Sky News Daily

The prime minister has called a general election for 4 July. It means parliament only has a few days to pass any bills still waiting to become law before MPs leave Westminster to begin campaigning. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson gets the very latest from our deputy political editor Sam Coates and political correspondent Tamara Cohen on why the election was announced today, and what the next six weeks of campaigning could have in store. Producers: Rosie Gillott Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

The former Post Office boss, Paula Vennells, has been testifying at the Inquiry examining the Horizon IT scandal. It's the first time Paula Vennells has spoken publicly in nearly ten years. The hundreds of wronged Post Office workers, and their families, have been keenly anticipating her evidence, as, on her watch, prosecutions continued, despite mounting evidence that there was something wrong with the system. On the Sky News Daily, Sarah-Jane Mee has been in Fenny Compton, in the village hall where Alan Bates began his campaign against the Post Office, to meet the sub-postmasters whose lives were ruined by Horizon. Plus, one former sub-postmistress, Nicole, shares her story for the first time. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse, Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker Podcast Promotion: Jada-Kai Meosa John

How do we help people keep their jobs and livelihoods alongside the pressure to move to an environmentally friendly and sustainable future? It's been estimated that 1.3 million jobs in the UK could be affected by the drive to get to net zero emissions - many in traditional industries such as steelmaking. Sophy Ridge presents this episode with Sky News' people and politics correspondent Nick Martin whose reporting has been focusing on Port Talbot in south Wales where thousands are employed in the steel industry. Plus, following severe turbulence on a London to Singapore flight where one passenger, a 73-year-old British man died, "likely from a heart attack" and more than two dozen injured, Sophy speaks to pilot and aviation consultant Tim Atkinson about how commercial pilots plan for, and deal with, turbulence. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

The infected blood scandal was "not an accident" and its failures lie with "successive governments, the NHS, and blood services", a public inquiry has found. More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from 1970 to 1991 after being given contaminated blood products and transfusions - about 3,000 of whom have since died. Sir Brian Langstaff, who chaired the inquiry, said the scale of what happened was "horrifying". On the Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet talks to Sky's health correspondent Ashish Joshi about the report and Rosamund Cooper who was given blood products contaminated with Hepatitis C. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

Thousands of people died after being given infected blood transfusions by the NHS. They were people with haemophilia, women giving birth, and cancer patients who died after contracting HIV or Hepatitis C from infected blood. An inquiry has been studying millions of pages of evidence from hundreds of sources and witnesses for six years. From its source in the early 1970s via warnings, missed opportunities, delays and perhaps even deliberate cover ups, this episode of the Sky News Daily explores the story behind the worst treatment scandal in NHS history. Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke in preparation for the final report from the inquiry - due to be published on Monday. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker

China's Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have met in Beijing – promoting their alliance and their new ‘world order’ away from the West. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s Asia correspondent Nicole Johnston in Beijing and Sky’s Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett to discuss the highlights of the summit so far. Plus, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer made a key speech to lay out six pledges ahead of his election campaign. Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates joins Niall to unpick the key moments. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth

Hundreds of young men have died trying to use boats to get from Senegal to the Canary Islands. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson hears about what's been called the "deadliest and busiest migrant passage in the world". Niall is joined by our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir who has been to the fishing town of Mbour on the Senegalese coast to see the scale of the problem. Plus, in the UK, our communities correspondent Becky Johnson has been speaking to asylum seekers who say they're considering not attending appointments which are a condition of their immigration bail. It comes as the Home Office tries to trace thousands of missing asylum seekers, with a view to deporting some of them to Rwanda in a bid to deter illegal small boat Channel crossings. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

Anti-obesity jabs like Ozempic could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart failure in obese people regardless of the amount of weight they lose while on the drug. Researchers found after three years of treatment participants had a 20% lower risk of obesity and its associated health impacts, which currently cost the NHS over £6bn per year. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s science and medical correspondent Thomas Moore about the implications of reducing heart disease cases for the NHS, and senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University Dr Simon Cork explains how the wonder-drug actually works. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

