This Is Why

Brothers, rivals, cabinet colleagues? When Ed Miliband beat brother David to the Labour leadership in 2010, it looked as if their relationship had been fractured beyond repair.

But it appears Andy Burnham is giving serious consideration to offering them both big roles in his administration.

Can the Milibands really work together again in government after years of estrangement? Will it be senior women in the cabinet who are forced to make way for their promotion to power?

And what does it say about Burnham’s political instincts that he appears to be so reliant on former friends from the Blair-Brown era?

Niall Paterson speaks to Sky’s chief political correspondent, Jon Craig.

He’s a convicted child rapist who’s been stripped of his British citizenship. But the ringleader of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang – released from jail this week – cannot be removed from the UK.

Shabir Ahmed was sentenced in 2012 for multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12. But provisions in the Immigration Act 1971 mean he is safe from deportation.

Politicians from all parties – including prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham – are calling on the Home Office to take action. But what legally can be done? And how does the law actually work?

Niall is joined by lawyer, journalist and legal affairs commentator Joshua Rozenberg.

Warning: today’s episode contains references to grooming gangs, rape, sexual abuse and coercive control.

If you have been affected by any of the issues Joshua and Niall discussed you can call The Samaritans, free of charge, on 116 123.

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

Whether you’ve been enjoying or enduring the summer heatwave, running that new air-con unit has just got a whole lot more expensive.

For millions of people across England, Scotland and Wales the cost of household energy has soared by 13% from the 1 July – following the latest rise in the energy price cap.

The war in Iran is largely to blame, thanks to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent spike in oil and gas prices.

But Donald Trump’s military action began at the end of February, so why are we only beginning to feel the impact now? How long will the current high prices persist and are there any tricks for reducing those domestic bills?

Mhari Aurora is joined by Sky’s business news reporter James Sillars.

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

Every prime minister promises ambitious plans to build new homes – every prime minister in more than half a century has failed. Andy Burnham says he’ll be different.

The former Manchester mayor is on the verge of becoming the new tenant in Number 10 and wants to oversee the biggest council house construction programme since the post-war boom.

But you have to go back to 1970 for the last time any government fulfilled its housebuilding target. So why is Mr Burnham so sure he can succeed where his predecessors have failed?

Mhari Aurora speaks to David Byers, deputy property editor at The Times and Sunday Times.

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

Drones in, destroyers out. The Royal Navy looks set to be the biggest losers when the Defence Investment Plan is finally published.

Instead of building a new fleet of state-of-the-art warships, we will have to rely on cheaper ‘common combat vessels’ to serve as hubs for a hybrid response to the threat from Russia.

How will the change in military spending be received when Sir Keir Starmer makes his international swansong as prime minister at the NATO summit? And could he really be the next NATO secretary general, despite a mixed record on defence readiness?

Mhari Aurora speaks to Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.

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