope?
An emergency plan to try to ease prison overcrowding has been started by the government – as courts continue to hear cases involving those accused of rioting earlier in the month. Across northern England and parts of the Midlands, those waiting for a court appearance will now be held in police cells until there’s a prison place for them. “Operation Early Dawn” was started on Monday morning. On this episode, Niall Paterson assess the potential impact on courts and the police. He speaks to Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, Philip Jones, custody lead at the National Police Federation and Sky communities correspondent, Becky Johnson. Becky also explains the context and longer-term plan for the prison system. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth
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Aug 16, 2024 · 19 minCan Taylor Swift really bring a £1bn economic gold rush?
Musician and billionaire Taylor Swift is so influential that a new economic term has been coined to refer to her impact: 'Swiftonomics'. From concerts and tours to merchandise and deals, the power of Swift's brand not only earns her money but boosts economies by millions. One estimate suggests that on the latest leg of her Eras Tour, Swift's fans are expected to bring in £300m to London alone, as the capital hosts more shows than any other city in the world. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by our entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow to learn more about the appeal of Swift and her place in the music industry. Niall is also joined by Maria Psyllou, assistant professor in economics at the University of Birmingham, to analyse 'Swiftonomics' and its impact. In this episode, we discuss the average amount spent on going to a Taylor Swift gig. The figures come from a report published by Barclays earlier this year. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth