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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

We didn't get details of Andy Burnham's top team until most people had gone to bed... so why did it take so long?Beth, Jess, Harriet and Ruth discuss whether some ministers negotiated for different jobs – and whether nobody wanted to be justice secretary.Harriet also has stern words for "bitter" former cabinet ministers who are criticising the new government from the sidelines.If you would like to subscribe to Sky News Insider, find out how here https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

We're in a transition as Andy Burnham becomes Labour leader three days before he becomes Prime Minister.In Ukraine, Beth Rigby asks the outgoing PM, Keir Starmer, about why he chose to see President Zelenskyy on his final foreign trip.Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman hold the Electoral Dysfunction fort back home.They weigh up whether Burnham should favour ability over popularity in his new cabinet - and consider how the polls are going for Burnham's own approval rating as he prepares to enter Number 10, with the help of Sky News' election analyst Rob Ford.To listen without ads, exclusive bonus episodes and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionTo see Beth's full interview with Keir Starmer, go hereGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Rachel Reeves says if Nigel Farage wants to "spend the summer arguing with a bin" then that's up to him.The Reform leader triggered a by-election by resigning this week. He is standing again to fight for the seat. Count Binface is one of those planning to stand against him in Clacton but the main parties won't be there.Beth, Ruth and Harriet dig into whether there are cracks in Farage's plan to reset the narrative after claims about his financial arrangements. Plus, Beth is fresh off the prime minister's plane from Turkey where Sir Keir Starmer was given an illegal gift he couldn't bring back with him.Andy Burnham's also promised MPs an overhaul in party culture. Harriet and Ruth debate whether the changes will ever happen.We’ll be back on Tuesday for our Sky News Insider subscribers. 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/electoraldysfunction Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email [email protected] of July 9th, we’re aware of the following people and parties planning to stand in the Clacton by-election:Adham Alkhatip, Forward PartyCount Binface, IndependentPiers Corbyn, IndependentNigel Farage, ReformLaurence Fox, Reclaim PartyOllie Granger, IndependentLuke Worley, Independent

The New Labour band might be getting back together around Burnham’s cabinet table. Good for nostalgia, but the women have other thoughts if there are set to be two Milibands in the great offices of state and no women.This week, Harriet tells Beth and Ruth this week that trust is broken between female Labour MPs and the top of the party, and now they’re expecting hard proof from Burnham that he sees them equally – because it’s “no more playing nice” from them.And as Keir Starmer leaves Burnham with a black hole in his budget as a parting gift – how can Burnham pay for it? And is this going to be a return of the welfare bill rebels?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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Andy Burnham is closing in on Downing Street as Nigel Farage endures a tricky political week. But does Burnham actually have a mandate to be Prime Minister? Or should we have a general election?Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson and Harriet Harman give their takes on what Burnham's first 100 Days could look like and who might be in his cabinet, including the all-important role of chancellor. Harriet says one of her picks for the job has to prove his credibility.And with more scrutiny on Nigel Farage’s £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne – how is Farage reacting?Farage has said he is "absolutely convinced I've done nothing wrong in any way at all" and he has "taken zero in personal expenses" since being elected in July 2024"I'm very careful and very cautious about these things," he said. "I believe it to be a wholly private matter, the standards commissioner may take a different view."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 [email protected] News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.