Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson team up for Electoral Dysfunction, a new political podcast from Sky News

Wednesday 7 February 2024

Three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin in new Sky News podcast, Electoral Dysfunction.  

Each week, Sky News Political Editor Beth Rigby, Labour MP Jess Phillips and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson will bring their no-nonsense styles and decades of experience for an unvarnished view on the week in Westminster and beyond.

As an election draws closer, the trio will look at our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written and how they’re sold to voters – to explain what’s really going on.

Giving listeners the best insight on how politicians are trying to win them over at home, they’ll also touch on some of the other elections around the world, in what is the ultimate election year as more than half the world’s population goes to the polls in dozens of countries across the globe.

And with so much at stake, the group will work out which politicians will come out on top and who is having an Electoral Dysfunction.

Electoral Dysfunction launches 1st March with episodes available every Friday on all podcast platforms. 

Listen to the trailer here 

Beth Rigby, Sky News Political Editor: “This is a huge political year as we gear up for what could the most seismic UK election in a generation. But voters aren’t feeling it, with people across the country telling me politics isn’t working. Each week, across different issues, I’ll be asking why and looking for solutions through frank conversations with two of the most compelling, engaging and honest women who have worked in politics.” 

Ruth Davidson, broadcaster and politician: "People hate it when politicians treat them like idiots – parroting a party line that nobody really believes. We promise never to do that. Jess and I may often disagree, but we won’t do it simply for disagreement’s sake – and we’re just as likely to take our own side to task. This whole podcast is about showing what goes on behind the scenes, explaining how decisions get made and – hopefully – discussing how to make our politics better. It’s a three-woman campaign for less BS in SW1." 

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley: “I spend a lot of the time on the doorstep and what I get back is that trust in politics is at an all-time low - they don’t believe we’ll deliver what we say, and I don’t blame them. We want to unpick that by taking listeners behind the curtain to talk about the disconnect and bring listeners lives’ back into this, but talking about the things that actually matter to them.” 

David Rhodes, Sky News Executive Chairman: “There's no shortage of voices in Westminster today- but there is an acute shortage of voices like Ruth Davidson and Jess Phillips. Beth Rigby, Ruth and Jess will offer a lively, challenging and influential look at our politics today.” 

New episodes of ELECTORAL DYSFUNCTION will be available every Friday. 

More information on Electoral Dysfunction 

For interview requests please contact mim.pippard@sky.uk 

Electoral Dysfunction synopsis: In a record year for elections around the world, Beth Rigby, Jess Philips and Ruth Davidson unravel the spin. Which politicians are coming out on top, and who is having an electoral dysfunction? And then to the bigger questions beyond the polls: how do we get politics working again?