Electoral Dysfunction

While the Royal family have faced a challenging few weeks, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips, and Ruth Davidson explore the points where royalty and politics meet, and what the family will say publicly about the state of cancer care following the King and the Princess of Wales' diagnoses.      Plus, is deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden someone likely to be feeling on top this week after calling out Chin...

As the prime minister tries to shake off rumours of a Tory coup and faces more delays to his Rwanda legislation - Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Jess Phillips discuss where his leadership is at.    What could happen if the local elections on May 2nd end badly for Rishi Sunak?    Although he's standing down, they think Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar is having a better week – was this a good time ...

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Labour's Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, look at some of the big politics stories of the week.  They say it's Tory donor Frank Hester who's had an "electoral dysfunction" this week after he apologised for comments he made about MP Diane Abbott. Almost a day after the revelations, the prime min...

The fall-out from the Budget, Donald Trump at Super Tuesday and whether Westminster is paying enough attention to your local council’s financial woes; all are up for discussion in this week's episode of Electoral Dysfunction. Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Labour's Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, look at the political figur...

Following the Rochdale by-election, Sky’s political Editor Beth Rigby, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson discuss what George Galloway’s win means for parliament. They examine the fall out of the by-election and ask why politics is not working for many people. They also look ahead to the budget – predicting what Chancel...

Ahead of our first proper Electoral Dysfunction next week, we thought it’s time to share what Beth, Jess and Ruth have been up to in rehearsals. In this special teaser, they explain what the title is all about and what they’ll be trying to do on every episode. And, they get down to the nitty gritty of examining the leaders and their policies – digging deep into what Conservatives might think of th...

With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Every week, they will examine our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written, and how they’re sold to voters – as we prepare for a general election.  With so much at stake, they will work out which politicians are com...

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...