The prime minister’s been asked to ‘explain himself’ after the UK’s top prosecutor blamed the collapse of a China spy trial on the government - for not labelling China a risk to national security. 
 
But Sir Keir Starmer blames the previous Tory government. 
 
A parliamentary researcher and his associate were accused of passing on “politically sensitive” information to a member of China’s ruling politburo – so why won’t it go to court?   
 
Niall is joined by political correspondent Mhari Aurora and the former head of MI6 Richard Dearlove.   
 
Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill

In September, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody received a devastating diagnosis that changed his life forever. 
 
The 47-year-old Rugby World Cup winner is the latest retired professional player to be told he has the fatal muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease. 
 
What do we know about the possible causes of MND? Is there a link between extreme exercise and developing the disease? And are we any closer to a cure? 
 
Niall is joined by Moody’s World Cup-winning team-mate Will Greenwood and Dr Mike Rogers, director of research and innovation at the MND Association. 
 
Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme 
 
Editor: Mike Bovill   

It's the morning of Monday 6 October 2025 and Russia has launched a missile strike against the UK. That was the scenario of The Wargame - a gripping five-part Sky News podcast that brought together former government ministers, military chiefs, and top defence experts to explore how the UK might respond to a modern-day crisis. 
 
On the real 6 October, we speak to some of the makers of the series to get a sense of whether our leaders are taking the threat of Russia seriously enough. Would the United States come to the UK's aid if bombings began on British soil? And what do we need to do to improve our defence capabilities?  
 
Niall Paterson is joined by The Wargame's co-creators - Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, and Rob Johnson, head of Oxford University's Changing Character of War Centre - as well as Keir Giles, a leading expert on the Russian military who portrays the Russian president in the simulation. 
 
You can listen to The Wargame here: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4lHtW6x1D6R0E1QmGLkBK1 
 
Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill

Could the historic appointment of a first female Archbishop of Canterbury cause a split within the Anglican Church?

Dame Sarah Mullally has been chosen for the role while the Church is arguably in a state of crisis - but also at a time when there has been a surge in attendance among young people.

She's the first woman to lead the Church of England in its almost 500-year history - the question now is, what impact she will have on its future.

Who is Dame Sarah and why was she chosen? How big a moment is this for the Church? What challenges will the new archbishop face and what qualities will she need to address them?

Niall is joined by Ruth Gledhill, religious affairs commentator and assistant editor of The Tablet.

Producer: Emily Hulme

Editor: Mike Bovill

Communities in Manchester are once again reeling following a terror attack - this time on a synagogue in Crumpsall during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. 

The prime minister has announced extra security for synagogues, but there had been previous warnings of a rise in religious hatred across the UK.   

Niall speaks to Sky's home editor, Jason Farrell, about the attack and the wider state of national security. 

Warning: This episode contains audio of the moment leading up to police shooting the suspected attacker. 

Producer: Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill

The senior police officer in charge of preventing violence against women and girls has warned the political discourse around asylum seekers risks being a distraction from the "real threat" to women's safety. 

Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Helen Millichap made the remarks after a summer of protests outside hotels housing migrants across the country.

Will the row undermine the government's ambitious target to halve violence against women and girls within a decade? And where should the real focus be when it comes to protecting communities?

Niall is joined by the former victim's commissioner Dame Vera Baird KC and Sky correspondent Mollie Malone.

Producers: Emily Hulme and Tom Gillespie  

Editor: Mike Bovill

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK.

Alternatively, you can call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111.

If you suspect you are being abused and need to speak to someone, there are people who can help you.

The National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Women's Aid

Respect, the helpline for male domestic abuse victims: 0808 8010 327

Galop, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity: 0800 999 5428

The government has continued to grapple with the subject of immigration during the Labour Party conference - where a desire to fight Reform UK's rhetoric has come up against the political reality of public opinion.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has openly called Reform UK's policies "racist" - at the same time as his new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has highlighted the need to review the rules over indefinite leave to remain.

Nowhere is this paradox more acute than in Glasgow, where an apparent rise in anti-immigrant sentiment is as much a worry for the SNP as it is for the Westminster government - with both struggling to counter the rise of Nigel Farage's party.

Many are now more comfortable voicing legitimate concerns over housing and other social pressures, but are some people using the current debate as an excuse to stoke racial stereotypes and hatred?

Niall is joined by Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies in Glasgow - while political correspondent Rob Powell also speaks to the podcast from the Labour conference in Liverpool.

Producers: Araminta Parker and Tom Gillespie 
Editor: Mike Bovill 
    

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her keynote speech to the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool. 
  
In an address where there were multiple standing ovations in the hall, she explained she won’t take risks with the public finances and warned the UK will "face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds".  
 
But were there any significant policy announcements? And does the speech signal the choices she will make in November, when her autumn budget is widely expected to include tax rises.  
 
Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s economics editor Ed Conway to discuss the most important points from the address and what it can tell us about the economy's direction of travel. 
 
Producer: Araminta Parker & Natalie Ktena 
Editor: Philly Beaumont

Just as they were for her ex-husband, revelations about her relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have proved highly embarrassing for Sarah, Duchess of York. 

Several charities have now dropped her as a patron after it emerged she had emailed Epstein to apologise for publicly disavowing him following his conviction. 

In messages dating back to 2011, the duchess described the late financier as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend", and said sorry for criticising him in public. 

However, it's far from the first time the former wife of Prince Andrew has given the Royal Family a headache. 

Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall Of The House of York, joins Niall in remembering the key moments in the duchess's public life. 

Audio credit: @sarahferguson15 on Instagram 

Producers: Soila Apparicio, Tom Gillespie
Editor: Mike Bovill

Despite Jaguar Land Rover announcing some of its systems are back online, not a single car has rolled off the production line since the end of August. And there's still no date set for the factories to reopen. All because of a cyber attack, costing hundreds of millions of pounds and threatening thousands of jobs.

JLR is just the latest British company harassed by hackers – with Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Co-op all suffering major (and expensive) outages in recent months. Airports and national institutions have also been attacked.

It all raises serious questions about the UK's vulnerability to cyber terrorists. Who has been targeting these companies and why? What can companies do to defend themselves? Are we heading for a cyber attack pandemic? And what can your business do to prepare for the inevitable?

Niall is joined by James Hatch, chief digital officer at BAE Systems, and Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso.

Producer: Soila Apparicio 
Editor: Mike Bovill