Politics At Sam and Anne's

As Reform UK kick off conference season in Birmingham, Nigel Farage appears to have some work to do. The party has gone from dominating the political conversation to facing a fall in polling numbers, mounting scandals and fresh questions over Farage’s leadership. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy preview a crucial three days for Reform, with major announcements expected on migration and the economy – wh...

As Andy Burnham prepares for his first Prime Minister’s Questions, he faces a gathering economic storm. With markets driving up government borrowing costs and the prospect of another interest rate rise, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine what the turmoil could mean for mortgage holders, public spending and the government plans going forward. Could the chancellor be left with almost no room for ma...

Parliament is back and the honeymoon is over - Andy Burnham now faces his first major test as Prime Minister. The PM will make his Commons debut as he promises to “bring back hope” and make life more affordable. But with pressure on public finances can he deliver on his promises to cut energy bills, cap bus fares and slash business rates? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the gap between Burnham...

After a summer of setting out his stall, Andy Burnham now faces the hard task: turning ambition into action. In the last of the summer boxset, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy take a deep dive into five big challenges facing the government in the coming months. From defining the 10-year plan to unresolved pressure at home and abroad, the duo give their take and analysis for a critical parliamentary ter...

Is Britain ready for war? In the third instalment of Sam and Anne’s Summer Boxset, they’re joined by Sky’s Defence and Security Analyst Professor Michael Clarke to ask: can Burnham’s government keep Britain safe? From Ukraine to the Middle East, the trio examine the challenge facing Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and ask can the government afford what it wants to do on defence? They also ask whet...

Artificial intelligence could transform the economy, the workplace, and even the way we think - but is Britain ready for it? And is Andy Burnham? In the second of Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy's summer box set conversations, they sit down with POLITICO UK tech editor Isobel Asher Hamilton to look at the choices facing the new prime minister this autumn. Should Britain be building the next OpenAI, or...

Andy Burnham has promised to transform Britain, but can he afford it? This autumn, Chancellor John Healey will deliver the new government's first Budget, so what might it include? In the first episode of Sam and Anne's summer box set, they sit down with Sky News' economics editor Ed Conway to look at the spending choices facing the new prime minister. How will the government tackle the cost of liv...

Andy Burnham has thrown the future of assisted dying into doubt. After telling Sam Coates that he does not want legislation to proceed until social care and palliative care are "fixed", supporters of the bill insist they are pressing ahead. But has the Prime Minister's intervention made its passage through Parliament far less likely? Sam and Anne examine what Burnham's comments mean for MPs ahead...

Anne shares what she's been hearing about the new top team at the Foreign Office and Ed Miliband reveals what his grandfather would have said about his new job. Meanwhile, can Andy Burnham really fix Britain's social care system? That's the big question as the new Prime Minister hosts cross-party talks on one of the country's biggest challenges. There's just one problem: the invitations only went...

No wonder the new prime minister is feeling chipper. Labour and Reform are now neck and neck in the polls for first time in more than a year. The biggest change? Among young voters. But the ‘Burnham Bounce’ doesn’t stop there – with the PM not only having the pleasure of meeting President Zelenskyy on a visit to a naval base but also our very own Sam Coates. Sam tells Anne McElvoy about his time w...

Andy Burnham came into office promising the biggest change in Britain for 40 years. But one week into his premiership, is Britain seeing transformation or just a different style of politics? As Burnham unveils plans on social care, devolution and welfare, Sam and Anne ask just how big the policies announced by Burnham actually are. Is this just a continuation of Starmer with a new face? They also...

The latest policy announcement from Burnham’s new government is a 20% tax break for pubs, clubs and live music venues. That means that pub could save an estimated £1,100 a year. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy delve into the details and again ask, how will this be funded? The two also discuss Burnham’s communication style and if it might need more discipline now that he’s in No.10. This is in light of...

