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PODCAST

Electoral Dysfunction

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

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All Episodes

31:16

Could the UK sleepwalk into Trumpian politics?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/04/10

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 designed to rein him in fail so spectacularly?Ruth and Harriet discuss whether Trump’s chaotic leadership style shows that western democracies - including the UK - might be more fragile than we think, and if

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36:43

How much economic damage is Donald Trump doing? | Q&A

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/04/03

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 - all are up for discussion.Plus - Ruth and Harriet go head-to-head over why Labour has never had a female leader.And, the most pressing question of all - how does Beth find the time to train for a marathon, and

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44:28

Keir Starmer: 'I beat myself up' about Mandelson

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/03/27

BethisinHelsinkiwiththePrimeMinisterforanexclusiveinterviewforthepodcast.KeirStarmerhassaidhe"hatesthefact"thathemadea"mistake"overtheappointmentofPeterMandelson."Idwellonit.Ibeatmyselfupaboutit,"hetoldBeth,whoisaccompanyinghimonavisittoFinland,whereheistakingpartinaleaders'summit.BethalsoquestionshimabouthisrelationshipwithTrumpfollowingdisparagingcommentsthePresidentmadeaboutStarmer'sresponsetotheIranwar.Plus,Beth,HarrietandRuthreacttothefullinterview.Gotaquestionfortheburnerphone?WhatsApp079342004

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53:36

Could Angela Rayner’s comeback rescue Labour?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/03/20

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

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50:14

Why the Mandelson files matter for Starmer's future

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/03/13

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

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40:22

Has Starmer got it right over his Iran War response?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/03/06

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

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41:26

Did the Greens just deliver a knockout blow for Keir...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/02/27

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

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37:05

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Is anyone truly above the...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/02/20

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 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

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42:01

Is a ‘boys’ club’ undermining Starmer’s government?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/02/13

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

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39:57

EXTRA: Wes Streeting on his friendship with Peter...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/02/09

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

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52:24

Can Starmer survive the Mandelson scandal?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/02/06

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

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34:42

What does Starmer really want from China?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/30

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

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22:53

EXTRA: Why Andy Burnham was blocked by Keir Starmer

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/26

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

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39:05

Is this the end of social media for teenagers?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/23

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,

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38:05

Jenrick joins Reform – is it a boost for Nigel Farage...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/16

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

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41:49

Is Starmer still a player in Trump’s world?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/09

“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

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38:49

Nick Clegg on Brexit regret and what Britain does...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/01

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

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53:32

The vote that fractured politics | 10 Years of Brexit...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2026/01/01

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

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23:28

What happens in politics on Christmas day? Your...

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2025/12/25

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

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46:36

How do you raise boys in a culture of misogyny?

Electoral Dysfunction ·

2025/12/19

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

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