Electoral Dysfunction

The government needs to step up and properly regulate AI - that’s what Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the podcast - saying we can expect to hear more about it soon.

She’s on the podcast this week talking to Beth after we’ve heard warnings that AI “could kill us all by the end of the decade”. Lisa Nandy also reflects on the online safety act - are the tech companies taking the UK government seriously?

Beth also gets her take on the growing row over plans to house asylum seekers at a former military site near Piddington, Oxfordshire - the village of 300 people who held a referendum this week to leave the UK.

So who gets the final say when national policy clashes with local democracy?

Beth, Harriet and Ruth debate whether the government needs to rethink its plans on housing asylum seekers, why some communities feel unheard, and how immigration is becoming a defining battleground in British politics.

Plus - we have an exciting announcement for our Dysfunctioners!

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Ed Milliband made a bold statement in the Commons this week - UK government sanctions on Israeli settlements. But is there more to the timing of this?

Harriet makes the case for why it's principled rather than political, and Beth, Ruth and Harriet dig into another question underneath the policy - is this a rebuke of Keir Starmer, and did his government simply not move fast enough?

And the response from Britain's Jewish community, and whether Ed Miliband needs to do more on this now.

We also go further into Reform's woes, following on from our members' episode this week.

As the Metropolitan Police widens its investigation into party donations after Channel 4's undercover documentary, former Conservative-turned-Reform member Tim Montgomerie joins the ladies fresh from quitting the party to explain why he thinks the court around leader Nigel Farage is starting to crack, and whether Reform has already peaked.

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Could Zack Polanski win in the St Pancras and Holborn by-election – and how crushing would a loss be to the Green Party’s momentum?

Harriet Harman, Ruth Davidson and Beth Rigby discuss – and mull over whether the whole thing will be an early headache for Andy Burnham, or a chance to prove he can regain the confidence of young left-wing voters.

Plus – Harriet responds to criticism from Kemi Badenoch after she talked on our episode earlier this week about Claire Coutinho's shadow cabinet promotion while on maternity leave. She'd joked that the leader deserves a 'woke badge'.

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Do lobby journalists bear some responsibility for the collapse of the Starmer Government – or was it down to poor polling and a loss of authority?

Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman discuss whether the chaos around Keir Starmer turned into “a game” for the media - and unpack what it’s like to cover a Prime Minister’s last days in office.

Plus – the panel answer more of your questions, including what Kemi Badenoch can do to rebuild the Tory party’s electoral chances.

This episode was recorded in June.

You can read Michael Savage’s piece in The Guardian here.

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How are our political parties funded – and is it time for a cap on donations?

Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman pull back the curtain on political donations – and discuss whether bots astroturfing social media are rapidly becoming a major threat to democracy.

Author and journalist Peter Geoghegan joins the pod to explain how we got here and what exactly is going on online, while former Attorney General Dominic Grieve breaks down how the Government tries to regulate money in politics.

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Nigel Farage is an MP once again as he was victorious in the Clacton by-election, winning 63% of the vote and overcoming his main competitor - Count Binface.

But has the vote left us with more questions than answers? And why didn’t Farage go to the count?

Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman are joined by pollster Luke Tryl, executive director of More In Common, to dissect Farage’s victory.

Plus, Harriet explains what happens next when it comes to the parliamentary standards' investigation into Farage's finances, and why she thinks another by-election could be imminent.

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Jess Phillips joins Beth Rigby to reflect on her time as a minister under Keir Starmer.

And she asks whether Andy Burnham can fulfil the Labour manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Are disinterested government departments to blame for slow progress?

Plus, why did Gaza nearly cost Jess her Birmingham Yardley seat, and will the row over Labour’s policy in the Middle East continue to plague inner-city MPs?

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Beth Rigby and Harriet Harman dive into what went wrong for Sir Keir Starmer – and why the public turned against him so quickly.

And Harriet asks if the Labour party might, in retrospect, have been able to ride out those disastrous local election results without changing its leader.

Plus – why has the Labour party waited so long for a female leader, and is a woman-only shortlist the answer?

We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

And here's a taster of this week's bonus episode.

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In appointing his new cabinet Andy Burnham has removed many of Keir Starmer's faithfuls, including previously key figures like Rachel Reeves and Darren Jones.

And critics feel 'traitors' who had tried to destabilise the recently departed PM are being rewarded for their disloyalty.

Former Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Starmer to go back in February. Now he's off to the Lords for a ministerial job under Burnham.

At the Electoral Dysfunction Round Table, Beth Rigby asks Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson how Burnham can deal with the bad blood his choices have created. Harriet wants him to 'build bridges' with those he ousted.

