Politics At Sam and Anne's

Sam and Anne have their Labour conference curtain-raiser - and wonder if Andy Burnham has gone a little bit into the rearview mirror as delegates turn up on the banks of the Mersey? There are already conference titbits to share - it sounds like Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will get the job of implementing digital ID cards, fresh after overseeing welfare reform.  And Yvette Cooper’s...

Is Labour’s king of the north about to challenge the Prime Minister in Westminster?    After an explosive interview – the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says MPs are urging him to challenge Keir Starmer.    The duo consider:  What vision Mr Burnham has for the country?  Can the PM match him and how could he respond?  How much will it impact political and policy narrative ahead of Labou...

Are we all in danger of missing the biggest story of the day? Sam ponders that as he links up with Anne to go over Westminster’s day.    One of the country’s biggest car producers is shut because of a cyber-attack. The problems at Jaguar Land Rover have been going on for weeks – we discuss why this might be more of a political story than it seems.    Elsewhere, the Tories continue to pile the pres...

Why was Ed Davey using so much of his Lib Dem conference speech to talk about Nigel Farage? And was threatening ‘Trump’s America’ becoming ‘Farage’s Britain’ a good way to get attention – especially with a claim that a Reform government could involve rolling back gun laws.  Sam and Anne’s conference debrief go over what was in his Bournemouth speech (criticisms of the BBC) and what wasn’t (much on...

What can Sir Ed Davey achieve in 55 minutes? That’s how long his speech to Lib Dem conference delegates is coming in at.     Sam, who’s at the conference in Bournemouth, and Anne consider the behind-the-scenes tussles and where the Liberal Democrats are trying to position themselves ahead of the next set of elections.    Away from conference, the OECD will release its latest economic outlook, but...

Reform UK announce that they would scrap indefinite leave to remain within 100 days of government but what impact will this have?    Sam and Anne discuss the practicalities of the policy and whether Nigel Farage is trying to force the hand of other parties on immigration policy.  Elsewhere, the UK follows other nations in formally recognising a Palestinian state, to the dismay of the Israeli Prime...

After yesterday’s pomp and pageantry at Windsor, today the U.S. President gets down to business, meeting with Prime Minister - Keir Starmer - at Chequers.    Sam and Anne look at what’s on the agenda and what the leaders might be forced to talk about, ranging from the recognition of a Palestinian state to their nation's associations with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.    Away from the state visit,...

Donald Trump is here and his day is all about time with the King before dinner at Windsor Castle this evening.  Away from the carriages and flypasts (and without any mention of Jeffrey Epstein) - there’s other business for Sam and Anne. Sam picks up that Keir Starmer did consider effectively demoting Morgan McSweeney.  On that, we’re back on the softened rules to remove a Labour PM with your messa...

Are some Labour skeletons about to come crashing out of the closet?    Keir Starmer needs state visit week to go perfectly but it’s already had a rocky start with the resignation of one of his most trusted aides. Paul Ovenden quit after ‘inappropriate’ messages he sent about Diane Abbott in 2017 resurfaced.    Sam and Anne ponder if there are more messages which are about to cause trouble for othe...

With less than 48 hours until U.S. President touches down on UK soil, preparations are ramping up to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump.   The duo look at what deals are on and maybe off the agenda for Keir Starmer and if the unprecedented second state visit can distract from the Prime Minister’s gloom at home.    Sam and Anne also discuss the mood around No10, the Labour party and MPs after...

The future of Lord Peter Mandelson – the UK's ambassador to the US - hangs in the balance as more allegations emerge surrounding his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. With pressure mounting and an imminent state visit from US President Donald Trump, will the prime minister still back him?

Private concerns around the public finance black hole in Whitehall dominates the chatter, as the Chancellor aims to plug the £20-£40 billion gap ahead of the budget.    Sam and Anne discuss the situation and ask:  What’s the tone on the issue?  What happened in Keir Starmer’s first new-look cabinet meeting?  What influence is the new environment secretary having?  Elsewhere, the Prime Minister wel...

