Sky News Daily

Sir Keir Starmer has only been prime minister for 16 months but already there are reports some Labour MPs want him out. The details that have emerged about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the Angela Rayner tax scandal and Labour's perceived lack of direction by some in the party have all put pressure on Sir Keir - with a growing number of MPs said to be feeling he has until May's local elections to turn things around. It's the biggest threat to his leadership so far and a somewhat familiar name is reportedly preparing to try and replace him. Allies of Andy Burnham – the “King in the North” who’s currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester – have launched a new campaign group, Mainstream, calling on the government to introduce a wealth tax, nationalise utility companies and end the two-child benefit cap. Who is Andy Burnham and how plausible is it that he could replace Sir Keir? How fragile is the prime minister’s position and what would a Labour leadership election look like? Niall Paterson is joined by Professor Robert Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester and a senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe. Producer: Natalie Ktena & Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

He may have described himself as a ‘fighter not a quitter’, but even Peter Mandelson couldn’t survive new and lurid revelations about his relationship with convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. The ultimate political animal, Mandelson was no stranger to scandal – having twice been forced to resign from Tony Blair’s Cabinet. But brought back into the Labour fold by Gordon Brown after a successful stint as European Commissioner, the former spin doctor went on to enjoy a career renaissance – which eventually took him to Washington as the UK’s ambassador to the United States. However, Mandelson was summoned home from DC in disgrace, following the publication of a cache of embarrassing emails and other communications between himself and Epstein. Was his downfall inevitable? And should Sir Keir Starmer have known better than to entrust one of the biggest diplomatic roles in the world to a man with a track record of self-destruction? Niall is joined by former ambassador and National Security Advisor, Lord Ricketts, and Sky News’ former political editor, Adam Boulton. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

More small boats, more asylum claims, more flags flying in town centres – the debate over immigration has never felt more polarised. Sky News invited a live studio audience to put their questions and concerns to politicians from four of the main Westminster parties. So, what did they ask and are we any closer to a consensus on what anyone would do about both legal and illegal migration? Niall Paterson is joined by debate host, Trevor Phillips, and audience member, Ryan Alexander, who asked the panel about the ethics of housing asylum seekers in hotels. You can watch the debate in full here. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

Lachlan Murdoch has finally secured his place as his father Rupert’s successor, following a long sibling battle for control over one of the highest-profile media groups in the world. Under the deal, some of Rupert's other children – James Murdoch, Elisabeth Murdoch and Prudence MacLeod – will sell their personal holdings in Fox and News Corp, with each expected to receive about $1.1bn (£810m). A new family trust will be created to benefit Lachlan and his younger siblings, Grace and Chloe Murdoch. Joining Niall Paterson to unravel the dispute – thought to have been one of the inspirations for the TV series Succession – are Paddy Manning, author of The Successor: The High-Stakes Life Of Lachlan Murdoch and our business correspondent, Paul Kelso. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

A group of scientists think they can geoengineer the Arctic’s melting ice, thickening it by pumping freezing seawater onto the surface during the winter. Geoengineering is the large-scale – and often experimental – manipulation of the environment in an attempt to slow down climate change. The question is, is it mad science? Or our last hope? Science correspondent Thomas Moore has visited the Climate Repair Unit in Cambridge, where they're attempting to thicken Arctic ice. He joins Niall to explain the research and the controversies surrounding it. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill

Her disappearance remains unsolved, but several theories about what happened to Madeleine McCann still need to be explained. Now, Sky News has tracked down the woman at the centre of investigation into a potential hit-and-run. This was just before Christian B emerged as the prime suspect over the three-year-old British girl's disappearance in 2007. Crime correspondent Martin Brunt joins Niall to explain the current state of the McCann case, the unexplored threads in the investigation, and why suspect Christian B is going to be released from prison. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill

Zack Polanski is the fresh face of the Green Party. He already sits on the London Assembly – the capital's elected body that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor. But he's got his eyes set on the Commons – with ambitions to join the four Green MPs already there. Polanski wants to offer a different approach to politics with policies that include a wealth tax on billionaires and renationalising water companies. And to be a threat to both Labour and Reform UK. To find out more about Polanski's ambitions, Niall Paterson is joined by Caroline Russell, Green leader of the London Assembly who has worked alongside him and backed his campaign, plus George Monaghan, commissioning editor at the New Statesman. Producer: Soila Apparicio

We give an insight into the UK's immigration system, following an Indian family who dreamed of a better life. They came to the UK on student and dependent visas – which the family say were obtained using fake documents. Niall Paterson is joined by communities correspondent Lisa Holland who has spoken to the family, to explore the serious questions about the checks and balances in place by the Home Office, as well as data and forensics journalist Joely Santa Cruz, who helps unpick the numbers. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Philly Beaumont

The chances are your child has a smartphone. But whether they’re allowed to use them in school or not could have a huge impact on not only their academic success but also mental health issues and wider threats to their wellbeing. Brianna Ghey was 16 when she was stabbed to death by two 15-year-olds after being lured into a park in Warrington. Her mother, Esther, has told Sky News she lost her daughter twice – firstly to her phone, then to her killers. Esther now wants a legal ban on phones in schools, rather than the current guidelines which don’t make such a ban compulsory. In today’s episode, Kamali Melbourne speaks to our North of England correspondent, Shingi Mararike – following his interview with Esther Ghey – as well as campaigner, Dr Susie Davies, who would like to see even stronger measures to protect young people from the dangers of mobile phone use. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wants to end Labour's ban on new oil and gas licences and make North Sea oil and gas a "cornerstone" of the economy. But what would that mean for net-zero targets? Kamali Melbourne is joined by our business correspondent Paul Kelso, who breaks down the economic impact it could have, while industry expert Professor Paul de Leeuw tells us how the sector has reacted to the announcement in Aberdeen. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill

