Sky News Daily

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby has been to 11 Downing Street to talk to the Chancellor for Electoral Dysfunction. Rachel Reeves reflects on her first few months in the job, and hints on what might come in her Spring Statement with some strong words on the need for welfare reform. You can listen to the full interview on Electoral Dysfunction here.

After just eight months in his role, Defence Secretary John Healey is dealing with one of the most challenging in-trays in the cabinet. He is meeting US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington on Thursday, as he works to bridge the gap on how to reach a Ukraine peace deal. On today’s podcast, Niall Paterson talks to ex-armed forces minister James Heappey who worked with Healey when he was in opposition, and to Malcolm Chalmers who focuses on UK defence and security at the think-tank RUSI about the challenges the defence secretary faces. Producer: Soila Apparicio Assistant producer: Millie Gibson Editor: Wendy Parker

"If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end," wrote a statement by China's ministry of foreign affairs in Beijing yesterday, then shared by the Chinese US embassy on X. With the messy diplomacy of Trump's America and his impending tariffs on China, how will President Xi Jinping navigate the tit-for-tat on trade? More importantly, is he preparing for something much more dangerous? Nicole Johnston is our correspondent based in Beijing. She joins Niall Paterson to discuss. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

The Duchess of Sussex’s new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan is out now. It is part of the deal, reportedly worth $100m, Meghan and Harry signed with Netflix five years ago when they left the UK for California. The most recent YouGov polling suggests that neither Meghan nor Harry are popular in the UK, doing only better than Prince Andrew. Though it’s a very different story among young people where over half have a positive opinion of the couple. On today’s Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Sky’s royal correspondent, Rhiannon Mills, about what’s in the show and whether it’s an opportunity for Meghan to reset how she’s perceived both in the UK and the rest of the world. Producers: Natalie Ktena Editor: Wendy Parker

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is back in Kyiv after three frantic days, during which he was ordered to leave the White House after a tense showdown with Donald Trump and his vice president JD Vance. He did, however, find a warmer welcome in London where he received a strong show of support from European leaders at a summit on Sunday. After the London summit, Sir Keir Starmer suggested European leaders would form a "coalition of the willing" to defend Ukraine. Niall Paterson talks to Sky's defence and security analyst Michael Clarke to understand what that might look like and whether Europe can save Ukraine. Producers: Natalie Ktena Editor: Philly Beaumont

At the height of lockdown, 19-year-old Ellie Williams claimed on social media she'd been abused and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang across the North of England. The rumours lead to attacks on Asian men and businesses in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. But then she was jailed for perverting the course of justice. It was a story Sky News’ home editor Jason Farrell, and specialist producer Liz Lane followed in depth, and our podcast series Unreliable Witness detailed what really happened to Ellie Williams. Sky News Daily host Niall Paterson is joined by Jason and Liz to discuss the latest twist to that tale. Listen to the full series and latest episode of Unreliable Witness here. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual abuse. If you feel affected by the issues, you can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Government figures released today showed that the number of asylum applications was at a 20-year record high but, for the first time since 2020, more applications were refused than granted. The data also reveals that the number of asylum seekers in hotels has gone up, but that the asylum backlog has gone down. Small boat crossings were up on last year but down on 2022. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire to find out what we learnt from today's figures. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Four in five cars should be electric and half of homes should have heat pumps within 15 years. That's according to the government's independent climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee. It says to reach the legally required "net zero" target by 2050 we will need to change how we drive, what we eat and how we heat our homes. Niall Paterson talks to Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke about how individuals can make a difference and what support they can expect from the government. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

Donald Trump wants to do a deal with Ukraine which would see the United States get access to the country’s mineral wealth, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hoping for continued American military support in return. Kyiv estimates that about 5% of the world's "critical raw materials" are in Ukraine. It also has significant deposits of rare earth metals which are used to produce weapons, wind turbines and electronics. In today’s episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to Ed Conway, Sky’s economics and data editor, about how valuable Ukraine’s mineral wealth could be for the US. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Germany is set to have a new chancellor, Friedrich Merz. From the conservative Christian Democrat party (CDU), Merz will now look to form a coalition government. The leader-in-waiting has made striking remarks in a post-victory speech, saying Donald Trump is indifferent to Europe's fate, putting the US president's America on a par with Russia. What does Merz’s tone mean for Europe? Niall Paterson is joined by our Europe correspondent Adam Parsons to discuss how the Merz-Trump relationship could work.