With 48 hours until nominations close – the race to become the new deputy leader of the Labour party is well underway.    Sam and Anne discuss who are the runners and riders in the contest and where they will get their support from.    Away from party politics, Kemi Badenoch makes an offer to work with the government to cut the controversial Welfare bill.    Plus, the duo look at who’s coming out...

After the Prime Minister’s reshuffle across the weekend, the new look government get to work on phase 2 of the Starmer project.    Sam and Anne discuss if a switch between Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper - at the Home Office and the Foreign Office - will actually make a difference?  Elsewhere, the NEC are expected to announce a timetable for the Labour party deputy leadership race, and the Assis...

Sam and Anne had this down as the first of our conference specials – as Nigel Farage delivered his speech to Reform delegates in Birmingham.    They’re still debriefing on that on this episode but they can’t ignore one of the most significant days of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far and one of the biggest cabinet reshuffles in years.     Angela Rayner has gone. The cabinet has been overhauled wit...

The government minister responsible for housing didn’t pay enough tax on her house.  Sam and Anne let Angela Rayner’s admission sink in on this episode – aa they wonder how much government business is on hold as a result.    The independent ethics adviser Laurie Magnus’ view on how she took inaccurate legal advice could be public within days – presumably that means the cabinet reshuffle has to wai...

 The date for the budget will be confirmed today – so Sam and Anne look at the options for Rachel Reeves’ diary with a backdrop of more market jitters.    They also go over the ways she could plug the hole in the public finances – estimated to be between £20-£50 billion –while still meeting her fiscal rules.    But why isn't the government saying more about the tricky decisions ahead?    There are...

After the Prime Minister’s mini reshuffle of backroom staff at Number 10 yesterday, will the optics behind the scenes work?    Sam and Anne discuss why the appointment of Darren Jones is significant to Phase 2 of the Starmer project – but will it there be trouble down the tracks?    Elsewhere, following a series of announcements on asylum and immigration policy, has the Home Secretary wrestled bac...

As MPs return to Westminster for a packed autumn term, will the Prime Minister be back with a bang?    Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss what are Keir Starmer’s priorities as the so called “reset week” begins.    There’s chatter around No10 of a staffing restructure but could this impact the government’s message and delivery of their missions?    Back in the Commons, the Hom...

With MPs returning to parliament in a few days, Sam and Anne look ahead to a packed autumn schedule. In the last episode of the Summer Box Set, both spill the beans on the latest news and gossip around Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. They'll mark the important dates in the calendar, break down the fortunes of the key players, and explain which areas could cause trouble for the government. Norma...

More than 50,000 migrants have arrived on small boats across the English Channel since Labour came to power, but will Keir Starmer’s plan to smash the gangs and the ‘one in, one out' scheme solve the issue?      In this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Danny Shaw, a former journalist and adviser to Yvette Cooper, to discuss the Home Office’s biggest priorities.    They discuss:    If more needs...

Education, education, education' was how Tony Blair set out New Labour's priorities in the early noughties.  A quarter of a century on, what story is Keir Starmer trying to tell about schools under his premiership? In this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Laura McInerney, a former teacher and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, to break down the government's plan for education as we head into a new sch...

The government has a 10-year health plan it says can fix the NHS, but what does it look like in practical terms and when will the public see a difference?  On this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Alastair McLellan, the editor-in-chief of the Health Service Journal, to deep dive into the details. They ask: •  Where is health service funding going? •  What role will technology and AI play in del...

Sir Keir Starmer is a prime minister who is arguably more comfortable abroad – and has spent his first year in office putting Britain front and centre on the world stage.  So, in this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Politico's editor-in-chief, John Harris, to discuss the major international issues facing the government in the coming parliament. With trade deals and ongoing conflicts across the...

It is arguably the number one issue facing the government – how do they get the economy thriving and growing again.    Sam and Anne are joined by Sky News’ Economics and Data Editor, Ed Conway, to weigh up the options on the table for Rachel Reeves.    Ahead of a crucial budget in the autumn, the trio address:    How will the Chancellor fill the black hole in the public finances?  Are tax changes...