This Is Why

The Governor of the Bank of England blamed Donald Trump's war with Iran for the first rise in interest rates in more than three years. They have gone up from 3.75 % to 4%.

The rise could have an impact on the cost of living and the economy - but could Trump's drubbing in the midterm elections mean that it's not inevitable that there will be more rises to come?

Niall talks to Sky's business correspondent Paul Kelso about how the rise will affect our finances and how resilient the UK economy is as the pound is at one of its highest levels since the Brexit referendum.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

An anonymous celebrity asked the High Court to permanently prevent two news organisations from publishing his identity, amid claims of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

He argued that if Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, and Independent Television News (ITN) published allegations against him, there was a risk that he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.

But his claim for an injunction was denied. He lost his case, despite the judge acknowledging he was at risk of suicide.

So why do we still not know who he is? What happens next with his appeal, and why does this case matter for investigative journalism? Niall Paterson is joined by legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg.

Warning: This episode does contain references to abuse and suicide.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk. You can also watch This Is Why on the Sky News app, and on YouTube.

The Ministry of Defence has committed billions of pounds to building a new generation of warships. But there's a problem.

Older vessels are being retired, their replacements are taking years to arrive, and concerns are growing about the Navy's ability to meet its commitments. So why aren't we building more ships, more quickly?

It's about money, a lack of skilled workers, and decades of decisions that have left Britain's shipbuilding industry struggling to keep up.

Sky's military analyst Robert Clark joins Niall Paterson to help us understand why.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk. You can also watch This Is Why on the Sky News app, and on YouTube.

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In October 1998, Karl Bushby left his mum’s house in Humberside to fly to the southern tip of South America. The journey home would take him the best part of three decades to complete.

Karl travelled up through the Americas, across the Bering Strait into Russia, crossed the Caspian Sea and trekked the length of Europe before finally swimming the Channel and completing a 31,000-mile ‘modern odyssey’.

But there were two rules: no motorised transport – meaning he had to walk or swim the entire distance – and no changing the route. Living by those rules would end up costing Karl more than he could ever have imagined.

Niall Paterson speaks to the Daily Telegraph journalist Ed Cumming, who joined Karl on the final leg of his epic adventure.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

The King is in the Caribbean, and, so far, he's faced hardly any protests from people campaigning for reparations for transatlantic slavery.

But the leaders of the countries he's visiting have been speaking out. The prime minister of the Bahamas told Sky News that reparation is not just about money, but acknowledging what slavery did.

There will be more calls for reparations at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, which the King is attending as head of the organisation.

But as Prince William currently shows little inclination to follow his father in becoming head of the Commonwealth, will it be harder in future to put pressure on Britain?

Niall is joined by Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, and Sir Patrick Vernon, UK representative of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council.