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Electoral Dysfunction

Starmer’s dilemma in Trump and Putin’s shadow

Electoral Dysfunction

Sky News

Politics, News Commentary, News

4.4764 Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Can Britain afford both welfare and warfare? Beth takes us inside the row that could define Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.

From that huge Commons rebellion over welfare cuts to the looming pressure on defence spending, how can the government look after Britain at home, whilst holding the line abroad?

For this special episode, Beth speaks to the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt and ex-Labour welfare minister Jim Murphy.

Also, Ruth and Harriet ask whether anything has actually changed after the Trump-Putin Alaska summit and whether European leaders can make a difference after crowding into the White House this week?

Remember, you can also watch us on YouTube.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Six weeks of school holidays.

0:02.8

No problem with the free summer of art at the National Gallery.

0:06.1

Build a den.

0:06.9

Experiment with a paintbrush.

0:08.5

Adventure with the keeper of paintings.

0:10.5

And join the NG Creative Community for two weeks of art classes

0:13.9

inspired by Take One Picture,

0:15.6

the school program involving 83,000 kids.

0:18.9

It's all free and no bookings required.

0:25.6

Summer is sorted at the air-conditioned Road and Centre for Creative Learning. National Gallery, Trafalgar Square.

0:26.6

Search National Gallery, free summer of art. Hello and welcome to Electoral Dysfunction from Sky News with me Ruth Davidson and me, Harriet Harmon.

0:44.0

We are interrupting our summer podcast schedule because there has been a lot going on in the world.

0:50.3

So we have sent out our bat signal. We've tried to get the Avengers to assemble. It seems to have somehow got lost in a force field around Beth Rigby, but it looks like it's managed to find you in Wales, Harriet. Whereabouts are you?

1:02.4

I'm still on my holiday and I am in very beautiful West Wales. And when we finish chatting this afternoon, it will be high tide and I will be plunging into the Atlantic Ocean and I can give you a glimpse of my amazing think Pamela and your swimmers on think they were look that's the exact you know some people in the darkness, afraid to step into the light.

1:31.9

But it's very odd because I'm still in, you know, full on holiday mode, albeit, you know, eager to talk to you.

1:38.3

But you are now off holidays and into, you know, you're wearing your suits.

1:42.9

Yeah, so Finn's been back at school since last Wednesday.

1:45.6

Thank the good Lord above.

1:47.9

Structure is back in our lives.

1:49.6

Not so much structure on the international arena, is there?

1:53.1

Oh no, that's a link.

1:57.9

In terms of today's episode, I think what we want to do is we want to talk about all of the things that have been going on and get a bit of behind the scenes from you, Harry, of what summits like these, these massive international summits are like, and how you can even pull one together so quickly?

...

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