Sky News Daily
1,913 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★ - 63 ratingsThe 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
Local elections: What’s at stake - for voters and parties?
April 26, 2024 15:00 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MBThe 2 May local elections will have more than 2,600 seats are at stake across 107 English councils. Labour’s Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among the 10 city mayors up for re-election. Those in Blackpool South will also be voting for their next MP after ex-Tory Scott Benton broke Commons lobbying rules, triggering a by-election. With the Conservatives lagging behind Labour in the polls, the outcome will offer some insight on how voters in England and Wales feel ahead of the general ele...
Would nationalisation get the railways back on track?
April 25, 2024 15:50 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBLabour have promised to renationalise nearly all passenger railways within their first term if they win the next election. But will it leave the railways better off? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's political correspondent Sam Coates to discuss the details of Labour's plan and assess if a Great British Railway would be more efficient and cost-effective than the current privatised system. Niall also speaks to the editor of Rail magazine, Nigel Harris, to discuss the c...
TikTok and its possible US ban - here’s what happens next…
April 24, 2024 16:09 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBOnly two months ago Joe Biden joined the social media platform TikTok with a video captioned "lol hey guys". Now, the US president is poised to sign a bill that could ban the popular app - unless its parent company sells it. The country is concerned that TikTok's owner, Beijing-based tech firm ByteDance, could be forced by Chinese authorities to hand over the user data of almost 170 million American app users. On this episode, Niall Paterson unpicks the possible ban with Arthi Nachi...
Sunak's Rwanda bill passes – what impact will it have on immigration?
April 23, 2024 16:12 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBAfter months of parliamentary ping-pong between the House of Commons and the Lords, Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill has passed. The prime minister called it a "landmark" law, saying that "nothing will stand in our way" of getting flights off the ground within 10 to 12 weeks. However, the scheme could face yet more hurdles, with the potential for it to be held up by challenges in court. On this episode, Matt Barbet takes stock of the bill with Adam Parsons, Sky's Europe editor in France, w...
Trump on trial: Porn stars, hush money and a presidential election
April 22, 2024 16:28 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBAs the first of Donald Trump's four criminal trials begins this week, will it have any effect on his chances of re-election in November? The former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. He is accused of falsifying internal business records as part of an alleged scheme to bury stories that he thought might hurt his presidential campaign in 2016. With all eyes on the New York courtroom, Daily host Matt Barbet...
Israel strikes Iran: What's the state of play?
April 19, 2024 16:59 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBAn Israeli missile has struck Iran, in response to the unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend by the Iranians. It seems an airfield outside of the city of Isfahan was targeted, but Tehran has played down the incident and has indicated it has no plans to retaliate. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by military analyst Sean Bell to find out what exactly happened in the latest attack and what it says about Israel's and Iran's respective military st...
Tory MP suspended | What's going on with climate targets?
April 18, 2024 16:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBConservative MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from the parliamentary party in light of allegations he abused local Tory party funds to pay off "bad people". Mark Menzies strongly disputes the claims which also allege he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills. On the Conservatives' investigation into the claims, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News: "There's further information that the Chief Whip I understand became familiar with yesterday and actions being sw...
Inflation falls - but what might it mean for interest rates?
April 17, 2024 15:53 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBThe price of everyday things - mainly food - is now rising at the lowest level since 2021. Official data shows inflation eased last month to 3.2% - down from 3.4% - but the fall was slightly less than economists expected. On the Daily, Niall Paterson looks at what's going on with inflation and what it might mean for interest rates with Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway - who's in the US looking at the situation there. They also discuss how the UK could be importing inflation fro...
Is banning smoking "unconservative"?
April 16, 2024 16:45 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MB'Absolutely nuts' was how former Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Rishi Sunak’s plan to gradually phase out smoking – banning anyone born since the start of 2009 from ever being able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products like vapes. Liz Truss, who was also briefly prime minister in-between the two men, is also among some critical of the proposal – which she described as 'profoundly unconservative'. Tories are being given a free vote in the Commons – allowing them to vote with ...
Why Iran hates Israel (and America)
April 15, 2024 16:39 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBMilitary experts have called Iran's ariel attack on Israel on Saturday night 'ambitious' and warn it could push an already fragile region into a dangerous new phase. On the Sky News Daily, host Matt Barbet examines how Iran and Israel's 'shadow war' has moved out into the open, alongside defence and security analyst Michael Clarke. Matt is also joined by Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, affiliated lecturer in international relations of the Middle East at the University of Cambridge, to examine ...
WEEKEND DAILY: Iran attacks Israel, but what happens next?
