This Is Why

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  

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 its fighting against Hezbollah and Hamas, and deal with the rising tensions with Iran, against the backdrop of a continuing crisis in Gaza, with hostages still being held there. Producer: Soila Apparicio

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 Hurricane Katrina in 2005.   Will the destruction, and the response from the candidates, shift the polls in this key swing state?   Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. Producer: Rosie Gillott  Editor: Philly Beaumont  .

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

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

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.     Plus, Niall catches up with Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory MPs Penny Mordaunt, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former special adviser to Boris Johnson Tim Montgomerie, and Conservative commentator Iain Dale.  Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Hassan Nasrallah, the late Hezbollah leader, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Prime Minister of Israel, provide a backdrop for a gripping discussion about preventing war in the Middle East. The podcast highlights the tensions escalated by Nasrallah's death and Netanyahu's UN address. Experts analyze the effectiveness of diplomacy amidst rising violence and the struggle for international powers to curb aggression. Domestic politics also play a crucial role in shaping military strategies, while the looming U.S. elections add another layer of complexity to this volatile situation.

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  

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.Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Wendy Parker

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 out the process by which sanctioned luxury European cars find their way to Moscow.  Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John