Beth Rigby

Political Editor, Presenter & Podcaster, Sky News. RTS Political Journalist of the Year 2023.🎙️Electoral Dysfunction podcast out every Friday🎙️

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

Got round London Marathon in 4.45hrs, progress on 2025. The crowds were incredible, the experience exhilarating & humbling. I ran in memory of Laura for @NLondonHospice. I’ve raised £24k over 2 years, thanks to all you wonderful people for sponsoring me 🙏🏻
https://t.co/zwxQhLxsjn

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Sky News political editor @BethRigby has completed the London Marathon for a second time in honour of one of her childhood friends - and to raise money for the North London Hospice.

Rigby says running the marathon has been 'quite satisfying'.

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

Govt source in wake of Healey resignation: “This country is safer because of the decisions Keir Starmer has made and we will continue to act in our national interest.

“It is this Labour government and this Labour Prime Minister that is delivering the largest sustained boost to defence spending since the Cold War.

“We cut the international aid budget to make record investment in our armed forces, and now the PM is imposing cuts on other government departments to fund billions more.

“The Defence Investment Plan will deliver the capability our armed forces need. ⁠

“We will always do what is right, and needed, to keep the country safe."

[Sky News @SkyNews]

"Clearly, Healey was trying behind the scenes to change things, and when he couldn't, he quit" - @haynesdeborah

"What this has done is hasten the end of Starmer" - @SamCoatesSky

Sky's deputy political editor and defence editor react to the defence sec's resignation

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

BREAKING: Defence Secretary John Healey effectively confirms the Defence Investment Plan will not come out this week. There had been talk about the plan - or elements of it - being revealed on Friday when parliament is not sitting.
The speaker said he would be “appalled” should that happen.
Asked for his response to the speaker’s concerns, Mr Healey told a news conference with the foreign secretary and their Australian counterparts: “when we publish significant reports we respect parliament”

The potential Friday date had replaced an initial aim to get the DIP out this Thursday. It will now be pushed into next week as the Ministry of Defence pushes for more money

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

Healey: “I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.

"After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your defence secretary."

Healey is telling us he cannot continue as defence secretary because the PM is not willing or able to put in the money necessary to keep the country safe. This is extremely damning of the PM who promised to do whatever was needed to keep the country safe

[John Healey @JohnHealey_MP]

My letter to the Prime Minister

[Sky News @SkyNews]

BREAKING: The defence secretary, John Healey, has resigned

Sky's @haynesdeborah has more on the story.

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Earlier today, the family of the Belfast attack victim said they "do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostilities".

Sky's @BethRigby asked Reform UK leader Nigel Farage about their comments ⬇️

Belfast live updates: https://t.co/HoWha2BJUV

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

Healey writes of PM: “You spelled out the threats last week: it’s our intelligence assessment & the assessment of other countries in NATO that there could be an attack by Russia on NATO as soon as 2030”

[John Healey @JohnHealey_MP]

My letter to the Prime Minister

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

BREAKING: Healey resigns as Defence Sec telling PM he was ‘left with no option that to submit my resignation letter’ after failing to secure the funding he says necessary for the defence investment plan

[John Healey @JohnHealey_MP]

My letter to the Prime Minister

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

“I was bright red on that photoshoot, my mum was killing me” 😂

[Kitty Donaldson @kitty_donaldson]

EXC: Private constituency-wide polling in Makerfield seen by The i Paper shows Andy Burnham on 35%, Restore Britain on 13% and Reform UK on 24% 🧵 https://t.co/uITJyPH5WW

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

So excited about this: it’s going to be a new pod go to. #stuffmatters with the wonderful @EdConwaySky

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Every object has a story 🎧 🍌 🚗

🎙️In Stuff Matters, @EdConwaySky takes everyday objects and reveals the hidden forces shaping our world — and the people behind them.

🗓️ From Monday 15 June
🎧 Follow here: https://t.co/4MZaXEvqXH

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

PM today gives tech companies three months to stop young people sending and receiving sexually explicit images at a device level, or face legislation to force it to happen.

Jess Phillips, the former safeguarding minister who resigned last month says: "The delay came from a sort of squeamishness to sometimes take on big tech, but far be it from me to then criticise when [Starmer] actually does it. And today he has taken on big Tech and told them that they have to do this."

