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Sky News Daily

The Sky News Daily podcast with Niall Paterson brings a deeper look at the big stories - with Sky News correspondents and expert guests.

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Episodes

  • What's gone on with the Tory leadership contest?

    Wednesday, 9 October 2024

    20 minutes

    On Tuesday afternoon, James Cleverly got the most votes from Tory MPs in the party’s leadership contest. One day later and the next round of voting went a different way. Cleverly failed to make the final two.   Party members will now choose between Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick in a clear indication that the party will shift towards the right in the months after its election defeat.   So, what happened with Wednesday’s vote, and who will the Tory membership be most attracted to as they decide the party's new leader? Niall Paterson and our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh discu...

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  • Can special advisers be too powerful?

    Tuesday, 8 October 2024

    20 minutes

    The departure of Sue Gray, as Sir Keir Starmer's most senior adviser in Number 10, has shone a spotlight on the role of special advisers in government.    So on today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our deputy political editor Sam Coates to find out exactly what role these advisers, often known as SpAds, play in the running of the country.   Niall also speaks to former Conservative special adviser, and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers, Peter Cardwell, about what it was like to do the job.  Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth  

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  • Can there be a peaceful solution in the Middle East?

    Monday, 7 October 2024

    21 minutes

    It's one year on since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, which was followed by Israel's mission to eradicate the terror group in Gaza. In short, what followed was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Iranian attacks on Israel, and Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon.   With the region yet to find a sustainable path away from conflict, on the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a step back and asks if a peaceful solution can ever be found.     Niall is joined by Alistair Bunkall, our Middle East correspondent, and our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke, to discuss if Israel can keep up ...

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  • USA 24: Vice Presidents, hurricanes, and war in the Middle East

    Friday, 4 October 2024

    32 minutes

    With only a month to go until the US election, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what voters in key swing states make of the choice for president.         This week a series of unexpected events have been derailing the campaign. Iranian ballistic missiles poured into Israel, putting foreign policy at the top of the agenda at the vice presidential debate as Democrat pick Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance went head to head for the first time.     Plus, Martha Kelner and Mark Stone have been tracking the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm since H...

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  • On the ground in Lebanon and Israel: What happens next?  

    Thursday, 3 October 2024

    21 minutes

    With the Middle East on the edge of an all-out war, Sky News Daily takes a look at how the situation looks for civilians on the ground, and what could happen next. Niall Paterson is joined by special correspondent, Alex Crawford, who is on the ground in the old city of Tyre in the south of Lebanon.  He also speaks to Deborah Haynes, our security and defence editor, who is near the Israel-Lebanon border.  Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker 

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  • Beneath the Iron Dome: How Israel's air defence system works

    Wednesday, 2 October 2024

    15 minutes

    Israel has a layered air defence system, which has acted to protect the country from the latest wave of incoming missiles from Iran.    The more well-known Iron Dome brings down frequent incoming short-range rocket systems fired at Israel by both Hezbollah and Hamas. David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3, are built to tackle medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles, but how does Israel's defence system work?   Niall Paterson sits down with Sky's military expert Professor Michael Clarke to learn more about the range of defences.  Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont 

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  • The Tory final four: Could any of them be PM in 2029?

    Tuesday, 1 October 2024

    28 minutes

    Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are contenders to become the next Conservative Party leader.     With infighting already playing out among the candidates, and outgoing leader Rishi Sunak calling for party unity, can whoever is successfully chosen last until, and even win, the next general election in 2029?     On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is at the Tory party conference in Birmingham, and with political editor Beth Rigby, they discuss the leadership hopefuls' campaigns, and the mood among members for their chances against Labour.     ...

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  • What can the rest of the world do to stop a Middle East war?

