Electoral Dysfunction

As well as this week's usual Electoral Dysfunction, Beth, Ruth and Harriet can be found on a another podcast for one week only. They debate what should lead the news on Tortoise's The News Meeting with host Basia Cummings. The agenda includes the need for a public inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed, why we need to talk about Ukraine, and what Gary Lineker leaving Match of the Day says about impartialit...

MPs are about to get their first chance to debate and vote on an assisted dying bill for almost a decade. It'll be about a proposed law for England and Wales.       Ruth, Beth and Harriet discuss the hugely divisive issue on this episode - including whether Health Secretary Wes Streeting should have said that the law could impact other NHS services. Hariet thinks he's crossed a line. He plans to v...

Beth, Ruth and Harriet work out what Donald Trump’s second presidency will mean for the UK as they debrief the American election.     They heard from one of Theresa May’s advisors who had to deal with Trump when he was last in the White House and Harriet offers advice to Sir Keir Starmer.     She says: “We've got to invite him on a state visit... (it’s) key for our economy and our security.”     T...

Kemi Badenoch is the new leader of the Conservative Party.    How will she rebuild the party? How controversial will she be as leader of the opposition? And what does she mean when she says it's time to "tell the truth"?    Beth, Ruth and Harriet bring you their reaction to the news in a special Saturday episode of Electoral Dysfunction.     Email us at electoraldysfunction@sky.uk , post on X to @...

Is this the budget we were promised by Labour? And where will the fallout be for the government in the days and weeks to come?  On the day after the first Labour budget in nearly 15 years - and the first ever delivered by a woman - Beth, Ruth and Harriet unpick the numbers and explain why the critics are so upset. They also lift the lid on budget week in Westminster - how do cabinet ministers find...

In the week that Donald Trump filed a legal case against the Labour Party for alleged “blatant election interference” - Beth, Ruth and Harriet ask whether we should turn a blind eye to the drama, or whether the former President actually has a point. Just how problematic is this for Keir Starmer?    Later, Beth interviews Starmer’s former director of strategy, Deborah Mattinson. They discuss whethe...

With just under two weeks to go until Labour’s first budget in 15 years, the knives are out with cabinet members complaining to No 10 about cuts to their departments.  Should they just accept collective responsibility and keep their heads down? And could Labour be about to break their manifesto pledge if they increase National Insurance contributions for businesses?  Later, Beth, Ruth and Harriet...

We wanted to tell you about something new. Sky News and NBC News have joined forces for a weekly podcast - The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim .    For the first episode, Yalda is in Jerusalem and Richard is covering events in Lebanon.    They discuss what they are seeing and hearing on both sides of the border as the conflict appears to be "spiralling into an abyss".   And with the US el...

As Sir Keir Starmer's government hits its first 100 days after a big shake up in Downing Street, Beth, Harriet, and Ruth discuss the impact of Sue Gray's exit as his chief of staff.      They also get into the Conservative leadership race now that the Tories have the final two contenders selected. Ruth's man James Cleverly is out – so where is her head at now?      And Beth offers the low down on...

With the Tory leadership race down to the final four, Beth’s been at Conservative Party conference in Birmingham to watch the ‘beauty parade’ for herself, while Ruth and Harriet predict who will make it to the final two.        Back in Westminster, it looks like Sir Keir Starmer may have taken Harriet’s advice when he said he’d pay back £6,000 of gifts he’s received since getting into government,...

With Prime Minister Keir Starmer in New York and the Labour Party conference over, Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss if it's all been overshadowed by the ongoing freebies row.     Harriet suggests Starmer should watch football on TV to end the row, while Beth explains her interview with the prime minister and how it went for her.     Plus, Beth, Harriet and Ruth talk about the UK response to the conf...

As the row over Keir Starmer's freebies rumbles on, Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss if the prime minister can put the issue to bed before the Labour Party conference this weekend.      What does the leaking of senior special adviser Sue Gray's salary tell us about tension in the new government? And is Starmer's Rome scheme any different from Sunak's Rwanda plan?    Plus, Ruth and Harriet share thei...

