Cheat Sheet with Ridge & Frost

Days after former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab's resignation, Sophy Ridge talks to the new man in the job, Oliver Dowden.

They discuss if he believes Dominic Raab is a bully, the upcoming local elections, and whether Tory scandals are distracting from court backlogs.

Plus Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, tells Sophy about the party "gaining momentum" and his thoughts on the Raab bullying report.

To discuss these interviews in-depth, Sophy is joined by The Guardian's deputy political editor Jessica Elgot, as well as programme editor Scott Beasley.

Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Editor: Philly Beaumont

Chairman of the Conservative Party Greg Hands admitted the party could lose 1,000 seats at the forthcoming local elections on May 4. Speaking to presenter Trevor Phillips on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Hands said that the party was “fighting really hard”.

Plus, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended his party’s recent controversial advertising campaign, saying “the figures speak for themselves”.

The Daily Mirror’s political editor John Stevens and programme editor Scott Beasley join Trevor to analyse this week’s interviews.

Podcast producers: Rosie Gillott and Soila Apparicio
Podcast Editor: Paul Stanworth

It's been a busy few weeks for the Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

There's been the damning report into London's Metropolitan Police, questions over the Government's plans to reduce crossings in the Channel, and just as schools begin to break-up for the Easter holidays, back-to-back queues are affecting the Port of Dover.

The Home Secretary speaks to Sophy about all these issues, plus her plans to introduce a new legal duty for people working with children to report "signs or suspicions" of sexual abuse.

For Labour, shadow housing and communities secretary Lisa Nandy tells Sophy why she believes the Government hasn't properly prepared for a post-Brexit Britain.

Plus, the employment minister and Conservative MP for Hexham, Guy Opperman, tells the programme why he wants better maternity care, and support for parents who experience child loss.

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Programme Producer: Lucy Bishop
Programme Editor: Scott Beasley
Podcast producer: David Chipakupaku
Podcast Editor: Paul Stanworth

On the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, Sophy speaks to levelling up secretary Michael Gove about measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, banning nitrous oxide - widely known as laughing gas - and an undercover sting by anti-Brexit campaign group Led by Donkeys, targeting MPs including former Tory ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng.

Plus, Sophy interviews Labour’s shadow culture secretary, Lucy Powell. And there’s analysis with Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates.

After the government said it was working on starting its deportation flights to Rwanda by the summer, Sophy Ridge speaks to Oliver Dowden, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, about ministers' plans to reduce small boat crossings to the UK and asks him if his party is avoiding scrutiny on the policy. Sophy also speaks to Miguel Berger, the German ambassador, about the UK's improved relationship with the EU under Rishi Sunak.

She is joined by Sam Lister, the Daily Express's political editor, to dissect the interviews and look ahead to Boris Johnson's appearance before MPs on the Privileges Committee over accusations he deliberately misled Parliament about partygate this week.

Programme Producer: Scott Beasley
Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott
Editor: Paul Stanworth

Despite a big week in politics looming, the row over Gary Lineker’s controversial tweet and subsequently stepping back from presenting Match of the Day is dominating headlines this weekend.

But that’s not all that’s happening. Just days ahead of the Spring Budget Sophy Ridge speaks to the Chancellor of Exchequer Jeremy Hunt as well as Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves. They talk about their own party spending techniques as well as their opposing views on the Lineker row.

Plus, ahead of the Sky News Scottish Leadership Debate – Sophy asks candidate Ash Regan some quick-fire questions.

On the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, Sophy is joined by political correspondent Liz Bates to analyse all the interviews.

Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Editor: Philly Beaumont

New small boat crossings legislation will be “very black and white”, the Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said.

Speaking to podcast host Sophy Ridge, he said the new laws will mean that people who come to the UK illegally will be banned from claiming asylum.

We also hear from former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt, who said sending weaponry to Ukraine “almost certainly” depletes the UK's defence capability but that it's important to support the country in its war with Russia.

Our political correspondent Liz Bates and programme editor Scott Beasley join Sophy to analyse this week’s interviews.

Podcast Producer: Soila Apparicio
Editor: Philly Beaumont

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab reckons the government is on the 'cusp' of an agreement to change the Northern Ireland protocol - the agreement, negotiated during Brexit talks, which allows goods to move across the border between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland without needing checks.

On the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, we also hear the thoughts of Mark Francois, who chairs the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative Eurosceptic MPs. Also, we hear from Mr Raab on the bullying claims made against him, tougher rules for transgender prisoners and the courts backlog in England and Wales.

Plus, Sophy interviews former US presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders.

On the podcast joining Sophy with analysis of this week’s interviews is senior associate editor at the New Statesman, Rachel Cunliffe, and programme producer, Scott Beasley.

Annie Joyce – senior podcast producer
Paul Stanworth - editor

But, just as Westminster had thought Boris Johnson was out of the picture, sources tell Sky News he thinks it would be a "great mistake drop the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill", controversial legislation which allows UK ministers to rip up parts of the protocol and ignore EU rules.

On this episode, Trevor Phillips is joined by The Scotsman's Westminster correspondent Alexander Brown to analyse interviews with Leader of House Penny Mordaunt and Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Plus, former Northern Ireland Secretary under Tony Blair, Lord Peter Mandelson, and the leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party, Naomi Long.

Podcast producer - David Chipakupaku 
Editor - Paul Stanworth

As the death toll from the earthquake in Syria and Turkey continues to rise, Development Minister Andrew Mitchell defends the governments cuts to the international aid budget as Conservative MP John Redwood calls for tax cuts at home.

Plus, SNP MP John Nicolson and member of the DCMS select committee says Richard Sharp’s position is no longer tenable after a report critical of the BBC chairman’s connections to former prime minister Boris Johnson is published.

On the Sophy Ridge on Sunday podcast, Sophy is joined by political correspondent Liz Bates to analyse the interviews.

Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott
Editor: Paul Stanworth