This Is Why

Rachel Reeves may have delivered her Spring Forecast – but have events in the Middle East made the chancellor’s announcement redundant?

With President Trump predicting the Iran conflict could continue for a further four to five weeks, the world is starting to realise the economic consequences.

Global oil and gas prices are spiking and fuelling the threat of higher inflation and interest rates.

Niall is joined by Sky’s economics and data editor, Ed Conway, to discuss the effects on the UK economy – and why you might be feeling the pinch.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk

War is raging in the Middle East after the US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran.

Keir Starmer has risked his special relationship with Donald Trump by initially blocking the US from using UK airbases.

Despite later changing his mind, what kind of tightrope is the prime minister walking – and can he stop Britain being sucked into war?

Niall is joined on this first-ever episode of This Is Why by Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes and international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk

Welcome to This Is Why.

The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you.

Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.

Available every weekday afternoon from Monday 2 March 2026.

This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk

The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you.

Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.

Available every weekday afternoon from Monday 2 March 2026.

This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk

When is a shadow fleet not a shadow fleet?

Perhaps when it’s shipping millions of dollars' worth of crude oil through the English Channel in broad daylight.

The UK has imposed sanctions on the Russian oil trade since the start of the full invasion of Ukraine - but tankers helping to fund Putin’s war machine are operating in the Channel with apparent impunity.

Niall is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso - who trailed some of these ‘shadow fleet’ vessels in the English Channel.

Producers: Paul Wilkinson and Tom Gillespie

Editor: Mike Bovill