We also have lots of questions from Dysfunctioners about a big political week.

We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

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We didn't get details of Andy Burnham's top team until most people had gone to bed... so why did it take so long?

Beth, Jess, Harriet and Ruth discuss whether some ministers negotiated for different jobs – and whether nobody wanted to be justice secretary.

Harriet also has stern words for "bitter" former cabinet ministers who are criticising the new government from the sidelines.

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We're in a transition as Andy Burnham becomes Labour leader three days before he becomes Prime Minister.

In Ukraine, Beth Rigby asks the outgoing PM, Keir Starmer, about why he chose to see President Zelenskyy on his final foreign trip.

Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman hold the Electoral Dysfunction fort back home.

They weigh up whether Burnham should favour ability over popularity in his new cabinet - and consider how the polls are going for Burnham's own approval rating as he prepares to enter Number 10, with the help of Sky News' election analyst Rob Ford.

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To see Beth's full interview with Keir Starmer, go here

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Rachel Reeves says if Nigel Farage wants to "spend the summer arguing with a bin" then that's up to him.

The Reform leader triggered a by-election by resigning this week. He is standing again to fight for the seat. Count Binface is one of those planning to stand against him in Clacton but the main parties won't be there.

Beth, Ruth and Harriet dig into whether there are cracks in Farage's plan to reset the narrative after claims about his financial arrangements. Plus, Beth is fresh off the prime minister's plane from Turkey where Sir Keir Starmer was given an illegal gift he couldn't bring back with him.

Andy Burnham's also promised MPs an overhaul in party culture. Harriet and Ruth debate whether the changes will ever happen.

We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers.

Find out how to subscribe to our members club Sky News Insider here: skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

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As of July 9th, we’re aware of the following people and parties planning to stand in the Clacton by-election:

Adham Alkhatip, Forward Party

Count Binface, Independent

Piers Corbyn, Independent

Nigel Farage, Reform

Laurence Fox, Reclaim Party

Ollie Granger, Independent

Luke Worley, Independent

The New Labour band might be getting back together around Burnham’s cabinet table. Good for nostalgia, but the women have other thoughts if there are set to be two Milibands in the great offices of state and no women.

This week, Harriet tells Beth and Ruth this week that trust is broken between female Labour MPs and the top of the party, and now they’re expecting hard proof from Burnham that he sees them equally – because it’s “no more playing nice” from them.

And as Keir Starmer leaves Burnham with a black hole in his budget as a parting gift – how can Burnham pay for it? And is this going to be a return of the welfare bill rebels?

We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

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Andy Burnham is closing in on Downing Street as Nigel Farage endures a tricky political week. But does Burnham actually have a mandate to be Prime Minister? Or should we have a general election?

Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman give their takes on what Burnham's first 100 Days could look like and who might be in his cabinet, including the all-important role of chancellor. Harriet says one of her picks for the job has to prove his credibility.

And with more scrutiny on Nigel Farage’s £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne – how is Farage reacting?

Farage has said he is "absolutely convinced I've done nothing wrong in any way at all" and he has "taken zero in personal expenses" since being elected in July 2024

"I'm very careful and very cautious about these things," he said. "I believe it to be a wholly private matter, the standards commissioner may take a different view."

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The prime minister has resigned after less than two years in Downing Street.

In this extra episode, Beth Rigby and Harriet Harman react to a dramatic morning in Westminster and ask the question now hanging over Labour: has the party failed, or is this the reset it desperately needed? And could Andy Burnham be the answer?

Beth takes listeners inside the final hours of Starmer's premiership, from cabinet pressure to the emotional resignation speech on the steps of Number 10.

Harriet reflects on Sir Keir’s legacy and why Labour MPs decided he couldn’t lead them into the next election. And did Nigel Farage play a part in Starmer’s departure?

With Andy Burnham now the overwhelming favourite to succeed him, they also discuss what happens next, whether Labour is heading for a coronation rather than a contest, and if Burnham can succeed where Starmer could not.

We’ll be back tomorrow for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

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Andy Burnham is coming back to Westminster – is he about to become prime minister? And could Sir Keir Starmer be in denial?

After a stunning victory in the Makerfield by-election, Burnham has gone from mayor of Greater Manchester to Labour MP, instantly kickstarting the speculation about a challenge to Starmer's leadership.

So is this the beginning of the end for Starmer and will his MPs turn against him? Harriet has the lowdown from inside the Labour party – so how quickly will it kick off?

