Electoral Dysfunction

• Is Keir Starmer bringing back austerity?

  Sir Keir Starmer is doubling down on his bid to reduce government waste, but is his plan a fix or just more spending spin? Beth is in Hull after hearing what the Labour leader is promising, including scrapping NHS England to "cut bureaucracy" and bring management of the health service "back into democratic control".   Alongside Harriet and Ruth, they also discuss Starmer potentially facing down a rebellion from his own MPs over plans to shake up benefits reform and welfare payments.   The cracks are widening for Reform UK’s internal spat. Beth speaks to Andrea Jenkyns, who left the Tories to join Reform, on the party's latest bust-up, and Ruth and Harriet look at whether the party’s chaos is helping both Labour and the Conservatives.  Email us at [email protected], post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.           And remember, you can also watch us on YouTube!   

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• Rachel Reeves: "People want to talk me down... I'll prove I can do it"

  Beth’s been to 11 Downing Street to talk to the Chancellor for Electoral Dysfunction. She took some of your questions (and a couple of Electoral Dysfunction mugs) with her.  Rachel Reeves reflects on her first few months in the job, explains what she thinks of the “Rachel from Accounts” label and shares her own money-saving tip which she tries to do every day when at Downing Street. She also hints on what might come in her Spring Statement with some strong words on the need for welfare reform. Email us at [email protected], post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.       And remember, you can also watch us on YouTube! 

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• Will a ministerial resignation dent Starmer's post Trump high?

  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has returned from the US after what has been seen by Number 10 as a highly successful meeting with Donald Trump.  This week, Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson look at the preparation that went into this visit. Beth reveals how she caught the US president's attention. Plus, what is it like in the Oval Office?  And how did Mr Trump react when he got that invitation from the King.  They also discuss the resignation of development minister Annelise Dodds after the aid budget was cut to boost defence spending and ask  whether this will dent Mr Starmer's post-Trump confidence.    Email us at [email protected], post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.       And remember, you can also watch us on YouTube! 

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• A pact between Farage and Badenoch?

   What could a pact between Nigel Farage’s Reform party and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives look like? Are we about to see the Tory party lurch closer to the right?     Beth, Ruth and Harriet answer this and more, as they go through your questions – which means we also get the backstory to the iconic Beth Rigby red lipstick.     And how difficult is being married to an MP? We hear from Ruth’s partner Jen about their lives in the spotlight when Ruth was leader of the Scottish Conservatives.    Email us at [email protected], post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.        And remember, you can also watch us on YouTube! 

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• Labour WhatsApps: "If you’ve got racist thoughts then you shouldn't be an MP!"

  Do MPs say one thing in public, and another in private? This week, Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson ask what’s been going on with the two MPs suspended from the Labour party over WhatsApps messages containing offensive comments.  Andrew Gwynne and Oliver Ryan both lost the whip after Sunday newspaper revelations. It’s been a difficult week for Harriet – she's worked with Andrew Gwynne for a number of years and says it’s made her question her judgement.  Also – are we about to see by elections as a result? And in the week the assisted dying debate is back in the news, we discuss the repercussions of the plan to scrap the need for High Court approval after Beth speaks to the MP who has campaigned for the changes, Labour’s Kim Leadbeater. Email us at [email protected], post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.     Watch us on Youtube too - new videos every week here. 

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