This Is Why

The interest rate on a typical two-year fixed-rate mortgage has broken 6% for the first time in 14 years. The sudden rise has left first-time buyers with few affordable mortgage options, and those looking to re-mortgage facing huge increases in their monthly repayments. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to two people whose plans have had to change as a result of the uncertainty with mortgages, plus gets some advice from mortgage broker Sarah Tucker. Editors - Philly Beaumont Podcast producer - Rosie Gillott Interviews producer – Alys Bowen Digital producer - David Chipakupaku

Recording on assignment military volunteer Seva weighs the cost of fallen colleagues against Ukraine’s greater ambition to liberate the entire country.In Kyiv, Oksana expresses her horror at billionaire Elon Musk’s controversial peace plan - which involved getting Twitter followers to vote on possible outcomes — and at a world failing to grasp the threat of an apocalyptic conflict. Meanwhile, encouraged in part by the continued nuclear threat, Ilyas wonders about a spike in marriage nationally. BACKGROUND - *This week billionaire Elon Musk tweeted a poll on Twitter headlined ‘Ukraine-Russia Peace’ which asked his followers to vote yes or no to the following proposals - Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people.·        Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783.·        Water supply to Crimea assured.·        Ukraine remains neutral. TIMECODES - 0.00 - Seva3.10 - Oksana7.00 - Ilyas OUR DIARISTS Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro. Oksana, 35, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay. Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.As of October 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various IT projects. Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP27 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Producer: Rob MulhernEditor: Paul StanworthDigital Promotion: David Chipakupaku

National Grid is warning that households could face planned three-hour blackouts over the winter as the energy crisis worsens. On the Sky News Daily podcast, Niall Paterson speaks to Jess Ralston from the Climate and Energy Intelligence Unit about the significance of blackout threats. Plus climate and energy correspondent Hannah Thomas-Peter unpacks the government's long-term energy strategy, including unleashing a new era of fossil fuel exploration. Producer: Emma Rae WoodhouseInterview producer: Alys Bowen Podcast promotions producer: David ChipakupakuEditor: Philly Beaumont

In her speech to the Conservative Party conference, Prime Minister Liz Truss vowed to "get Britain through the tempest" and insisted "everyone will benefit" from the result of her economic policies. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference hearing from Secretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland, Mayor of West Midlands Andy Street, and Business Secretary Jacob Reece Mogg. Plus, Niall gets Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates's analysis of Liz Truss's speech.Producer: Soila Apparicio Senior Producer: Annie Joyce Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

As Russia illegally annexes four occupied areas in the east and south of Ukraine, it continues to face significant defeats at the hands of the smaller Ukrainian army. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky News’ special correspondent Alex Crawford, from Ukraine's frontlines, plus the head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevych, explains why it is Ukraine's citizens who are the nation's secret weapon in the war. Editors - Philly Beaumont & Paul Stanworth Podcast producer - Emma Rae Woodhouse Digital producer - David Chipakupaku

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and PM Liz Truss have made a U-turn on the decision to give the wealthiest 1% of earners a tax cut after facing a backlash. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson explores the political consequences of the U-turn with political correspondent Liz Bates and discusses how the markets are responding with economics editor Ed Conway. Plus, Catherine MacLeod, a No.11 special adviser during the 2008 recession, explains how a government should react during a time of financial crisis.Podcast producers - Rosie GillottDigital producer - David ChipakupakuEditor - Philly Beaumont

Long before the recent economic woes hitting the pound, mortgages and the price of essentials, a survey in April from The Food Foundation charity revealed nearly two and a half million people had said they’d not eaten for a whole day because they couldn’t afford or get access to food. Those numbers will now be much, much higher. On the Sky News Daily podcast with Niall Paterson, we examine a snapshot of what is happening in the supply chain - from farm to table - and its impact on all those in it. Guests: Anna Taylor, executive director at The Food Foundation charity; David Batterbee, a sheep and beef farmer in the Peak District; Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association; and James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores. Senior podcast producer - Annie Joyce Interviews producer - Alys Bowen Editors - Philly Beaumont and Paul Stanworth

In Kyiv, spooked by the threat of nuclear attack, Oksana’s close friend moves her family to western Ukraine.Meanwhile, Ilyas finds hope in what he sees as desperate Russian measures.And Seva is left astonished by conversations with fellow military personnel on the frontlines.TIMECODES -0.00 - Oksana4.45 - Ilyas8.07 - SevaBACKGROUND -Oksana, 35, works in overseas education. She lives with her husband, Seva, in an apartment complex in central Kyiv and has remained in the Ukrainian capital since the war started. Many of Oksana’s closest friends have left the country to begin new lives in Europe. Some may never return. She’s determined to stay.Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. His wife Natalia, and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.As of September 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on various IT projects.Seva, 40, is a company CEO and husband to Oksana. Before the war, he travelled across Europe for business. Now, he makes regular supply drops of medical aid and rations to Ukrainian troops on the front line in Eastern Ukraine. He’s originally from a small village near Dnipro.Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone. EP26 diary entries were recorded using WhatsApp voice note. From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast. Producer: Rob MulhernEditor: Paul StanworthDigital Promotion: David Chipakupaku

Liz Truss has spoken for the first time since her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s “mini-budget” pushed the pound to an all-time low, prompted the International Monetary Fund to urge her to re-evaluate her policies and forced the Bank of England to bail out the economy for £65bn. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Mel Stride, the Conservative chair of the Treasury select committee, about why he’s calling on the government to release the costings for its economic plan and Jon Craig, Sky News’ chief political correspondent, about the brewing civil war within the Tory ranks. Editors - Philly Beaumont & Paul Stanworth Podcast producer - Rosie Gillott Interviews producer – Alys Bowen Digital producer - David Chipakupaku

Since the government’s tax-cutting mini-budget last week, the pound has hit record lows against the dollar, mortgage providers have pulled hundreds of products and there has been damning criticism from the International Monetary Fund and an emergency intervention by the Bank of England. Critics have accused Liz Truss, the prime minister, and Kwasi Kwarteng, the chancellor, of being “economically illiterate”. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson looks at the economic arguments and the market reaction. He’s joined by Sky News business presenter Ian King, Martin Weale, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, and Jane Foley, a senior strategist at Rabobank. Producers: Soila Apparicio and Emma Rae Woodhouse Interviews Producer: Alys Bowen Podcast Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku Editors: Philly Beaumont and Paul Stanworth