Electoral Dysfunction

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 Finland, where he is taking part in a leaders' summit. Beth also questions him about his relationship with Trump following disparaging comments the President made about Starmer's response to the Iran war. Plus, Beth, Harriet and Ruth react to the full interview. Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 simply saying what others are thinking, or going too far? Harriet certainly thinks it’s a bit much. She says Rayner’s approach could be undermining the government at a critical moment just weeks out from the May elections. Beth says Rayner's tax affairs could be sorted sooner than a lot of people thought. On the elections, Beth has been in Scotland speaking to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Does he still think Starmer should resign? Plus, what support should the government be offering to help with rising energy costs because of the war in Iran? And can we even afford it as a country? Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 what the Prime Minister knew about Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein? In this episode we break down: Peter Mandelson has consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing and he is cooperating with the police investigation. Plus, a powerful moment in Parliament this week as Labour MPs Charlotte Nichols and Natalie Fleet speak about their own experiences as victims. How do their stories feed into the government’s legal reforms? And what would the plans mean for justice, juries and the courts backlog? Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

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 Middle East with global repercussions and Beth, Ruth and Harriet are discussing how Keir Starmer has dealt with it all. Ruth explains why she thinks Starmer should have rained ‘fire and brimstone’ on Iran for their attack on the British bases at Akrotiri in Cyprus. Meanwhile, Harriet explains how Iraq’s legacy still looms large over Labour and is playing into their decisions over Iran. And Beth explains the leaks from the National Security Meetings where decisions were made over Iran and what it says about Starmer’s leadership. Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 this once safe seat for the party. And the Greens now have a new MP in Hannah Spencer. Is this a sign of things to come in the May elections? Are the Green Party a serious contender and concern for the government? What does it mean for Labour to come third behind the Greens and Reform? And have Reform got a ceiling to their support? Beth, Ruth and Harriet also discuss the arrest of former US ambassador Lord Mandelson this week. He denies all wrongdoing and his lawyers said he wants to "clear his name". Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Andrew – formerly known as Prince – was arrested whilst Harriet and Ruth answerwere in the middle of answering your questions from the Burner Phone for a half term special whilst Beth is away during political recessoff on her holidays. So in this episode, they react to the extraordinary news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested (and later released under investigation) on suspicion of misconduct in public office and discuss what it means for the rule of law. Later, they tackle questions on the government's latest U-turn over postponed local elections, and whether Reform UK is facing proper scrutiny over the Equality Act. Plus, as Keir Starmer appoints the first woman head of the civil service, they ask why female public figures still face misogyny. And with major Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms expected next week, Harriet and Ruth hear from parents who fear change could make a broken system worse, not better. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing. Responding to Harriet's comments about Reform, a Reform UK spokesman said: "Unlike Harriet, we don't need a pink bus to attract women to our party. "Reform has high-profile women throughout our cabinet and senior women in our party staff, unlike Starmer." And on the Equality Act, the spokesman added: "Reform UK remains committed to supporting workplace protections against discrimination. No one should be treated unfairly because of their sex, race, if they are pregnant or have a disability. "That's why we will introduce a new 'Workplace Fairness Act' to replace the Equality Act and ensure workplace protections are maintained whilst also re-asserting the rights of individuals rather than groups under the law. "The Equality Act has been damaging to our economy, our society, and the way government works. It has unleashed the burdensome and unfair DEI culture that plagues workspaces and has enforced discrimination and equality of outcome. "This has led to the unacceptable situation of unfair recruitment policies, positive discrimination and anti-white working-class bias, pitting different groups against each other and dividing our country." Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 resignation, revealing the three options that were on the table. So now he has two women interim chiefs of staff – are claims that there’s a boys’ club in Downing Street valid? The ladies answer a listener question about whether women are being pushed onto a “glass cliff” just when everything’s going wrong. Plus, Harriet explains what “structural misogyny” looks like in practice, why it matters for decision-making, and the proposal she’s putting directly to the PM: creating a First Secretary of State to drive culture change across government. And as the Mandelson fallout continues, there’s fresh questions over another vetting failure - Matthew Doyle’s peerage. A source close to the prime minister rejected suggestions of a "boys' club" in Downing Street, saying there were a number of "highly qualified and capable women that work in Number 10" including cabinet ministers and special advisers "across the whole government who are often forgotten in all of this". Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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” atmosphere. It comes after a weekend of briefing around how Wes Streeting is connected to Peter Mandelson over the weekend – and in this podcast, Wes Streeting exclusively reveals his Whatsapp messages with Beth, over the period that Mandelson was ambassador in Washington. But is he at risk of suffering from ‘revisionism’? Harriet thinks commentators need to be careful when remembering what went on with Peter Mandelson. Plus – how much weight does Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar’s comments have? He's called on Starmer to resign today, saying that “the situation in Downing Street is not good enough”. We’ll be back on Friday with our usual weekly episode.

