Will we ever know everything about Peter Mandelson?
Electoral Dysfunction
Sky News
4.4 • 764 Ratings
🗓️ 24 April 2026
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sir Keir Starmer says he has "put to bed" the row over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador – but it looks set to rumble on for the PM.
Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has now been summoned to give evidence to the Commons, as well as Sir Olly Robbins's predecessor at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton.
Beth explains why Barton's evidence could end up being "box office", while Ruth and Harriet give their assessment on Starmer's very difficult week.
And the team discuss if it might be easier to reveal all the information which came up during vetting.
Peter Mandelson denies criminal wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Plus – Beth's in Manchester interviewing Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Will he be able to persuade voters in Labour heartlands – and beyond - to jump ship?
For a list of all candidates standing in your area, check the Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information
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 Ruth, Beth and Harriet on YouTube.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Explore Turquieu for less this summer with Pegasus Airlines. |
| 0:04.1 | Feel the energy of Istanbul or head straight for the sun-drenched coastlines of Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman, |
| 0:10.3 | with smooth connections to 158 destinations in 56 countries. |
| 0:15.0 | Take off from London Stansted to Istanbul from just 3999 one way including taxes. |
| 0:25.0 | On board one of the world's youngest fleets book now at flypgs.com or on the pegas app based on 100 plus fleet size verify at flypgs.com |
| 0:29.7 | shine nightwalk london is a 10k half marathon or full marathon supported walk around the city at night |
| 0:35.7 | on the 19th of September to raise |
| 0:37.9 | vital money for cancer research UK it's also everyone walking with all their |
| 0:42.4 | colours twinkling away we can actually see how nice London is and London is |
| 0:46.9 | different at night time celebration of life and it gives hope being able to |
| 0:51.4 | raise money for cancer research UK step towards a brighter future and sign up at shinewark.org. Together, we are beating cancer. |
| 1:02.4 | Sky News, the full story first. |
| 1:15.7 | Because he's put a nuclear bomb under the whole thing. |
| 1:23.5 | And I just thought, I've got to ask this guy, because this is weird. There will be a political judgment that is the Prime Minister probably won't survive. |
| 1:39.6 | Hello and welcome to electoral dysfunction with me, Beth Rickby, me Ruth Davidson, and me Harriet Harmon. |
| 1:47.1 | And I, like the rest of Westminster, I'm on manoeuvres again. But I'm not in a budget hotel this time. |
| 1:52.4 | I'm in a little podcast studio here because I've just been speaking to the Green Party leader, |
| 1:58.6 | Zapp Polanski, who's up in Manchester on a campaign visit today. |
| 2:04.1 | And we've been talking about the mayor elections, his prospects. |
| 2:08.7 | And then I was getting quite into some policy detail with him. |
| 2:12.7 | And some of the things that he said in the past, because I think as with any leader, as you climb in the |
| 2:20.2 | polls and you become a serious force of maybe taking some power in local councils and then |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sky News, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Sky News and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.