Broadcast timeline
Mornings
Tuesday 6 October 2026 · 06:00 BST · 30m · 6 stories · 15 annotated moments · 27 of 30 min on news stories (88%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
US officials said all American bomber aircraft were removed from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire partly because of a reported threat of an Iranian drone strike on the base. NBC reported a credible threat against the American aircraft stationed there, but it was unclear whether the danger was imminent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said the decision was routine and not directly connected to the arrests of five men near the base last month, while President Trump told reporters the move was a reaction to a specific threat. Sky's US correspondent said the B-1 bombers were moved in a hurry because of a possible drone attack, that UK authorities believe there is an Iranian link after the five men were released on bail, and that the investigation remains ongoing; he also cited MI5 warnings about state-sponsored Iranian activity in the UK and more than 20 Iranian-linked plots tracked and disrupted. The Conservatives pledged £10 billion to create a national missile and drone defence system called Britannia Shield if they return to power, saying it would be similar to Israel's Iron Dome. Their political correspondent said it was designed to protect the country as a whole, including RAF bases and radar stations, and that Britain currently has no air defence. The plan would cost £1 billion a year for 10 years, though experts said that number could escalate and the cost of each interception would add to the expense. The Government has pledged to reach 3% of GDP on defence in the next Parliament but has not made clear by when, and it said the Tories should never be given responsibility for keeping the country safe again.
Jeffrey Archer, the former Conservative MP and best-selling author, died suddenly aged 86. He sold more than 300 million books, was jailed for four years in 2001 for perjury and perverting the course of justice, and was made a life peer in 1992 as Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare. Sky's chief political correspondent, reporting from the Tory conference in Birmingham, said Archer had been a star of past conferences, deputy chairman until a 1986 scandal forced him to quit, and a would-be Tory London mayor candidate who had to withdraw. A new voting intention poll for Sky News and The Times gave Labour its highest rating since January last year, up three points to 27%, with Reform down three to 22%, the Conservatives up one to 20%, and the Lib Dems and Greens level on 11%. Sky's correspondent said Labour had regained its lead since Andy Burnham became leader, and that the poll gave Labour a five-point lead over Reform; YouGov also suggested 52% would vote to rejoin the EU in a second referendum.
In Yemen, clashes continued around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, with Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces launching a major offensive to retake territory from Iran-backed Houthis, who have reportedly sealed off Taiz and trapped millions of civilians. A Sky special correspondent reported from Taiz on troops under pressure, families fleeing with whatever they could carry, funerals held under fire, and hospitals lacking basic medicines and supplies, with premature and underweight babies and a nurse saying incubators were full. Later, the Children's Burns Trust was reported to have seen a 260% increase in burn injuries related to fake squishy toys between January and July compared with the same period last year. Manchester Trading Standards had seized around 40,000 dangerous or fake toys in recent months, and one four-year-old needed hospital treatment after a knock-off toy split in his hands, though his vision later returned to normal and the swelling went down.
- 0:34
- 5:48
Charged quote US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford over Iran-linked threat
tracked and disrupted. So, the intent is believed to be there and maybe the capability too. The Americans have already had planes destroyed in Middle Eastern bases, now they consider their bases in Europe to be vulnerable too. That is a striking development and a reflection of this new age of warfare.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 5:48-5:56
- 6:04
- 6:06
Claim Conservatives defend £10bn Britannia Shield after Iron Dome comparison
The Conservatives announced a £10 billion Britannia Shield defence system to protect the UK and its overseas bases.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 6:06-6:14
- 6:50
Claim Conservatives defend £10bn Britannia Shield after Iron Dome comparison
The Conservatives announced a £10 billion Britannia Shield defence system to protect the UK and its overseas bases.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 6:50-6:58
- 7:16
Contested quote Conservatives defend £10bn Britannia Shield after Iron Dome comparison
incoming missiles and rockets. It is absolutely similar to the Iron Dome, what we see in Israel, but also what you see in Ukraine. Are we able to protect it? Right now, not. We have no air defence whatsoever. Conservatives say that plan will cost £1 billion a year for 10 years, but experts say that number could escalate.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 7:16-7:20
- 8:34 Story begins Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86
- 9:54
Charged quote Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86
will absolutely send shockwaves through the Tory conference. Jeffrey Archer, as well as his brilliant career as a novelist, of course, was a major figure in British politics, a controversial figure as well. He was a member of Parliament in Louth, a seat now represented by Victoria Atkins. Then he, of course, left Parliament
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 9:54-9:56
- 12:02
- 15:15
- 15:25
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
Clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait are showing no sign of easing. The rebels, once described as a ragtag desert army, but they're now backed by the might of both Russia and China and control a key pipeline used to ship Saudi oil around the world.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 15:25-15:27
- 17:09
Claim Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
Iranian-backed Houthi fighters advanced on Taiz after capturing Mokha and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, with government forces attempting to halt the offensive.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 17:09-17:13
- 17:09
Claim Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
Iranian-backed Houthi fighters advanced on Taiz after capturing Mokha and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, with government forces attempting to halt the offensive.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 17:09-17:17
- 17:53
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
We feel very let down because we have nothing. They tell us to come with our own Kalashnikovs and give us 20 bullets in a plastic bag and tell us to go to the front. Go kill, go! They're not the only ones leaving the combat zones which are shifting daily. Families are fleeing with whatever they can carry or
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 17:53-17:55
- 20:01
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
capital. Those we spoke to seem determined to hold fast. If we don't have enough weapons, we'll use stones to beat them. They'll take this city over our dead bodies. On the Houthi-controlled side of Taiz city, the militants have banned Western media. They've accused the Saudi military and the government forces they support
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 20:01-20:03
- 20:51
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
they haven't stopped the Houthi militants who now have ballistic missiles reaching Riyadh and hitting oil targets there. For the civilians inside Taiz, there's no escape. Lunan was in a car packed full of her young siblings and cousins all fleeing the fighting when they came under attack. Medics are now trying to save her left arm which
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 20:51-20:57
- 21:09
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
Lunan was in a car packed full of her young siblings and cousins all fleeing the fighting when they came under attack. Medics are now trying to save her left arm which has been almost entirely severed. Eight other children were in the vehicle with her. Somehow all survived. But several of the toddlers were wounded.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 21:09-21:11
- 21:49
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
year-old sister who was also hurt. Their teenage sister Shereen was following on foot when the youngsters came under fire. The constant explosions near the hospital are terrifying. The family's mother is still trapped in their home and their village is now under Houthi control. The war is non-discriminating.
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 21:49-21:51
- 21:59
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
The constant explosions near the hospital are terrifying. The family's mother is still trapped in their home and their village is now under Houthi control. The war is non-discriminating. These babies are the most weak, the most fragile and the most helpless. And they start life here with everything stacked
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 21:59-22:01
- 22:01
Charged quote Yemen government counter-offensive kills about 270 as fighting rages around Taiz
near the hospital are terrifying. The family's mother is still trapped in their home and their village is now under Houthi control. The war is non-discriminating. These babies are the most weak, the most fragile and the most helpless. And they start life here with everything stacked against them. Rafaf
Sky News, Mornings, 6 October 2026, 22:01-22:05
- 26:56
Source: Sky News, "Mornings", Tuesday 6 October 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.