April 14, 2024 15:19 - 18 minutes - 17 MBOn Saturday night Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel, which Tehran has claimed is in retaliation for an attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus by Israel on 1 April. Some 170 explosive drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles were launched by Iran, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), who said "99%" were intercepted. Leaders across the world have condemned the attack and stated their support for Is...
Should the UK send troops to Ukraine?
April 12, 2024 15:55 - 20 minutes - 18.3 MBEx-armed forces minister James Heappey has told Sky's defence and security editor Deborah Haynes the UK should consider sending its forces to Ukraine to train troops. On the Sky News Daily, host Tom Cheshire talks to her and Sky's military analyst Professor Michael Clarke about the interview with Mr Heappey, who stepped down from his role last month. They assess the bleak situation in Ukraine and why the conflict is at a critical stage. They also discuss how prepared the UK would be if ...
OJ Simpson dies – the story of his complex legacy
April 11, 2024 19:43 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBThe death of arguably one of America’s most talked about names in the 1990s has re-ignited conversations about who OJ Simpson was and how he will be remembered. The former NFL star was tried and acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He later spent time in jail for armed robbery and kidnap. On the Daily, Niall Paterson talks to our US correspondent James Matthews as they discuss his life and the controversies surrounding the 76-year-ol...
Israel v Iran - Is escalation inevitable?
April 11, 2024 15:47 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBPresident Biden has stated US support for Israel is 'ironclad' after reports an Iranian attack is imminent. Iran had promised to retaliate after Israel killed a top Iranian commander in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month. It has led to fears the Israel-Gaza war could escalate to a wider Middle East conflict. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu did nothing to allay concerns when he said his forces were preparing for scenarios in other areas. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our ...
Why are thousands of people refused asylum still in the UK?
April 10, 2024 16:18 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBMore than 55,000 asylum seekers whose applications have been refused since 2011 may not have left the UK.The analysis of Home Office data does not include partners or children - so could be even higher. On the Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our communities correspondent Becky Johnson about how delays in deporting failed applicants have led to some people being able to make multiple appeals.In one case, an asylum seeker has been in limbo for 18 years.Also, immigration lawyer Harjap Singh Bha...
How Gaza conflict could be worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis
April 09, 2024 15:50 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBYemen is in the middle of a humanitarian disaster after nearly a decade of civil war between the Saudi and Western-backed government, and the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. As Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford has found, war in Gaza is making the situation even worse for Yeminis already facing violence, starvation and disease. On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Alex and Yemen-born producer Ahmed Baider to explore how Houthi attacks on shipping lanes...
Angela Rayner tax claims: Smear, story or both?
April 08, 2024 15:43 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBLabour's deputy leader Angela Rayner is facing questions about whether she paid enough tax on a house sale, almost a decade ago. She denies any wrongdoing and has been backed by the party's leader Sir Keir Starmer, with some colleagues claiming she's being "smeared". On the Sky News Daily, Mark Austin unpicks exactly what Angela Rayner is accused of and discusses if the allegations are really in the public interest with Sky's political correspondent Rob Powell. They also tal...
'Cosmic coincidence': What we can learn from the solar eclipse
April 05, 2024 16:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBNext week, millions of people across North America will be able to see a total solar eclipse, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. A total solar eclipse - where the moon moves in front of the sun - happens about every 18 months. However, it rarely takes place over land, so next week's is an incredibly rare opportunity for scientists and amateurs alike to witness the phenomenon. On the Sky News Daily, our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire chats to NASA's deputy administrato...
Should the UK stop selling arms to Israel?
April 04, 2024 16:15 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBThree former Supreme Court justices have warned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that the UK is breaching international law by continuing to arm Israel. They are among over 600 lawyers and academics who are signatories of a 17-page letter, which also urges ministers to work towards a ceasefire in Gaza and resume funding to the UNRWA aid agency. It comes as civil servants overseeing arms exports could stop work over fears they may be complicit in war crimes. On the Sky News Daily, Tom Chesh...
Is the UK prepared for a war?
April 03, 2024 16:05 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBThe UK spends more than £50bn a year - 2.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - on defence, but government documents shared with Sky News show the country has no preparations for a nuclear war. In January, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned the country is approaching a pre-war era and that in five years' time the UK could be looking at conflicts with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. So, is the UK ready? On the Sky News Daily, Tom Cheshire is joined by our security and defence...
Israel-Hamas war: Will volunteers leave Gaza after aid deaths?
April 02, 2024 15:45 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBAid group World Central Kitchen says seven members of its team have been killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza. The charity said the volunteers had just unloaded more than 100 tonnes of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza by sea. The foreign nationals killed were from the UK, Australia, Poland, and a dual US-Canadian citizen. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari offered "deepest condolences" to the founder of the charity World Central Kitchen over the "trag...
