This Is Why

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

The King has revealed how much income tax he pays, becoming the first monarch to ever do so.
The Palace said the move was “increasing transparency”, but have the royals given us the full picture?
Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s royal correspondent Laura Bundock and forensic accountant Professor Atul Shah, who have been combing through the tax releases.
They explain exactly what was revealed and address whether the numbers are as clear-cut as they seem.
Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk

It's all a little awkward. Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver his defence spending proposals to NATO next month, despite having lost both his job and his defence secretary.
But the outgoing PM seems determined to push through with his plans just days before Andy Burnham potentially moves into Downing Street.
The man whose resignation helped hasten Starmer's departure - ex-defence secretary John Healey - recently held talks with Burnham.
But what do we know about our expected new prime minister's position on military spending? Will he prove to be more of a hawk or a dove when it comes to the defence of the realm?
Niall is joined by Sky’s political correspondent Rob Powell and military analyst Sean Bell.