    Monday, 30 September 2024

    19 minutes

    President Biden has said "all-out war" in the Middle East has to be avoided after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut.  The White House has tried to tread carefully to contain tensions between Israel and both Hamas and Hezbollah, who are backed by Iran.   But the strikes which killed Nasrallah happened hours after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the United Nations - raising questions about the effectiveness of diplomacy and what the international community can do to avoid escalation.  On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall P...

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  • USA 2024: Scandal for North Carolina and voting in Virginia

    Friday, 27 September 2024

    35 minutes

    Sky News’ team of US correspondents bring you original stories and analysis from their reporting across the country in the build-up to the presidential election.   This time – what will the scandal involving Donald Trump-backed candidate Mark Robinson mean in North Carolina? They are at early voting in Virginia and discuss what Hurricane Helene means for the campaign in Florida.   Mark Stone is in Washington, Dominic Waghorn is in New York after his trip to Virginia and Martha Kelner is in Florida.  Producers: Rosie Gillott, Emma Rae Woodhouse, Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont    

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  • What is Hezbollah and how powerful is it?

    Thursday, 26 September 2024

    20 minutes

    The threat of an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah seems to be edging closer after Israel rejected Lebanon ceasefire plans.  The Iranian-backed militant group has been a force in Middle East politics and conflict for decades, but has suffered heavy losses in the last few weeks after Israeli attacks.  Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn about how much support Hezbollah has within Lebanon and Iran's role with the group.Plus, defence and security editor Deborah Haynes talks to Niall about how significant Hezbollah's military capabilities are....

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  • How sanctioned goods are getting into Russia

    Wednesday, 25 September 2024

    20 minutes

    Sanctions on Russia were introduced two years ago shortly after the start of the country’s Ukrainian invasion. The purpose? To limit the Russian war machine and starve Russian oligarchs of access to luxury items.    Our economics and data editor Ed Conway noticed that sales of British luxury vehicles to Russia had fallen away to almost nothing, yet sales to former Soviet states such as Azerbaijan and Georgia have massively increased. The suspicion was that these cars would then somehow make it into Russia, but we did not know how.   In this episode, Niall Paterson sits down with Ed to find ...

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  • Will Starmer's 'no pain, no gain' strategy pay off?  

    Tuesday, 24 September 2024

    19 minutes

    As Sir Keir Starmer delivers his first leader's speech as prime minister to a packed-out conference hall in Liverpool, can he convince his party, and the country, that Labour's promise to deliver "national renewal" in return for short-term pain will be worth it?    Niall Paterson gets the reaction of Labour's front bench from the conference floor and sits down with Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates. They discuss if Sir Keir can convince the public that austerity is not a possibility.    Producer: Rosie Gillott   Editor: Philly Beaumont   

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  • Labour’s trust issues and can Rachel Reeves fix them?

    Monday, 23 September 2024

    19 minutes

    As the UK's first female chancellor delivers her speech to the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, the Sky News Daily asks why the new government is already fighting to regain the trust of the public.   Host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby and economic and data editor Ed Conway in the conference hall to comb through Rachel Reeves's speech.  Producer: Rosie Gillott   Editor: Philly Beaumont   

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  • USA 2024: Who's to blame for political violence?

    Friday, 20 September 2024

    32 minutes

    With seven weeks to go until the US goes to the polls, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what citizens in key swing states make of the choice for president.     This week they focus on the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump.  Mark Stone travels to Florida where the foiled attack took place, James Matthews has been finding out more on the would-be assassin in his home town of Greensboro, North Carolina. Plus, Martha Kelner attended a Trump townhall in Flint Michigan to hear him speak for the first time after the attempt on his life, and asks voters if...

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  • Can you fix the prison service?

    Thursday, 19 September 2024

    19 minutes

    In a rare insight into the prisons crisis, a serving governor at one of the UK's crowded jails has spoken anonymously to Sky News about conditions inside, the reality of early release and why we should rethink who is put behind bars.   "There is a smell that you would always associate with prison. It's the smell of unwashed bodies," they told Sky News.   On this episode, Niall Paterson speaks to former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson, author of the book 'Screwed - Britain's Prison Crisis and How to Escape It', about the prison environment, and how systemic a problem it has become.  Pr...

