Electoral Dysfunction

Young mother and former GB youth swimmer, Alexis Quinn, agrees to enter NHS England psychiatric care following a family tragedy. She could never imagine that her three-day admission will turn into a three-year ordeal. Then undiagnosed with autism, and often the subject of 24-hour surveillance as well as long periods in solitary confinement, Alexis descends to the darkest reaches of locked-in, psyc...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is joined by Iain Anderson – the chair of LGBT rights charity Stonewall. They discuss issues including how trans and women's rights interact, culture wars and trans people in sport. Email Beth Rigby with your thoughts at bethrigbypodcast@sky.uk

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is joined by editor of the Health Service Journal, Alistair McLellan as the NHS turns 75. This week Beth has sat down with Health Secretary Steve Barclay and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting to discuss how their respective parties intend to tackle the issues facing the NHS, from strikes to waiting times. Email Beth Rigby with your thoughts at bethrigbypod...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is joined by Daily Mirror political editor John Stevens to analyse the week's big stories. From former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's appearance at the Covid Inquiry, the Court of Appeal ruling the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful and more fallout from the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson and partygate. Plus, Beth...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby analyses the week's big stories - including the pressure piling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to get inflation under control. And speaks to filmmaker and chair of the Elton John AIDS foundation, David Furnish, about the work the foundation is doing in Ukraine, and the irony of Russian President, Vladimir Putin being an Elton John fan. Email Beth Rigby with you...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby analyses the week's big stories - why former PM Boris Johnson has been accused by MPs of “deliberately” misleading parliament over partygate, and the consequences of his resignation for Rishi Sunak. She hears from Johnson-backer Jacob Rees-Mogg for his thoughts on the prospect of the former-PM having his parliament pass revoked. Plus, Beth interviews Dame Wend...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby and guests analyse the week’s big stories – how Home Secretary Suella Braverman handled a speeding offence and net migration figures hitting a new high. Nigel Farage tells Beth the Tories have 'betrayed' Brexit and should accept worker shortages to cut immigration. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says a "points-based system is the right approach following...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby is in Japan this week as the leaders of the G7 nations meet in Hiroshima to discuss the war in Ukraine. She sits down with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ask about new sanctions being placed on Russia, as well as questioning him on his party’s stance on immigration and his reaction to Conservative losses at the local election. Plus, Beth is joined by producer M...

As the fall-out from the local elections continues, Keir Starmer refuses to rule out going into coalition with the Liberal Democrats. The Labour leader tells Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that the local elections were a success for his party despite projections showing they would not win an outright majority at the next general election. Beth also travelled to Paris this week to sit down with...

Lord Simon McDonald was permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office during Dominic Raab’s time there. He’s told Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby he thinks the former deputy prime minister, who resigned from Government after a report upheld two bullying claims against him, should apologise for his behaviour. On the podcast this week, Beth also talks football, as she is joined by Aston Villa’s...

The former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby about the war in Ukraine, next year’s US presidential election and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mrs Clinton says that the age of the "showman" is over as she put support behind President Joe Biden. She praised the President's work on Ukraine and she reiterated the importance of th...

On this week's podcast, Sky's political editor Beth Rigby is joined by the shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Other discussion topics include MPs' second jobs, Ukraine and migration. Plus, Beth is joined by her producer Mollie Malone as they talk about some of the week’s other big talking points including the election of Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scottish First Minister. Email bethrigbypod...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is joined by Katy Balls, political editor at The Spectator and Sir Craig Oliver, former director of communications at Number 10 (2011-2016) as they discuss former prime minister Boris Johnson's performance in front of the privileges committee, the current PM Rishi Sunak's tax returns and Nicola Sturgeon's legacy. We also hear Beth’s interview with Scotland’s o...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is joined by Caroline Wheeler, political editor at the Sunday Times and John Stevens, political editor at The Mirror to dissect Jeremy Hunt’s ‘back to work’ budget and react to the government’s ban on TikTok from government devices. Plus, Beth speaks to Hollywood actor, Liam Neeson about his 100th film, growing up in the troubles and the anniversary of the Goo...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby interviews former SNP leader and Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond after a leadership race began last month for Nicola Sturgeon’s replacement. Beth asks about his relationship with the woman who succeeded him in the top job, her legacy and the candidates looking to take the party forward into the next election. Plus, Beth is joined by her producer Mollie Ma...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby interviews Shaun Pinner – a British national captured by Russian forces whilst fighting alongside Ukranian troops. He was one of five Britons released as part of a prisoner swap last September. He discusses his experiences – from being on the battlefield and watching his Ukrainian home city of Mariupol flattened, to his treatment in detention and the sham tria...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby sits down with Mike Pompeo, United States secretary of state during President Trump’s administration, and a former CIA director – the first person to have held both positions. He says President Xi of China is a bigger threat to the world than Russia’s Vladimir Putin – and accuses President Biden of weakness and allowing the war in Ukraine to happen. Plus, prod...

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on how the Prime Minister has reacted to Conservative chair Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs – including how Rishi Sunak’s language at PMQs might suggest a growing divide between the men. Plus, her assessment of Labour’s reaction to the investigation by his independent ethics advisor – and how Keir Starmer might be trying to capitalise. Her guest is Archbishop of Ca...

Sky's political editor Beth Rigby speaks to the Labour peer, professor, doctor and scientist Robert Winston about what he thinks needs to change to save the NHS, and his own experience with the health service following his wife's death in 2021. Plus, Beth and producer Mollie Malone reflect on the big political stories of the week including Boris Johnson's trip to Davos and New Zealand Prime Minist...

It's been a busy first week of politics in 2023, with public sector strikes and healthcare on the agenda. Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby sits down with Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner to discuss the crisis in the NHS, how her party plans to win over voters, and her political journey. Plus, Beth and producer Mollie Malone talk over the big politics stories of the week. Email the podcast a...

In an exclusive interview, Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby speaks to the former health secretary and Chancellor Sajid Javid. They discuss his time in office as he prepares to stand down at the next General Election and the Conservative party’s future. Beth and producer Mollie Malone also reflect on how we’ll look back on politics in 2022 - the big shocks, OMG moments and more. Plus, the last...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby speaks to the US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman about what an end to war in Russia could be like, the ‘special relationship’ and a possible Presidential visit to Northern Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next year. Beth and producer Mollie Malone also discuss their trip to Leeds to see Sir Keir Starmer launching Labour’s v...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby speaks to the Chancellor about picking up from Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget, the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of Brexit on the UK economy. On leaving the EU, Mr Hunt says that he 'does not accept that Brexit is the cause of the big economic difficulties we face'. Email the podcast bethrigbypodcast@sky.uk

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby speaks to the former civil servant whose outspoken criticism of Boris Johnson marked the beginning of the end of his premiership. Plus, Beth gives her take on the resignation of cabinet minister Gavin Williamson and the US midterms. And producer Mollie Malone is with Beth too to read more of your emails: bethrigbypodcast@sky.uk

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby sits down with Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to discuss long-overdue renovations to the Palace of Westminster, and his plans to tackle sexual abuse and bullying in Parliament. Plus, Beth's take on a busy week for Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former health secretary Matt Hancock's decision to join I'm A Celeb! And producer Mollie Ma...