Beth Rigby has raced back from Makerfield to join Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson as they dissect one of the most consequential by-election results in recent political history and they’re answering some of your questions along the way.

Plus, Ruth has the latest from Scotland after the by-elections in Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry. Is this a change in fortune for the Tories?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Find out how to subscribe to our members' club, Sky News Insider, here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Find out how to subscribe to our members' club, Sky News Insider, here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction

Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson are back early this week with details of the first ever Electoral Dysfunction members’ only episode. To listen to the full podcast, follow the link above for all the information.

In her first podcast back with the ED gang since quitting the government, Jess lifts the lid on what went on behind the scenes in the lead up to Starmer’s social media ban for under 16s, and explains why she thinks it took so long to get over the line.

Plus, expect extra wittering on from the four hosts for one time only. In future Tuesday episodes, Jess and Harriet will be alternating alongside Beth and Ruth.

Our Friday episodes will be just the same - in all the usual places as you get them now, with Beth, Ruth and Harriet.

We’re still always checking the burner phone, so if you have a question WhatsApp us on 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

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As we sat down to get voters’ verdicts on the prime minister in Makerfield, he suffered yet another massive headache – his Defence Secretary, John Healey, resigned. And a few hours later, two more resignations. How weak is Keir Starmer now? And is this a problem for the safety of the UK?

Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman hear from locals voting next week - do they think Andy Burnham is destined for Number 10? What about the other parties’ ambitions for the area, and what do they make of all the attention they’ve been getting lately?

Plus – the ladies have an announcement - you’ll have to listen through to the end to find out...

For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you want to hear more about Ed Conway’s Stuff Matters podcast, go to podfollow.com/stuff- matters

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"Pure cold rage": Will Nigel Farage regret his intervention over the murder of Henry Nowak?

Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss whether Farage is pandering to the far right, or if he has a point about "two-tier policing" in Britain.

And, as Nicola Sturgeon attempts to distance herself from her estranged husband Peter Murrell – Ruth asks if her legacy is now forever tarnished.

Nicola Sturgeon has said she was “completely cleared and exonerated” by police and that she had been “misled” and “deceived” by Murrell.

For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.

We are happy to clarify that initiated Sikh women, like initiated Sikh men, are required to wear a kirpan as part of the religion. Whether a Sikh carries a kirpan depends on their initiation status and not on gender.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth, and Harriet on YouTube.

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Beth has a punchy exclusive interview with Andy Burnham for this extra episode of Electoral Dysfunction.

Saying the quiet bit out loud, Beth asks if Burnham is using this as his path to Number 10 Downing Street or whether he would be loyal as an MP and serve in Keir Starmer’s cabinet? You might want to watch on YouTube to see his response...

She also asks how Burnham's ideas for the country are different to what we already have in government.

Plus, what does the current Mayor of Greater Manchester think about Reform and Nigel Farage’s chances in a future Mayoral race after the party did so well at the local elections there?

And this race to be an MP isn't just about Andy Burnham – whilst Beth is in Makerfield, she’s interviewing a number of other candidates too, but Reform and Restore UK’s candidates weren’t available.

For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Is the UK on its way to becoming ungovernable?

And what does a £5m gift to Nigel Farage from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne tell us about scrutiny and transparency in British politics?

Harriet Harman, Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson discuss in a special live edition of the pod, recorded at the Hay Festival.

Plus, Harriet offers advice to Green Party leader Zack Polanski on how to handle his council tax row - inspired by her own experience being chased by the paparazzi.

For a full list of candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Reality show Married At First Sight UK on Channel 4 is facing serious allegations this week, so Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman discuss whether more should be done to make reality TV safer – and if MPs ought to get involved.

Plus, with three by-elections coming up, has Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Westminster thrown the constituency of Makerfield into chaos? And why might the North Sea oil reserves become a hot button issue for voters in Aberdeen South?

For a full list of candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Channel 4 was approached for comment.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth, and Harriet on YouTube.

Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting - the list of potential names to challenge Keir Starmer is growing but the leadership race is not officially on... yet.

Jess Phillips, who resigned from the government this week, tells Beth why she's backing Wes Streeting in a future race and why Andy Burnham needs to be careful he doesn't look entitled as he searches for a parliamentary seat. She also gives a devastating verdict on the prime minister, telling Beth he 'finds it hard to listen" in her first interview since resigning.

Plus, as one Labour MP resigns in Makerfield so Andy Burnham can stand - can the 'King of the North' win a by-election? Or is he gambling his job on a seat he can't win?

And can Keir Starmer keep a lid on it all?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Less than two years into his stint, could it all be over for Keir Starmer? The drama is high after a handful of his government ministers have now resigned, and more than eighty MPs are now calling for the PM to go – so can the Prime Minister continue to hold firm?

Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman are back with an extra episode to discuss whether Keir Starmer can keep his job, and who his potential challengers are. Plus – could Andy Burnham be the answer to Starmer’s troubles?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

UK politics has been reshaped after a bloodbath for Labour in the May elections, so what’s next for Keir Starmer and his Government?

It was a historic night for both Reform UK and the Green Party – but will their gains translate when it comes to a general election? And can Nigel Farage keep up his momentum?

Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman break down the results coming out of Scotland, Wales and England.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

If Labour's election losses are as bad as some experts predict, Keir Starmer might need a cabinet reshuffle to try to show some strength of leadership.

Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson discuss the risks of that and why it might be counter-productive for the PM.

Plus, pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common returns to chat about the Senedd elections in Wales – why has the voting system changed and why do so few voters seem to understand it?

For a list of all candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Sir Keir Starmer says he has "put to bed" the row over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador – but it looks set to rumble on for the PM.

Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has now been summoned to give evidence to the Commons, as well as Sir Olly Robbins's predecessor at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton.

Beth explains why Barton's evidence could end up being "box office", while Ruth and Harriet give their assessment on Starmer's very difficult week.

And the team discuss if it might be easier to reveal all the information which came up during vetting.

Peter Mandelson denies criminal wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Plus – Beth's in Manchester interviewing Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Will he be able to persuade voters in Labour heartlands – and beyond - to jump ship?

For a list of all candidates standing in your area, check the Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Ruth, Beth and Harriet on YouTube.

Keir Starmer says that if he'd known Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting, he would never have appointed him US ambassador.

The PM told the MPs that civil servants in the Foreign Office had made a "deliberate decision" not to tell him, and that it "beggars belief" that he didn’t know.

This is a story full of political process, about whether rules were followed. But for many it may just boil down to why the Prime Minister did not ask more questions, especially when it concerned a man who had already resigned twice from government.

In this special extra episode Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman give a full debrief on Keir Starmer’s Commons performance.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Are voters about to hand Nigel Farage his biggest win yet? Reform are polling in second place in Scotland, and while Farage’s party might not win in May, could the result change politics in the UK as we know it?

This podcast was recorded on Thursday morning before the news that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting.

Beth, Ruth and Harriet dive into what’s really driving this moment for Reform and whether it’s a protest vote against Scottish independence or something more permanent. And Beth reports back on her trip north of the border with Farage this week, which is part of a series of interviews she is conducting with all the leaders.

Plus, pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common is back with a focus group of voters to help us understand what could happen across the board in the May elections and what it means for Labour, the Conservatives, and the future of two-party politics.

For a list of all candidates standing in your area, check the Electoral Commission website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

The world is reeling, thanks (again) to US President Donald Trump -who started his week by threatening to kill a “whole civilisation”... and is ending it by insulting his NATO allies. It’s left Harriet asking just how Trump got to be so out of control - and how did the checks and balances designed to rein him in fail so spectacularly?

Ruth and Harriet discuss whether Trump’s chaotic leadership style shows that western democracies - including the UK - might be more fragile than we think, and if there’s a chance we could end up with our very own Trump-style leader.

They also ask whether the Government was right to block Kanye West from coming to the UK, and what the row over the decision tells us about antisemitism in this country.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Reform UK was given the opportunity to respond to Harriet Harman’s remarks about Nigel Farage in this episode.

It's an Easter special - so grab yourself a hot cross bun and listen in as Beth, Ruth and Harriet answer all of your questions.

From whether Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage might have more in common than they think, to if Ruth and Harriet are ever tempted to make a return to frontline politics - all are up for discussion.

Plus - Ruth and Harriet go head-to-head over why Labour has never had a female leader.

And, the most pressing question of all - how does Beth find the time to train for a marathon, and what are her top tips?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Beth is in Helsinki with the Prime Minister for an exclusive interview for the podcast.

Keir Starmer has said he "hates the fact" that he made a "mistake" over the appointment of Peter Mandelson.

"I dwell on it. I beat myself up about it," he told Beth, who is accompanying him on a visit to Finland, where he is taking part in a leaders' summit.

Beth also questions him about his relationship with Trump following disparaging comments the President made about Starmer's response to the Iran war.

Plus, Beth, Harriet and Ruth react to the full interview.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Angela Rayner has stepped back in the spotlight this week and straight into controversy.

Her blunt intervention - warning the government is running out of time, criticising its record on “change” and calling parts of Labour’s immigration policy “un-British” - has sparked a big question: is Rayner simply saying what others are thinking, or going too far?

Harriet certainly thinks it’s a bit much. She says Rayner’s approach could be undermining the government at a critical moment just weeks out from the May elections. Beth says Rayner's tax affairs could be sorted sooner than a lot of people thought.

On the elections, Beth has been in Scotland speaking to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Does he still think Starmer should resign?

Plus, what support should the government be offering to help with rising energy costs because of the war in Iran? And can we even afford it as a country?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Keir Starmer has already admitted appointing Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador was a mistake. But after the first batch of documents was released, Beth, Ruth and Harriet ask the big question: we still don’t know how big that ‘mistake’ it was – could it get worse with what is yet to come out about what the Prime Minister knew about Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?

In this episode we break down:

What’s in the first tranche of documents around Peter Mandelson’s appointmnet (and what’s still missing)The red flags raised before Mandelson was appointed and why the process looks so rushedWhat “developed vetting” actually is, and why it could become the key detailThe growing political risk for Starmer, including questions around what was said in the Commons

Peter Mandelson has consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing and he is cooperating with the police investigation.

Plus, a powerful moment in Parliament this week as Labour MPs Charlotte Nichols and Natalie Fleet speak about their own experiences as victims. How do their stories feed into the government’s legal reforms? And what would the plans mean for justice, juries and the courts backlog?

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

President Donald Trump has said he was “very disappointed” in Keir Starmer. Did the Prime Minister fall short of his reputation on the international stage? Or has he put Britain first by standing up to Trump? And will we look back at this moment as a success for him?

It’s been a huge week in the Middle East with global repercussions and Beth, Ruth and Harriet are discussing how Keir Starmer has dealt with it all.

Ruth explains why she thinks Starmer should have rained ‘fire and brimstone’ on Iran for their attack on the British bases at Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Harriet explains how Iraq’s legacy still looms large over Labour and is playing into their decisions over Iran.

And Beth explains the leaks from the National Security Meetings where decisions were made over Iran and what it says about Starmer’s leadership.

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Harriet thinks the Greens delivered a "bruising" defeat to Labour in the Gorton and Denton by-election, so is Keir Starmer now worried about the local elections in May?

The Gorton and Denton by-election result on Friday was a shock for Labour, who Beth says were convinced they would hold on to this once safe seat for the party. And the Greens now have a new MP in Hannah Spencer.

Is this a sign of things to come in the May elections? Are the Green Party a serious contender and concern for the government? What does it mean for Labour to come third behind the Greens and Reform? And have Reform got a ceiling to their support?

Beth, Ruth and Harriet also discuss the arrest of former US ambassador Lord Mandelson this week. He denies all wrongdoing and his lawyers said he wants to "clear his name".

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Andrew – formerly known as Prince – was arrested whilst Harriet and Ruth were in the middle of answering your questions from the Burner Phone for a half term special whilst Beth is away during political recess on her holidays.

So in this episode, they react to the extraordinary news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested (and later released under investigation) on suspicion of misconduct in public office and discuss what it means for the rule of law.

Later, they tackle questions on the government's latest U-turn over postponed local elections, and whether Reform UK is facing proper scrutiny over the Equality Act.

Plus, as Keir Starmer appoints the first woman head of the civil service, they ask why female public figures still face misogyny.

And with major Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms expected next week, Harriet and Ruth hear from parents who fear change could make a broken system worse, not better.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing.

Responding to Harriet's comments about Reform, a Reform UK spokesman said: "Unlike Harriet, we don't need a pink bus to attract women to our party.

"Reform has high-profile women throughout our cabinet and senior women in our party staff, unlike Starmer."

And on the Equality Act, the spokesman added: "Reform UK remains committed to supporting workplace protections against discrimination. No one should be treated unfairly because of their sex, race, if they are pregnant or have a disability.

"That's why we will introduce a new 'Workplace Fairness Act' to replace the Equality Act and ensure workplace protections are maintained whilst also re-asserting the rights of individuals rather than groups under the law.

"The Equality Act has been damaging to our economy, our society, and the way government works. It has unleashed the burdensome and unfair DEI culture that plagues workspaces and has enforced discrimination and equality of outcome.

"This has led to the unacceptable situation of unfair recruitment policies, positive discrimination and anti-white working-class bias, pitting different groups against each other and dividing our country."