A few years ago, the number of asylum seekers in the Warwickshire market town of Nuneaton was in single digits. But it has become another community facing anti-migrant unrest. Our Midlands correspondent Shamaan Freeman-Powell visited Nuneaton, as it's a key battleground for the migrant crisis conversation, visiting the homes where migrants are placed, and witnessing community tensions in the high street. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Mike Bovill

With Parliament back in action in a few days, Sam and Anne look ahead to the packed autumn schedule in Westminster. In the last episode of the Summer Box Set, both spill the beans on all the latest news and gossip around Westminster, Whitehall and beyond as MPs prepare to come back to the House of Commons. They’ll mark the important dates in the calendar, break down the fortunes of the key players, and explain which areas could cause trouble for the government. Normal service resumes on the podcast on Monday, 1st September.

Is Donald Trump increasingly acting like a dictator as he power grabs and overreaches on independent institutions? Plus - he’s firing people again. Why? Mark Stone reflects on seeing an immigration raid in DC - and what this means for a community with the army on the streets. And, we reflect on the mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which claimed the lives of two children and injured 18 other people as they prayed in a church before school. You can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel. Watch Mark Stone's full piece on the ICE raids on YouTube and on the SkyNews website.

It feels like we're having to pay more and more for the basics every month. New figures released this week showed food inflation has reached an 18-month high of 4.2% - pushed up by household favourites like chocolate, eggs and butter. The energy price cap is also rising, again. So, when will we start to feel a bit better off? Why is the hangover of the cost of living crisis still lingering? And as the nights draw in, what can be done to survive another cold winter? On today’s episode, Jonathan Samuels is joined by business correspondent Paul Kelso - who explains why prices remain stubbornly high - and Money blogger Jess Sharp, who offers some advice and tips to struggling households. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

The total fertility rate for England and Wales - defined as the number of children a woman can expect to have over her lifetime - has fallen to another record low. It's the third year in a row the rate has fallen, and the biggest decline in fertility is among those aged between 25 and 29, increasing the average age of parents to 31 for mothers and 33.9 for fathers. So, why aren't people in Britain having more babies? On today’s Sky News Daily, Gareth Barlow is joined by leading demographer Paul Morland to discuss why people in Britain are having fewer children on average, and what could be done to reverse the trend. Producers: Araminta Parker and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

Reform UK has outlined its plan to tackle the small boats crisis, which would include detaining and deporting all illegal migrants arriving in the UK. Leader Nigel Farage says his party is willing to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, repeal the Human Rights Act and disapply the 1951 UN Refugee Convention for five years to remove barriers to deportations. On today's Sky News Daily, Sophy Ridge is joined by Sky's deputy political editor, Sam Coates, to discuss whether Reform's proposals could work. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

This week, Finnish President Alexander Stubb found himself at the seat of world leaders at the White House, discussing the best route to peace in Ukraine. How? He mastered the art of befriending Trump. Tamara Cohen chats to former political adviser in the Finnish government, Joel Linnainmäki, and former diplomat at the Danish embassy in Washington during Trump's first term, Jonas Parello-Plesner, about Stubb's trajectory in the lead up to this huge political moment. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse, Evan Hall and Emily Hulme Editors: Mike Bovill and Philly Beaumont

Russian oil used to flow into Europe. Now, it's going to India and China instead. So, could Donald Trump's latest tariff threat against those countries put a squeeze on Russia's economic pipeline and help bring an end to the war in Ukraine? Despite the warm words and strong handshakes at their Alaskan summit, the Trump White House seems prepared to try new ways to hit Vladimir Putin in the pocket. But has the failure of the western sanction regime to cripple the Russian economy shown India and China that Trump's trade war bark is worse than his bite? On today's episode, Gareth Barlow speaks to Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway about how the Russian energy landscape has changed and the potential impact on peace in Ukraine. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

Islamic State is on the rise, once more a threat to the international community. Driven from its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, the terror group has been building a new base in the mountains of Somalia. Sky’s special correspondent Alex Crawford has visited the cave network where Somali authorities believe the ISIS resurgence began - funded by crime and cryptocurrency in a sophisticated twist to their terror regime. Alex joined Niall Paterson on The Daily to discuss what she discovered and what it means for the UK and beyond. You can watch the full documentary, Hunting for ISIS: A Warning From Africa, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdGr5uxqfak Producer: Olivia McGhie and Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill

Children’s exposure to online porn is higher than ever before. Will new laws designed to keep them safe finally make a difference or end up making matters worse? Campaigner Ian Russell – whose daughter, Molly, took her own life at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful content on social media – has criticised sites for still allowing a “tsunami” of inappropriate content to flood the feeds of young users. Meanwhile, critics say the Online Safety Act has gone too far in curtailing democracy and freedom of speech. So, is the legislation fit for purpose? On today’s episode, Tamara Cohen speaks to the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, about what more needs to be done to keep young people safe. Plus, free speech campaigner, Toby Young, argues that parents – rather than the state – should be responsible for what their children view online. Producer: Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill