It’s the morning after the day before for Beth, Ruth and Jess as they pull apart the local election results they have so far.    They discuss what big council losses for the Conservatives could mean for the Rishi Sunak narrative. How does the re-election of Ben Houchen as Tees Valley mayor help him?    Also – are there some niggles for Labour within the results, especially with Muslim communities? Jess explains what she thinks the impact of the Middle East conflict could be in Birmingham. ...

It’s the morning after the day before for Beth, Ruth and Jess as they pull apart the local election results they have so far.    They discuss what big council losses for the Conservatives could mean for the Rishi Sunak narrative. How does the re-election of Ben Houchen as Tees Valley mayor help him?    Also – are there some niggles for Labour within the results, especially with Muslim communities? Jess explains what she thinks the impact of the Middle East conflict could be in Birmingham. ...

Following the prime minister's trip to Europe this week, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson examine whether Rishi Sunak is convincing on the world stage and ask if his announcement on defence spending will help the Conservatives' chances in next week's local elections.       And after the Rwanda bill was passed this week - is this another win for the prime minister or a policy that he should have dumped months ago?       Plus, what's the future for Scottish First Minister Hamza Yusuf...

Following allegations Tory MP Mark Menzies misused campaign funds, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips, and Ruth Davidson examine the fallout for the government and for the politician who has been suspended from the parliamentary party. He denies all the claims.  And after the Commons votes to ban anyone born after 1 January 2009 from buying cigarettes, the trio ask whether the policy is "unconservative" as suggested by some MPs.      As David Cameron meets G7 foreign ministers in Italy, what makes a...

As the fall-out from the Westminster honeytrap scandal continues to unravel, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson explain why contacts are so valuable in Parliament and ask what William Wragg’s resignation tells us about Rishi Sunak’s leadership.     And, with Labour riding hight after two major polls predicted landslide victories at the upcoming election, should Keir Starmer be worried about voter complacency?    Plus, Beth, Ruth and Jess talk about the impact of Dr Hilary Cass’...

Why do politicians never answer the question?’ It’s something Beth Rigby, Jess Philips and Ruth Davidson get asked all the time; so, this week they’ve dedicate the whole episode to answering your questions.       From why back-benchers ask seemingly pointless questions at PMQs, to the importance of Instagram for the next general election, and where to get the best cup of tea in Westminster, Ruth, Jess and Beth have got it covered.       Email Beth, Jess, and Ruth at...

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 China-backed cyber-attacks and announcing sanctions against two individuals and a company? Beth,...

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 for him to go?      And two politicians answer a listener question about why politicians never...

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 minister said they were "racist and wrong" - but hasn't suggested returning the £10m to the...

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 figures who've got on top this week – and where there's a total dysfunction. Email Beth, Ruth, and...

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 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt might pull out of the bag. A thought-provoking conversation with a healthy...

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 their future. There’s a bit of agreement that one of the strongest candidates for the next...

Beth Rigby. Jess Phillips. Ruth Davidson. 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 coming out on top and who is having an Electoral...

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, psychiatric care. There, she encounters the kind of threat she never could have imagined in a secure...

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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 interviews Trainspotting author, Irvine Welsh. Email Beth Rigby with your thoughts at...

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 your thoughts on the week's stories at [email protected].

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 Wendy Hall, a professor of computer science at the University of Southampton about Artificial...

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 Brexit". Daily Mirror political editor John Stevens, and Caroline Wheeler, political editor...

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 Mollie Malone to talk about what else the G7 leaders have been discussing in Japan. Email...

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 former Russian state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova to discuss her decision to protest on...

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 chief executive Christian Purslow with the future of the Premier League and a new government...

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 the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland on its 25th anniversary. Email:...