Dashboard/Keir Starmer/Sky News interview with Beth Rigby in Kyiv: stepping down, Ukraine and family
Interview · 16 Jul 2026
Sky News interview with Beth Rigby in Kyiv: stepping down, Ukraine and family
Video: YouTube: Sky News (official channel). Retrieved 7 Oct 2026.
Mostly straight talkProvisional
239 sentences · 20 checked claims · 23 questions
Answers questions
80%
23 questions rated. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.
Answered 15Partly answered 5Declined openly 2Dodged 1
Beth Rigby
Prime Minister, you're here in Ukraine today. This is your last big act as Prime Minister. What's your message to President Zelenskyy as you prepare to stand down?
AnsweredAsked his message to Zelenskyy. Says the UK commitment to Ukraine will not waver, and that he said so privately as well.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
he said in the press conference, didn't he? He said, "I'm afraid. I'm afraid of the change."
AnsweredTold Zelenskyy said he fears the change. Says there is uncertainty but no need for it, and he is sure of the reassurance.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
So, PM, you've always said uh recently that you will not offer advice to your successor. But you are sending a message to your successor here.
AnsweredTold he is sending a message to his successor. Says no, and that support for Ukraine runs deep in the country.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
But have you had assurances from him?
DodgedOn review, rated Dodged (was Partly answered: Asked whether he has had assurances from his successor. Says he would not have said it unless confident, without saying yes or no.)Our model rated this
Corrected by a person, 8 Oct 2026
Beth Rigby
Okay. Okay. And you also said, something you haven't said before, today, you said you now believe Ukraine can win this war. You haven't said that before.
AnsweredAsked about his new view that Ukraine can win. Confirms it and gives reasons from the front, sanctions and Ukraine's forces.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
When will they win this conflict?
Declined openlyAsked when Ukraine will win. Says nobody can put a date on it, then describes the change of mood.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
PM, you've spent a lot of time on foreign affairs. You care deeply clearly about Ukraine. You've worked very hard with Zelenskyy and Macron. You're clearly leaving office before you are ready. You would not have chosen to go now.
Why have your MPs rejected you after such a short time?
Partly answeredAsked why his MPs rejected him. Sets out his record since 2020 and says they have answered who should lead into 2029, without saying why.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
agree with the answer?
Partly answeredAsked whether he agrees with their answer. Says he accepts it, not whether he agrees.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
That's a different answer to agree with it.
Partly answeredTold that accepting differs from agreeing. Repeats that he accepts it with good grace and lists the government's record, without saying whether he agrees.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Do you think if you'd stayed on, you could have won the next election? Labour could have won with you as the leader.
Partly answeredAsked whether he could have won the next election. Says he always believed Labour would win, then defers to the parliamentary party's decision.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
the kids in a moment, but Morgan McSweeney, your former chief of staff and your campaign manager who helped win that landslide, he's he said that we didn't prepare enough for office. Do you agree with that?
AnsweredAsked whether Labour prepared enough for office, as McSweeney said. Disagrees and cites the economy, the NHS and child poverty.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
When I hear you talking about your achievements as Labour leader and then Prime Minister, it must hurt to have to leave.
AnsweredTold it must hurt to leave. Says it is a very difficult decision and describes how he reached it.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
You said to me um a year ago we were doing another interview ahead of elections and I was asking you about Nigel Farage. And I asked how would you feel if he beat you? And you said, "I hate the thought of losing to anyone to anyone." Yeah. I mean your own side, your opponents. It's hard for you.
AnsweredTold losing to his own side is hard. Says it is hard, and that he sees the six and a half years as a win.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
And I want I want to come to this because in June at the G7, uh you were so clear to me. You said I'm not going to walk, I'm going to fight. And then less than a week later, you announced that you were going to stand down. I really believed you at the G7 that that's how you felt. So, what changed in those few days?
AnsweredAsked what changed between the G7 and his resignation. Says he reflected on his colleagues' answer and the country's interest.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
So, you sort of almost had to put your own ego aside a bit in that moment.
AnsweredAsked whether he put his ego aside. Says he put the country first and that it was also a personal decision.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
ask you what what did Vic say to you? Cuz she What what did Vic think?
Declined openlyAsked what his wife said. Says he will not go into it, then describes her support.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
It takes a toll. It takes a toll on a family, doesn't
AnsweredTold politics takes a toll on a family. Agrees and describes time missed with his children.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
Did the kids want you back? Did the kids want you to come back in that way? They want you to stand down.
AnsweredAsked whether his children wanted him to stand down. Says no, but they wanted more time with him.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
I mean, I was going to say you tweeted on Father's Day, and this was the day before you resigned. Being a dad is my greatest joy. It's got me thinking about my dad and the father I am because of to my children because of him. Happy Father's Day. And then you spoke about the kids again at your resignation speech.
You said being the Prime Minister is the biggest job. But being a father is the most important job. So, that came into the decision-making for you?
Partly answeredAsked whether his children came into the decision. Describes his love for them and welcomes more time with them, without saying how they weighed in the decision.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
And and PM you're here securing your legacy. How would you like to be remembered?
AnsweredAsked how he would like to be remembered. Names saving the Labour Party, stabilising the country and the UK's standing abroad.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
And when you walk out of the door for the final time on Monday, how do you think you're going to feel? Is it going to be relief, pride, sadness, a big cocktail of emotion?
AnsweredAsked how he will feel on leaving. Says pride, and explains why.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
You um your dad didn't really tell you he loved you much. You know, it's been widely written about and you really do want to publicly talk about your kids in that way. Is that really important to you cuz you didn't have it? Yeah.
AnsweredAsked whether showing love for his children matters because his father did not. Describes his father and says he chose to do it differently.Our model rated this
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Beth Rigby
So, my final question is as you hand on the baton you believe that you set Andy Burnham up to win the next general election, and part of the next phase of this administration's success is your success.
AnsweredAsked whether he has set Burnham up to win. Says he hopes so and that he will support him, giving advice only privately.Our model rated this
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1 further exchange(s) not rated: procedural or ceremonial questions (a tribute, thanks or condolence that asks for nothing), or questions the speaker did not take.