

This Is Why
Sky News
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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 22, 2023 • 21min
Misogyny, racism and homophobia – it's not just the Met police’s problem
The Metropolitan Police is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic, according to the independent police review conducted by Baroness Casey. She was appointed to carry out the review following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our home editor Jason Farrell to go through what the report reveals and the recommendations for reform. Also, Mina Smallman, mother of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry who were murdered in 2020 and had photos of their murder scene shared by police in a WhatsApp group, explains why the force needs to accept its failures. Producer: Rosie GillottEditor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 21, 2023 • 14min
Credit Suisse: Are we teetering on the edge of a banking crisis?
Credit Suisse, one of Switzerland's largest banks, has been swallowed up by its rival UBS for £1bn.The shotgun merger happened less than a week after the UK financial authorities saved the British arm of Silicon Valley Bank which had collapsed in the US. These troubles either side of the Atlantic have spooked investors - the concern now is other banks could follow. On the Sky News Daily Sally Lockwood speaks to economics and data editor Ed Conway about what this means for investors and whether we are teetering on the edge of a banking crisis. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 20, 2023 • 16min
Cost of living: Why are more women turning to gambling?
Pandemic lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis have driven more people to gambling to help ease financial struggles - with support helplines this year receiving a record-breaking number of calls for help. A third of those calls are now from women. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to former gambler Lisa Walker about her story, who now works as a peer support worker for the charity BetKnowMore and runs their women-only programme New Beginnings. Also, Lisa Patton, a treatment service manager at the charity GamCare, explains how people get into gambling and what’s being done to help. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 17, 2023 • 16min
The real cost of childcare
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has expanded free childcare for working parents in England to cover all children under five.The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce according to the government’s independent forecaster. While the move has been welcomed by parents, there's been criticism from the childcare sector, which is struggling with a workforce shortage and financial pressures that are forcing businesses to close. On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to political correspondent Tamara Cohen about the plans, as well as getting the reaction of Sharon Birch who used to run a nursery in Hartlepool but was forced out by the costs and Steph Barrett, manager of BeBright Pre-School, in Spalding in Lincolnshire. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interview’s producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 15, 2023 • 24min
Budget: Sky's Beth Rigby and Ed Conway on what it means
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered his spring budget, telling MPs his priority is to get people back to work. Free childcare for working parents in England, pensions breaks and tax cuts for businesses were among the announcements made. On the Sky News Daily Liz Bates is joined by Sky’s Political Editor Beth Rigby and Economics and Data Editor Ed Conway to go through the budget and assess what it means. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 15, 2023 • 19min
A new Cold War? Rising tensions between the US and China
The UK, USA, and Australia announced a joint programme to build more nuclear submarines, and declared that China poses the biggest threat to the world economy of any country. It came following the inauguration of China’s President Xi Jinping’s precedent-setting third term in office, where he called for the country to modernise its military to make it a "Great Wall of Steel". On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockwood is joined by our US correspondent Mark Stone, and Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, to explore the rising tensions between the superpowers, and if the US-China relationship has any hope of cooling off soon. Producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews Producer: Alex Edden Editors: Philly Beaumont and Paul Stanworth

Mar 14, 2023 • 20min
Gary Lineker row: How does the BBC get impartiality right?
Gary Lineker will return to BBC screens after reaching a deal with the corporation over an impartiality row. The Match of the Day host was removed from the show temporarily over comments made on his personal Twitter account about the UK government’s small boats policy. On the Sky News Daily, Sally Lockward is joined by former controller of BBC Radio 4, Mark Damazer and Professor Suzanne Franks, former broadcaster with BBC News, and head of journalism at City, University of London, to discuss the need for impartiality at the state broadcaster, and the difficulties of maintaining it. Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 13, 2023 • 22min
Sturgeon's successor: Meet the SNP leadership candidates
Three candidates are vying to become the next leader of the SNP and Scotland's first minister after Nicola Sturgeon's resignation in February. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan have been accused of 'trashing’ their own party in a series of TV debates as they set out their policies and attack each other's records in government. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s Scotland correspondent to take a closer look at the candidates, plus pollster Sir John Curtice looks at who is most likely to come out on top. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 10, 2023 • 17min
Supersonic missiles and the town on the frontline of the Ukraine war
A wave of Russian missile attacks across Ukraine has left at least five people dead and many buildings destroyed. The seven-hour barrage, described as 'Russian barbarism' by Ukraine's foreign minister, is part of a resurgent offensive by Russian forces in the region. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay from Kyiv. They discuss the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut which is under attack from Russian forces.Podcast producer: Soila Apparicio Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

Mar 9, 2023 • 14min
Turkey-Syria earthquake: The child survivors
A month on from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria millions of people are struggling to come to terms with their new reality. More than 50,000 people were killed and those who survived are left with the grief and devastation of losing their loved ones – not to mention aftershocks, disease, and a lack of basic supplies. Among the worst affected are children. On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by British aid worker, Joe English, from UNICEF, who has spent the last month in Turkey and Syria working with children scarred physically and mentally by the disaster.Producer: Emma Rae WoodhouseInterviews producer: Alex EddenEditor: Philly Beaumont


