Politics At Sam and Anne's

The Starmer government has made another blunder after it emerged that sanctions are being relaxed on Russian oil processed through third countries. As a political row unfolded, Sam and Anne discuss the fallout. Plus, Westminster is buzzing with rumours of a possible Labour coronation before the summer. If events moved quickly, what might an Andy Burnham cabinet look like? Sam and Anne discuss the...

After a fortnight of local and national elections drama - can the machinery of government get back moving again amid global instability? With the Straits of Hormuz still shut, Sam and Anne examine a raft of announcements coming from the Treasury. Is Rachel Reeves about to open a massive argument with the NIMBYs on the right to launch judicial reviews? Away from the levers of government, the duo lo...

Andy Burnham makes his opening pitch to the voters of Makerfield but is he already in campaign mode for PM, as well as MP? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss his launch video. Back in London, there’s a cabinet meeting this morning. Just how awkward will that be for Keir Starmer? Especially with those who were pushing him to have a plan to leave office. And what happens over the next few weeks in...

Andy Burnham says Britain needs a “circuit breaker for politics” as he plots his return to Westminster. But with Labour sources putting his chances of success in the Makerfield by-election at less than 50:50, will his plan to stand for PM unravel before it’s begun? Sam and Anne unpack the political chaos consuming Labour, including the growing speculation about Sir Keir Starmer’s exit timetable, a...

Is the Labour leadership contest about to get messy and plunge the party into chaos? Sam and Anne start the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as Health Secretary to spark a contest, but an early intervention may have swung the momentum. Angela Rayner has come out saying a HMRC investigation into her tax affairs is over, paving a way for a challenge but will she join the contest? Can Andy Burnh...

Will it be a ‘showdown’ when Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting meet today? Or does the King’s Speech calm Labour’s passions for 24 hours? Sam Coates and McElvoy wonder if any Labour leadership has got a bit stuck after a dramatic day of resignations. Because if Streeting doesn’t have the numbers and Andy Burnham doesn't even have a Commons seat – what can anyone do? Plus, amongst the pomp and pageant...

Will today’s cabinet showdown push Keir Starmer to make a final decision on his future? And will that mean Wes Streeting starts a leadership campaign? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy go over the dynamics of the cabinet meeting and who of the 32 is thinking what – with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood the most blunt so far about the PM needing to go. They also go over what they’re hearing from those who...

A speech which could define the Keir Starmer premiership – but can he reset or will it be another underwhelming relaunch? With Labour MPs on edge, leadership contenders circling and worries over what stalking horse – Catherine West – will do next, Sam and Anne look at how quickly it all could spiral out of control if the PM fails to land his message. But could a quick contest potentially backfire...

Is anyone really prepared to put their head above the parapet to challenge Keir Starmer? After a disastrous set of election results, Labour backbencher Catherine West has launched a stalking-horse threat to force the Prime Minister out. But, with rival camps in disarray and would-be successors staying silent, will the cabinet unite around a successor or fracture even further? In this special debri...

As early results are declared in England and counting begins across Scotland and Wales has the narrative of these elections already been set? With Labour losing seats and council across England, Reform are already making significant gains. The pressure on the Prime Minister is ramping up…and we don’t have a full picture yet. Sam and Anne assess the early results and what they mean for the parties...

On the eve of a hugely significant set of local and national elections – who has the momentum and who is staring into an electoral abyss? Sam and Anne pore over the final voting intention polls before the elections – covering England, Scotland and Wales. Have the latest headlines for Reform and the Greens done any damage? Meanwhile, as part of a series of leader interviews on Sky News, Sam has bee...

With days until the local and national elections – amid some grim polling projections – are Labour facing a double-edged threat from both the left and right of British politics? As instability in the Middle East intensifies, Keir Starmer is preparing to host a summit to tackle antisemitism, but will Labour’s punchy attack on the Greens – including claims of antisemitic remarks made by their candid...