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

The Prime Minister has just about made it to Friday... but the crises keep coming. So is Downing Street a “boys’ club”? And how did two senior Labour figures with links to convicted paedophiles pass vetting?

Beth, Ruth and Harriet lift the lid on the weekend that led to Morgan McSweeney’s sudden resignation, revealing the three options that were on the table.

So now he has two women interim chiefs of staff – are claims that there’s a boys’ club in Downing Street valid? The ladies answer a listener question about whether women are being pushed onto a “glass cliff” just when everything’s going wrong.

Plus, Harriet explains what “structural misogyny” looks like in practice, why it matters for decision-making, and the proposal she’s putting directly to the PM: creating a First Secretary of State to drive culture change across government.

And as the Mandelson fallout continues, there’s fresh questions over another vetting failure - Matthew Doyle’s peerage.

A source close to the prime minister rejected suggestions of a "boys' club" in Downing Street, saying there were a number of "highly qualified and capable women that work in Number 10" including cabinet ministers and special advisers "across the whole government who are often forgotten in all of this".

Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting speaks exclusively to Beth as pressure on the Prime Minister to resign continues to rise.

Streeting tells Beth that people should “give Keir a chance” after he claimed it “has not been the best week for the government”, and recognises there is a “febrile” atmosphere.

It comes after a weekend of briefing around how Wes Streeting is connected to Peter Mandelson over the weekend – and in this podcast, Wes Streeting exclusively reveals his Whatsapp messages with Beth, over the period that Mandelson was ambassador in Washington.

But is he at risk of suffering from ‘revisionism’? Harriet thinks commentators need to be careful when remembering what went on with Peter Mandelson.

Plus – how much weight does Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar’s comments have? He's called on Starmer to resign today, saying that “the situation in Downing Street is not good enough”.

We’ll be back on Friday with our usual weekly episode.

Keir Starmer is fighting for his career amid one of the biggest political scandals of the century. Harriet thinks the prime minister could be brought down after he appointed Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador, despite knowing about his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

So can Starmer find the strength to turn a corner, reset his whole team and admit he was wrong? Or is it too late? Harriet thinks his tone this week made him look "gullible and naive".

And what does the whole fiasco say about politics and the establishment as a whole? Beth, Ruth and Harriet explain how Peter Mandelson created a network of people he relied upon in politics and the media.

Peter Mandelson denies any wrongdoing and has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Beth joins the Prime Minister on his historic trip to China, where he has met the country's president Xi Jinping. It’s a trip that has sparked debate back in the UK, amid worries over espionage and security. But has it helped reset relations? And what does Starmer really hope to achieve from his visit?

Beth, Harriet and Ruth discuss.

Plus, Beth brings us all the behind-the-scenes gossip from the trip - including what it was like on the PM’s plane and what gift Starmer bought for Xi.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, listeners have been sending in their questions about the recent Conservative defections to Reform UK. Has Nigel Farage managed to quieten his critics, now his party includes experience of government?

And with the Tory right increasingly jumping ship, how has Kemi Badenoch handled the growing number of defections? Harriet and Ruth tackle your questions.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Andy Burnham came across as "entitled", according to Harriet Harman, when he went on social media after Keir Starmer blocked him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. So what actually happened behind the scenes?

This mini episode is your quick guide to the political chaos of the past 48 hours. Why did Mr Burnham try to get back into parliament and why did Labour’s leadership move to stop him? What does it mean for Starmer's authority, the looming by-election, and Labour's battle with Reform?

Plus, as we go into the studio to record, there's another major Conservative defection - former home secretary Suella Braverman - to Reform. What's going on in the Conservative Party? And do Ruth Davidson and Andy Street have the answer?

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Remember, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Should social media be banned for under 16s? After a dramatic vote in the House of Lords, Beth, Harriet and Ruth dig into what a ban would really mean and what impact it will have on young people, and they hear from some of them.

And on the world stage, Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland and tariffs have rattled allies and forced an uncomfortable reckoning about the strength of the transatlantic relationship. With Davos dominated by power plays and a hard-hitting speech from Canada’s Mark Carney, the trio ask whether the rules-based world order is already breaking, and where that leaves Britain.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Remember, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Robert Jenrick joins Reform and becomes the party’s second big name defection from the Tories in days – after former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi jumped ship earlier in the week.

So is this a big blow to Kemi Badenoch? Beth, Ruth and Harriet think she’s come out of it all pretty well after dramatically sacking her former leadership rival before he could jump ship.

