This Is Why - podcast cover

This Is Why

Sky Newswww.skynews.com
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
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Episodes

The 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 an...

Sep 09, 202419 min

Is 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...

Sep 06, 202422 min

Will 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...

Sep 05, 202421 min

Grenfell: 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 inquir...

Sep 04, 202426 min

Why 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 ...

Sep 03, 202420 min

Ticket 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 wo...

Sep 02, 202420 min

Politics 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 ...

Aug 30, 202418 min

The 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, ...

Aug 29, 202422 min

Scrapping 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 poli...

Aug 28, 202418 min

Oasis 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...

Aug 27, 202420 min

What 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...

Aug 23, 202422 min

GCSE 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 th...

Aug 22, 202419 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 i...

Aug 21, 202418 min

Superyacht 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"...

Aug 20, 202422 min

Prison 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 Fa...

Aug 19, 202420 min

Can 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 jo...

Aug 16, 202420 min

Can universities make their sums work?

Can universities make their sums work? As students nervously receive their A-level results, many of the universities they'll enrol in are facing their own concerns over what's next... Academics have warned that years of underfunding and a lack of lucrative international students at British universities after visa changes risks the sector's ability to provide top-class education and, for some institutions, whether they'll be able to keep teaching at all. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined ...

Aug 15, 202420 min

Inflation nudges up – what can we expect from the economy this autumn?

The inflation rate is up for the first time this year. Prices went up by 2.2% in the year until July – moving the rate above the Bank of England target of 2%. Experts had expected an uptick as energy prices are falling by less than they did a year ago. The increase doesn't seem to change hope for further interest rate cuts in the months to come – but what else can we expect from the economy this autumn as the new government continues to warn about the economic "challenges" it's inherited and as ...

Aug 14, 202420 min

How Ukraine’s invasion crossed Putin’s ‘red line’

A week after Ukraine invaded the Kursk region of western Russia - when around 1,000 troops surprised analysts by storming across the border - Russia’s President Vladimir Putin vowed to “kick the enemy out of our territory”. But has the success of Ukraine’s incursion threatened his grip on power? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke to explore the reasoning behind the timing of the invasion, and Peter Dickinson, editor of the UkraineAl...

Aug 13, 202417 min

What's Iran up to?

Middle Eastern nations are scrambling to protect a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and prevent a regional conflict. There are reports of imminent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation on Israel, as the United States moves military assets to the region. Joining Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily is our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, and military expert Michael Clarke, to hear about the mood in Jerusalem, the risks of war, and what Iran what might be about to do. Producer: Soila...

Aug 12, 202418 min

What happens after an Olympics?

The Olympics in Paris ends this weekend – as it gears up for the Paralympics. But what legacy does such a huge event leave for athletes and a host city? Team GB's Jess Roberts won a bronze in the cycling women's team pursuit, but she almost quit the sport because of injury. She joins Matt Barbet alongside Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain's greatest Paralympic athletes, to discuss how athletes reset mentally and physically after the games. Plus, Rob Harris, our sports correspondent sp...

Aug 09, 202419 min

Starmer's first big test: How well did the PM handle the riots?

Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England and formed human barriers to protect asylum centres after police warned of more than 100 far-right-led rallies on Wednesday night. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, who we spoke to on the last episode, after the protests his community feared were overshadowed by those voicing support. Plus, our people and communities correspondent Nick Martin on how swift justice ma...

Aug 08, 202419 min

'Unease and fear': How communities are feeling about the riots

The UK is bracing itself for more than 100 protests across the country – with thousands of specialist officers on standby. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, about the dread and fear hanging over the Muslim community. He also discusses what the community is doing to protect those most vulnerable to the violence. Plus, health correspondent Ashish Joshi tells of how NHS staff are also now facing racist abuse, which could lead t...

Aug 07, 202418 min

Who are the rioters?

After a week of unrest across dozens of towns and cities, police have arrested hundreds of those involved. The former head of counter-terrorism policing, Neil Basu, says some violence has "crossed the line into terrorism" - as courts sit for extended hours to speed up convictions. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our crime correspondent Martin Brunt about how officers are coping with the challenge of policing the violence, and heads to Liverpool where our home affairs reporter Hen...

Aug 06, 202417 min

Can the government stop the far right?

After a weekend of violence and disorder, Sir Keir Starmer has said police will have access to a "standing army of specialist officers" to deal with the riots. Hundreds of people tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham on Sunday, while a children’s library in Liverpool and a Citizens Advice centre in Sunderland were burnt over the weekend. Mosques have also been attacked and shops looted. The prime minister is facing mounting pressure to take a stand against the far righ...

Aug 05, 202421 min

What can GOATs of the future learn from Andy Murray and Simone Biles?

As one sporting great retires and another adds to her gold medal tally at the Paris Olympics, the Sky News Daily profiles Andy Murray and Simone Biles. Liz Bates speaks to sports journalist Sue Mott who helped Murray write his autobiography. She's also joined by Kathy Williams, who became the first black female gymnast to represent Great Britain at an Olympics, in Los Angeles in 1984. Kathy talks about why Simone Biles has become one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Producers: Tom Pooley a...

Aug 02, 202418 min

How disinformation is fuelling the far right

A judge has made the "exceptional" decision to name the 17-year-old suspect charged with the murder of three girls in the Southport stabbing attack, in an attempt to prevent further misinformation about him being spreading online. Reporting restrictions around the identification of a minor left an information vacuum into which disinformation spread, fuelling violence in towns across the country in recent days. On the Sky News Daily, Liz Bates speaks to our data and forensics correspondent Tom Ch...

Aug 01, 202420 min

Huw Edwards guilty: What questions now for the BBC?

Former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children. The court heard Edwards had been involved in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and April 2022, while he was still presenting on the BBC. On the Sky News Daily, host Liz Bates is joined by Sky correspondent Henry Vaughn who was at the court in Westminster as Edwards pleaded guilty, and asks Jake Kanter, international investigations editor at Deadline, what his pl...

Jul 31, 202416 min

Southport stabbings: What's the help for the people who helped?

On this episode, Liz Bates talks about the impact of the stabbings in Southport which killed three children at a summer holiday dance class. We hear Sky News' interview with Joel Verite, who came face to face with the alleged attacker. Liz talks to Gary Hayes, a former police officer who now helps emergency crews who have PTSD. Plus, correspondent Ashna Hurynag is in Southport and tells Liz how the community is starting to process what happened. 👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherev...

Jul 30, 202422 min

Is there really no money left?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she's discovered a "£20bn black hole" in the public finances left by the previous government. In the Commons, she set out her plans to address the funding shortfall through spending cuts, as shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt accused Labour of using the statement to lay the groundwork for a U-turn on tax rises in the October budget. On the Sky News Daily, host Liz Bates is joined by deputy political editor Sam Coates to look at Labour’s messaging on the state of public f...

Jul 29, 202418 min
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