Unreliable Witness: Who is Ellie Williams?
March 28, 2024 16:34 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBIt’s the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claims on social media she's been raped and exploited by an Asian grooming gang across the north of England. Photos of her alleged injuries add to the outrage and the post goes viral - shared more than 100,000 times. Social media rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But when she's arrested for perverting the course of justice, things really explode and there are protest rallies and ...
Water woes: Could sewage in the sea lead to higher bills?
March 27, 2024 17:05 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBThe amount of raw sewage being spilled into England’s waterways has hit a record high – more than doubling since last year. Water companies are allowed to do this, but only in exceptional circumstances to prevent sewage washing back up into our homes. But, there’s growing evidence sewage is being routinely dumped by water firms when it’s not needed, polluting England’s waters more to the point where rowers in this year’s Oxford and Cambridge boat race have been warned not to go into the...
Baltimore bridge collapse: Expert view on what happened
March 26, 2024 18:10 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBIn the early hours of Tuesday morning, a cargo ship leaving the US city of Baltimore catastrophically struck a major bridge. The entire middle section of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River. The ship lost power as it left the port, but the crew had enough time to make a mayday call so officials on the bridge were able to shut it to most traffic. Two people were rescued from the water but several people are still missing. There are now questions a...
How will Putin react to the Moscow concert attack?
March 25, 2024 17:03 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MBFour men have been charged with carrying out an attack at a concert in Moscow on Friday that killed more than 130 people. They all appeared in court on Monday heavily bruised with swollen faces and black eyes – with one attending in a wheelchair wearing a hospital gown. The Islamic State group said it carried out the attack on the Crocus City Hall, but President Putin has insisted Ukraine was involved. President Zelenskyy has strongly denied the claims and hit out at the Russian leader a...
US Gaza ceasefire vote - why did it fail?
March 23, 2024 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThe US has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the first time as secretary of state Antony Blinken lands in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An American-sponsored resolution demanding a truce was rejected by the UN Security Council. The US policy change comes amid fears the Palestinian territory could be on the brink of famine. On the Daily, Niall Paterson talks to our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall about how much US support for Israel i...
Kate’s cancer diagnosis – what we know
March 22, 2024 21:19 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBThe Princess of Wales has issued a personal message revealing that she has been diagnosed with cancer following her abdominal surgery earlier this year and that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy. The news comes after many weeks of speculation about the health of the 42-year-old future queen, who has not been seen on official duties since Christmas. On the Sky News Daily, Jonathan Samuels is joined by our Royal Correspondent, Rhiannon Mills to discuss how this news will impact the ...
Will the government "do the right thing" for the Waspi campaigners?
March 21, 2024 16:23 - 15 minutes - 21.6 MBThousands of women should get payouts because of the way changes to the state pension affected them, according to a watchdog. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said the women who were born in the 1950s didn't get their pension when they expected because they didn't know about the reforms. The PHSO report added that they are "owed" money by the Department for Work and Pensions. It criticised the department, claiming it has "clearly indicated that it will refuse to com...
What’s behind Leo Varadkar's shock resignation?
March 20, 2024 17:05 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBThe resignation of Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has come as a shock. He suffered defeats in two referendums earlier this month, where the public voted against the government's plans to remove "sexist" language from the constitution. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Ireland correspondent Stephen Murphy to look at Varadkar's legacy as both the youngest and openly gay Taoiseach. Plus, in Wales, history has also been made as Vaughan Gething was sworn in as first minis...
The Kate photos: When conspiracy theories meet the royals
March 19, 2024 17:10 - 20 minutes - 19 MBMore than half of people in the UK have seen online conspiracy theories about why the Princess of Wales has been absent from public life, but it hasn't dented trust in the Royal Family, according to Sky News polling. Speculation on social media about Kate's health and whereabouts have been rife in recent days – despite Kensington Palace announcing she would be recovering from abdominal surgery until Easter – and suspicion has now spread from edited photos including the princess to photo...
Faultlines: Why isn’t housing a bigger election issue?
March 18, 2024 16:58 - 21 minutes - 29 MBA new Sky News series 'Faultlines' covers in-depth and immersive reports exploring contemporary social challenges across the UK. This episode asks 'is our housing market in crisis?', with not enough homes and expensive rentals forcing an increasing number of people into homelessness. In 2021/22, just 7,528 new social homes were delivered. Nowhere near enough for the 1.1 million people on the waiting list and the government’s target of building 300,000 new homes a year. The seaside t...