How much will the Tories miss Jenrick? And how will he get on working with Nigel Farage, his new leader? The ladies look back at some of Farage’s past comments about Jenrick.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

“We feel bullied” - former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt joins Beth, Harriet, and Ruth on this week’s Electoral Dysfunction, as Denmark finds itself at the centre of a growing international crisis over Greenland.

Thorning-Schmidt describes how it feels for a small nation to be pressured by a far more powerful ally.

As Donald Trump revives his threats over Greenland, the trio examine what this moment means for NATO, international law, and the rules-based order plus whether the UK’s special relationship with the US actually matters anymore.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

This is the second episode of our two-part New Year special. As Britain approaches 10 years since the Brexit referendum, Beth Rigby sits down with former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to ask what really went wrong, and why the consequences have been far worse than predicted.

From the failures of the Remain campaign to the rise of grievance politics, Clegg argues Brexit was an elite-driven project that has left the UK poorer, weaker and more dependent on American tech. He also explains why he believes Britain will ultimately return to the European fold - and what has to change before that can happen.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

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This is the first episode of our two-part New Year special. Ten years on from the referendum that rewired British politics, Beth, Ruth and Harriet are joined by one of the architects of Brexit, Michael Gove, to rewind through some of the biggest moments.

From David Cameron's surprise 2015 decision to take a gamble and call the referendum, to the brutal tribalism of a campaign that forced the country into a choice between two tick boxes.

Ruth and Harriet take us through the Remain campaign and give their takes on why it didn't always cut through – while Michael Gove reveals why he first thought a referendum was a mistake, the friendships it fractured, the high-stakes calculations that pulled key figures into the Leave campaign, Boris Johnson’s “star signing” and the effort to keep Nigel Farage off the biggest stages.

And he tells the ladies he regrets pulling the rug from under Boris Johnson when he was trying to become Prime Minister after the Brexit vote.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Put down the eggnog and stop the washing up because it’s a Merry Christmas from Electoral Dysfunction as Beth, Harriet and Ruth answer your questions.

They’re joined by special guests including the Dish podcast’s Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, as well as History Hit’s Dan Snow.

From how to make the perfect Christmas sprouts, to which Prime Minister has had the worst Christmas - and a question that’s always been on your mind - what does Larry the Cat get for his Christmas lunch?

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Do we have a cultural problem when it comes to teaching boys about sexual violence? The Labour government certainly thinks so with its new strategy.

Home Office minister and former podcaster Jess Phillips tells Beth in this episode why the strategy has taken so long and how she's changing the focus towards prevention.

But will their new approach work? Can we just rely on teachers to step in and keep women and girls safe? Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss their responsibilities as parents of boys when it comes to talking about what they see online.

Also, who is on top in politics at the end of 2025? The ladies give Kemi Badenoch her flowers and Ruth gives a surprise answer on who is going to have a very good 2026.

This episode includes discussions of sexual violence. The Rape Crisis offers help and advice.

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Westminster is restless, and the team are digging into why. Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss the growing unease inside Labour, as somebody new joins the cabinet table. 

We also go over the damning findings of Baroness Amos's interim report into maternity care in England, featuring deeply personal accounts from women affected by systemic failings, including former Conservative MP Theo Clarke, who now hosts the podcast Breaking The Taboo. 

If you've been affected by issues in this episode, you can reach out to the Birth Trauma Association or MASIC. 

We discuss stillbirth as part of this. The charity Sands also offers help and advice. 

You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. 

And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube. 

St James's Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here. 

The chancellor is being accused of "lying" over what she knew and when ahead of her budget – so did Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer actually mislead the public? 

Beth walks us through a detailed timeline of the OBR forecasts, the so-called "black hole", and why journalists now feel they were given only half the story. Ruth and Harriet weigh in on political honesty, the dangers of selective briefing, and why trust between the government, the media and the public is fraying fast. 

Plus, former Number10 director of communications Matthew Doyle joins the trio to discuss Labour's early months in power, the turbulence around political messaging, and how governments lose (and can rebuild) narrative control. 

Send us your messages and Christmas-themed questions on WhatsApp at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.  

And if you didn’t know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.   

St. James’s Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here.  

With all the speculation, it was always going to be a big one, but Rachel Reeves's second budget turned into a political earthquake before she even stood up at the dispatch box.

In this bumper budget special, Beth, Ruth and Harriet unpick what happened on one of the most dramatic days in the fiscal calendar.

With the unprecedented leak of the Office for Budget Responsibility's assessment giving the opposition a sneak preview, Kemi Badenoch delivered a fiery attack. Listeners weigh in on their thoughts of her comebacks.

Send us your messages and Christmas-themed questions on WhatsApp at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.   

And if you didn’t know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.  

St. James’s Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here. 

The home secretary is going hard on immigration and she's taking a lot of people with her, not least Kemi Badenoch and the Reform party.

Shabana Mahmood is using her identity – as a British Asian Muslim – to prove why she understands the migration problem in the country better than most.

So how extreme are her new policies, modelled on the Danish system? Can she persuade the whole Labour party that they're not going too far, when they've spent years calling Tory policies "racist"?

And as a tough, plain speaking and passionate politician, is she the new Margaret Thatcher? And could she pose a threat to Keir Starmer now the Labour Party is looking beyond him as leader?

Plus – Harriet thinks the chancellor will scrap the two child benefit cap entirely at next week's budget – but is that actually popular with the party? Or are Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves bending to the demands of their backbenchers?

Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube.

UPDATE: We talked again on this episode about speculation that Rachel Reeves was going to raise income tax rates in the budget. Since we recorded, Beth's been told that those plans have been ditched.

Read her analysis here and we'll discuss what's going on next time.

ON THIS EPISODE: Wes Streeting had to say he's more Joe Marler than Jonathan Ross after Number 10 started briefing he was plotting to oust Keir Starmer.  

Westminster has been full of Traitors analogies after a chaotic week which ended with the PM apologising to his health secretary.  

Harriet tells Beth and Ruth how it all went down within Labour - and she warns the Faithfuls (as they describe themselves) are getting fed up.  

We also talk again about speculation that Rachel Reeves will raise income tax rates in the budget. Since we recorded, Beth's been told that those plans have been ditched.

Read more about Beth's story here and we'll discuss what's going on next time.

Also on this episode: it was a tricky week at the BBC too, after two senior resignations. We discuss how politicians will keep talking about the BBC over the next year.

Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube.

Who is to blame for two more inmates being wrongly freed from prison? The Conservatives attempted a mic drop moment with David Lammy this week by trying to get the Justice Secretary to admit to it live in the House of Commons. 

So why did Lammy avoid the question five times? And when 262 prisoners were released by mistake in the year to March – how is this happening every week? 

At the very least, Harriet sees the saga as an opportunity for the government to sort out the prison service. 

Plus Beth, Ruth and Harriet are joined by pollster Luke Tryl, and a group of voters who tell us why they’re not convinced by the Prime Minister so far. 

So how tricky is this budget going to be for Rachel Reeves when most people’s top worry is the cost of living? Can she actually put up taxes? And will more people just end up supporting Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski? 

Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube. 

Sophy Ridge and Wilf Frost bring you the Cheat Sheet to the day’s news in 10 minutes. 

On this first episode, they look at the Huntington mass stabbing and hear from an eye witness. Sophy’s spoken to the sole survivor of the Air India crash which killed 241 people back in June. And Wilf’s heard from the US ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, who wants the UK to keep drilling for oil and gas. And India’s women bring home the cricket World Cup. 

Harriet responds to your messages about the Green Party after she went viral for her take on leader Zack Polanski.

How does its surge in popularity link up with the result of the Caerphilly by-election? And is the party getting more support because it's not entirely focused on climate change?  

Plus, rumour has it that the Labour government is planning to raise income tax in next month's budget. It would mean breaking a manifesto promise. So how believable is it? Beth, Ruth and Harriet aren't convinced.  

They discuss how the government could get itself out of the black hole, and what would happen if it did break its promise on tax.  

Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube. 

Sir Keir Starmer has backed safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, as a fifth abuse survivor calls on her to quit to restore trust in the grooming gangs inquiry.  

Beth, Ruth and Harriet explain why the national inquiry into the sexual exploitation of children by grooming gangs in England and Wales has become so poisonous and why the victims are so unhappy. 

Plus, as the government faces growing calls to formally strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom – what's the relationship between politics and royalty?

And as membership for the Green Party surges, what's the appeal of the leader Zack Polanski? 

Remember, you can also watch Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson on YouTube. 

Two powerhouse Labour politicians are vying to replace Angela Rayner as deputy leader. 

With the winner being announced on 25 October, Beth Rigby has been speaking to both candidates about party unity, leadership, leaks, and their political vision in a special Electoral Dysfunction double-header. 

Lucy Powell pitches herself as the independent "shop steward" ready to speak truth to power, while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson argues real influence comes from inside government. 

It's a contest that could define Sir Keir Starmer's future - who will win Labour's deputy leadership, the insider or the outsider? 

Remember, you can also watch Electoral Dysfunction on YouTube, and fill in our short survey here.