This Is Why

Russia and North Korea have signed a defence pact to help each other in the event of aggression against them.As part of a two day trip, Putin visited Pyongyang, greeted by a red carpet, roses and ceremonial gunfire before signing what Kim Jong Un has called an alliance.On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett and Beijing correspondent Nicole Johnston about what this unusual relationship between the leaders means for their respective countries, and the rest of the world.Producer: Sydney PeadEditor: Philly BeaumontPromotions Producer: David Chipakupaku

Sky News has partnered with YouGov for the general election campaign and today the second of their three MRP polling projections is out.  It makes for very bleak reading for the Conservatives, suggesting they have not made any gains during the campaign and could slump to historically low seat numbers.     The poll also suggests Labour's majority is up, the Liberal Democrats are up as well and Reform UK could win several seats.    On this episode, Niall Paterson analyses the implications of today’s poll with our deputy political editor Sam Coates.   Plus, Sky’s political correspondent Tamara Cohen joins us from Edinburgh where she was at the launch of the SNP manifesto. Producers: Sydney Pead Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku   Editor: Wendy Parker

More people in the UK think immigration has a negative impact on society than a positive one, according to a YouGov survey for Sky News.      In the first general election since Brexit, all the major parties mention migration in their manifestos. Both the Conservatives and Labour are placing promises to tackle illegal boat crossings high on their list of promises if they get into Number 10.     So what do voters think about immigration and how could it affect these elections?  Host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky News’ community correspondent, Becky Johnson, who’s been speaking to voters in Swindon about their views. Plus, economics and data editor Ed Conway digs into the statistics to reveal exactly how big an impact migration, both legal and illegal, has on the UK.     Producers: Emma-Rae Woodhouse  Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku   Editor: Philly Beaumont  

Reform have launched their manifesto which they're calling "Our Contract With You" in South Wales. The "contract" is promising big spending, dwarfing what Labour and the Conservatives have committed to. The party says it will pay for the plans by measures including scrapping net zero targets and what remains of HS2. In this episode Niall Paterson gets analysis on what's in the "contract" from our chief political correspondent Jon Craig. He also speaks with our royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills about the Princess of Wales and the King – and their return to public life. Full list of candidates for North West Essex constituency, which we mention in the podcast:  -Kemi Badenoch, Conservative and Unionist Party  -Erik Bonino, Independent -Edward Gildea, Green Party -Andrew David Green, Independent -Niko Omilana, Independent -Smita Rajesh, Liberal Democrats  -Grant StClair-Armstrong, Reform UK -Issy White, Labour Party Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker

In a show of unity aimed at President Putin, G7 leaders meeting in Italy this week finally agreed to a deal to use profits from frozen Russian assets to provide around $50bn (£40bn) worth of support to Ukraine. And in another significant announcement, President Biden signed a 10-year bilateral security deal between the US and Ukraine which Kyiv is calling 'historic'.   On this episode, Niall Paterson explores the impact these deals will have for Ukraine in its war against Russia with international editor Dominic Waghorn.   Plus, Rob Harris, our sports correspondent, joins Niall to talk us through what to look out for as the European football championships get under way.  Producer: Sydney Pead Editor: Wendy Parker Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

It was Labour’s turn to launch their election manifesto today. It was a restatement of the party’s main policies with no surprise announcements in the 133-page document.     Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his key pledges including no new taxes on “working people” and a promise of “economic stability”.   Niall Paterson digs into Labour’s promise of economic growth with Ed Conway, Sky’s economics and data editor, and speaks to political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh, who was at the launch in Manchester.    Plus, John McTernan, political strategist and former political secretary to Tony Blair, discusses the politics of their manifesto and whether it matters that there were no new announcements.  Producer: Sydney Pead Editor: Wendy Parker Promotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

While the Conservatives and Labour battle it out for No10, recent polling reflects a changing mood from the electorate towards the smaller parties.    The latest YouGov poll suggests Reform UK have climbed within one point of the Conservatives, the Lib Dems are up four points, and Labour are dropping below 40%. In 2017, the two big parties got 82% of the vote. Now, the combined Labour-Tory vote could be as low as 56%.   With the Green Party launching its manifesto today, on this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson and our deputy political editor Sam Coates dive into the dissatisfaction with Sunak and Starmer.    Plus, Scarlett Maguire, pollster with JL Partners, discusses how well the smaller parties are doing.  Producer: Sydney PeadEditor: Wendy Parker

Rishi Sunak has launched the Conservative's election manifesto, promising to slash taxes in a bid to revive the party's floundering campaign.     In his address at the home of the British Grand Prix, the prime minister pledged £17bn in tax cuts including lowering national insurance by 2p, scrapping it entirely for the self-employed and stopping state pensions being taxed with "triple lock plus" - which the party said would all be paid for with £12bn in cuts to the civil service and welfare.   But will it be enough to turn around the fortunes of the Conservatives?   Today on the Daily, Niall Paterson crunches the numbers with Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway and political communications strategist Jo Tanner unpicks what the Tories are trying to do with this manifesto. Plus, Sky News' political correspondent Darren McCaffrey on if it will shift the dial for the election.   Podcast Producer: Sydney PeadPodcast Promotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa JohnEditor: Philly Beaumont

Far-right parties have made gains in Germany, France and Italy - the EU's biggest member states.Their success has already led to a fall in the value of the euro as markets anticipate turbulent times ahead. President Macron's high-risk response to his Renaissance party losing to Marine Le Pen's National Rally was to call a snap election for the French parliament.  Niall Paterson talks to Sky's Europe correspondent Adam Parsons about what's behind the far-right surge and Macron's decision.  Plus, the Liberal Democrats launch their manifesto saying it's fully costed. Niall asks economics editor Ed Conway if their numbers add up and he talks to Jon Craig, Sky's chief political correspondent, to find out more about their policies.  Producers: Sydney Pead Promotion Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker This episode mentions the constituency of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. Here is the full list of candidates: Ian Bailey, Liberal DemocratsAndy Brown, Labour PartyJo Hart, Reform, UKSeamus Logan, SNPDouglas Gordan Ross, Conservative and Unionist PartyWe also mentioned the constituency of Basildon and Billericay. Here is the full list of candidates:Christopher Bateman, British Democratic PartyStephen Conlay, Reform UKStewart Goshawk, Green PartyAlex Harrison, Labour PartyRichard Holden, Conservative and Unionist PartyDave Murray, Trade Unionist and Socialist CoalitionEdward Sainsbury, Liberal Democrats

The prime minister has faced criticism for leaving the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations early to record a TV interview that's due to go out next week.    Rishi Sunak has since apologised - saying that "on reflection" leaving early "was a mistake", but also that it shouldn't be politicised.   Niall Paterson looks at how damaging this misstep is for Mr Sunak with Claire Pearsall, former Conservative special adviser at the Home Office, and Joe Twyman, the co-founder of the polling company Deltapoll.   Plus, our chief political correspondent Jon Craig tells us just how big of a political blunder it was. Producer: Sydney Pead Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John  Editor: Wendy Parker