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 can Starmer find the strength to turn a corner, reset his whole team and admit he was wrong? Or is it too late? Harriet thinks his tone this week made him look "gullible and naive". And what does the whole fiasco say about politics and the establishment as a whole? Beth, Ruth and Harriet explain how Peter Mandelson created a network of people he relied upon in politics and the media. Peter Mandelson denies any wrongdoing and has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 visit? Beth, Harriet and Ruth discuss. Plus, Beth brings us all the behind-the-scenes gossip from the trip - including what it was like on the PM’s plane and what gift Starmer bought for Xi. Meanwhile, back in the UK, listeners have been sending in their questions about the recent Conservative defections to Reform UK. Has Nigel Farage managed to quieten his critics, now his party includes experience of government? And with the Tory right increasingly jumping ship, how has Kemi Badenoch handled the growing number of defections? Harriet and Ruth tackle your questions. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

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 past 48 hours. Why did Mr Burnham try to get back into parliament and why did Labour’s leadership move to stop him? What does it mean for Starmer's authority, the looming by-election, and Labour's battle with Reform? Plus, as we go into the studio to record, there's another major Conservative defection - former home secretary Suella Braverman - to Reform. What's going on in the Conservative Party? And do Ruth Davidson and Andy Street have the answer? You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. Remember, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

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 tariffs have rattled allies and forced an uncomfortable reckoning about the strength of the transatlantic relationship. With Davos dominated by power plays and a hard-hitting speech from Canada’s Mark Carney, the trio ask whether the rules-based world order is already breaking, and where that leaves Britain. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. Remember, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

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 dramatically sacking her former leadership rival before he could jump ship. How much will the Tories miss Jenrick? And how will he get on working with Nigel Farage, his new leader? The ladies look back at some of Farage’s past comments about Jenrick. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

“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 pressured by a far more powerful ally. As Donald Trump revives his threats over Greenland, the trio examine what this moment means for NATO, international law, and the rules-based order plus whether the UK’s special relationship with the US actually matters anymore. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

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 of the Remain campaign to the rise of grievance politics, Clegg argues Brexit was an elite-driven project that has left the UK poorer, weaker and more dependent on American tech. He also explains why he believes Britain will ultimately return to the European fold - and what has to change before that can happen. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. Follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/electoraldysfunction/.

This is the first episode of our two-part New Year special. Ten years on from the referendum that rewired British politics, Beth, Ruth and Harriet are joined by one of the architects of Brexit, Michael Gove, to rewind through some of the biggest moments. From David Cameron's surprise 2015 decision to take a gamble and call the referendum, to the brutal tribalism of a campaign that forced the country into a choice between two tick boxes. Ruth and Harriet take us through the Remain campaign and give their takes on why it didn't always cut through – while Michael Gove reveals why he first thought a referendum was a mistake, the friendships it fractured, the high-stakes calculations that pulled key figures into the Leave campaign, Boris Johnson’s “star signing” and the effort to keep Nigel Farage off the biggest stages. And he tells the ladies he regrets pulling the rug from under Boris Johnson when he was trying to become Prime Minister after the Brexit vote. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Put down the eggnog and stop the washing up because it’s a Merry Christmas from Electoral Dysfunction as Beth, Harriet and Ruth answer your questions. They’re joined by special guests including the Dish podcast’s Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, as well as History Hit’s Dan Snow. From how to make the perfect Christmas sprouts, to which Prime Minister has had the worst Christmas - and a question that’s always been on your mind - what does Larry the Cat get for his Christmas lunch? You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Do we have a cultural problem when it comes to teaching boys about sexual violence? The Labour government certainly thinks so with its new strategy. Home Office minister and former podcaster Jess Phillips tells Beth in this episode why the strategy has taken so long and how she's changing the focus towards prevention. But will their new approach work? Can we just rely on teachers to step in and keep women and girls safe? Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss their responsibilities as parents of boys when it comes to talking about what they see online. Also, who is on top in politics at the end of 2025? The ladies give Kemi Badenoch her flowers and Ruth gives a surprise answer on who is going to have a very good 2026. This episode includes discussions of sexual violence. The Rape Crisis offers help and advice. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube.

Westminster is restless, and the team are digging into why. Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss the growing unease inside Labour, as somebody new joins the cabinet table. They also go over the damning findings of Baroness Amos's interim report into maternity care in England, featuring deeply personal accounts from women affected by systemic failings, including former Conservative MP Theo Clarke, who now hosts the podcast Breaking The Taboo. If you've been affected by issues discussed in this episode, you can reach out to the Birth Trauma Association or MASIC. This episode also includes discussion of stillbirth. The charity Sands also offers help and advice. You can WhatsApp the podcast at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube. St James's Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here.

The chancellor is being accused of "lying" over what she knew and when ahead of her budget – so did Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer actually mislead the public? Beth walks us through a detailed timeline of the OBR forecasts, the so-called "black hole", and why journalists now feel they were given only half the story. Ruth and Harriet weigh in on political honesty, the dangers of selective briefing, and why trust between the government, the media and the public is fraying fast. Plus, former Number10 director of communications Matthew Doyle joins the trio to discuss Labour's early months in power, the turbulence around political messaging, and how governments lose (and can rebuild) narrative control. Send us your messages and Christmas-themed questions on WhatsApp at 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. And if you didn’t know, you can also watch Beth, Harriet and Ruth on YouTube. St. James’s Place sponsors Electoral Dysfunction on Sky News, learn more here.