Andy Burnham wants to talk about his new bus fare cap but, and Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy point out, there isn’t much chance to talk about anything else without the Commons sitting. They go through how the bus fare plan is funded. Chancellor John Healey says it will be “no burden to British taxpayers” but the small print raises questions about how the scheme will be funded. At the Farnborough Air...

The Andy Burnham era is underway, and the new prime minister is kicking off with a bang – cutting VAT on electricity bills. He promised the country some “breathing space” on the cost of living, but with prices still rising will anyone actually feel better off? And is it properly funded? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine what the announcement shows about Burnham’s direction of travel in governmen...

The bloodless coup reaches its climax today as Andy Burnham is set to become the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - but does a new face mark a new era of British politics? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy dissect the choreography of the handover, preview Burnham’s first words as PM and analyse the key cabinet appointments that will reveal the shape of his government. Will anything really chang...

With just one day until Andy Burnham is crowned Labour leader, many are still scratching their heads – what will a Burnham government actually look like? The incoming PM says he’s in no rush and will take his time over cabinet appointments – having already signalled a budget is likely in October. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy assess who could land the biggest jobs – especially at the Treasury, where...

It’s Keir Starmer’s final PMQs so Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy wonder if he’ll get a softer side of Kemi Badenoch in the chamber today. But, as Starmer picks up his engraved carriage clock gift from cabinet, there’s a shift in the chat about who Andy Burnham’s neighbour at number 11 might be. Have Team Burnham gone off the idea of Ed Miliband as Chancellor because of soft left optics? And who else...

Keir Starmer’s farewell tour is well underway – but is he destined to spend most of it out of the UK? With an extra day in Paris for the Bastille Day celebrations and a possible dash state side for the World Cup final, Starmer is ending his premiership on the world stage – arguably his happy place. Back in Westminster, Prime Minister in waiting – Andy Burnham – ramps up preparations for government...

The political week starts with the shockwaves from the murder of Reform politician – Ann Widdecombe – which has put MPs security firmly back in the spotlight. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have the latest on the police investigation, Nigel Farage’s response and the wider political fallout. It comes as the row over political party donations intensifies, with Reform arguing that the current safeguards...

The Andy Burnham era of politics is fast approaching – and the prime minister-in-waiting has finally set out some of his priorities for government. As Labour leadership nominations open – with his last active challenger Al Carns officially stepping aside – Burnham’s path to power is now all but certain. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy dissect his blueprint for Number 10, with a specific look at: A for...

Nigel Farage has triggered a political earthquake by quitting as an MP – but is he trying to get ahead of an inevitable scandal? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack why Farage has called a by-election in Clacton and why none of the major parties are standing against him – with some describing it as a “gimmick.” The duo also examine whether his plans will have any material impact on the Parliamentar...

After new claims about Nigel Farage’s funding arrangements, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss the bits of the new allegations which are worrying Reform. Plus, what will an Andy Burnham government actually be like? On the Treasury, the reports that he might try to split it in two seem have gone quiet but there seems to be an appetite to go early for this autumn’s budget. Anne has also been speaki...

Could Nigel Farage’s alleged financial relationship with a convicted fraudster come back to haunt him? The Reform leader is already under scrutiny over his £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbone and these fresh allegations about his association with George Cottrell will intensify the pressure. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the political, legal and ethical questions at the...

Andy Burnham could be just days away from entering Downing Street – but who are the winners and losers from the arrival of a new Prime Minister? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine how Britain’s political landscape could be reshaped and what it means for the main opposition parties: Can Kemi Badenoch turn Labour’s transition into a Tory revival? Will Reform recover following a turbulent few weeks?...

Team Burnham have been properly triggered over the Defence Investment Plan now they’ve found out £4.7bn of it is still to be funded. For the first time in the transition, they’re feeling furious. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have news that the scale of the blackhole is even bigger than that. Also - is a former Conservative mayor in the running to chair Great British Railways? And can you have more...