Broadcast Prism — Sky News: The Wrap With Anna Botting

Broadcast overview

An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, called for closer ties with the European Union, rejecting Conservative claims that he was trying to rerun Brexit and arguing that a deeper partnership would boost the economy and help tackle illegal immigration. He told MPs that sticking with the status quo was not good enough and that closer ties with Europe were the best way to promote growth and control illegal immigration. He pointed to recent security threats as a reason for deals with the EU, confirmed a UK-EU summit on 20 November, and said there should then be a serious dialogue about long-term relationship options. He also said it was highly likely that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was behind an alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford, and he said Russian actors had sought to interfere in the 2019 general election and it was inconceivable this was the first time.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels told Sky News that Saudi Arabia bore blame for the deaths of at least 14 people and more than 300 injured in two attacks on Riyadh's main international airport. The Houthis said their target was not civilians but an air blockade, that they had warned Saudi Arabia and international airlines, and that Saudi airports had become legitimate Yemeni military targets; they expressed sadness for civilian casualties but said responsibility rested with the Saudis. Saudi Arabia promised a serious response. Discussion covered the Saudis' defence spending, accusations of war crimes on both sides, the Yemen civil war, the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and UK measures including sanctions on IRGC members and the calling in of Iran's ambassador, as well as the Home Secretary saying a known individual based in Iran was thought to have coordinated the RAF Fairford plot.

Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of continuing strikes on Ukraine, including power facilities, and said Vladimir Putin did not want to honour Donald Trump's energy ceasefire plan; he said Russia had attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure six times since midnight and called for American pressure rather than sanctions relief or concessions. Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine had not earned a ceasefire. Trump said Zelensky and Putin had to get together to end the war, claiming 32,000 people had been lost this month and that Putin wanted a deal more than Zelensky. NATO's Supreme Allied Commander said the alliance did not want war but was ready if one came. Separately, Russell Brand appeared in court in London for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges; the 51-year-old faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault, and has denied all charges.

2:01
Story begins PM announces National Centre for Information Defence
2:26

Charged quote PM announces National Centre for Information Defence

And I think most people agree with him. So in one way, he's pushing out an open door. Kirsty? Something of an own goal, I think, from the Prime Minister today. He started by suggesting we'd all been hoodwinked by Russian misinformation and had to row back during the course of the day to say that that was no such thing.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 2:26-2:29
3:05

Claim PM announces National Centre for Information Defence

Burnham confirmed the assessment that the RAF Fairford incident was highly likely coordinated by Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 3:05-3:19
4:11

Charged quote PM announces National Centre for Information Defence

Now, Burnham set the hairs running at the weekend when he told The Rest Is Politics podcast that it was clear Russia interfered with the Brexit referendum. Now, that was a bombshell and it raised questions about whether the current Prime Minister thinks that the Brexit referendum was legitimate. Where has this come from?

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 4:11-4:14
5:12

Claim PM announces National Centre for Information Defence

A summit with Ursula von der Leyen is planned, with four agenda areas including a 10 billion pound growth boost.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 5:12-5:24
5:40

Claim PM announces National Centre for Information Defence

Andy Burnham was expected to set out options for the UK's long-term relationship with Europe around the time of an end-of-year UK-EU summit, which could include rejoining the EU.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 5:40-5:48
10:53
Story begins Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12
11:15

Claim Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

Saudi Arabia reported that a Houthi attack on Riyadh International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300, called it a war crime, and said the dead included four Saudi citizens and nationals of several other countries.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 11:15-11:20
11:53

Contested quote Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

and their family members who are mourning the loss and the death of their families who have been killed as a result of Houthi action in the last few days? Our goal, our intention, our target is not to kill civilians. Our target is to impose an air blockade for the Saudis. We have actually warned Saudi Arabia directly.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 11:53-12:00
12:13

Contested quote Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

Our target is to impose an air blockade for the Saudis. We have actually warned Saudi Arabia directly. We warned all the international airlines. We warned everyone that all Saudi Arabia airports have become a legitimate Yemeni military target. That should not be used. But they did not listen to our warning.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 12:13-12:21
12:13

Claim Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

The Houthis warned airlines and passengers not to use Saudi airports or airspace, with exceptions for Mecca and Medina airports.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 12:13-12:21
12:43

Contested quote Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

for years, and we do not use them anymore. We actually feel very sad regarding the civilian casualties. We are truly sorry for them, but we do not pay responsibility for the death. The responsibility is borne on the Saudis. There are certainly people in Saudi Arabia reeling, huge numbers of injured, for example.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 12:43-12:51
13:08

Charged quote Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

they're not able to protect themselves from the Houthis, which are, of course, backed by Iran. They are, and both the Saudis and the Houthis have been accused of war crimes, killing the civilians, the Saudis bombing markets, for instance. It's kind of, it seems to be no prospect of a settlement. Saudi and the Saudis in Iran have sworn enemies.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 13:08-13:17
16:21

Charged quote Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

But I suspect it's a conflict you won't want British forces to be dragged into, because it's a very dirty war, and it is difficult to resolve, and neither side has clean hands. And it's interesting as well, isn't it, the nature of asymmetric conflict, because actually Saudi Arabia has huge kind of reserves of air defences,

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 16:21-16:24
16:49

Claim Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12

The UK sanctioned two more IRGC members with an asset freeze and travel ban, including one head of counter-espionage operations.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 16:49-16:59
17:12
Story begins Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries after truce
19:08

Contested quote Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries after truce

and end that ridiculous war. This month, they lost 32,000 people in that war, and it's ridiculous. So they have to get together and get it done. I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky. Well, in the meantime, there's a big security conference in Warsaw, and the delegates there left absolutely reeling

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 19:08-19:12
23:26

Contested quote Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries after truce

so he won't take diesel from there, and he is just closer to Putin, although the amount of that's going to be imported, the amount of diesel won't really make much difference. I think he's just going to get a real walloping in those elections, but just pick up Kirsty. The UK is the sixth biggest defense spender on the planet.

Sky News, The Wrap With Anna Botting, 12 October 2026, 23:26-23:28
24:05
Story begins Russell Brand rape and sexual assault trial begins

Source: Sky News, "The Wrap With Anna Botting", Monday 12 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.