With the winter fuel allowance vote passing in the House of Commons, Beth, Harriet and Ruth discuss the row and government’s approach to dealing with the unpopular policy.      They also look at MPs who have second jobs presenting TV shows (or podcasts) and what sort of extra work or broadcast appearances they should, or shouldn’t, be paid for.       Plus, with both Harriet and Ruth now in the Hou...

Beth, Harriet and Ruth look at the political fallout from this week's Grenfell Inquiry report, and ask if the government can do more to speed up any prosecutions.      Plus, Harriet reveals her surprising connection with one of the Conservative leadership hopefuls.       For more information on dates and tickets for our tour, go to https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/electoral-dysfunction-live/   ...

Beth and Ruth have some news! They’ve got a new permanent co-host on Electoral Dysfunction.    Labour legend and former deputy prime minister Harriet Harman is joining the line up every week to take you behind the curtain of the biggest political stories and answer your questions.  This week, they discuss the prime minister’s abrupt end to summer and how he is preparing the country for a busy poli...

Ruth and Beth are once again joined by the former Labour MP and ex-shadow culture secretary, Thangam Debbonaire to answer listener questions. They explain the role of special advisers in politics and discuss whether the devolved nations still need their own secretaries of state in Westminster.   They also give us a history lesson on PMQs and dissect political messaging around the economy.   For mo...

Ruth and Beth are back from their holidays to catch up on the big political stories. This time, they’re joined by former Labour MP and former shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire.  They talk about the riots across England in the last couple of weeks with Thangam saying that Keir Starmer should have called them racist earlier.    And Ruth explains why she’s chosen to back James Cleverly in t...

In an episode recorded before their summer break, Beth and Ruth are delving back into the inbox for another "Answer the Question" special. It's Labour's Harriet Harman who is back to help them.     They explore why Labour has still not had a female leader while the Conservatives have had three, how the new government might handle the press, and why "heretics" could be banned from the House of Lord...

Beth and Ruth are back with another Answer The Question special, and this time they’re joined by former Labour shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth.     They discuss if the media did enough to report on abuse of MPs during the election, reasons young people should be hopeful for the future, and the time Jon was inducted to the privy council by the late Queen... on Zoom.     👉 Click here to follow El...

For information about Electoral Dysfunction Live, go to: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/electoral-dysfunction-live/  Labour grandee Harriet Harman is back on the podcast and joins Beth and Ruth to unpick Keir Starmer’s first PMQs as Prime Minister.     The ladies look ahead to what Chancellor Rachel Reeves is going to say about the state of the country's finances after 14 years of Conservativ...

Beth and Ruth are just popping up in the feed with some news.    Hopefully you’ve all got a free night in September!   For more information on dates and tickets, go to https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/electoral-dysfunction-live/

Special guest, Labour's Emily Thornberry, joins Beth and Ruth to discuss Sir Keir Starmer's position on the world stage.        They examine what was in the King's Speech and talk about the prime minister's meeting of foreign leaders at Blenheim Palace.        They also talk about violence against politicians following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and Emily shares her own experienc...

Labour MP and now government minister Jess Phillips is back for one last episode with Beth and Ruth.   On this episode they discuss Jess' appointment as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office - and why she can't continue with the podcast.   They also talk about the Prime Minister's trip to Washington for the NATO summit and questions over whether Joe Biden should pull out of t...

Labour MP Jess Phillips is back with Beth and Ruth to un-pick the election results.       On this episode they discuss how Jess was heckled when she narrowly held her seat of Birmingham Yardley.       They also look at the wider Labour results and talk about Rishi Sunak’s resignation speech, as well as discussing why Reform and the Liberal Democrats took seats from the two main parties.  In respon...

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika is back with Beth and Ruth for the last few days of the election campaign.     On this episode they discuss how Beth is preparing for election night – what constituencies to look out for and they give a listener advice on election snacks.     They also discuss the final days of campaigning and why the Tories are attacking Keir Starmer for suggesting he will fi...