EXCLUSIVE: Keir Starmer on his special relationship with Trump
Electoral Dysfunction
Sky News
4.4 • 764 Ratings
🗓️ 27 March 2026
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Beth is in Helsinki with the Prime Minister for an exclusive interview for the podcast.
Keir Starmer has said he "hates the fact" that he made a "mistake" over the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
"I dwell on it. I beat myself up about it," he told Beth, who is accompanying him on a visit to Finland, where he is taking part in a leaders' summit.
Beth also questions him about his relationship with Trump following disparaging comments the President made about Starmer's response to the Iran war.
Plus, Beth, Harriet and Ruth react to the full interview.
Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.
And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.
Transcript
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| 0:46.3 | Don't you sometimes going to your studying quietly swear? |
| 0:50.8 | Well, occasionally, I keep my expletist myself, most of the time. |
| 0:57.0 | There's a clear difference, therefore, of opinion between me and President Trump. |
| 1:01.4 | My own view is that a lot of what he's said and done has been to put pressure on me. |
| 1:07.3 | I made a mistake there, and I hate the fact I made that mistake. |
| 1:15.3 | Hello and welcome to Electoral Dysfunction with me, Beth Rigby. |
| 1:17.6 | Me Ruth Davidson and me, Harriet Harmon. |
| 1:23.0 | I'm in Helsinki. I've just interviewed the Prime Minister, and I've imminently got to get back on a plane and get home. We ended up doing a 20-plus minute interview, which I don't normally get. I think |
| 1:29.7 | you've just heard preview of that. And Harriet, what did you think of what you heard? Well, I thought |
| 1:37.1 | it was a very significant interview. And I actually felt very encouraged by it, which bearing in mind, |
| 1:43.7 | he was talking about the intense |
| 1:45.9 | difficulties for the economy with the Iran war, being abused and bullied by Trump, the drobbing |
| 1:53.2 | we're going to get in the May elections and the disastrous mistake that he made over the |
| 1:57.9 | appointment of Mandelson. It might seem a bit odd for me to say I felt |
| 2:01.6 | encouraged by the interview. But I really got a sense of direction, which I think usually |
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