Electoral Dysfunction

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.Plus, producer Mollie Malone is back to go through your messages.

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 spending, and trans rights.

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 breaking news hair disaster.

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 Mollie Malone, and a big update for podcast regulars.

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 Platinum Jubilee, and Boris Johnson’s No Confidence vote, and more of your emails with her producer Mollie Malone.

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. Producer Mollie Malone joins for more of your emails.

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.

This week, Vitali Klitschko speaks to Beth Rigby about Russian attempts to invade Kyiv, life in the city, and his hopes for a peace deal. Plus, more analysis from Beth and her producer Mollie Malone, as they go through more of your emails. Email: [email protected]

This week, Anoosheh Ashoori speaks to Beth Rigby about his mental health struggles while imprisoned in Iran and his family’s fight to get him back to the UK, while the chancellor Rishi Sunak talks about his Spring Statement, juggling family and work – does he have leadership ambitions? Plus, more analysis from Beth, her producer Mollie Malone and Sanya Burgess, from our data and forensics team, who worked to get Anoosheh’s exclusive interview for this episode. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans on 116 123 or email [email protected]: [email protected]

This week, the pundit, coach and former player talks to Beth Rigby about, what he says are big questions about football ownerships after the sanctions put on Roman Abramovich. Plus, why he's signed up as a member of the Labour party, what makes a good leader and who would he rather work for - Liverpool FC or the Conservatives? Plus, the usual debrief with Beth and her producer Mollie Malone.Email: [email protected]

Is nuclear war a real possibility for Putin? And does the prime minister feel guilty as Ukraine's president repeatedly asks the West for a no fly zone?On her new podcast, our political editor Beth Rigby speaks to Boris Johnson about the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, the prospect of chemical weapons being used by Russia and what it would take for NATO allies to offer further support to Ukrainian forces.Plus, more analysis from Beth and her producer Mollie Malone as they reflect on what the prime minister had to say.Email: [email protected]