Politics At Sam and Anne's

Will the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan be the Prime Minister’s final and most contentious act? Months of delays, a multi-billion-pound funding gap and the resignation of his Defence Secretary has Keir Starmer done enough to satisfy his military chiefs? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the political and strategic stakes and assess how NATO allies, not least Donald Trump, will make of the p...

Barring any last-minute surprises, Andy Burnham will become Prime Minister three weeks today. But what is his 10-year mission for the country and how will he achieve it? In his first major speech in Manchester, Burnham will set out his plans for the economy, welfare and devolution with a pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode.” Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine whether his promise of t...

It could have been a messy transition, but the ease with which Andy Burnham has returned to Westminster appears to be the product of many months of careful planning. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy delve into the details of how Burnham’s expected coronation has been managed – and why Louise Haigh has emerged as a key architect behind the scenes. Meanwhile, as Donald Trump breaks his silence on Keir St...

Andy Burnham appears to have taken another major step towards power, bringing in a big name from the Blair era – James Purnell – as his chief of staff. What does it say about the Burnham operation and the government he is trying to build? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack a decades-long relationship, and discuss why it’s being welcomed by Labour MPs, business and the city. Plus, as Starmer ally D...

In less than a month, Britain is set to get its seventh Prime Minister in under a decade. And barring a political earthquake, it's all but certain to be Andy Burnham. But several questions remain about what the King of the North really stands for – he now has just over three weeks to turn by-election victory into a policy platform to govern the country. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at the fadi...

Keir Starmer is on the brink of resigning – the only question left is when does the drama end. After a tense weekend, the Prime Minister remains under intense pressure from his cabinet to quit, with Downing Street braced for the end of another short-lived premiership. Meanwhile, fresh from his Makerfield by-election victory, Andy Burnham returns to Westminster. But can the King of the North pull o...

Andy Burnham has secured a thumping victory in the Makerfield by-election – but is it game over for Keir Starmer? With a critical few days ahead, attention now turns to Labour’s cabinet ministers, MPs and party members. Who could make the first move to oust the Prime Minister? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have inside information from team Burnham and assess whether a ‘bloodless coup’ is really poss...

With just 24 hours until polling day, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy preview three pivotal by-elections that could reshape British politics. The duo assess the contests in Makerfield, Aberdeen South and Arbroath & Broughty Ferry, exploring: Why Makerfield has become one of the most closely watched by-elections in recent political history How the Conservatives hope to capitalise on support for the...

As world leaders gather at the G7 summit – what's Keir Starmer’s top priority? With tensions in the Middle East, a trade dispute with China, a continuing war in Ukraine and Russia’s apparent involvement in arson attacks on homes and a car linked to Keir Starmer, the PM has his hands full. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy assess whether Starmer can turn high-level diplomacy into meaningful progress. The...

How is Keir Starmer planning to play this week? The week which could end with Andy Burnham back in parliament. We know the prime minister’s got a social media ban for under-16s to announce today and a G7 summit to attend. But Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss what else is on his mind, particularly after the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary – and whether a stubborn attitude is the...

Andy Burnham’s political opponents are finding plenty of attack lines to throw at him. So, are past comments and policy positions – from WASPI women to calls for an early election – coming back to haunt the Burnham campaign? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy also wonder who is to blame for Keir Starmer’s troubles? Well, according to a focus group of Labour members – it's all the media’s fault! The duo u...

Has the unrest in Belfast sparked a new political battle over Britain’s immigration system Political leaders have condemned the violent overnight protest after a Sudanese national was charged with attempted murder of a man in the city. With parties scrambling to seize control of the narrative, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine how the case has reignited questions about immigration, border securi...

Is Andy Burnham having trouble putting clear teal water between himself and Nigel Farage, following comments calling for a tougher stance on immigration? Sam Coates has more from Manchester on the state of the Burnham campaign and how his movements after the Makerfield by-election remain unclear. Meanwhile, Anne McElvoy delves deeper into the defence dilemma – with military chiefs still reportedly...

Can Keir Starmer wrestle back the spotlight from the Makerfield by-election? After hosting world leaders in Downing Street and unveiling new plans for social media restrictions on children, the Prime Minister is trying to reclaim the agenda. But is the political attention still fixed on Andy Burnham in Manchester? Sam Coates is on the ground in Manchester where the Labour bigwigs are out in force...

With two weeks until the Makerfield by-election, does Andy Burnham really have a plan in place to run the country? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the policy ideas – including an ambitious expansion of social housing construction – which could form a future leadership pitch. Back in Westminster, the duo assess the fierce political fallout from the murder of Henry Nowak after a tense PMQs. What...

Westminster may look busy but are MPs just waiting for the potential return of Andy Burnham? With the Makerfield by-election just over a week away Burnham insists he's focussed on winning the seat. But behind the scenes allies are already developing ideas that could underpin a future bid for No10. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at who is moulding the Burnham project and why certain plans for the...

What has Starmer loyalist Pat McFadden really been thinking when he’s been out defending the PM? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how the latest Mandelson drop makes for an awkward morning in cabinet. And they’ve lines from Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, from a podcast recording last night. Was she hinting that a leadership coronation is better than a leadership contest? Plus, our latest...

The ghost of Peter Mandelson returns as more than 1,000 documents, emails and WhatsApp messages due to be released – but how damaging will it be for the government? With ministers, officials and advisors braced for impact, Sam and Anne assess what could be in the files, whether the most sensitive material has been withheld and what the disclosures reveal about government communications in the age...

With two hugely consequential months ahead in British politics, Sam and Anne look beneath the headlines and Westminster drama to ask what really comes next. As Donald Trump escalates tensions in the Middle East once again, the duo examine the pressure on Whitehall. Would any Prime Minister, whoever occupies Number 10, make a difference or face the same issues? Anne reports back from the Prague Sec...

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...