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:What’s in the first tranche of documents around Peter Mandelson’s appointmnet (and what’s still missing)The red flags raised before Mandelson was appointed and why the process looks so rushedWhat “developed vetting” actually is, and why it could become the key detailThe growing political risk for Starmer, including questions around what was said in the CommonsPeter 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.

Tense debate over Britain’s response to Iran’s strikes and whether restraint or retaliation was right. Discussion of leaked national security briefings and what they reveal about leadership. Reflections on Iraq’s legacy shaping current caution and the political fallout for UK decision makers. Concerns about regional escalation, risks to British nationals, and economic impacts on energy and trade.

A shock by-election win for the Greens shakes up local political math and raises questions about Labour's durability. On-the-ground reporting and poll analysis explore whether this signals broader fragmentation and strategic headaches. The team also examines targeted Green campaigning, tactical voting dynamics and what the result means for upcoming local contests. A high-profile arrest and its political fallout round out the discussion.

They react to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and what it could mean for the rule of law. They unpack a government U-turn over postponed local elections and the fallout for councils. They debate media scrutiny of Reform UK and controversial plans on the Equality Act. They explore misogyny toward senior public women and fears from parents about upcoming SEND reforms.

They unpack a weekend crisis that forced a sudden resignation and the three options that were considered. They debate whether interim female chiefs signal a glass cliff or real change. Structural misogyny and how male-dominated teams create blind spots in decision-making are explored. They question vetting failures tied to controversial appointments and what a culture-reset role could look like.

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.