When pressed on whether she wants PM to set out timetable for departure: "I quit my job because of this issue that we are talking about today. I wanted to make sure that it got over the line, and so I am pleased that it got over the line. My views on Keir Starmer's leadership and the incremental change that I wrote about in my resignation letter, have not changed.

"I am glad, no sort of diplomatic way of saying this, that maybe it's given him a kick up the bum to do this. And maybe social media bans will be coming, I very much hope so. Anything that will do anything to give anyone a bit of momentum to get the stuff done that needs doing to keep our children safe, I'll take it."

[Ridge & Frost @RidgeandFrost]

🗣️ 'The delay came from a sort of squeamishness to sometimes take on big tech'

Labour's @jessphillips tells @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost why she thinks the PM has taken so long to announce that tech firms must stop children sending and receiving explicit images on devices.

[Ridge & Frost @RidgeandFrost]

🗣️ 'The delay came from a sort of squeamishness to sometimes take on big tech'

Labour's @jessphillips tells @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost why she thinks the PM has taken so long to announce that tech firms must stop children sending and receiving explicit images on devices.

[Sky News @SkyNews]

'He's finding himself back in the embrace of Tommy Robinson.'

Has Nigel Farage returned to the far-right in the wake of the Henry Nowak murder? @HarrietHarman thinks so, but why?

🎧 https://t.co/uAiMuhWzc3

[Alzheimer's Society @alzheimerssoc]

Veteran news anchor Jon Snow has shared that he’s living with dementia, speaking publicly for the first time to raise awareness of a condition affecting around 1 million people across the UK.

Jon and his wife, neurologist Dr Precious Lunga, are supporting Alzheimer’s Society @alzheimerssoc and shared the story of Jon’s diagnosis in @DailyMail as part of our Defeating Dementia campaign with the newspaper.

https://t.co/Sy08OWXmms

We’ve partnered with Jon, in association with @Channel4, on a powerful new documentary airing on 20 June. Jon Snow: A Last Big Story looks at how he’s navigating life with dementia, and how, when we all come together, we can change the story.

Thank you to Jon and Precious for their courage and openness to bring much-needed attention to dementia 💙

@jonsnowC4

Photo credit: Cynthia R Matonhodze

[esmewren @esmewren]

Jon Snow played a huge part in shaping and defining @Channel4News over many decades and leaves a huge legacy in our newsroom. It is no surprise he is now using his voice to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Society, an illness he has spoken so powerfully about today.

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

PM accuses @JDVance of trying to 'interfere in our democracy' and 'stir up division’ after the US Vice President blamed Henry Nowak's murder on migration & called for ‘righteous anger’

No 10 spox: “In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

"The Nowak family are grieving after Henry's horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes”

[JD Vance @JDVance]

Henry Nowak died the same way a civilization dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit. His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it.

Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last. Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response—the only response—is righteous anger. One of the most important things the Trump administration has proven to the world is that stopping the flow of mass migration and defending national sovereignty is a matter of political will and leadership. Anything else is an excuse.

It is because we love the West that we want to preserve it. We love our civilization. We love our country. We love our children. And nobody—nobody—should ever die the way that Henry Nowak died. May God comfort those who loved him, and may God rest his soul.

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

@now_arsenaI Of course he is! 👑

[caroline wheeler @cazjwheeler]

NEW: Andy Burnham is considering keeping Rachel Reeves as Chancellor if he becomes prime minister after lobbying from MPs, who back her as the only candidate to safeguard the country’s finances, The i Paper has learned.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has been told by Labour MPs that he will have to retain her in order not to spook the markets.

Some allies believe he has already made up his mind to do so – even though it could mean Reeves might have to rip up much of her economic programme.

One minister, who said they would back Burnham if it comes to a leadership election, was adamant that he must stick with Reeves as Chancellor, adding that there would be a move from MPs to keep her in post.

Another like-minded Labour MP put it more emphatically, insisting that Burnham had already decided to keep Reeves in post. “It’s a done deal,” he said. “The last thing Andy will want to do is spook the markets.”

With the @ipaper political team

https://t.co/LntJH2CUVS