A landmark parliamentary inquiry into traumatic childbirths has called for an overhaul of the UK's maternity services after finding poor care is "all-too-frequently tolerated as normal". The report calls for a new maternity commissioner who will report to the prime minister, better staffing levels on maternity wards, and for mothers to be listened to more. On the Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet speaks to campaigner and mother-of-two Tinuke Awe about her experiences of giving birth and is joined by Sky correspondent Laura Bundock to find out what the government plans to do to address the issues raised in the report. Producer: Rosie Gillott Podcast Promotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Interviews Producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles Editor: Wendy Parker

Across the UK anger is brewing among farmers. Protests have already been held in London, Dover and Wales, with more on the way - mirroring similar tensions seen across Europe in the last six months. Their anger is focused on cheap foreign imports and changes to subsidies forcing farmers to give up land in favour of environmental schemes. But what does this mean for the food on our table - and is British produce now a luxury product for the wealthy only? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by West of England and Wales correspondent Dan Whitehead to find out why farmers are so concerned, and speaks to Liz Webster, the founder of Save British Farming, about why she believes eating British isn't just good for our farmers - it's good for the nation's health, too. In response to our report, Farming Minister Mark Spencer, said: “We firmly back our farmers. British farming is at the heart of British trade, and we put agriculture at the forefront of any deals we negotiate, prioritising new export opportunities, protecting UK food standards and removing market access barriers. “We’ve maintained the £2.4 billion annual farming budget and recently set out the biggest ever package of grants which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably.” The Welsh government said: “A successful future for Welsh farming should combine the best of our traditional farming alongside cutting-edge innovation and diversification. It will produce the very best of Welsh food to the highest standards, while safeguarding our precious environment and addressing the urgent call of the climate and nature emergencies.” Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

On this episode, Niall speaks to one of the doctors who worked to restore the hearing of an 18-month-old girl – who was born deaf. Medics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge have used gene therapy to help a rare condition, auditory neuropathy. It’s caused by the disruption of nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain. Opal Sandy can now respond to her parents’ voices and can communicate words such as “Dada” and “bye-bye”. Plus, Natalie Elphicke, the MP who defected from the Conservatives to Labour yesterday, apologises for comments she made after her ex-husband, and predecessor as MP for Dover, was convicted of sexual assault in 2020. She said at the time that being "attractive" and "attracted to women" had made him an "easy target". Niall talks to deputy political editor Sam Coates about the disquiet within Labour about Mrs Elphicke’s arrival. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

The UK media regulator has set out new rules for social media companies designed to keep children safe online. The new Ofcom rules include age verification and reformulating algorithms to keep children away from "toxic" content. But parents whose children have died as a result of exposure to harmful content have called the rules an "insult". On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson is joined by technology correspondent at the Financial Times Cristina Criddle to discuss what the measures are and how they can be delivered. Niall is also joined by John Carr, who is on the government's principal advisory body for online safety and security for children, to discuss the challenges of enforcing the rules and if they go far enough to protect children. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

The Israeli Defense Force says it has taken 'operational control' of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, the main entry point for aid into the region. It comes less than 24 hours after Hamas said they would accept a ceasefire deal drawn up by Egyptian mediators. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to explore why Israel rejected the deal, saying it fell "far from meeting" its "core demands", and Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Middle East negotiator under Republican and Democratic US administrations. Producer: Rosie Gillott Senior Producer: Annie Joyce Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

Labour are celebrating big wins in the Blackpool South by-election, in the local elections and in most of the mayoral races that have declared so far. The Conservatives could lose up to 500 councillors, though their candidate Ben Houchen did hold on to his role as mayor of Tees Valley. A win which gave the prime minister something to be pleased about and will probably help him keep his job for now. But are these grim results for the Tories enough to see Labour winning the next election? Sky News's projection is that it won't be. They will be the largest party but short of an overall majority. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson talks to Professor Michael Thrasher who carried out the analysis and Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates on what signals we can take from these results. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Podcast Promotions Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker

Thousands of fans have been left frustrated after Manchester’s newest venue delayed its launch again after a string of technical problems. The Co-op Live arena will be the UK’s largest indoor arena accommodating 23,500 people at a cost of £365m - but it’s yet to officially open its doors, cancelling tours from Peter Kay, Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Olivia Rodrigo. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s chief North of England correspondent Greg Milam to find out what is behind the delays as well as Pauline Forster, landlady at a gig venue, which has launched several celebrity careers. They discuss the realities and costs of running a small gig venue and why such spaces are important. Also on the podcast, Niall gets the latest from the university protests in the US, where riot police have been firing rubber bullets at protesters refusing to disperse from campus. Sky’s US correspondent Martha Kelner shares her eyewitness account from University of California. Producers: Rosie Gillott and Emma Rae Woodhouse Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth

Violent protests over the Israel-Hamas war have reached boiling point across university campuses in the United States. Pro-Palestinian protesters are demanding their universities cut ties with Israel or any companies that support its ongoing war in Gaza. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson gets eyewitness analysis from US correspondent Mark Stone in George Washington University. They discuss the arrests, tear gas and counter-protest violence that is taking over universities. Plus, Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, a historian at the University of New Orleans and author of ‘Resistance from the Right: Conservatives and the Campus Wars’, looks at how these protests compare to others the US has seen and analyses if the action could lead to change. Producer: Soila Apparicio and Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

The King has returned to official public duties for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer. Alongside the Queen, he visited a cancer treatment centre to meet staff and patients as part of his new role as patron of Cancer Research UK. Sources have stressed that despite his return to public engagements, the King still has cancer and will continue to be treated for the undisclosed form of the disease. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills and NBC royal commentator Daisy McAndrew to discuss how the Palace has managed this turbulent period and how it has been received on both sides of the Atlantic. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Rosie Gillott Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned – days after he cut the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. It followed a bitter row over the SNP's climbdown on climate targets as he said the agreement between the parties had "served its purpose". As a result, his former Green allies teamed up with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats to get behind two no-confidence motions, one in himself as leader of Scotland and another regarding the entire Scottish government. Now – attention turns to another SNP leadership contest and what the divisions in Scottish politics could mean for the future of the independence campaign. On the Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet speaks to Paul Hutcheon, political editor of the Daily Record, and Shona Craven, from The National, about how the SNP can move on after Mr Yousaf's resignation. Plus, Connor Gillies, our Scotland correspondent, explains how the leadership election will unfold. Producer: Rosie Gillott Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

The 2 May local elections will have more than 2,600 seats are at stake across 107 English councils. Labour’s Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among the 10 city mayors up for re-election. Those in Blackpool South will also be voting for their next MP after ex-Tory Scott Benton broke Commons lobbying rules, triggering a by-election. With the Conservatives lagging behind Labour in the polls, the outcome will offer some insight on how voters in England and Wales feel ahead of the general election. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates to discuss why the elections are so important for the prime minister’s future and where the key political backgrounds are. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Soila Apparicio Podcast promotions producer: Iona Brunker Editor: Paul Stanworth

Labour have promised to renationalise nearly all passenger railways within their first term if they win the next election. But will it leave the railways better off? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's political correspondent Sam Coates to discuss the details of Labour's plan and assess if a Great British Railway would be more efficient and cost-effective than the current privatised system. Niall also speaks to the editor of Rail magazine, Nigel Harris, to discuss the current state of our railways and what he believes needs to change. Elsewhere in politics, the Scottish government has ended its power-sharing agreement with the Greens. Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies discusses the implications of this for both parties – including a motion of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf. Producers: Iona Brunker, Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth