PODCAST · news
Electoral Dysfunction
by Sky News
Political powerhouses Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Each episode examines who holds influence, what politicians are really saying, and the forces driving decisions behind closed doors. With authoritative insight and candid conversation, they assess who is rising, who is falling, and who is heading for Electoral Dysfunction. For audience questions and comments, message the team on WhatsApp: 07934 200444
Episodes
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Does Andy Burnham know enough about AI?
Is the UK Government ready for artificial intelligence (AI) – and will there be any jobs left for the next generation? Former technology secretary Liz Kendall joins Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman to discuss her push to get the UK to the forefront of AI development – and tackle some…
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Has Zack Polanski’s Green bubble burst?
No matter how they try to spin it, it's been a difficult week for Zack Polanski's Green Party. The party leader didn't win the by-election to become the MP for Holborn and St Pancras (Sir Keir Starmer's former seat), losing to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali, in the week his party faced huge criticism...
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Andy Burnham draws his battle lines
Andy Burnham set out his stall during an emotional speech at the Labour Party conference – pledging to scrap the triple lock, create a national care service, and reform the first-past-the-post voting system. Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman discuss whether he can deliver on his...
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Can Andy Burnham make Britain believe again?
Can Andy Burnham bring back hope - or is he all style and no substance? Following the prime minister's meeting with Donald Trump in New York, Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman discuss whether Mr Burnham's leadership has brought about a sense of change in the Labour Party - and the...
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Is the government doing anything to stop AI killing us all?
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”....
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Why did Andy Burnham choose Israel for his biggest moment yet?
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 -...
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What changes if Zack Polanski is an MP?
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...
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'A bloodsport': Were journalists to blame for Keir Starmer’s downfall?
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...
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How ‘mega-donors’ are buying political influence... and your algorithm
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...
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What does Nigel Farage’s win in Clacton actually prove?
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…
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'I hated it': Jess Phillips on life inside Keir Starmer's government
Hear from Jess Phillips regularly on our Tuesday members episode, subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction 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...
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‘Intensely unpopular’: Was Keir Starmer doomed from the start?
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…
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Is the Burnham government starting to feel like The Traitors?
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...
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Did a "difficult woman" upset Andy Burnham's cabinet plans?
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…
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Has Starmer done Burnham any favours?
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...
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Could Farage's by-election plan backfire?
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…
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Will women get a seat at Andy Burnham’s table?
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...
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Can Andy Burnham really govern without an election?
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...
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Keir Starmer resigns. What’s next?
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…
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‘Andy Burnham is going to be Prime Minister’
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...
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Introducing our first members' episode
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...
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More resignations for Keir Starmer: can it get any worse?
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...
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Is Nigel Farage exploiting Henry Nowak’s murder?
"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…
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Andy Burnham on Britain’s future... and his own
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...
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Why the UK isn’t ungovernable – yet
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...
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Who is regulating reality TV? Lessons from MAFS 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…
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Jess Phillips: Starmer Doesn’t Listen
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...
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EXTRA - Are these Keir Starmer’s final days as Prime Minister?
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...
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Local elections: Reform up, Labour down, Starmer out?
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…
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Can Keir Starmer risk a reshuffle?
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…
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Will we ever know everything about Peter Mandelson?
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…
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EXTRA: Why didn’t Starmer ask more questions about Mandelson?
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...
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Is this the election that makes Nigel Farage unstoppable?
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...
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Could the UK sleepwalk into Trumpian politics?
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…
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How much economic damage is Donald Trump doing? | Q&A
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…
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EXCLUSIVE: Keir Starmer on his special relationship with Trump
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...
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Could Angela Rayner’s comeback rescue Labour?
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...
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Why the Mandelson files matter for Starmer's future
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...
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Has Starmer got it right over his Iran War response?
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...
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Did the Greens just deliver a knockout blow for Keir Starmer?
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…
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Is anyone truly above the law?
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...
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Is a ‘boys’ club’ undermining Starmer’s government?
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...
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EXTRA: Wes Streeting on his friendship with Peter Mandelson
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”…
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Can Starmer survive the Mandelson scandal?
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…
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What does Starmer really want from China?
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...
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EXTRA: Why Andy Burnham was blocked by Keir Starmer
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…
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Is this the end of social media for teenagers?
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...
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Jenrick joins Reform – is it a boost for Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch?
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…
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Is Starmer still a player in Trump’s world?
“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...
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Nick Clegg on Brexit regret and what Britain does next | 10 Years of Brexit Part 2
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Political powerhouses Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Each episode examines who holds influence, what politicians are really saying, and the forces driving decisions behind closed doors. With authoritative insight and candid conversation, they assess who is rising, who is falling, and who is heading for Electoral Dysfunction. For audience questions and comments, message the team on WhatsApp: 07934 200444
HOSTED BY
Sky News
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Electoral Dysfunction have?
Electoral Dysfunction currently has 219 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Electoral Dysfunction about?
Political powerhouses Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Each episode examines who holds influence, what politicians are really saying, and the forces driving decisions behind closed doors. With...
How often does Electoral Dysfunction release new episodes?
Electoral Dysfunction publishes regularly with 219 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Electoral Dysfunction?
You can listen to Electoral Dysfunction on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Electoral Dysfunction?
Electoral Dysfunction is created and hosted by Sky News.
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