Meningitis: Survival, loss and the science | 17 September 2020

The prime minister has resisted calls to hand back £10m donated to the Conservative Party by businessman Frank Hester. 

Speaking in the Commons, Rishi Sunak condemned Mr Hester's reported remarks about MP Diane Abbott as "racist" and "wrong" but insisted he had shown "remorse". 

Labour is calling on the Conservatives to give the money back.   

Today on the Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Labour MP Dawn Butler and Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates about the matter. 

Plus, Sky correspondent Amelia Harper takes us through her report uncovering a WhatsApp network of children who are filming themselves killing and torturing animals. 

Warning: this episode contains references to animal cruelty
 
Producer: Soila Apparacio and Sydney Pead
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker 
Editor: Philly Beaumont 
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After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the imposition of sanctions on the country meant direct exports of British-made luxury vehicles fell to zero.

However, Sky News analysis shows that hundreds of millions of pounds worth of luxury cars are being sold to Russia through neighbouring countries.   

Notably, Azerbaijan on Russia's southern border, where Britain recorded an unprecedented increase in car exports. In turn, Azerbaijan reported an unprecedented increase in car exports to Russia.
 
Niall Paterson is joined by our economics and data editor Ed Conway on the Sky News Daily, to explain why luxury vehicles are still finding their way into Russia, and what can be done about it. 

Producer: Alex Edden 
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker 
Editor: Philly BeaumontÂ

The Princess of Wales has apologised "for any confusion" after she admitted "editing" a Mother's Day image of her and her children.  
  
Major international picture agencies told media outlets to "kill" the photo from their systems 12 hours after the picture was released by Kensington Palace on Sunday. AP told Sky News the photo broke their manipulation rules as it shows an "inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand".  
  
Kill notices are uncommon and usually due to issues with copyright or journalistic process – and this has never happened to a royal picture.  
  
On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Sarah-Jane Mee speaks to Adam Parker from our data and forensics unit, who reveals what the team have learned after analysing the photo’s metadata.  
  
Plus, PR expert Mark Borkowski on whether this has fanned rather than extinguished online rumours, and our Royal Correspondent Rhiannon Mills on where this leaves the royal family. 
 
Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce 
Podcast producer: Sydney Pead 
Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku 
Editor: Wendy ParkerÂ

The biggest night in Hollywood promised glitz and glamour, but there were no surprises when it came to the big Academy Award winners.

Oppenheimer took home seven awards, including best picture, best actor and best director for Britain’s Christopher Nolan, with Emma Stone winning best actress for her role in Poor Things.   

Sky News Arts and Entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer and Arts and Entertainment editor Claire Gregory were on the Vanity Fair red carpet for some celeb-spotting, with all details from this year’s Oscars. 

Podcast producer: Sydney Pead 
Promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John   
Editor: Paul StanworthÂ

Freddie Scappaticci was Britain's most highly prized IRA informant.   

His codename was 'Stakeknife' and the unit he led - ironically in charge of hunting informants like him - was called the 'nutting squad' as it shot people in the head after abducting and torturing them. 

Scappaticci never faced trial and lived under witness protection in England until his death last year, aged 77. 

Now, a seven-year investigation has concluded his actions probably resulted in "more lives being lost than saved", with the UK government being urged to acknowledge that many murders were avoidable and to apologise to bereaved families. 

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson examines what we know about the British mole and gets reaction to the Operation Kenova report with our senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins.

Podcast producer: Sydney Pead  
Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles  
Promotion producer: Jonathan Day 
Senior producer: Annie Joyce 
Editor: Wendy ParkerÂ

After cutting national insurance for the second time in yesterday's Budget, the prime minister has said it's his "long-term ambition" to eventually scrap the tax.

As only those in work pay it, it's seen by many – including the Chancellor - as an unfair double tax on those in the workforce. But, completely abolishing it would cost the government £46bn.

Labour have criticised the plans, saying the move would cost more than the cuts unveiled in Liz Truss' chaotic mini-budget and the director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies called it unrealistic.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Greg Thwaites from the Resolution Foundation and Linda Yueh, broadcaster and economist, to explore how realistic scrapping NI would be and why it's so tricky to simplify the tax system.

And, political editor Beth Rigby pops in to discuss how this idea is playing out politically.

Producer: Sydney Pead
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker
Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles
Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Wendy Parker

It was a budget of few surprises. As promised, the chancellor cut the rate of National Insurance tax by 2p in every pound but admits the overall tax burden is still higher than it has been in the last 70 years. The cuts have been labelled "Tory con" by Labour, which leaves people paying "more for less".

On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by data and economics editor Ed Conway to break down the changes in tax and childcare, and if the chancellor's plan will help the economy.

Plus, hear from political editor Beth Rigby about whether the budget can save the Tories from election defeat.

Jeremy Hunt has delivered his last spring budget before a general election, hoping to revive the UK economy and his party's hopes of re-election.

Producers: Soila Apparicio and Sydney Pead
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker
Promotion producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Paul Stanworth

For most of us, our council tax bills are going up - with nearly every local authority in the country increasing it by the maximum amount.

Nottingham City Council is the latest to declare itself bankrupt and has already approved huge cuts. Today, councillors in Birmingham consider whether to do the same.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined from Birmingham by Midlands correspondent Becky Cotterill and local campaigner Shuranjeet Singh to look at what's gone wrong in the city and how it's affecting residents.

Plus, Jessica Studdert from the thinktank New Local discusses why so many councils are struggling with their finances.

Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker
Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles
Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Wendy Parker

As the country gears up for the general election, Wednesday's budget may be the last before the voters go to the polls. Hailed as "a budget to save the Tory party", speculation has been mounting that the chancellor will cut taxes as a last-ditch attempt to boost the Conservatives' plunging support.

To afford the move, funding to public services could be slashed - but Jeremy Hunt has insisted any cuts will be done "responsibly".

On today's episode, Sophy Ridge looks ahead to the budget. She's joined by deputy political editor Sam Coates and pollster Scarlett Maguire to unpack whether cutting taxes really is the way to a Conservative election win.

Producer: Soila Apparicio
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker
Interviews producer: Melissa Tutesigensi-Charles
Promotion producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
Editor: Philly Beaumont

Today, something different – we're bringing you the first episode of an exciting new podcast from Sky called Electoral Dysfunction.

Beth Rigby. Jess Philips. Ruth Davidson.

With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond.

Every week, they will examine our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written, and how they’re sold to voters – as we prepare for a general election. 

With so much at stake, they will work out which politicians are coming out on top and who is having an Electoral Dysfunction – and what it all actually means for you.

Here's the first epsiode. For more, follow Electoral Dysfunction now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Warning: some explicit language.