With one week until voters head to the polls in Scotland, Wales and England – are we about to see a seismic shift in British politics? In a special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by YouGov pollster Patrick English to break down the data and assess what it could all mean for the parties. As the vote splits across the spectrum, who is set to benefit – and is British politics entering a new multi-p...

Has King Charles’s warmth and humour helped save the special relationship? It may be a diplomatic win for Keir Starmer in Washington, helping to steady UK-U.S. relations – but have private comments by his U.S. ambassador made life more difficult back in London? Yesterday, the Prime Minister survived a vote demanding he appear before the privileges committee, but after another blockbuster Foreign A...

What might Sir Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney reveal about the Mandelson vetting scandal? Today, the former foreign office mandarin and Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff give evidence to MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. That’s before the Commons vote on whether there should be an inquiry on if the Prime Minister misled Parliament. As well as select committees and votes, there ar...

Can King Charles save the UK-U.S. special relationship? As the King touches down in Washington for a state visit, Anne – who was at the White House correspondent’s dinner – describes the moment a security incident plunged the night into chaos. With a critical three days ahead Sam and Anne discuss the high stakes diplomacy facing Britain and whether the strained relationship could be reset. Back in...

Will the Prime Minister ever escape the ghost of Peter Mandelson and his decision to appoint the ‘Prince of Darkness’ as the UK’s ambassador to Washington? With fresh committee hearings looming – including an appearance from Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little – and senior ministers appearing uncomfortable defending No10 on the airwaves, Sam and Anne ask if the row is anywhere near its p...

Has the Prime Minister and No10 weathered the storm on the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal? With the dust only beginning to settle, Sam and Anne dissect the mixed, uncomfortable and carefully worded reactions from senior figures across the Labour party after Olly Robbins’ combative session in parliament. Keir Starmer braces for another grilling from MPs at Prime Minister Questions on the Mandelson...

The news agenda may be dominated by Olly Robbins’ highly-anticipated evidence session to MPs on the Mandelson scandal – but is an even more significant story unfolding elsewhere? Cabinet ministers and other senior Labour figures (but not the Prime Minister) will gather at a key conference – setting out competing visions on growth, energy security and economic policy. Are they positioning themselve...

The Prime Minister faces another defining day as he confronts MPs over one question - when did he and No10 learn that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting? Keir Starmer has blamed top foreign office diplomat - Sir Olly Robbins - for not telling him, but allies of the mandarin are fighting back ahead of his expected appearance before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee tomorrow. Sam and...

With three weeks to polling day, postal voting is underway in local and devolved elections across the UK - but will the process stay clean and how much could deepfakes distort the campaign? In Scotland, an almighty row has erupted between Labour and Reform over an alleged behind-the-scenes alliance to remove the SNP, with both parties branding each other liars. Down in Wales, questions are being r...

Donald Trump unloads another scathing attack on Keir Starmer – throwing out threats and casting doubt on the special relationship once again – raising fresh question about what could happen next. All very awkward as the Chancellor touches down in Washington for a key IMF meeting and a state visit from King Charles looms on the horizon. Away from Trump-Starmer division – Sam and Anne unpack the rea...

The man who wrote Keir Starmer’s defence review says the Government is putting the UK ‘in peril’ at a time of war. With more pressure to overhaul the defence budget, Sam reveals that talks going on this week to find billions of pounds worth of savings from this year’s MOD budget. Also – has Ed Miliband shifted his stance on new North Sea oil and gas drilling? Plus, in our weekly polls check-in: ar...

What is the Prime Minister’s top priority as he faces down a critical month? He has a busy basket of problems on the domestic and foreign front – all set on the backdrop of a crucial set of elections. In the Middle East, with no peace deal between the U.S. and Iran and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, a leading think tank issues some stark warnings about the impact on British households. In Par...

With one month to go until the local elections in England, Wales and Scotland - is the electoral map about to be redrawn? In his first major test since the general election, Sir Keir Starmer faces a major health check and verdict on his government and leadership. Could the results reshape his premiership? In this special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by elections analyst Professor Rob Ford to d...