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  • The riots have gone but the anger remains…

    Wednesday, 18 September 2024

    20 minutes

    In Hull, in the aftermath of summer riots that saw an asylum hotel attacked, shops looted, and cars burned, two strong feelings remain.  Resentment over a perceived strain placed on local services by asylum seekers and anger from the feeling that politicians are ignoring their concerns.  On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by producer Sarah O’Connell, who recently visited Hull to meet residents who witnessed the violence in the city on 3 August.  They discuss how locals feel that they aren’t listened to, and the deprivation that some in the city experience every day.  Producer: Rosie ...

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  • 'Let’s finish the job’ - Ed Davey at the Lib Dem conference

    Tuesday, 17 September 2024

    24 minutes

    Ed Davey told the Liberal Democrat party conference that he would "cut through the government's doom and gloom" and plans to "vanquish what's left of the Conservative Party".    With attention-grabbing stunts, which this week extended to arriving at the conference on a jet ski, and a record-breaking 72 seats in parliament making them the third biggest party, can the Lib Dems keep the momentum going?   Niall Paterson sits down on Brighton's pebble beach with our political correspondent Rob Powell, to debrief on the gimmicks, the conference, and Ed Davey's speech.   Plus, Niall catches Lib De...

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  • 'Never surrender!' - Trump defiant after another assassination attempt

    Monday, 16 September 2024

    21 minutes

    Donald Trump has faced a second assassination attempt while playing golf in Florida.   The accused, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, is said to have fled the scene but was eventually arrested and charged with federal gun crimes. With just seven weeks out from election day, how will voters react to the apparent second bid on Trump's life?   Niall Paterson is joined by Scarlett Maguire, director of JL Partners pollsters, to explore what the polls suggest about the race for the White House, and what the latest attempt on Trump could mean for them?   Plus, Sir Keir Starmer is in Rome to meet with...

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  • "They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats! " It's the 2024 US Election campaign 

    Friday, 13 September 2024

    25 minutes

    With eight weeks before the US goes to the polls, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what citizens in key swing states make of the choice for president.     This week, James Matthews has been to Bucks County in Pennsylvania to see what voters in that crucial state made of the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Meanwhile, Mark Stone has been investigating claims Mr Trump made at that debate that immigrants in Ohio are eating people's cats and dogs.    Producer: Rosie Gillott  Editor: Philly Beaumont  

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  • 'Reform or die': Can technology save the NHS?

    Thursday, 12 September 2024

    18 minutes

    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 promo...

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  • Harris-Trump Debate: Who came out on top?

    Wednesday, 11 September 2024

    15 minutes

    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 ele...

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  • Prisoners celebrate - but is early release good news?

    Tuesday, 10 September 2024

    19 minutes

    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 explai...

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  • The war nobody is talking about   

    Monday, 9 September 2024

    20 minutes

    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 ...

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  • Is it really possible to “smash” the smuggling gangs?

    Friday, 6 September 2024

    22 minutes

    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 join...

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  • Will new sewage dumping laws work?

    Thursday, 5 September 2024

    21 minutes

    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 lea...

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  • Grenfell: What happens to those the inquiry blames?

    Wednesday, 4 September 2024

    27 minutes

    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.   Als...

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  • Why are Grenfell safety laws being ignored by building owners?  

    Tuesday, 3 September 2024

    21 minutes

    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...

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  • Ticket troubles – can there be a better system?

    Monday, 2 September 2024

    21 minutes

    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 ab...

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  • Politics is back - so what's in store for Autumn?

    Friday, 30 August 2024

    19 minutes

    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 a...

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  • The end of a smoke in the beer garden?

    Thursday, 29 August 2024

    22 minutes

    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 McC...

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