Putin's power – why Russia's election matters
March 15, 2024 16:25 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBAs Russians go to the polls, the outcome is certainly already written as Vladimir Putin runs pretty much uncontested in his bid for a fifth term in office. Opposition candidates were banned from standing, fled the country or are dead - like Putin's most prominent critic, Alexei Navalny. So, what will another six years of rule mean for Russians, the war in Ukraine and the world? On the Daily, Sky's Tom Cheshire looks at Putin's grip on power over the years as he's joined by our inter...
British troops speak out about exposure to toxic chemicals | Redefining 'extremism' with Sam Coates
March 14, 2024 18:10 - 25 minutes - 23 MBIn the early months of the Iraq war in 2003, around 88 British troops were deployed to the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant to provide round-the-clock security. What the soldiers didn't know was that while on duty, they were being exposed to a carcinogenic chemical used to maintain the pipes in the plant. Ten ex-soldiers have now spoken out for the first time after suffering a range of health problems, including daily nosebleeds, a brain tumour and several diagnoses of cancer. Today on th...
Diane Abbott: Why the Tories won't return the race row money
March 13, 2024 17:53 - 28 minutes - 39 MBThe prime minister has resisted calls to hand back £10m donated to the Conservative Party by businessman Frank Hester. Speaking in the Commons, Rishi Sunak condemned Mr Hester's reported remarks about MP Diane Abbott as "racist" and "wrong" but insisted he had shown "remorse". Labour is calling on the Conservatives to give the money back. Today on the Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Labour MP Dawn Butler and Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates about the matter. Plus, Sky corres...
How UK-made cars are getting into Russia despite sanctions
March 12, 2024 16:51 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBAfter Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the imposition of sanctions on the country meant direct exports of British-made luxury vehicles fell to zero. However, Sky News analysis shows that hundreds of millions of pounds worth of luxury cars are being sold to Russia through neighbouring countries. Notably, Azerbaijan on Russia's southern border, where Britain recorded an unprecedented increase in car exports. In turn, Azerbaijan reported an unprecedented increase in car exports to Russia. ...
Kate, the photo and trying to solve the conspiracy theory crisis
March 11, 2024 17:45 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBThe Princess of Wales has apologised "for any confusion" after she admitted "editing" a Mother's Day image of her and her children. Major international picture agencies told media outlets to "kill" the photo from their systems 12 hours after the picture was released by Kensington Palace on Sunday. AP told Sky News the photo broke their manipulation rules as it shows an "inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand". Kill notices are uncommon and usually due to is...
Everything that happened at the Oscars
March 11, 2024 09:12 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MBThe biggest night in Hollywood promised glitz and glamour, but there were no surprises when it came to the big Academy Award winners. Oppenheimer took home seven awards, including best picture, best actor and best director for Britain’s Christopher Nolan, with Emma Stone winning best actress for her role in Poor Things. Sky News Arts and Entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer and Arts and Entertainment editor Claire Gregory were on the Vanity Fair red carpet for some celeb-spotting, w...
'More lives lost than saved': why Britain's IRA spy never faced justice
March 08, 2024 16:57 - 20 minutes - 28 MBFreddie Scappaticci was Britain's most highly prized IRA informant. His codename was 'Stakeknife' and the unit he led - ironically in charge of hunting informants like him - was called the 'nutting squad' as it shot people in the head after abducting and torturing them. Scappaticci never faced trial and lived under witness protection in England until his death last year, aged 77. Now, a seven-year investigation has concluded his actions probably resulted in "more lives being lost than...
If National Insurance is scrapped, who wins and who loses?
March 07, 2024 17:33 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBAfter cutting national insurance for the second time in yesterday's Budget, the prime minister has said it's his "long-term ambition" to eventually scrap the tax. As only those in work pay it, it's seen by many – including the Chancellor - as an unfair double tax on those in the workforce. But, completely abolishing it would cost the government £46bn. Labour have criticised the plans, saying the move would cost more than the cuts unveiled in Liz Truss' chaotic mini-budget and the director o...
Ed Conway and Beth Rigby: Was that a budget for a May election?
March 06, 2024 18:29 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBIt was a budget of few surprises. As promised, the chancellor cut the rate of National Insurance tax by 2p in every pound but admits the overall tax burden is still higher than it has been in the last 70 years. The cuts have been labelled "Tory con" by Labour, which leaves people paying "more for less". On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by data and economics editor Ed Conway to break down the changes in tax and childcare, and if the chancellor's plan will help t...
Council Tax: What could bankruptcy mean for our bills?