This time on the Sky News Daily, we're handing over to another Sky News podcast - Trump 100. Mark Stone, Martha Kelner and James Matthews are dropping episodes at 6am (UK) every day to chart what President Trump is saying and doing in his first 100 days in office. They examine what the administration's approach means for the US and the world. On this episode, you'll also hear from former Trump advisor, Steve Bannon, and from Nigel Farage who has been in the US this week for the Conservative Political Action Conference. You can follow Trump 100 here: https://podfollow.com/trump100 Niall Paterson returns with the Sky News Daily on Monday.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is expected to have its best election results since it was formed 12 years ago. It's currently in second place in opinion polls with one in five Germans expected to back it at this weekend's general election. It will not, though, be part of any coalition government as the other parties will refuse to work with a far-right party. In today's Sky News Daily, host Tom Cheshire discusses who is voting for the AfD and why, with our Europe correspondent Adam Parsons and Jakob Guhl from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in Germany. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Sophy Ridge guest hosts this episode with a look ahead to Keir Starmer's meeting with Donald Trump next week. He was already going to have a tightrope to walk as the potential bridge between the new White House administration and an out-of-favour Europe - but how will the PM handle the President's comments about Volodymyr Zelenskyy? Joining Sophy is Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall editor of the Sunday Times. He's also co-author of the book `'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer'. They discuss how Starmer might handle the conversations, and what the PM's team is doing to prepare for the trip. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Laura Fitzpatrick Editor: Paul Stanworth

Russia's foreign minister and the US secretary of state have met in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the war in Ukraine began three years ago, to discuss a Ukrainian peace deal. Why is it such a significant moment? With the meeting taking place in Saudi, and given their diplomacy in arranging the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, how has the kingdom under Mohammed bin Salman become a global power broker in President Trump's new world order? Tom Cheshire hosts today's Sky News Daily looking at what all the power players want from the talks. He's joined by security and defence editor Deborah Haynes and Dr Lina Khatib, associate fellow of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, to discuss. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

As the US and Russia negotiate an end to what President Donald Trump calls a “ridiculous war” in Ukraine, Europe faces a critical question. Can it still depend on Trump’s America for protection, or is this the moment to have a massive rethink on defence – and can the UK afford it? Mark Austin guest hosts this episode of the Sky News Daily and is joined by former NATO deputy supreme allied commander General Richard Shirreff to discuss the future of European defence and what this means for Ukraine.

Donald Trump promised throughout his election campaign that he would end the war in Ukraine, now following a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is the conflict closer to ending than ever before? On the Sky News Daily, Niall is joined by Sky's International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn to discuss the fear among European allies about what the costs of peace in Ukraine could be. He also discusses what wider implications rewarding Putin with land could have on a geopolitical scale. Plus, Security and Defence Editor Deborah Haynes joins Niall from the Munich security conference to discuss what the reaction has been from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. P

Latest figures show 73% of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&E last month - up from 71.1% in December - but still well below the NHS target of 95%. Doctors have told Sky News the winter crisis in the health service is being made worse by patients who are demanding urgent and immediate care when it is not always what they need. On the Sky News Daily, Niall is joined by health correspondent Ashish Joshi to discuss what is behind the rise in health anxiety and he also talks to Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, about how to improve A&E waiting times. Producer: Alex Bishop Editor: Wendy Parker

Two months on from the fall of the Assad regime, Syria is still uncovering the depths of the horrors inflicted on its own citizens during his rule. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and senior foreign producer Dominique Van Heerden, who have been inside the notorious Sednaya prison near Damascus – dubbed the ‘human slaughterhouse’. They have been examining the hundreds of thousands of burnt documents left behind, which reveal the extent of Assad’s crimes. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

It is 50 years ago this week that Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party and it’s a testament to her legacy that she’s being invoked by both Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch. When she became Prime Minister in 1979 she drove through radical policies like council house sales, privatisation and a crackdown on trade unions which continue to shape Britain today. On the Sky News Daily, Niall is joined by Chief political correspondent, Jon Craig to discuss how Margaret Thatcher’s legacy is still driving today’s politics. Plus he speaks to Caroline Slocock, former private secretary to Mrs Thatcher during her final 18 months in office on what she was like to work for. Producer: Alex Bishop Editor: Wendy Parker

Arguably one of the best football sides in the world were knocked out of the FA Cup over the weekend by struggling Championship side Plymouth Argyle. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson is joined by sports correspondent Rob Harris to discuss whether bigger priorities are making these magic-of-the-cup moments rarer, as well as Joe Bell from the Argyle Life podcast – who saw it happen. Celtic fan Niall also has to mention the other big cup upset of the weekend and applaud the follow up to one of the greatest headlines of all time. Producer: Alex Bishop Editor: Philly Beaumont