Electoral Dysfunction

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...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby on the week for Liz Truss and the Conservative Party: “the mood is terrible, it’s as bad as the dying days of Johnson.” She’s joined by former home secretary Priti Patel who says “market forces” could mean a government U-turn on corporation tax becomes unavoidable. In a wide-ranging interview, she also discusses how the Metropolitan Police handled the Sarah Ev...

Sky News' Beth Rigby with an exclusive interview with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman detained in Iran for 6 years until March 2022, on spying charges which she has always denied. After the protests in Iran which followed the death of 22yo Mahsa Amini, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe says the world "cannot turn a blind eye" and the UK government "must act" over human rights abuses. Emai...

Our politics editor Beth Rigby and producer Mollie Malone explore the big political stories of the week including government U-turns and Liz Truss's speech to her party conference. Plus, Beth speaks to businessman and former-Conservative party donor Gareth Quarry. He recently defected to Labour, saying leader Keir Starmer and his team "were sensible people who have got their feet on the ground" wh...

In a bonus edition of the podcast, Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby speaks to Liz Truss ahead of her first conference speech as Conservative Party leader. The Prime Minister says she had “absolutely no shame” in doing a U-turn on the plan to scrap the 45p higher rate of tax. She also said that a decision will be made in “due course” on whether to increase benefits in line with inflation. You...

Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby is back with a new series of the podcast – bringing you big interviews and looking back on the week’s politics. Beth and producer Mollie Malone are at the Labour party conference – discussing Sir Keir Starmer’s speech, the financial crisis and the pressure building on new prime minister Liz Truss. Plus, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson joins to talk about gr...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby's looking at the final two candidates for the Conservative party leadership on her last podcast before a summer break. As well as assessing the chances for Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, she sits down with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to discuss his image, being investigated for a potential lockdown breach and what a new prime minister could mean for his party....

On this episode, Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby has an exclusive interview with Conservative leadership candidate, and contender to be prime minister, Penny Mordaunt. The trade minister and former defence secretary said that she is running "a positive campaign" and warned her rivals about "doing each other down". Ms Mordaunt also speaks about her stance on the cost of living crisis, defence...

There’s no interview this time so, at the end of the day Boris Johnson said he’s quitting, Sky News’ Political Editor Beth Rigby and producer Mollie Malone sat down on the Downing Street pavement to assess what just happened. They also talk about his legacy and run through the people who might follow him as PM. Plus, news on which politicians showed at the Spectator’s summer party and a live TV br...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is back from reporting on the prime minister's trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Rwanda. On this episode, she sits down with former prime minister Gordon Brown. He says he believes Britain is "at war with America over Ireland" - as US politicians oppose plans to override the Northern Ireland Protocol. Plus, your emails, with producer Moll...

Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby is on the Eurostar heading out of Brussels after interviewing the vice president of the European Commission, Maros Sefcovic. In an exclusive interview, he says Boris Johnson's plan to overhaul parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol is "politically driven". Plus, producer Mollie Malone joins to debrief the interview and has an update for the podcast friends.

Sky's Political Editor Beth Rigby speaks to actress Dame Emma Thompson about female sexuality and her new film Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. Also, the government’s new social mobility tsar Katherine Burbalsingh talks about the attention put on getting people from deprived backgrounds into top universities and elite jobs. Plus, Beth's analysis of the week's big stories, including the Queen’s Platin...

Sky’s Beth Rigby speaks to Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg about the cost of living crisis, partygate, and not being able to cook. Plus, Beth's analysis of the week's big stories and more of your emails with producer Mollie Malone.

Sky News' Beth Rigby talks to one of the biggest names in dancehall and reggae, Sean Paul, about climate change, Jamaica's view of the Commonwealth and Glastonbury. The US Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, tells Beth that Sweden and Finland could join the alliance within the next "couple of months" Plus, Beth's analysis of the week's big stories - including the latest on partygate fines. Produce...

Sky's Beth Rigby speaks to Russia's ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov. Plus, the 23-year-old campaigner who's become a hero for renters in the UK. Kwajo Tweneboa used his social media to get Europe's largest housing association to fix the squalid conditions that people were living in. And, as usual, producer Mollie Malone joins for your emails.

Sky's Beth Rigby talks to Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, and best-selling author of The Diana Chronicles. They discuss Megxit, whether Prince Andrew can ever return to the royal fold, and the ways in which Kate is similar to the Queen. Plus, producer Mollie Malone joins Beth with more of your emails.

Sky’s Beth Rigby speaks to Fiona Hill, once a working-class girl from County Durham, who became the top Russia expert in Donald Trump’s White House. They talk sexism in politics and nuclear war in Ukraine. Plus, producer Mollie Malone joins Beth to look back on their trip to India with Boris Johnson and go through more listener emails.

Sky’s Beth Rigby talks to former health secretary Matt Hancock about lessons learnt from the COVID pandemic. There's also an interview with the world's youngest astronaut in training, 21-year-old Alyssa Carson, who wants to become the first person to walk on Mars. Plus, Beth's producer, Mollie Malone, joins for emails on partygate, social media and canalside runs.

Beth Rigby speaks to Dame Kate Bingham, who was chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce during the COVID pandemic. She was in charge of procuring vaccines and deploying them in the early days of the spread of the virus. Plus, the usual debrief with Beth and producer Mollie Malone.