March 05, 2024 16:55 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBFor most of us, our council tax bills are going up - with nearly every local authority in the country increasing it by the maximum amount. Nottingham City Council is the latest to declare itself bankrupt and has already approved huge cuts. Today, councillors in Birmingham consider whether to do the same. On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined from Birmingham by Midlands correspondent Becky Cotterill and local campaigner Shuranjeet Singh to look at what's gone wrong...
Budget: Are tax cuts the vote winner they seem?
March 04, 2024 17:05 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBAs the country gears up for the general election, Wednesday's budget may be the last before the voters go to the polls. Hailed as "a budget to save the Tory party", speculation has been mounting that the chancellor will cut taxes as a last-ditch attempt to boost the Conservatives' plunging support. To afford the move, funding to public services could be slashed - but Jeremy Hunt has insisted any cuts will be done "responsibly". On today's episode, Sophy Ridge looks ahead to the budget. Sh...
Introducing… Electoral Dysfunction
March 01, 2024 17:23 - 50 minutes - 69.5 MBToday, something different – we're bringing you the first episode of an exciting new podcast from Sky called Electoral Dysfunction. Beth Rigby. Jess Philips. Ruth Davidson. With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Every week, they will examine our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written, and how they’re sold to voters – as we prepare for a general...
Putin's nuclear threat as Baltic states bolster their armies
February 29, 2024 17:45 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBIn a national address, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons if NATO countries were to join a ground offensive in Ukraine. The suggestion of NATO forces was made by France's President Emmanuel Macron but quickly dismissed by the US, Britain, and Germany. However, it comes amid calls to show more strength against the Kremlin from Baltic leaders, as Russian troops ramp up military operations along land and sea borders in the region. Estonia, Latvia and Lithua...
Inside Ecuador's crackdown on drug cartels
February 28, 2024 17:09 - 21 minutes - 29.2 MBEcuador has become the deadliest country in South America with drug gangs and their Mexican cartel bosses murdering people, detonating car bombs and terrorising communities. The violence exploded earlier this year with gangs promising insurrection after the president of Ecuador put in place a nationwide crackdown following the escape of a drug lord from prison, and armed attack on a TV station. On this edition of Sky News Daily, Tom Cheshire speaks to our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay...
'Bombshell revelations' at Post Office scandal hearing... What's the truth?
February 27, 2024 18:57 - 21 minutes - 30 MBIt's been years since the extent of the Post Office Horizon scandal became clear - but hundreds of sub-postmasters, who were falsely convicted of fraud or financially crippled in the process, are still waiting for financial redress. Today, key players in the scandal - including former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and recently ousted chairman Henry Staunton - gave evidence to MPs about the government's compensation scheme - and why it's taken so long to pay it. But proceedings were somewhat ove...
'Words matter' - Lee Anderson, heightened tension and MPs' safety
February 26, 2024 17:18 - 19 minutes - 26.1 MBThe former Tory deputy chair, Lee Anderson, has refused to apologise for comments that saw him suspended from the party. He said he believed "Islamists" had "got control" of London's mayor Sadiq Khan - a remark Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called "unacceptable". But Mr Anderson isn't the only politician stoking racial divides, with Azhar Ali standing in this week's Rochdale by-election despite making antisemitic remarks that cost him Labour's backing. The tensions have left many MPs fearing ...
Two years on since Russia's invasion but Ukraine is still in the fight
February 23, 2024 17:00 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBTwo years on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war is largely at a stalemate but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops face acute shortages of ammunition. Ukraine's cities still come under regular Russian bombardment, thousands of lives have been lost and many more displaced across Europe. Around 300,000 Ukrainians have applied for visas to come to the UK alone. Many more are in Poland and Germany. Tom Cheshire speaks to international correspondent John Sparks in Kharkiv about w...
Commotion and a no confidence motion: What damage has the Commons Gaza row done?
February 22, 2024 17:43 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBThe third largest party in the House of Commons, the SNP, says it doesn't have confidence in its Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. The Speaker himself says he took decisions about how MPs debated and voted on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza because he wanted as broad a discussion as possible. He's apologised but said the safety of MPs on such a divisive issue was also on his mind. With thousands dead in Gaza and war continuing, the optics of MPs rowing about Commons procedure - rather than debating...
The Post Office scandal - more trouble on the Horizon?
February 21, 2024 16:30 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBThe former chair of the Post Office, Henry Staunton, who was dismissed last month, claims he was told by a top civil servant to "hobble into the election" and delay payouts to sub-postmasters, in a newly released memo. But Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told MPs there's "no evidence whatsoever that this is true", and called his allegations "a disgrace". The row comes as only 5% of sub-postmaster claimants have received compensation for the Horizon IT scandal so far. Late on Wednesday e...