Electoral Dysfunction

How ‘mega-donors’ are buying political influence... and your algorithm

How are our political parties funded – and is it time for a cap on donations?Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman pull back the curtain on political donations – and discuss whether bots astroturfing social media are rapidly becoming a major threat to democracy.Author and journalist Peter Geoghegan joins the pod to explain how we got here and what exactly is going on online, while former Attorney General Dominic Grieve breaks down how the Government tries to regulate money in politics.Find out how to subscribe to our members club Sky News Insider here: skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionSky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over. Find out more and subscribe: skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

What does Nigel Farage’s win in Clacton actually prove?

Nigel Farage is an MP once again as he was victorious in the Clacton by-election, winning 63% of the vote and overcoming his main competitor - Count Binface.But has the vote left us with more questions than answers? And why didn’t Farage go to the count?Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman are joined by pollster Luke Tryl, executive director of More In Common, to dissect Farage’s victory.Plus, Harriet explains what happens next when it comes to the parliamentary standards' investigation into Farage's finances, and why she thinks another by-election could be imminent.To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes, and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

'I hated it': Jess Phillips on life inside Keir Starmer's government

Hear from Jess Phillips regularly on our Tuesday members episode, subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionJess Phillips joins Beth Rigby to reflect on her time as a minister under Keir Starmer.And she asks whether Andy Burnham can fulfil the Labour manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Are disinterested government departments to blame for slow progress?Plus, why did Gaza nearly cost Jess her Birmingham Yardley seat, and will the row over Labour’s policy in the Middle East continue to plague inner-city MPs?To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes, and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

‘Intensely unpopular’: Was Keir Starmer doomed from the start?

Beth Rigby and Harriet Harman dive into what went wrong for Sir Keir Starmer – and why the public turned against him so quickly.And Harriet asks if the Labour party might, in retrospect, have been able to ride out those disastrous local election results without changing its leader.Plus – why has the Labour party waited so long for a female leader, and is a woman-only shortlist the answer?We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionAnd here's a taster of this week's bonus episode. Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Is the Burnham government starting to feel like The Traitors?

In appointing his new cabinet Andy Burnham has removed many of Keir Starmer's faithfuls, including previously key figures like Rachel Reeves and Darren Jones.And critics feel 'traitors' who had tried to destabilise the recently departed PM are being rewarded for their disloyalty.Former Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Starmer to go back in February. Now he's off to the Lords for a ministerial job under Burnham.At the Electoral Dysfunction Round Table, Beth Rigby asks Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson how Burnham can deal with the bad blood his choices have created. Harriet wants him to 'build bridges' with those he ousted.We also have lots of questions from Dysfunctioners about a big political week.We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.